• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Russo-Ukraine War - 16 April 2024 - Day 783

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 2 April 2024 the Ukrainian Armed Forces targeted a factory in the Tatarstan Region of Russia approximately 800 miles from the Ukrainian border. The facility has been operating since July 2023 and is known to construct Iranian SHAHED style drones which Russia utilise to launch attacks against Ukraine. The regional head of Tatarstan subsequently said in a statement that 'no one will protect us but ourselves'.

The attack once again demonstrates the ability of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to reach deep into Russia, evade Russian air defence and locate any supporting functions of the war. The comments from the head of the Tatarstan region highly likely demonstrate a fear around such attacks. It is likely that Russian MOD are struggling to protect such facilities and are likely content to balance the risk to sites staffed by civilians in favour of maintaining their focus on the frontline where Ukrainian UAV tactics, and frequency of attacks, continue to cause problems for Russian forces.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of April 16, there were 50x tactical engagements.

Russian forces launched a total of 2x missile and 43x air strikes, 39x MLRS attacks on the 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: Russia maintains its military presence in the russian areas bordering Ukraine. Russia conducts subversion, continues shelling of Ukrainian settlements from the territory of Tussia and increases the concentration of mining operations along the state border of Ukraine. The Russian adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of Popivka and Vozdvyzhens'ke (Sumy oblast). More than 15x settlements, including Liskivshchyna (Chernihiv oblast), Stara Huta, Khliborob, Romashkove, Vil'na Sloboda (Sumy oblast) came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Kup'yans'k and Lyman axes: Russian forces conducted no offensives. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Hlushkivka, Kolisnykivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 20x settlements, including Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Kyslivka, Pishchane (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 6x attacks in the vicinities of Terny, Tors'ke, Hryhorivka (Donetsk oblast) and Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Terny and Zarichne (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Makiivka, (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Yampolivka, Tors'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 12x attacks in the vicinities of Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Vyimka, Bilohorivka, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian adversary, using air attacks, attempted to improve its tactical position. Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Spirne (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 9x attacks in the vicinities of Ocheretyne, Novokalynove, Berdychi, Semenivka, Netailove (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces, using air attacks, made attempts to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their positions. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities Pervomais'ke, Soloviove, Novobakhmutivka, Oleksandropil' (Donetsk oblast). 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 (Donetsk oblast), where the invaders made 14x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Antonivka and Kostyantynivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Paraskoviivka, Kostyantynivka, Vuhledar (Donetsk oblast).
Orikhiv axis: Russian forces launched 3x attacks on positions of Ukrainian defenders in the vicinities of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast) and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk 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 16, Russian forces launched 5x unsuccessful attacks on positions of the Ukrainian troops in the vicinity of Krynky (Kherson oblast). The Russian adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of Beryslav, Odradokam'yanka and Kozats'ke (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 16, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 5x concentration of Russian troops, 1x command post.

The Ukrainian Missile Forces hit 1x concentration of Russian troops.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, the Zapad Group of Forces' units improved the situation along the front line and repelled two counter-attacks launched by the AFU 21st Mechanised Brigade's assault groups close to Terny (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 30 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm Paladin self-propelled artillery system, one U.S.-made 155-mm M198 howitzer, and one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer. In addition, one AFU field ammunition depot was destroyed.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the 46th Airmobile, 92nd Air Assault, 28th, 93rd Mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Andreyevka, Krasnogorovka, Kurdyumovka, and Kleshcheyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Up to 630 Ukrainian troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, and four motor vehicles were neutralised.

In counterbattery warfare, the U.S.-made 155-mm Paladin and Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery systems, one 152-mm Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, one U.S.-made 105-mm M119 gun, as well as one Nota electronic warfare station were annihilated.

In Avdeyevka direction, the units of the Tsentr Group of Forces have improved the tactical situation and repelled eight counter-attacks of the assault groups of the 25th Airborne, 68th, 71st jaeger, 23rd, 24th, 115th mechanised brigades of the AFU close to Novokalinovo, Semyonovka, Petrovskoye, Netaylovo, and Berdychi (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 380 Ukrainian troops, one infantry fighting vehicle, two motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm Paladin self-propelled artillery system, one 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and three 122-mm D-30 howitzers.

In South Donetsk direction, the Vostok Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line and hit manpower and hardware of the 58th Motorised Infantry Brigade of the AFU, 108th and 128th territorial defence brigades close to Lugovskoye (Zaporozhye region), Ugledar, Urozhaynoye, and Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 80 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, one Grad MLRS, one Polish-made 155-mm Krab self-propelled artillery system, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, and one Bukovel-AD electronic warfare station.

In Kherson direction, the units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on the 117th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU and 35th Marine Brigade near Orekhov (Zaporozhye region) and Ivanovka (Kherson region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 40 Ukrainian troops, five motor vehicles, and one U.S.-made M777 howitzer.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged AFU ammunition and fuel depots, UAV production and storage facilities, as well as clusters of enemy manpower and military hardware in 133 areas during the day.

Air defence systems have shot down 155 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, six UK-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles, two U.S.-made HARM anti-radiation missiles, four U.S.-made MALD decoy missiles, as well as two HIMARS and Uragan MLRS projectiles during the day.

In total, 583 airplanes and 270 helicopters, 21,292 unmanned aerial vehicles, 502 air defence missile systems, 15,793 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,267 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,928 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 21,063 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.