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Russo-Ukraine War - 20 April 2024 - Day 787

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 19 April 2024, Russia carried out airstrikes using Tu-22M3 BACKFIRE C strategic bombers likely against targets in southern Ukraine. Defence Intelligence of Ukraine announced that they had shot down one of the bombers, with reports circulating online that appeared to show a single BACKFIRE losing control in the air, and subsequently crashing into a field.

The Russian Ministry of Defence confirmed that a BACKFIRE had crashed and that a Search and Rescue Mission was ongoing but did not admit to the shoot-down. However, it is almost certain that reports of a S-200 missile (SA-5) being used are accurate and that this was another successful Ukrainian action against the Russian Air Force. This system is likely the same system used to shoot down a Russian A-50 MAINSTAY on 23 February 2024.

This is the first instance of a strategic bomber being shot down by Ukrainian Air Defence systems. It is highly likely that Russia has now sustained at least 100 fixed-wing combat aircraft losses to date.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of April 20, there were 91x tactical engagements.

Russian forces launched a total of 14x missile and 48x air strikes, 61x 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 Russia and increases the concentration of mining operations along the state border of Ukraine. More than 20x settlements, including Sen'kivka, Leonivka, Yanzhulivka (Chernihiv oblast), Pozhnya, Klyusy, Pokrovka, Popivka (Sumy oblast) came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Kup'yans'k and Lyman axes: Russian forces conducted no offensives. However, Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Syn'kivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Stepova Novoselivka, Ivanivka, Kotlyarivka (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 9x attacks in the vicinity of Terny (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces attempted to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched air strike in the vicinities of Novosadove, Yampolivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Tors'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 25x attacks in the vicinities of Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne, Klishchiivka, Ivanivske, Novyi (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian adversary attempted to improve its tactical position. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Chasiv Yar and 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 18x attacks in the vicinities of Semenivka, Ocheretyne, Novokalynove, Berdychi, Umans'ke, Yasnobrodivka (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 of Novobakhmutivka, Oleksandropil', Soloviove and Novooleksandrivka (Donetsk oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Semenivka, Ocheretyne, Novobakhmutivka, Netailove (Donetsk oblast).
Novopavlivka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to block Russian forces near Heorhiivka, Novomykhailivka, Vodyane and Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian invaders, with air support, made 17x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. The adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of Krasnohorivka, Shakhtars'ke, Velyka Novosilka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Paraskoviivka, Kostyantynivka, Vuhledar (Donetsk oblast).
Orikhiv axis: Russian forces, with air support, launched 1x attack on positions of Ukrainian defenders in the vicinity of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Mala Tokmachka and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 20x settlements, including Stepove, Shcherbaky, P'yatykhatky (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 20, the invaders, using air attacks, executed 3x unsuccessful attacks on positions of the Ukrainian troops in the vicinity of Krynky (Kherson oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 20 settlements, including Tyahynka, Ivanivka, Novotyahynka, Ponyativka, Sadove, Ol'hivka, Mykolaivka, Veletens'ke (Kherson oblast) and the city of Kherson.

During the day of April 20, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 9x concentrations of Russian troops.

The Ukrainian Missile Forces hit 1x concentration of troops, 1x ammunition depot, 1x air defense system, 1x concentration of weapons and military equipment of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the Zapad Group of Forces' units captured more advantageous lines and inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of AFU 77th airmobile, 43rd mechanised, and 110th territorial defence brigades near Beryozovka, Senkovo, and Zagoruykovka (Kharkov region).

Three attacks launched by assault groups of AFU 63rd mechanised, 12th and 18th national guard brigades were repelled close to Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic) and Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 30 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles.

The Yug Group of Forces' units improved the situation along the front line and inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of AFU 79th air assault, 46th airmobile, 22nd and 67th mechanised brigades close to Maksimilyanovka, Stupochki, Paraskoviyevka, and Kalinina (Donetsk People's Republic).

Three counterattacks of the AFU 28th Mechanised Brigade's units were repelled west of Krasnoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 610 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, five motor vehicles, one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, one ammunition depot, as well as one Nota electronic warfare station.

The Tsentr Group of Forces' units improved the tactical situation and repelled eight counterattacks launched by assault groups of AFU 25th airborne, 23rd, 24th, 100th, and 115th mechanised brigades close to Novobakhmutovka, Leninskoye, Pervomayskoye, and Novokalinovo (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy lost up to 355 Ukrainian troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, and five motor vehicles.

In the course of the counterbattery warfare, one Czech-made 152-mm Dana self-propelled gun, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, one 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one 122-mm D-30 howitzer were hit.

The Vostok Group of Forces' units captured more advantageous lines and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of AFU 72nd mechanised, 128th territorial defence brigades near Staromayorskoye and Urozhaynoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 120 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, four ammunition depots, as well as one Anklav electronic warfare station.

The units of the Dnepr Group of Forces have inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of AFU 23rd national guard, 121st territorial defence brigades close to Nikopol (Dnepropetrovsk region), Mikhaylovka and Zolotaya Balka (Kherson region).

The enemy losses were more than 30 Ukrainian troops, four motor vehicles, one 152-mm D-20 gun, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, and one U.S.-made 105-mm M119 howitzer.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged one aviation fuel depot, two transport infrastructure facilities used for military purposes, as well as AFU manpower and hardware in 112 areas.

Russian air defence units have shot down one Su-25 aircraft of Ukrainian Air Force, 213 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as five French-made Hammer aerial guided bombs.

In total, 591 airplanes and 270 helicopters, 22,095 unmanned aerial vehicles, 506 air defence missile systems, 15,812 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,267 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,991 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 21,183 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.