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Russo-Ukraine War - 28 March 2024 - Day 764

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 governance initiatives instigated by the Russian authorities in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine continue. The Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration is launching a master's degree in 'State and municipal management' which, according to a representative of the university, will provide graduates with skills to work at all levels of government, including in the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, as well as in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. The Russian Justice Minister, Konstantin Chuychenko, also announced that Russia has established 58 federal penitentiaries across the temporarily occupied territories in Ukraine.

It is likely the establishment of the master's programme is partly aimed at overcoming the shortage of willing and skilled personnel in Russian government roles in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. It can be linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin's plans to create a new administrative elite as indicated in his state of the nation address last month and the issuing of a presidential decree in January 2024 on the establishment of a new personnel reserve.

This is further evidence of Russification measures to align the legal and political frameworks of the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine to the Russian Federation. Other similar measures to date include extending the Russian justice system, imposing a Russian education curriculum, issuing Russian passports, and building Russian telecommunications infrastructure.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that on March 28, 48x combat engagements were reported.

Russian forces launched a total of 4x missile and 77x air strikes, 53x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have killed and wounded civilians. Residential apartment blocks and private houses as well as other infrastructure were destroyed or damaged.

Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes. No signs of the formation of Russian offensive groups were found.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia maintains its military presence in the areas of russia bordering Ukraine. Russia continues its sabotage and reconnaissance activities, shelling Ukrainian settlements from the territory of Russia and increases the density of minefields along the state border of Ukraine. The Russian adversary launched an air strike in the vicinity of settlement of Bobylivka (Sumy oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 20x settlements, including Leonivka, Sen'kivka (Chernihiv oblast), Klyusy, Serhiivka, Simeikyne (Sumy oblast), Veterynarne, Vesoka Yaruha, and Krasne (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces did not conduct any offensive (assault) operations. Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of settlement of Borova (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Syn'kivka, Stepova Novoselivka, and Kotlyarivka (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian troops repelled 4x Russian attacks in the vicinities of Terny (Donetsk oblast) and Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast). With the air support, Russian forces attempted to break through the defense of Ukrainian troops in that area. Also, the adversary launched an air strike in the vicinity of Yampolivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Yampolivka, and Tors'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian troops repelled 11x attacks in the vicinities of Chasiv Yar, Novyi, Klishchiivka, and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). With the air support, the Russian invaders attempted to improve its tactical position in that area. Also, Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Mykolaivka, Zalizne, Andriivka, and Dyliivka (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Bohdanivka, Kalynivka, and Chasiv Yar (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 1x attack in the vicinity of Semenivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces attempted to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their positions. Also, the Russian adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of Ocheretyne, Umans'ke, and Berdychi (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Novokalynove, Novobakhmutivka, Semenivka, and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Novopavlivka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back the Russian enemy in the vicinities of Heorhiivka, Novomykhailivka. Russian forces made 13x attempts to break through the defense of Ukrainian troops in that area. Also, the Russian adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of settlements of Krasnohorivka, Kostyantynivka, and Antonivka (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements, including Heorhiivka, Paraskoviivka, Kostyantynivka, and Vuhledar (Donetsk oblast), were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Orikhiv axis: with the air support, Russian forces launched 8x attacks on the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the vicinities of Robotyne, northwest of Verbove, and north of Pryyutne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of settlements of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast) and Malynivka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 10x settlements, including Malynivka, Chervone, Bilohir'ya, Novodanylivka, and Shcherbaky (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under Russian forces artillery and mortar fire.
Kherson axis: on March 28, Russian forces launched 1x attack on the positions of Ukrainian troops on the left bank of the Dnipro River. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Krynky, Tyahynka, Ivanivka, Novoberyslav (Kherson oblast), and the city of Kherson.
On March 28, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 14x concentrations of Russian troops, weapons, and military equipment. Also, the Ukrainian Air Defense forces and means destroyed 1x guided missile.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 4x command posts, 4x air defense systems, 2x artillery systems, and 1x ammunition depot of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces inflicted losses on units of the AFU 32nd Mechanised Brigade and 117th Territorial Defence Brigade near Sinkovka and Stroyevka (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 30 Ukrainian troops, one tank, three infantry fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and inflicted losses on units of the AFU 24th, 53rd mechanised brigades, 5th Assault Brigade, and 4th Ukrainian National Guard Brigade near Krasnogorovka, Chasov Yar, Kleshcheyevka, and Spornoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 370 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, and 19 motor vehicles.

In the course of counter-battery warfare, one Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery system, two D-30 howitzers, and two U.S.-made M119 howitzers.

In Avdeyevka direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front lines and repelled seven counter-attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 47th, 53rd, and 59th mechanised brigades near Tonenkoye, Berdychi, and Pervomayskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 95 Ukrainian troops, three tanks, including one U.S.-made Abrams tank, two infantry fighting vehicles, nine motor vehicles, two U.S.-made M777 howitzers, and two D-30 howitzers.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front lines and inflicted losses on units of the AFU 58th Mechanised Brigade and 128th Territorial Defence Brigade near Urozhaynoye and Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 145 Ukrainian troops and seven motor vehicles.

In Kherson direction, units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware clusters of the AFU 65th Mechanised Brigade and 121st Territorial Defence Brigade near Rabotino (Zaporozhye region) and Mikhailovka (Kherson region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 40 Ukrainian troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, including one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, four motor vehicles, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and two D-30 howitzers.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 107 areas during the day.

Over the past 24 hours, air defence units shot down 131 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, 26 U.S.-made HIMARS and Czech-made Vampire MLRS projectiles.

?? In total, 577 airplanes and 270 helicopters, 17,483 unmanned aerial vehicles, 489 air defence missile systems, 15,629 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,256 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,559 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 20,303 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.