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Russo-Ukraine War - 22 April 2024 - Day 789

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 the husband of prominent Russian influencer Yelena Blinovskaya has joined the Russian Armed Forces military campaign in Ukraine in an effort to stop Blinovskaya going to prison on tax evasion charges. On 16 April 2024, Blinovskaya's husband, Alexei Blinovsky, was pictured serving in a specially created military unit of the Russian Armed Forces, known as the Bars Kaskad, near Ukraine.

This unit was reportedly set up by Russian State Duma Defence deputy chairman, Dimitry Sablin. The unit is predominantly involved in Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle operations normally away from the frontline. It has been active since October 2022 and has had at least 10 United Russia Party members, and sons of Kremlin VIPs enlist. Enlisted VIPs are reportedly given a protection detail.

Enlistment with Bars Kaskad likely allows Russian elite figures to sidestep statutory Russian military service requirements with guaranteed safety and potentially curry favour with the Kremlin. Blinovsky's case is the first recorded time where an individual has joined the unit to help a family member to avoid prison.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of April 22, there were 62x tactical engagements.

Russian forces launched a total of 4x missile and 58x air strikes, 100x 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 10x settlements, including Oleksiivka, Myropil's'ke, Stepok (Sumy oblast) came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Kup'yans'k and Lyman axes: Russian forces conducted no offensives. Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Sen'kove (Kharkiv oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Kotlyarivka (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 14x attacks in the vicinities of Novojehorivka, Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Tors'ke (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 12x attacks in the vicinities of Zolotarivka, Spirne, Vyimka, Chasiv Yar, 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 Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast). Around 20x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Hryhorivka, Kalynivka, Chasiv Yar, Stupochky (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 10x attacks in the vicinities of Novobakhmutivka, Semenivka, Umans'ke, Yasnobrodivka and 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 of Novokalynove, Berdychi, Oleksandropil', Semenivka, Illinka (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, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces made 12x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. The Russian adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of Kostyantynivka, Novomykhailivka and Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, 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 an air strike in the vicinity of Mala Tokmachka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 15x 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 22, Russian forces executed 4x unsuccessful attacks on positions of the Ukrainian troops in the vicinity of Krynky (Kherson oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Novoberyslav and Beryslav (Kherson oblast). The occupiers fired artillery and mortars at around 20 settlements, including Ivanivka, L'vove, Ol'hivka, Tokarivka (Kherson oblast).

During the day of April 22, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 2x anti-aircraft missile systems, 13x concentrations of Russian troops, weapons and military equipment.

The Ukrainian Missile Forces hit 1x command post, 2x air defense systems, 1x concentration of Russian troops.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the Yug Group of Forces units have fully liberated Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic) as a result of the successful actions, and improved their tactical position along the front line.

Strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware of the 10th Mountain Assault, 79th, 92nd air assault, 46th, 81st airmobile, 22nd, 23rd, 28th, 41st, 93rd mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) close to Belogorovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Spornoye, Minkovka, Kleshcheyevka, Chasov Yar, Andreyevka, and Ostroye (Donetsk People's Republic).

Three counter-attacks launched by the AFU 33rd mechanised, 80th air assault brigades were repelled close to Bogdanovka and Pobeda (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 410 Ukrainian troops, nine motor vehicles, and one 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system. One Anklav electronic warfare station and one ammunition depot were also eliminated.

The Zapad Group of Forces' units captured more advantageous lines and inflicted losses on the 21st mechanised and 95th air assault brigades of the AFU near Terny (Donetsk People's Republic).

Four counter-attacks launched by the 12th Special Forces Brigade (Azov) have been repelled near Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses included up to 25 Ukrainian troops, two pickup trucks, and one 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

The Tsentr Group of Forces' units improved the tactical situation and repelled nine counter-attacks launched by the assault groups of the 25th air assault, 68th, 71st jaeger, 59th motorised infantry, 24th, 47th, 100th, and 115th mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Pervomayskoye, Semyonovka, Netaylovo, and Berdychi (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 365 Ukrainian troops, one German-made Marder infantry fighting vehicle, 12 motor vehicles, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, as well as three electronic warfare stations: Nota and Bukovel-AD.

The Vostok Group of Forces' units captured more advantageous lines and inflicted losses on the units of the 58th motorised infantry, 72nd mechanised brigades of the AFU, 102nd and 128th territorial defence brigades near Staromayorskoye, Ugledar, Urozhaynoye (Donetsk People's Republic) and Chervonoye (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 95 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, and one UK-made 155-mm FH-70 howitzer.

The units of the Dnepr Group of Forces have inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the AFU 141st infantry, 65th mechanised, and 128th mountain assault brigades near Rabotino, Novoandreyevka, and Stepovoye (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 45 Ukrainian troops and two pickup trucks.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged one air defence positioning area, one storage point for uncrewed surface vehicles, manpower and hardware of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 142 areas.

Air defence systems shot down 240 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles during the day.

In total, 592 airplanes, 270 helicopters, 22,529 unmanned aerial vehicles, 508 air-to-air missile systems, 15,817 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,269 MLRS combat vehicles, 9,040 field artillery guns and mortars, and 21,232 special military vehicles have been neutralised since the beginning of the special military operation.