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Russo-Ukraine War - 18 April 2024 - Day 785

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 01 April 2024, a Grigorovich class guided missile frigate undertook weapons handling activity at the Black Sea Fleet (BSF) facility, Novorossiysk port. Modern Russian warships such as the Grigorovich class frigate have vertical launch systems for firing cruise missiles at sea and land targets. Such missiles have historically been reloaded in Sevastopol, Crimea.

The BSF has largely withdrawn its ships and submarines from Sevastopol further eastwards to Novorossiysk. Since the removal of the BSF commander in March 2024, the fleet has been the least active since the war began.

Whilst the BSF almost certainly remains alongside Novorossiysk as its best method of avoiding Ukrainian sea-borne attack, its maintenance, logistics and weapons-handling infrastructure at Novorossiysk has highly likely been improved to support the new basing arrangements indefinitely.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day, 71 combat encounters were recorded.

In total, Russian forces carried out 6 missiles and 63 air strikes, carried out 41 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 wounded among the civilian population. Demolition and damage were suffered by multi-storey and private buildings, as well as other infrastructure objects.

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 хkomu and Slobozhans теkomu 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 Orlivka Sumy region; Vovchansk and Strílecha of Kharkiv region. Russian artillery and mortar shelling suffered more than 20 settlements, among them Embankment, Kremsky Bugor, Mykolaivka of Chernihiv region; Klyusi, Bilopillya, Bruski of Sumy region; Veterinarne, Kozacha Lopan, Gatiš Арe of Kharkiv region.
In the Kupâns пkomu direction, Russian offensive (stormovih) actions did not lead, but caused an air strike in the area of the settlement of Borov kharkiv region. About 20 settlements were under artillery and mortar fire, including Synkivka, Petropavlivka, Stepova Novoselivka of Kharkiv region.
In the Limans поkomu direction the Defense Forces repelled 2 attacks in the areas of the settlements of Terni and Yampolivka Donetsk region, where Russian forces, supported by aviation, tried to break through the defense of Ukrainian troops. Also, Russian forces carried out an air strike in the area of the settlement of Nevs ційke Luhansk region. More than 10 settlements were affected by artillery and mortar shelling, among them Makiyivka, Nevsky Luhansk region and Terni ̧ Torskke Donetsk region.
In the Bakhmut direction, Ukrainian soldiers fought 17 attacks in the areas of the settlements of Bilogorivka of Luhansk region; Verkhnyokamianske, Vyymka, Kalinivka, Chasiv Yar, Novy, Ivanivskke, Klishchiyivka of Donetsk region, where Russian forces tried to improve the tactical position. Russian forces carried out an air strike in the area of the New York settlement of Donetsk region. More than 10 settlements were under artillery and mortar fire, including Grigorivka, Kalinivka, Chasiv Yar Donetsk region.
In the Avdíiv direction, Ukrainian defenders hit 11 attacks in the areas of the settlements of Novokalinove, Ocheretyne, Berdychi, Pervomais виke Donetsk region, where Russian forces, supported by aviation, tried to push Ukrainian units out of occupied borders. Also, Russian forces carried out air strikes in the areas of the settlements of Semenivka and Selidove Donetsk region. Artillery and mortar shelling occurred about 10 settlements, among them Ocheretyne, Novobakhmutivka, Uman Donetsk region.
In the Novopavlivsk direction, the Defense Forces continue to restrain Russian forces in the areas of the settlements of Novomykhailivka, Urozhayne Donetsk region, where Russian troops, with aviation support, tried 12 times to break through the defenses of Ukrainian troops. Also, Russia carried out air strikes in the areas of settlements of Krasnogorivka, Alexandropil, Vodiyane, Vugledar Donetsk region. More than 10 settlements were under Russian artillery and mortar fire , among them Krasnogorivka, Paraskoviyivka, Konstantinivka of the Donetsk region.
In the Orekhiv direction, Russian forces, supported by aviation, attacked 3 times the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the area of Staromayorsk Donetsk region; Robotinyo Zaporizhzhia region. Artillery and mortar shelling were hit by about 20 settlements, among them Chervone, Bilogirya, Scherbaki, Pyatykhatka of Zaporizhia region.
In the Kherson direction, Russia does not refuse the intention to push out Ukrainian units from placdarmív on the left bank of the dnieper. Yes, within a day, with air support, carried out 7 unsuccessful attacks on Ukrainian troops' positions in the area of Krynka settlement of Kherson region. Artillery and mortar shelling occurred about 20 settlements, among them Tyaginka, Ivanivka, Novotyaginka, Ponyativka of Kherson region.

During the day, the Defense Forces aviation struck 9 areas of focus of Russian personnel.

The units of the rocket troops were affected by the 1 area of focus of the personnel and 1 warehouse of the REB occupiers ammunition.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces have inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the AFU 57th Motorised Infantry Brigade, the 100th Mechanised Brigade, as well as on the 31st Ukrainian National Guard Brigade near Sinkovka (Kharkov region), Novosyolovskoye, Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic), and Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Two counter-attacks launched by assault groups of the 3rd Assault and 63rd Mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were repelled near Terny (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 30 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two pick-up trucks, one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, and two 152-mm D-20 howitzers.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces have improved the situation along the front line and inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the AFU 30th, 56th, and 93rd mechanised brigades near Vasyukovka, Orekhovo-Vasilyevka, and Andreyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

One counter-attack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 46th Airmobile Brigade was repelled near Krasnogorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy lost up to 590 Ukrainian troops, one tank, and seven motor vehicles.

In the course of the counter-battery warfare, one 152-mm Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, one U.S.-made 105-mm M119 gun, two Nota electronic warfare stations, as well as one field ammunition depot were eliminated.

In Avdeyevka direction, the units of the Tsentr Group of Forces have improved the tactical situation and defeated the units of the 68th Jaeger, 24th, 47th mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Artyomovo, Semyonovka, Netaylovo, and Orlovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Seven counter-attacks of the 24th, 115th mechanised, 71st Jaeger brigades, and 78th Separate Air Assault Regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were repelled close to Novokalinovo, Novogorodskoye, Vodyanoye, Pervomayskoye, Berdychi, and Novobakhmutovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses included up to 130 Ukrainian troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, and one 152-mm D-20 howitzer.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and inflicted losses on units of the 58th Motorised Infantry Brigade, 72nd Mechanised Brigade of the AFU, 102nd and 128th territorial defence brigades near Vodyanoye, Ugledar, Urozhaynoye, Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic), and Malinovka (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 140 Ukrainian troops, four motor vehicles, UK-made 152-mm AS-90 Braveheart self-propelled artillery system, as well as three field ammunition depots.

In Kherson direction, the units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the 65th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU, 36th Marine Brigade and 126th Territorial Defence Brigades close to Rabotino (Zaporozhye region), Zmeyevka, Nikolskoye, and Ivanovka (Kherson region).

One counter-attack launched by an assault detachment of the 15th Operational Brigade was repelled close to Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 50 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, as well as two 122-mm D-30 howitzers.

Operational-Tactical and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Groups of Forces of the Russian Federation have been eliminated during the day: AFU Operational Command Centre North (Sever), two launchers equipped with illumination and targeting radar set of the S-300 air defence systems, an ammunition depot of the Donetsk Operational-Tactical Group, arms and fuel depots of the 101st Territorial Defence Brigade, and engaged enemy manpower and military hardware in 126 areas.

Air defence systems shot down 251 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, two Tochka-U tactical missiles, and 33 Vampire missiles during the day.

In total, 583 airplanes and 270 helicopters, 21,734 unmanned aerial vehicles, 504 air defence missile systems, 15,801 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,267 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,945 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 21,111 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.