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Russo-Ukraine War - 31 March 2024 - Day 767

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 recent imagery analysis has identified four barges positioned at the entrance to the Black Sea Fleet facility of Novorossiysk Sea Port. This is an effort to enhance the defences of the port against attacks from Ukrainian Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs).

Due to an increased risk of Ukrainian strikes in their traditional homeport of Sevastopol, Novorossiysk port now serves a crucial role in sheltering the Black Sea Fleet's most valuable assets.

The former Commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Admiral Viktor Sokolov was replaced following Ukrainian successes in the use of USVs against Russian targets both at sea and in port. His replacement, Vice Admiral Sergei Pinchuk, has likely sought to improve the survival chances of Russian vessels by adopting further preventative and defensive measures, including narrowing the entrance gap to port facilities.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of March 31, there were 49x tactical engagements.

Russian forces launched a total of 23x missile and 61x air strikes, 41x MLRS attacks on positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements.

Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes. No signs of formation of an offensive group.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: the Russian adversary maintains its military presence in the russian areas bordering Ukraine. Russia conducts subversion, continues shelling of Ukrainian settlements from the territory of Russia and increases the concentration of mining operations along the state border of Ukraine. Ukrainian troops blocked an infiltration attempt by a Russian subversive reconnaissance group near Stara Huta (Sumy oblast). The adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of Oleksandrivka (Sumy oblast), Ohirtseve (Kharkiv oblast). Around 20x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Buda-Vorob'ivs'ka, Yeline (Chernihiv oblast), Seredyna-Buda, Lukashivka, Starykove (Sumy oblast), Kozacha Lopan', Luk'yantsi, Ternova (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: no Russian offensive operations reported. The Russian adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of Petropavlivka, Kotlyarivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forcesfired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Stepova Novoselivka (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 3x assaults in the vicinity of Terny (Donetsk oblast), where Russian force, with air support, made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. The Russian occupiers launched air strikes in the vicinities of Pershotravneve (Kharkiv oblast) and Yampolivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forcesfired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Yampolivka, Tors'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 7x attacks in the vicinities of Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka (Donetsk oblast), where Russian force, using air attacks, made attempts to improve their tactical position. Russian forceslaunched air strikes in the vicinities of Chasiv Yar, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Kalynivka, Chasiv Yar, Stupochky (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 9x attacks in the vicinities of Semenivka, Umans'ke, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian occupiers, using air attacks, made attempts to dislodge Ukrainian forces from their positions. Russian forceslaunched air strikes in the vicinities of Novobakhmutivka, Berdychi, Orlivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forcesfired artillery and mortars at around 20x settlements, including Berdychi, Umans'ke, Netailove, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Novopavlivka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to block Russian forcesnear Heorhiivka, Novomykhailivka and east of Vodyane (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces, using air attacks, made 16x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. The Russian occupiers launched air strikes in the vicinities of Pobjeda and Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast). Russian forcesfired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Hostre, Maksymil'yanivka, Kostyantynivka, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast).
Orikhiv axis: Russian forces, with air support, conducted 2x attacks on positions of Ukrainian defenders in the vicinities of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast) and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 20x settlements, including Malynivka, Poltavka, Mala Tokmachka, Novodanylivka (Zaporizhzhia oblast), were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Kherson axis: Russian forcesexecuted 2x assaults on positions of Ukrainian defenders on the left bank of the Dnipro. The Russian occupiers fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Zolota Balka, Kizomys, Antonivka, Krynky, Ponyativka (Kherson oblast).

During the day of March 31, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 10x concentrations of Russian troops, weapons and military equipment.

The Ukrainian Missile Forces hit 2x UAVs control posts, 1x air defense system, 1x electronic warfare station, 1x artillery system of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation delivered one mass strike by air-based high precision long-range weaponry and unmanned aerial vehicles at Ukrainian energy infrastructure and gas production facilities.

As a result of the strike, the work of defence industry enterprises for the manufacture and repair of weapons, military equipment and ammunition was disrupted. All goals of the strike were achieved. All the assigned targets were engaged.

In Kupyansk direction, the Zapad Group of Force' units repelled five attacks launched by units of AFU 57th mechanised inafantry and 95th air assault brigades near Sinkovka (Kharkov region) and Terni (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 25 Ukrainian troops and four motor vehicles.

In the course of the counter-battery warfare, one Msta-B howitzer, one D-20 gun, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, one Grad MLRS, one Nota electronic warfare station, and one ammunition depot were destroyed.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forcs captured more favourable lines, and hit units of AFU 24th, 53rd mechanised, 56th mechanised infantry, 5th, 92nd assault, 79th, 80th air assault brigades close to Krasnogorovka, Chasov Yar, Krasnoye, Bogdanovka, Kleshcheyevka, and Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU has lost more than 300 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, eight motor vehicles, two D-20 guns, one D-30 howitzer, one D-44 gun, one Bukovel-AD electronic warfare, and two artillery ordnance depots.

In Avdeyevka direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces improved situation on the front line, and hit units of AFU 24th, 47th mechanised, 109th territorial defence brigades near Novgorodskoye, Mayorsk, and Rozovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Nine counterattacks launched by assault units of AFU 25th airborne, 59th mechanised infantry, and 68th jaeger brigades were repelled close to Leninskoye, Tonenkoye, Vodyanoye, Berdichi, and Pervomayskoye.

Up to 300 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, and one electronic warfare station were neutralised.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces improved the tactical situation, and launched strikes at manpower and hardware of AFU 72nd mechanised, 102nd, 108th, 128th territorial defence brigades near Vodyanoye, Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic), and Malinovka (Zaporozhye region).

One counterattack launched by assault units of the AFU 127th Territorial Defence Brigade was repelled close to Priyutnoye (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy losses amounted to up to 85 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, five motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M777 and one U.S.-made M198 howitzers, and one ammunition depot.

In Kherson direction, units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on clusters of manpower and hardware of AFU 65th mechanised, 128th mountain assault, and 126th territorial defence brigades close to Rabotino, Kamenskoye, Lobkovoye (Zaporozhye region), Ivanovka (Kherson region).

The enemy has lost up to 50 troops, three motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M777 howitzer, as well as one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system and one D-20 gun.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Group of Forces have engaged three Su-25 aircraft of Ukrainian Air Force at the Voznesensk airfield (Nikolayevka region).

In addition, one engagement radar, one battlefield command vehicle, one low-altitude surveillance radar, three launchers of S-300 SAM system, two ammunition depots, one workshop for assembling and storing unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as manpower and hardware of the AFU in 126 areas have been engaged during the day.

Air defence systems have shot down 178 AFU UAVs, as well as 23 HIMARS and Uragan MLRS projectiles.

In total, 580 airplanes and 270 helicopters, 17,951 unmanned aerial vehicles, 492 air defence missile systems, 15,650 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,258 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,594 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 20,433 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.