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Russo-Ukraine War - 15 April 2024 - Day 782

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 Russia continues to advertise and seek to recruit foreign nationals to join the Russian Armed Forces to fight in Ukraine. The most recent leaflet, written in English, requests foreigners to join a 'special' unit in the Russian Army and highlights a monthly salary of $2,200, a signing on payment of $2,000, a Russian passport, free medical treatment and training.

Online recruitment adverts were distributed during the middle of 2023 specifically appealing to citizens of neighbouring countries, such as Armenia and Kazakhstan, with monthly salary offers of $1,973 and signing on payments of $5,140. During 2023 Russia had also been approaching central Asian migrants within Russia. More recently there have been reports of migrants from India and Nepal recruited and sent to fight in Ukraine.

It is likely that many of those that have been recruited are not professional soldiers but migrant workers and have been coerced to fight under false pretences or with the offer of financial incentives. The numbers of foreign nationals in the Russian Armed Forces are likely to be low and integrated in to established rather than 'special' units. Russia likely wishes to avoid further unpopular domestic mobilisation measures and with significant casualties - currently estimated at 913 per day —Russia needs to continue to explore all recruitment avenues to maintain a high tempo of personnel in-flow.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of April 15, there were 87x tactical engagements.

Russian forces launched a total of 15x missile and 18x air strikes, 29x MLRS attacks on 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, got destroyed and damaged.

Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes. No signs of formation of an offensive group.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia 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. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Uhroidy, Vozdvyzhens'ke (Sumy oblast), Luk'yantsi, Volokhivka (Kharkiv oblast). More than 15x settlements, including Leonivka, Kostobobriv, Yanzhulivka (Chernihiv oblast), Svesa, Popivka (Sumy oblast), Udy, Kozacha Lopan', Strilecha (Kharkiv oblast) came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Kup'yans'k and Lyman axes: Russian forces conducted no offensives. The invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 20x settlements, including Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Kyslivka, Pishchane (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 4x attacks in the vicinity of Terny (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Makiivka, (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Yampolivka, Tors'ke, Zarichne (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 27x attacks in the vicinities of Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne, Novyi, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian adversary attempted to improve its tactical position. Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of New York (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Hryhorivka, Kalynivka, Chasiv Yar (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 12x attacks in the vicinities of Novobakhmutivka, Berdychi, Semenivka, Umans'ke Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces, using air attacks, made attempts to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their positions. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Novobakhmutivka, Semenivka, Netailove (Donetsk oblast).
Novopavlivka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to block Russian forces near Krasnohorivka, Novomykhailivka, Pobjeda, Vodyane and Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian invaders, using air attacks, made 26x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Paraskoviivka, Kostyantynivka, Vuhledar (Donetsk oblast).
Orikhiv axis: Russian forces launched 5x attacks on positions of Ukrainian defenders in the vicinity of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast), north of Pryyutne and southwest of Bilohir'ya (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 20x settlements, including Poltavka, Malynivka, Chervone, Bilohir'ya, Shcherbaky (Zaporizhzhia oblast), were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Kherson axis: Russia does not abandon its intention to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their bridgeheads on the left bank of the Dnipro River. In particular during the day of April 15, Russian forces launched 4x unsuccessful attacks on positions of the Ukrainian troops in the vicinity of Krynky (Kherson oblast). The Russian occupiers fired artillery and mortars at around 20 settlements, including L'vove, Tyahynka, Ivanivka, Novotyahynka (Kherson oblast).

During the day of April 15, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 2x concentration of Russian troops, 1x command post.

The Ukrainian Missile Forces hit 1x artillery system, 3x concentrations of troops, 4x UAVs control posts of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces have improved the situation along the front line and inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the 14th Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the 103rd Territorial Defence Brigade close to Zagoruykovka and Kotlyarovka (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses were up to 30 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, one 155-mm M777 howitzer, one 155-mm Paladin self-propelled artillery system, one 155-mm U.S.-made M198 howitzer, as well as Plastun and Anklav-N electronic warfare stations.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the 81st airmobile, 24th and 53rd mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Belogorovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Novoye and Krasnogorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses were up to 420 Ukrainian troops, one tank, 10 motor vehicles, two 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems, and one 105-mm UK-made L-119 howitzer.

In Avdeyevka direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces have actively improved the tactical situation and defeated manpower and hardware of 24th, 47th, 54th, and 115th mechanised, 25th airborne and 68th jaeger brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Novgorodskoye, Umanskoye, Semyonovka, Novokalinovo, and Ocheretino (Donetsk People's Republic)..

In addition, seven counterattacks of AFU 25th airborne, 71st jaeger, 59th motorised infantry, 23rd and 115th mechanised brigades have been repelled close to Pervomayskoye, Novobakhmutovka, Umanskoye, and Berdychi (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 295 soldiers, one tank, four armoured fighting vehicles, including one German-made Marder IFV, and four motor vehicles.

In the course of counter-battery warfare, Russian troops have hit one 155-mm U.S.-made M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system, one 152-mm Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, one 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, three 122-mm D-30 howitzers, one 105-mm U.S.-made M102 howitzer, and one Khmara electronic warfare station.

In South Donetsk direction, the Vostok Group of Forces' units have improved the situation along the front line and defeated the units of 72nd mechanised, 58th motorised infantry, and 128th territorial defence brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Urozhaynoye, Vodyanoye, and Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses were up to 90 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, one UK-made 155-mm FH-70 howitzer, and one 122-mm D-30 howitzer.

In Kherson direction, units of the Dnepr Group of Forces have inflicted fire damage to manpower and hardware of the 65th Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Rabotino (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses were up to 60 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, one UK-made 155-mm FH-70 howitzer, and one 152-mm D-20 howitzer.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have destroyed one command and observation post of the 13th Ukrainian National Guard Brigade's battalion, as well as AFU manpower and military hardware in 110 areas.

Air defence facilities have shot down 270 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles and six HIMARS MLRS projectiles.

In total, 583 airplanes and 270 helicopters, 21,137 unmanned aerial vehicles, 502 air defence missile systems, 15,789 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,266 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,884 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 21,050 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.