Russia’s war on Ukraine. 27.03.2024

In the operational zone of the Ukrainian Operational-Strategic Group of Forces (OSG) “Khortytsia” on the Kupyansk direction, the enemy launched 1 unsuccessful attack in the vicinity of Ivanivka. On the Lyman direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 13 enemy attacks in the areas of Bilohorivka, Terny, Yampolivka, and north of Vesele, where the enemy, supported by aviation, attempted to breach the defense. On the Bakhmut direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 7 enemy attacks in the areas of Ivanivske, Bohdanivka, and Klishchiivka.

In the “Tavriya” OSG operational zone on the Avdiivka direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 9 enemy attacks in the area of Berdychi, Semenivka, Nevelske, and Pervomaiske. On the Novopavlivka direction, they continued to hold back the enemy in the areas of Novomykhailivka, Heorhiivka, and Urozhaine, where the enemy, supported by aviation, attempted to breach the defense 26 times.  On the Orikhiv direction, the enemy, supported by aviation, attacked Defense Forces positions 7 times in the areas of Staromayorske, Robotyne, and northwest of Verbove.

In the operational zone of the “Odesa” OSG on the Kherson direction, the enemy remains determined to dislodge the units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces from the bridgeheads on the left bank of the Dnipro River. During the past day, they carried out 3 unsuccessful attacks on Ukrainian  positions in the vicinity of Krynky.

General conclusion:

• Russian forces are attempting to seize control of the logistical route of the “Tavriya” OSG in Semenivka.
• Russian forces continue to target infrastructure objects in Ukraine and are changing tactics to find gaps in Ukrainian air defense systems.
• The Russian National Guard has intensified patrols in the occupied city of Berdyansk in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

Change in the line of contact (LoC):  

• There were 67 combat engagements on various fronts.
• On the Kupyansk direction, the forces of the “Khortytsia” OSG regained control of several previously lost positions on the northern outskirts of Synkivka.
• On the Lyman direction, Russian forces advanced east of Terny, however, units of the “Khortytsia” OSG conducted a successful counterattack.
• Positional battles persisted near Terny, Yampolivka, and Bilohorivka.
• On the Bakhmut direction, the enemy, with constant air support utilizing guided bombs, captured Ivanivske and began advancing towards the eastern outskirts of Chasiv Yar to the northeast of the Siversky Donets-Donbas Canal.
• Positional battles took place in the areas of Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, and New York.
• On the Avdiivka direction, the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade continues to repel enemy attacks in Berdychi, but the adversary constantly introduces new assault groups into the battle and has seized a significant portion of the village. The enemy continues to advance west of Tonenke despite the losses inflicted by the 53rd Separate Mechanized Brigade.
• Positional battles persisted near Avdiivka, in the areas of Berdychi, Orlivka, Tonenke, Pervomaiske, Vodyane, and Nevelske. Russian forces entered Semenivka from the south and southeast, where fighting is ongoing.
• Units of the 12th Engineering Brigade of the Central Military District of the Russian Federation are demining Avdiivka.
• On the Novopavlivka direction, positional battles were ongoing in the areas of Heorhiivka, Novomykhailivka, and Pobieda. Russian forces advanced near Heorhiivka, Krasnohorivka, and Novomykhailivka, controlling less than 50% of Novomykhailivka.
• On the Berdyansk direction, positional battles took place near Staromayorske. Units of the 36th Army and units of the 14th Separate SOF Brigade continue to operate in the Urozhaine area.
• On the Orikhiv direction, positional battles were ongoing near Robotyne and Verbove, near Mala Tokmachka, and southwest of Bilohirya.
• In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, the enemy naval group on combat duty consisted of:
  • Mediterranean Sea: 1 Cruise Missile Carrier. The total salvo is 8 “Kalibr” cruise missiles.

Changes in the enemy disposition: not detected

Possible operation situation developments:

• The likely operational-strategic objectives of the Russian troop grouping in the theater of military operations could include the seizure of the Luhansk, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts within their administrative borders.
• The Ukrainian Defense Forces will make efforts to stabilize the front line and ensure an operational pause for 3-4 months to rearm and replenish personnel to a minimum of 150-200 thousand servicemen.
• The Ukrainian Defense Forces will intensify attacks using long-range UAVs to target objects in the operational and strategic rear of the Russian Federation, primarily focusing on important targets such as oil and gas facilities, depots, pipelines, military airfields, factories producing dual-use goods, and war-related infrastructure.
• The Ukrainian Defense Forces maintain control of the final agglomeration (Slovyansk-Kramatorsk) in Donetsk Oblast; the strategic importance of the “Zapad (West)” operational grouping in the adversary’s offensive campaign in 2024 is notably heightened.
• The battles for Terny and Yampolivka will persist for a while, yet it is evident that the enemy will succeed in cutting off the Nevske-Torske road along the left bank of the Chornyi Zherebets River from north to south, likely in the area of Terny. The southern part of the foothold on the Chornyi Zherebets River will be eliminated by the enemy in the near future.
• The adversary’s command will commit the 348th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 90th Tank Division in the direction of Berdychi or Novobakhmutivka.
• The command of the 58th Army is poised to deploy the 136th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade into the operation northwest of Robotyne, aiming to bypass this defensive node of the Ukrainian OSG “Tavria” from the north and cut off the Robotyne-Novodanylivka road.

Russian operational losses from 23.02.22 to 27.03.24 

Personnel – almost 439,190 people (+1,030);

Tanks – 6,904 (+11);

Armored combat vehicles – 13,216 (+9);

Artillery systems – 10,931 (+27);

Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,019 (0);

Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 728 (+1);

Vehicles and fuel tanks – 14,539 (+41);

Aircraft – 347 (0);

Helicopters – 325 (0);

UAV operational and tactical level – 8,578 (+25);

Intercepted cruise missiles – 2,015 (+1);

Boats/ships – 27 (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 111 towns and villages and 94 infrastructure objects were attacked with various types of weapons. The number of casualties is being updated/clarified.
• During the night of March 27, 2024, Russia launched an attack with 13 “Shahed” strike drones, of which 10 were successfully intercepted by Ukrainian air defense systems.
• During the past day, Russian invaders attacked approximately 15 towns and villages in Kharkiv Oblast using mortars, artillery, and airstrikes, resulting in damage to buildings and injuries to four residents of the region.
• Over the past day, Russian forces shelled 11 populated areas in Donetsk Oblast, resulting in damage to 28 civilian objects. As a result of the shelling, there were casualties among the civilian population, with one person killed and one injured.
• On March 27 during the day, Russian forces launched a kamikaze drone attack on a residential building in Mykhailivka, Beryslav district, in Kherson Oblast. A 61-year-old woman sustained fatal injuries in her own home.
• On the afternoon of March 27, Russian forces struck Kharkiv, targeting a residential neighborhood. As of 5:00 PM, Mayor Igor Terekhov reported 16 injured, including 4 children, and one fatality. Several five-story apartment buildings, housing numerous residents, sustained severe damage. Additionally, the Institute of Emergency Surgery was also affected. According to local police, Kharkiv was struck by aerial bombs, marking the first such attack since 2022.
• Six individuals were wounded, one critically, as a consequence of a likely ballistic missile strike on Mykolaiv during the daytime of March 27.
• Russia remotely mines the land in the border regions of Ukraine with spherical fragmentation aviation bombs (ShOAB-0.5). Each RBK-500 cassette contains 565 spherical aviation bombs ShOAB-0.5, each weighing 400 grams. They resemble small silver-colored balls and may attract the attention of children due to their appearance.
• Electricity supply to the critical infrastructure in all Ukrainian cities affected by the recent Russian missile attacks has been fully restored, and partial restoration of public transportation has been achieved, according to the press service of Ukrenergo. However, heavy high-tech equipment at Ukrenergo substations has been damaged, requiring time-consuming replacement. As a result, the high-voltage networks cannot transmit large volumes of electricity needed to meet all consumer demands. Consequently, consumers in the hardest-hit regions are receiving electricity in rotation, following hourly disconnection schedules. Currently, consumption restrictions are in place in Kharkiv and Odesa Oblasts.

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