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Russo-Ukraine War - 21 May 2024 - Day 818

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 although Russia has opened a new axis in the north-eastern Ukrainian oblast of Kharkiv, Russian attacks remain high in eastern Ukraine.

Russian forces continued their operational focus on the axis north-west of Avdiivka with attacks on a broad frontage either side of the E50 highway. Russian forces have likely made a series of small tactical gains over the last 72 hours, though probably at heavy cost.

The E50 highway represents the main line of communication between Russian held Donetsk and the Ukrainian held town of Pokrovsk, which remains approximately 30km from current frontline position, but is likely a Russian operational objective. Russian attacks in this direction likely seek to create a salient and split Ukrainian forces in Donetsk.

To the north of Bakhmut, in the vicinity of the town of Siversk, Ukrainian forces reported heavy clashes with Russian forces on 18 and 19 May 2024 with attacks against Ukrainian positions in Bilohorivka, Verknokamianske, and Rozdolivka. Russian gains in this area remain highly limited.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Russia continues active operations in most directions, trying to break through the defenses of Ukrainian troops. There have been 86 combat clashes this day. Most of all - in the lanes of defense of Ukrainian units in Pokrovsky, Kharkiv, Siver and Kramatorsky directions. The Defense Forces of Ukraine suppress the pressure and give a decisive cut to the Russian actions.

In the Kharkiv direction since the beginning of the day, there were 12 combat clashes. Fighting continues in the areas of Vovchansk and Staritsa. The Russian aviation dropped controlled air bombs on Vovchansk, Liptsi and three at once - on the White Well.
The situation remains under the control of Ukrainian units, Ukrainian soldiers inflict the Russian enemy with a fire impression.
The total Russian losses in this direction are already 71 persons and 14 units of weapons and military equipment. Among other things, damaged Russian rszv bm-21 "grad".
In the Kupians пkomu direction, Russian occupiers attacked Ukrainian defensive borders nine times. Fighting clashes in the areas of the settlements of Synkivka and Ivanivka continue.
In the sívers вкиkomu direction, the combat in the area of bílogorívki.
In the kramators комуkomu direction the number of combat clashes of the current day increased to ten. Ukrainian soldiers continue to repel the Russian assault in the area of the settlement of Klishchiyivka. The enemy of success is not the one.
In the pokrovs ровkomu direction fighting in the directions of settlements kalinove, novooleksandrivka, falcon, umans кke, as well as progress. In total, Russia has tried to improve the tactical position 33 times. Ukrainian defenders strictly respond to Russian occupiers.
At this time, Russia lost a total of 47 Russian occupiers and 14 units of arms and military equipment here. In particular, destroyed ZRK "Kub" and MT-LB, damaged one tank and one heavy fire-throwing system TOS-1 Russians.
The sixth for today, and also unsuccessful, the attempt of the captors to advance in the direction of the village of Staromayorske was repelled by Ukrainian defenders in the Vrmívs стаkomu direction.
In the pridniprovs КАkomu direction Russian terrorists did aviudarív in the areas of novoberislava and veselogo, dropping on each three kabi.
The rest of the destinations do not have significant changes in the environment.
From the beginning of the day, the aviation of the Air Force, the army aviation and the units of the rocket troops and artillery of the Defense Forces of Ukraine hit a total of 16 concentration areas of the Russian occupiers, two radio stations and one Russian artillery system.

Ukrainian soldiers keep Russian forces under strict fire control. The command is taking the necessary measures to dispose of the means of fire damage.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that losses were inflicted on manpower and hardware of the AFU 125th Mechanised Brigade, 112th, and 113th territorial defence brigades near Konstantinovka, Okhrimovka, and Granov (Kharkov region).

Three counter-attacks launched by the enemy's assault detachments were repelled near Volchansk and Staritsa (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 245 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, two armoured fighting vehicles, two pickup trucks, three 152-mm 2S3 Akatsiya self-propelled artillery systems, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, and one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery warfare station.

Units of the Zapad Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and inflicted losses on formations of the AFU 14th, 21st, and 66th mechanised brigades near Novosadovoye, Ivanovka (Donetsk People's Republic), and Nevskoye (Lugansk People's Republic).

Six counter-attacks launched by the AFU assault detachments were repelled near Stelmakhovka, Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic), and Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 425 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two armoured personnel carriers, six motor vehicles, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, and one 122-mm 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

Two U.S.-made AN/TPQ-37 counter-battery warfare stations were destroyed.

Units of the Yug Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front line and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 57th Mechanised Brigade, 105th, and 118th territorial defence brigades near Konstantinovka, Razdolovka, and Chasov Yar (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 320 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two infantry fighting vehicles, and two U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzers.

One AFU ammunition depot was destroyed.

Units of the Tsentr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation, as well as inflicted losses on formations of the AFU 68th Jaeger Brigade and 24th Mechanised Brigade near Semyonovka and Novgorodskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

Seven counter-attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 71st Jaeger Brigade, 47th, and 110th mechanised brigades were repelled near Ocheretino, Solovyovo, and Umanskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 420 Ukrainian troops, five armoured fighting vehicles, including four U.S.-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles, one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, one 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one 122-mm D-30 howitzer.

Units of the Vostok Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 128th Territorial Defence Brigade near Velikaya Novosyolka and Makarovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

One counter-attack of the enemy was repelled near Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 145 Ukrainian troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, eight motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm M198 howitzer, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, and one 122-mm D-30 howitzer.

Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 37th Marines Brigade, 65th Mechanised Brigade, and 15th National Guard Brigade near Veseloye (Kherson region), Rabotino, and Malaya Tokmachka (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 105 Ukrainian troops, seven motor vehicles, two U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzers, one 152-mm 2A36 Giatsint-B howitzer, and one 122-mm BM-21 Grad MLRS combat vehicle.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware clusters in 95 areas during the day.

Air Defence units shot down 45 unmanned aerial vehicles, two U.S.-made ATACMS operational-tactical missiles, eight French-made SCALP-EG cruise missiles, five French-made Hammer guided aerial bombs, four U.S.-made HARM anti-radiation missiles, and eight U.S.-made HIMARS and Olkha MLRS projectiles.

?? In total, 601 airplanes and 274 helicopters, 24,464 unmanned aerial vehicles, 523 air defence missile systems, 16,114 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,306 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 9,717 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 21,872 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.