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Russo-Ukraine War - 26 June 2024 - Day 854

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 several Russian Duma deputies have recently expressed concern about the threat posed to law and order by returning ex-prisoners who have been fighting for the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine. The Chairperson of the Duma Committee on Family Protection, Issues of paternity, maternity and childhood Nina Ostanina told Russian newspaper Gazeta that there will be more crimes as these ex-prisoners are not socialised. She said that ex-prisoners should be constantly monitored by the law-enforcement agencies and society needed to be protected from such people. She said there was an urgent need for legislation. Duma Deputy Maksim Ivanov also warned that there could be an increase in crime after the return of people from the war.

Russia has been recruiting prisoners to serve in its armed forces since at least July 2022, a practice pioneered by the former Head of the Wagner Russian private military company, Yevgeny Prigozhin. Prisoner sentences are commuted in exchange for fighting in Ukraine. Many have been killed on the frontlines. The First Deputy Chairman of the Duma Defence Committee Alexey Zhuravlev argued that prisoners sent to fight in Ukraine should not be permitted to return to Russia until victory is achieved in the war with Ukraine.

The Russian General Procuracy has ceased to publish official crime statistics since 01 January 2023, likely partly over the possible rise in violent crime committed by ex-prisoners returning from fighting in Ukraine. The independent Russian media outlet Verstka reported in April 2024 that at least 107 Russians had been killed and another 100 seriously injured by veterans returning from the conflict. The recruitment of prisoners into the Russian Armed Forces and the implications for Russian communities when they are released is a practice and a risk that the Russian Government is prepared to take to maintain its war in Ukraine.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to resolutely counter the attempts of the Russian enemy to advance deep into the territory of Ukraine, directing efforts to disrupt the occupiers' execution of offensive tasks.

116 combat clashes have taken place since the beginning of the day. The Russian aggressor is trying to take advantage of live force and support from the air. During the day, a missile hit on the territory of Ukraine with one rocket. In addition, 43 Russian air strikes took place - in particular, the Russian occupiers dropped 57 KABív. In addition, the zombies deployed 359 kamikaze drones and carried out more than 2,700 shelling at the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements using different types of weapons.

In the Kharkiv direction Russian terrorists 10 times, supported by aviation, stormed the positions of Ukrainian units in the areas of Vovchansk, Liptsiv, Sotnitsky Cossack and Glibokoye. In Vovchansk, there are still fights in three locations.
According to the information available at this time, 40 Russian units of armament and military equipment have been destroyed and damaged. 30 Russian blinders are also impressed.
Eight times Russian forces attacked Ukrainian positions in the Kupâns мкуkomu direction. Near the settlements of Stepova Novoselivka, Sinkivka, Stelmakhivka, and Berestove, the Defense Forces repelled six offensive actions without success for the Russian opponent. The situation is intense. In the vicinity of Sinkivka and Stepovoí̈ Novoselívka, fighting is ongoing.
In the Lyman direction, Russian troops 18 times unsuccessfully attacked Ukrainian defenders in the areas of six different settlements. Six clashes continue at this time. Russia is concentrating his efforts near makíivka and nevs деkogo, where about 80 percent of all attacks occurred.
A tense situation in the Siversky direction. Russian forces tried 11 times with assault actions to push Ukrainian defenders out of positions in the areas of Bilogorivka, Spirny and Rozdolivka. More than half the fighting is still ongoing.
In the kramators вkomu direction, all attempts of the zagarbnikív to advance near the time yar and kliš Наíivka.
In the Torec direction, where Russian forces attacked nine times near Shumiv, Torec ., Dachny and Northern, three confrontations ended. The action continues in six more locations.
Intensely Russian attacks of Ukrainian defenders in the Pokrovsky direction. Here, throughout the day, Russian forces increased effort - in total he made 37 assault and offensive actions. The greatest activity of the Russian occupiers is kept from the Ocheretynogo district, from where Russian forces in various directions tries to infiltrate Ukrainian combat orders. 29 attacks Ukrainian defenders have already repelled, eight more fighting continue, in particular, near Eugenivka and Novooleksandrivka. The Russian invaders in the direction are losing mainly their life force - for today, Ukrainian warriors have eliminated and wounded more than 200 Russian troops.
In the Kurakhiv direction at this time of the day counts eight unsuccessful for the occupiers of combat clashes. Zagarbniki tried to advance in the areas of settlements Nevelske, Georgievka, Paraskovievka and Konstantinivka. The battle near Krasnogorivka is ongoing. The situation is under control.
In other directions, there have been no significant changes in the environment.

Ukrainian soldiers cause zagarbnikam tangible losses, actively apply the means of fire effect. Yes, in particular, today the Air Force and missile troops and artillery hit 15 personnel and Russian military concentration areas, two control points, an air defense vehicle and an ammunition warehouse.

Today, for effective combat work, the soldiers of the 71st separate моegers віkoí̈ brigade of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of the Armed Forces.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 3rd Assault Brigade, 42nd Mechanised Brigade, 57th Motorised Infantry Brigade, 71st Infantry Brigade, 36th Marines Brigade, 13th National Guard Brigade, and 127th Territorial Defence Brigade near Ternovaya, Glubokoye, Veterenarnoye, Tikhoye, Veseloye, Neskuchnoye, Pitomnik, Volchansk, and Lipsy (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 300 Ukrainian troops, seven motor vehicles, one U.S.-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, one U.S.-made 105-mm M119 howitzer, two 152-mm D-20 howitzers, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery warfare station, and one Nota electronic warfare station.

Units of the Zapad Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and inflicted losses on formations of the AFU 14th, 30th, 66th mechanised brigades, 107th, 112th territorial defence brigades, and 1st National Guard Brigade near Sinkovka, Petropavlovka, Tabayevka (Kharkov region), Platonovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Makeyevka, and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic).

Two counter-attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 3rd Mechanised Brigade were repelled.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 400 Ukrainian troops, one tank, five pickup trucks, one U.S.-made 155-mm M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system, two BM-21 Grad MLRS combat vehicles, and two field ammunition depots.

Units of the Yug Group of Forces improved the tactical situation and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 24th, 72nd, 93rd mechanised brigades, 46th, 81st airmobile brigades, and 143rd Infantry Brigade near Zaliznyanskoye, Grigorovka, Chasov Yar, Verhnekamenskoye, Kurakhovka, and Konstantinovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 510 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, eight motor vehicles, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, two U.S.-made 105-mm M119 howitzers, one Bukovel-AD electronic warfare station, and three ammunition depots.

Units of the Tsentr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front lines and inflicted losses on formations of the AFU 24th, 47th, 110th mechanised brigades, 109th Territorial Defence Brigade, and 2nd National Guard Brigade near Kirovo, Novgorodskoye, Novosyolovka Pervaya, Rozovka, Mikhailovka, and Toretsk (Donetsk People's Republic).

Seven counter-attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 24th, 31th mechanised brigades, 68th Jaeger Brigade, and 95th Air Assault Brigade were repelled.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 405 Ukrainian troops, one tank, one U.S.-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, three motor vehicles, one 152-mm Msta-B howitzer, 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 116th Mechanised Brigade, 58th Motorised Infantry Brigade, and 48th Assault Battalion of the Territorial Defence near Urozhaynoye, Makarovka, and Prechistovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Two counter-attacks launched by the battalion tactical group of the Territorial Recruitment Centre of the Ukrainian National Guard and an assault detachment of the AFU 123th Territorial Defence Brigade were repelled.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 140 Ukrainian troops, two armoured personnel carriers, five motor vehicles, and one 122-mm D-30 howitzer.

Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 65th Mechanised Brigade, 128th Mountain Assault Brigade, 37th Marines Brigade, and 121st Territorial Defence Brigade near Kamenskoye, Nesteriyanka (Zaporozhye region), and Tyaginka (Kherson region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 60 Ukrainian troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, and one U.S.-made 105-mm M119 howitzer.

Three AFU ammunition depots were destroyed.

Operational-Tactical aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces wiped out three U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS launchers, as well as one loading vehicle and foreign specialists responsible for its use.

Moreover, one UAV assembly workshop and one UAV launch site were destroyed, as well as manpower and hardware engaged in 109 areas.

Air defence units shot down 76 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles and two U.S.-made MLRS projectiles.

In total, 613 airplanes and 276 helicopters, 26,642 unmanned aerial vehicles, 533 air defence missile systems, 16,433 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,353 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 10,913 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 22,975 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.