Russia’s war on Ukraine. 18.02.2024

In the operational zone of the Ukrainian Operational-Strategic Group of Forces (OSG) “Khortytsia” on the Lyman direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 12 Russian attacks in the areas of Terny, Yampolivka, Torske, and Bilohorivka. On the Bakhmut direction, they repelled 14 enemy attacks near Ivanivske, Klishchiivka and Andriivka.

In the “Tavriya” OSG operational zone on the Avdiivka direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 14 enemy attacks in the area of Lastochkyne. On the Maryinka direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces continued holding back the enemy near Heorhiivka, Pobieda and Novomykhailivka, where the Russian forces attempted to breach Ukrainian defenses 23 times. On the Novopavlivka direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled two enemy attacks south of Prechystivka and west of Staromayorske. On the Zaporizhzhia direction, the enemy 13 times unsuccessfully attempted to attack positions of the Ukrainian troops west of Verbove and Robotyne.

In the operational zone of the “Odesa” OSG on the Kherson direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold positions and repel assaults by occupation forces. Despite significant losses, the adversary persists in attempts to dislodge Ukrainian units from their positions. Over the past day, the enemy made 2 unsuccessful assault attempts.

General conclusion:

• The abrupt deployment of the 7th Separate Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 11th Army Corps of the Russian Baltic Fleet towards Ivanivka – Stepova Novoselivka, despite incomplete restoration, is linked to the setback suffered by the enemy’s 2nd Motorized Rifle Division south of this sector.
• The enemy’s main objective in the Bakhmut direction remains the advancement to the Siversky Donets-Donbas canal on the the widest possible front.
• The enemy has resumed active combat operations on the Tokmak direction.
• On the Kherson direction, it is anticipated that the enemy will shortly intensify efforts to completely disrupt the logistics of the “Odesa” OSG forward units on the left bank.
• The command of the Russian “Dniepr” Operational Grouping is deploying forces and assets for counter-battery warfare.
• On the left bank of the Dnipro River, the adversary is compelled to operate predominantly during the night, attributed to the superior efficacy of the “Odesa” OSG UAVs.
• Between January 1 and January 15, the enemy lost 20,018 personnel, 199 tanks, and 481 armored vehicles in battles for Avdiivka.
• The adversary’s verbal statements sharply contrast with the lack of video footage confirming the scale of the Russian victory in Avdiivka as portrayed by its propaganda.
• The Russian Aerospace Forces managed to establish temporary air superiority over the Avdiivka operational area for the first time since the beginning of the war and provide direct air support to ground forces, primarily through bombing raids.
• The air defense capabilities of the “Tavriya” OSG on the Avdiivka direction proved inadequate to deny access to enemy strike aircraft. The utilization of glide bombs by the enemy from distances of up to 70 km, beyond the reach of the Defense Forces’ air defense, underscores the need to equip air defense systems with extended ranges to effectively neutralize such threats.

Change in the line of contact (LoC):  

• There were 82 combat engagements on various fronts.
• As a result of the withdrawal of the “Tavriya” OSG from Avdiivka, the front line has been aligned along the Ocheretyne – Stepove – Lastochkyne – Severne – Pervomaiske – Nevelske line.
• On the Kupyansk direction, the enemy has advanced 100 meters in the northeast part of Synkivka. The 7th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 11th Army Corps of the Russian Baltic Fleet unsuccessfully attacked east of Ivanivka. The attempt of the 2nd Motorized Rifle Division of the Russian 1st Tank Army to flank the “Khortytsia” OSG forces defending the Kyslivka – Kotlyarivka line also proved unsuccessful. The enemy was forced to change the direction of the main attack towards Pishchane instead of advancing northwest along the Kupyansk-Svatove road, which could have opened up certain tactical prospects for such a maneuver. As a result, the enemy managed to hold its positions near Tabaivka, but with a great difficulty.
• Russian forces continue to deploy new personnel and equipment to this direction for tactical-level rotations and replenishment of losses.
• On the Lyman direction, the enemy once again carried out a series of unsuccessful attacks near Terny and was subsequently repelled to its initial positions. The command of the enemy’s “Zapad (West)” Operational Grouping has already deployed the 31st, 37th Motorized Rifle Regiments, and the 19th Tank Regiment of the 67th Motorized Rifle Division of the 25th Combined Arms Army into battle on in the direction towards Yampolivka, effectively engaging the entire division. However, they have failed to achieve even tactical success.
• Positional battles persisted near Terny, Yampolivka, Torske, and Bilohorivka.
• On the Bakhmut direction, the enemy achieved tactical success in Bohdanivka, advanced southeast, and in the area of Ivanivka, where it again approached the outskirts of the village by 600 meters from the north and 500 meters from the east, making slight progress near Vyimka. South of Bakhmut, on the directions towards Klishchiivka and Andriivka, the enemy extensively engaged the 1008th and 1194th Motorized Rifle Regiments of the 6th Motorized Rifle Division of the 3rd Army Corps, but had no success.
• Positional battles persisted near Bohdanivka, Ivanivka, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, Pivdenne, and New York.
• On the Avdiivka direction, units of the Russian “Center” Operational Grouping are completing the capture of Avdiivka. Combat operations are being conducted by the 30th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 2nd Army, the 35th, 55th, and 74th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades of the 41st Army, the 1st, 9th, and 114th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades, the 1454th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the Territorial Troops, and the 10th Tank Regiment of the 1st Army Corps of the 8th Army, as well as the 6th, 80th, and 239th Tank Regiments of the 90th Tank Division of the 41st Army.
• The enemy has advanced into northern Avdiivka along the railway line, in the eastern part of the Avdiivka Coking Plant, in the industrial zone near the sand quarry, and into the center of Avdiivka from the south, seizing the buildings of the city administration and the Palace of Culture. Battles were ongoing on the western outskirts of the city. The “Tavriya” OSG units were defending positions in the areas of Lastochkine, at the Avdiivka Coking Plant, in the “Khymik” microdistrict, and the 9th quarter, ensuring the withdrawal of the main forces.
• On the Shakhtarsk direction, positional battles continued in the areas of Heorhiivka, Pobieda, and Novomykhailivka. Units of the 155th Separate Marines Brigade of the Russian Pacific Fleet launched attacks near Novomykhailivka.
• Berdyansk direction: positional battles continued in the area of Prechystivka and Staromayorske.
• Tokmak direction: the Russian troops are exerting strong pressure on the Robotyne foothold. They has recaptured positions south of Robotyne and advanced about 1.5 kilometers. The “Tavriya” OSG units repelled Russian attacks near Verbove and Mala Tokmachka.
• Kherson direction: the enemy is intensifying efforts to eliminate the “Odesa” OSG foothold near Krynky. Consolidated assault units of the 26th and 28th Motorized Rifle Regiments of the 70th Motorized Rifle Division, the 144th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 18th Army, the 328th and 337th Air Assault Regiments of the 104th Air Assault Division, and the 810th Separate Marines Brigade of the Russian Black Sea Fleet are operating in this area. An assault unit of the 61st Separate Marines Brigade of the Russian Northern Fleet is preparing to deploy into the battle. As a result of the battles, the 26th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 70th Motorized Rifle Division lost two of its positions in Krynky.
• In the Kozachi Laheri – Korsunka area, the enemy is covertly deploying a significant number of mortars, stationary and automatic grenade launchers at well-camouflaged firing positions at minimum distances to the foothold. They are actively working to enhance coordination and combat control, as well as monitor the situation on the water.
• In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, the enemy naval group on combat duty consisted of:
  • Black Sea: 2 ships, including 1 cruise missile carrier with the total salvo of 4 “Kalibr” missiles.
  • Azov Sea: 1 ship.
  • Mediterranean Sea: 2 ships, including 1 cruise carrier with the total salvo of 8 “Kalibr” missiles.

Changes in the enemy disposition:

• The troops of the 11th Army of the Russian Air Forces and the Air Defense Forces are engaged in combat near Vodyane, delivering aerial strikes with glide bombs on Ukrainian positions in Staromayorske.

Escalation indicators:

• The newly formed 49th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade of the 58th Army is preparing to storm Kamianske.

Possible operation situation developments:

• The Russian Federation plans to seize the entire Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts and part of Kharkiv Oblast up to the Oskil River by March 2024. Over the next 36 months, Russia intends to capture parts of Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv Oblasts.
• In the area of Novomykhailivka, the enemy will initially attempt to split the combat formations of the “Tavriya” OSG in the northern part of the Vuhledar bulge, in the general direction of Novomykhailivka – Paraskoviivka – Kostiantynivka. Subsequently, they will attack south of Vodyane, thus compelling the “Tavriya” OSG to withdraw from its positions near Volodymyrivka and north of Mykilske.
• The successful concentrated deployment of the Russian aviation on the Avdiivka direction is expected to serve as a precedent for similar actions in other sectors of the front.

Russian operational losses from 24.02.22 to 18.02.24 

Personnel – almost 402,430 people (+1080);

Tanks – 6,487 (+11);

Armored combat vehicles – 12,198 (+53);

Artillery systems – 9,709 (+40);

Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 984 (0);

Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 674 (+3);

Vehicles and fuel tanks – 12,736 (+2);

Aircraft – 335 (+3);

Helicopters – 325 (0);

UAV operational and tactical level – 7,449 (+36);

Intercepted cruise missiles – 1,898 (+2);

Boats/ships – 26 (0).

Humanitarian+general:

• According to information provided by the Situation Center of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Russian troops shelled 11 regions of Ukraine over the past day. A total of 128 towns and villages and 189 infrastructure objects were attacked with various types of weapons. One person died and eight were injured in Kherson Oblast, one person died and one was injured in Sumy Oblast, two people were injured in Kharkiv Oblast. The number of casualties is being updated/clarified.
• The search and rescue operation at the site of the Russian missile strike on Kramatorsk, Donetsk Oblast, on February 17 was concluded by approximately 2 p.m. on February 18. Bodies of a mother, her 23 year old son and fragments of his grandmother’s body were recovered from under the rubble. One person was killed by the Russian February 17 missile attack on Slovyansk. 
• During the night, the Russian military attacked Poltava Oblast with drones. Aggressors targeted an infrastructure object in Poltava district, reported Filip Pronin, Head of Poltava Oblast Military Administration.
• In Donetsk Oblast, near Vesele, close to Rozdolivka, Russian occupiers killed two Ukrainian prisoners of war on Sunday, as reported by the Ukrainian Ground Forces.
• The families of three Ukrainian soldiers wounded in Avdiivka and taken prisoner by Russian forces after the capture of the “Zenith” position, identified their bodies from a video circulated on Russian social media. Six Ukrainian soldiers were captured at the position, and five bodies were visible in the video. However, it was impossible to identify the other two, leaving the fate of the remaining three Ukrainian POWs unknown.
• On the left bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast, the enemy is establishing positions, deploying armored vehicles, and setting up observation points in the yards of private houses, as reported by Natalia Humeniuk, the head of the Joint Press Center of the “South” Operational Command.

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