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Russo-Ukraine War - 23 March 2024 - Day 759

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that on 17 March 2024, a Ukrainian intelligence official reportedly stated that Ukraine had successfully struck 12 Russian oil refineries with Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). On 15-16 March the Ukrainian media reported that three large refineries in the Samara oblast in southern Russia were also attacked.

Some of the furthest facilities attacked are approximately 900km from Ukraine, underscoring the reach of the Ukrainian UAV attacks. These strikes are imposing a financial cost on Russia, impacting the domestic fuel market. Recent strikes against refineries have likely disrupted at least 10 per cent of Russia's refinery capacity. Depending on the extent of the damage, major repairs could take considerable time and expense. Sanctions are highly likely increasing the time and cost of sourcing replacement equipment.

According to a Russian Energy Ministry official, there are plans to deploy Pantsir air defence systems to protect the refineries. However, given the size and scale of Russia's energy industry, it is unlikely that Russia will be able to protect all the vulnerable facilities.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day, 64 combat clashes were recorded.

In total, Russian forces carried out 6 missiles and 70 air strikes, carried out 72 shelling from the volcano fire jet systems on the positions of our troops and settlements. As a result of the Russian attacks, unfortunately, there are dead and wounded among the civilian population. Destruction and damage suffered multi-storey and private houses.

In the Volyn and Polisky directions, the operating environment without significant changes. The sign of the formation of a Russian offensive group has not been detected.
In the Sivers ,komu and Slobozhans вихkomu directions, Russia maintains a military presence in the border areas, conducts diversíjno-intelligence activities, carries out shelling of settlements from the territory of Russia, increases the density of mine-explosive fences along the state border of Ukraine. Russian forces carried out air strikes in the areas of the settlements of Seredina-Buda and Vorozhba of Sumy region; Zemlyanki, Potikhonove, Bologivka of Kharkiv region. Russian artillery and mortar shelling suffered more than 15 settlements, among them Guta-Studenetska, Bleshnya, Karpovychi of Chernihiv region; Bilopillya, Kíndratívka, Zapsilla of Sumy region; Kozacha Lopan, Vovchansk, Krasne, Neskučne Kharkiv region.
In the kupâns )komu direction, Russian forces aggressive (storm) actions did not lead. Striked an air strike in the area of the settlement of Kislivka Kharkiv region. More than 10 settlements were under artillery and mortar fire, including Golubivka, Dvorichna, Synkivka of Kharkiv region.
In the Limansky direction, Ukrainian soldiers repelled 6 Russian attacks in the areas of the settlements of Bilogorivka Luhansk region and Terna, Yampolivka, Rozdolivka, Vesele Donetsk region, where the Russian enemy, with the support of aviation, tried to break through the defense of Ukrainian troops. More than 10 settlements were affected by artillery and mortar shelling, among them Makiyivka, Nevsky Luhansk region and Torsk, Serebryanka Donetsk region.
In the Bakhmutsk direction, Ukrainian soldiers repelled 11 Russian attacks in the areas of the settlements of Klishchievka, Bogdanivka, Ivanivka, Donetsk region. Russian forces carried out air strikes in the areas of the settlements of Chasiv Yar, Dachne and Friendship of Donetsk region. About 10 settlements were under artillery and mortar fire, including Bogdanivka, Chasiv Yar, Klishchiyivka and Andriyivka of the Donetsk region.
In the Avdiyiv direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled 9 Russian attacks in the areas of the settlements of Berdychy, Tonenke, Pervomaiske Donetsk region. Russian forces carried out air strikes in the areas of the settlements of Umanske and Semenivka Donetsk region. Artillery and mortar shelling were close
20 settlements, among them Novobakhmutivka, Berdychy, Semenivka, Pervomaisk and Nevelsky of the Donetsk region.
In the Novopavlivsk direction, the Defense Forces continue to restrain Russian forces in the areas of the settlements of Krasnogorivka, Georgiyivka, Novomykhailivka, Konstantinivka and Urozhaine, where Russian forces, with the support of aviation, tried 27 times to break through the defenses of Ukrainian troops. Also, Russian forces carried out air strikes in the area of the settlement of Vugledar Donetsk region. About 15 settlements were under Russian artillery and mortar, among them Krasnogorivka, Georgiyivka, Paraskoviyivka of the Donetsk region.
In the Orekhiv direction, Russian forces 3 times, with the support of aviation, attacked the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the area of the settlement of Robotine of Zaporizhia region. Russian forces also carried out air strikes in the areas of the settlements of Staromayorsk Donetsk region; Malinivka and Stepovo of Zaporizhia region. Artillery and mortar shelling occurred to about 15 settlements, among them Poltavka, Malinivka, Charivne, Bilogirya, Novodanilivka, Pyatykhatka of Zaporizhia region.
In the Kherson direction during the day, Russian forces carried out 1 unsuccessful attack of Ukrainian troops' positions in the area of the Krynki settlement of Kherson region. Staged an air strike in the area of the settlement of Tokarívka Kherson region. Artillery and mortar shelling occurred over 10 settlements, including: Burgunka, Tyaginka, Kizomys, Stanislav of Kherson region and the city of Kherson.

During the day, the Defense Forces Aviation struck 8 areas of concentration, weapons and enemy military equipment.

The units of the missile troop were affected in 1 area of focus, 4 points of drop, 1 air defense device, 1 artillery device and 1 Russian RLS station.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces, aviation, and artillery inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the AFU 32nd Mechanised Brigade, and repelled three enemy attacks near Sinkovka (Kharkov region).

The enemy losses were up to 20 troops, three motor vehicles, one French-made Caesar self-propelled artillery system, and one Grad MLRS combat vehicle.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces liberated Krasnoye (Donetsk People's Republic), and improved tactical situation on the front line.

Air strikes and artillery fire defeated units of AFU 42nd mechanised, 17th tank, 92nd assault, 79th air assault, 46th, 81st airmobile brigades close to Kleshcheyevka, Kurdyumovka, Paraskoviyevka, Krasnogorovka, Maksimilyanovka (Donetsk People's Republic), and Belogorovka (Lugansk People's Republic).

Four attacks of the AFU 67th Mechanised Brigade's assault groups were repelled near Bogdanovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses amounted to up to 200 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, eight motor vehicles, and one Grad MLRS combat vehicle.

In Avdeyevka direction, the Tsentr Group of Forces' units captured more favourable positions, and hit clusters of manpower and hardware of AFU 59th mechanised infantry, 23rd, 53rd mechanised brigades close to Neytalovo, Umanskoye, Ocheretino, and Toretsk (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, 12 counter-attacks launched by units of AFU 25th airborne, 3rd assault, 24th, 47th mechanised brigades were repelled near Novgorodskoye, Semyonovka, Orlovka, Tonenkoye, and Berdichi (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy lost up to 350 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, and five motor vehicles. In the course of the counter-battery warfare, the Russian troops hit one Czech-made DANA self-propelled artillery system, one D-20 howitzer, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one U.S.-made M119 gun.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces improved situation on the front line, and inflicted fire damage on AFU 58th mechanised infantry, 72nd mechanised brigades close to Urozhaynoye, Makarovka, Ugledar (Donetsk People's Republic).

Moreover, one enemy attack was repelled close to Vodyanoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy lost up to 65 Ukrainian troops and three motor vehicles.

In Kherson direction, units of the Dnepr Group of Forces hit clusters of manpower and hardware of AFU 128th, 65th mechanised, 35th marines brigades near Rabotino (Zaporozhye region), Tokarevka (Kherson region).

The enemy losses were up to 40 Ukrainian servicemen, five pick-up trucks, and two U.S.-made M777 artillery systems.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged two S-300 SAM systems, one P-18 radar, one illumination and surveillance radar, one temporary deployment area of foreign mercenaries, as well as manpower and hardware of the AFU in 149 areas during the day.

Air defence systems have shot down 171 AFU UAVs, as well as 29 U.S.-made HIMARS and Czech-made Vampire MLRS projectiles.

In total, 577 airplanes and 270 helicopters, 16,736 unmanned aerial vehicles, 489 air defence missile systems, 15,576 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,254 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,497 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 20,101 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.