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Russo-Ukraine War - 21 April 2024 - Day 788

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 14 April 2024, Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief General Syrskyi stated Russian forces intend to take Chasiv Yar in eastern Ukraine by 09 May 2024, the date of Russia's Victory Day celebrations. Syrskyi stated that Chasiv Yar is a preliminary step towards the larger city of Kramatorsk.

On 18 April 2024, Ukrainian Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group of Forces commander noted Russian Air Force dropping 20-30 munitions per day. These are likely discharged by Russian Su-25 aircraft operating close to the line of contact and Su-34 operating at a stand-off distance using glide bombs. This is a concerted aerial bombardment and is a tactic repeated from the Avdiivka campaign.

Chasiv Yar town is heavily defended and situated on high ground. Russian ground forces have made only slow progress in the area.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of April 21, there were 65x tactical engagements.

Russian forces launched a total of 4x missile and 37x air strikes, 49x 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. More than 10x settlements, including Stepok, Tur'ya, (Chernihiv oblast), Stara Huta (Sumy oblast), Veterynarne, Hatyshche, Pletenivka (Kharkiv oblast) came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Kup'yans'k and Lyman axes: the Russian adversary conducted no offensives. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Kotlyarivka (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 9x attacks in the vicinity of Terny (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched air strike in the vicinities of Nevs'ke (Luhansk oblast), Novosadove, Yampolivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Yampolivka, Tors'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 13x attacks in the vicinities of Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Bohdanivka (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian adversary, using air attacks, attempted to improve its tactical position. Around 20x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Hryhorivka, Kalynivka, Chasiv Yar, Stupochky (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 9x attacks in the vicinities of Ocheretyne, Berdychi, Umans'ke, Yasnobrodivka and Pervomais'ke (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 Oleksandropil', Soloviove, Semenivka, Netailove (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Ocheretyne, Novobakhmutivka, Umans'ke (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 made 15x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. The Russian adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of Kostyantynivka, Katerynivka, Antonivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Maksymil'yanivka, Kostyantynivka, Vuhledar (Donetsk oblast).
Orikhiv axis: Russian forces, with air support, launched 3x attacks on positions of Ukrainian defenders in the vicinities of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast) and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 20x settlements, including Chervone, Novodanylivka, 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 21, Russian forces executed 1x unsuccessful attack on positions of the Ukrainian troops in the vicinity of Krynky (Kherson oblast). Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Vesele (Kherson oblast). The Russian occupiers fired artillery and mortars at around 20 settlements, including Ivanivka, L'vove, Ol'hivka, Tokarivka (Kherson oblast).

During the day of April 21, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 9x concentrations of Russian troops, weapons and military equipment. Moreover, Ukrainian air defense forces shot down 2x Kh-59 guided air-launched missiles.

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

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the units of the Zapad Group of Forces have taken more advantageous lines and defeated manpower and hardware of 14th mechanised, 68th jaeger, 57th motorised infantry brigades of the AFU and the 110th Brigade of the AFU close to Novoegorovka and Novosyolovskoye (Lugansk People's Republic), as well as Olivovsky Yar.

The enemy losses were up to 50 soldiers, one infantry fighting vehicle, and two motor vehicles.

In addition, in the course of counter-battery warfare, one 155-mm M777 howitzer and two U.S.-made 105-mm M119 guns, two 152-mm Msta-B howitzers, one 152-mm Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, one 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, four 122-mm D-30 howitzers, one 100-mm MT-12 Rapira anti-tank gun, one Grad multiple-launch rocket system, and one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery warfare radar station were destroyed.

The units of the Yug Group of Forces have completely liberated Bogdanovka (Donetsk People's Republic), improved the position along the front line and inflicted a fire defeat on manpower and hardware of the AFU 53rd Mechanised Brigade close to Krasnogorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, two counterattacks by formations of the AFU 93rd Mechanised Brigade have been repelled near Chasov Yar and to the west of Krasnoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 440 troops, three motor vehicles, and one Osa-AKM surface-to-air missile system.

In the course of counter-battery warfare, one 152-mm D-20 gun, one Grad multiple-launch rocket system, two Nota electronic warfare stations, and five enemy field ammunition depots were destroyed.

The units of the Tsentr Group of Forces have actively improved their tactical position and inflicted a comprehensive fire attack on manpower and hardware of the 3rd Assault Brigade and the 24th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU near Leninskoye and Novokalinovo (Donetsk People's Republic).

During the day, eight counterattacks by assault groups of the 59th Motorised Infantry Brigade, 30th, 115th mechanised, 68th, and 71st jaeger brigades of the AFU have been repulsed close to Novobakhmutovka, Umanskoye, Shumy, Novgorodskoye, and Pervomayskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses were up to 360 troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, eight motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M777 155-mm howitzer, and one fuel depot for military hardware.

The units of the Vostok Group of Forces have taken more advantageous lines and defeated manpower and hardware of the 58th AFU Motor Infantry Brigade and the 128th Territorial Defence Brigade near Staromayorskoye and Urozhaynoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 100 servicemen, two armoured fighting vehicles, five motor vehicles, one UK-made 155-mm FH-70 howitzer, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, and two Nota electronic warfare stations.

The units of the Dnepr Group of Forces have inflicted a fire defeat on manpower and hardware concentration areas of the 23rd Brigade of the National Guard and the 121st Brigade of the Territorial Defence of Ukraine near Vysshetarasovka and Nikopol (Dnepropetrovsk region), Berislav and Zolotaya Balka (Kherson region).

The enemy losses were up to 50 troops, four motor vehicles, and one U.S.-made 175-mm M107 self-propelled artillery system.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have destroyed MiG-29 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force at the Dnepr airfield, as well as one control centre, one air target detection radar, and one S-300PS surface-to-air missile system.

In addition, one production workshop for unmanned aerial vehicles, one surveillance radar with the Pelikan phased antenna array, as well as AFU manpower and military hardware in 104 areas.

Air defence facilities have shot down 194 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles and eight HIMARS and Uragan multiple-launch rocket systems projectiles.

In total, 592 airplanes and 270 helicopters, 22,289 unmanned aerial vehicles, 508 air defence missile systems, 15,816 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,269 combat vehicles equipped with MRLS, 9,008 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 21,205 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.