Russia’s war on Ukraine. 17.04.2024

In the operational zone of the Ukrainian Operational-Strategic Group of Forces (OSG) “Khortytsia”, on the Lyman direction, the enemy launched 9 attacks on the positions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces in the areas of Terny, Torske, Hryhorivka, and Serebriansk Forest. On the Bakhmut direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 19 Russian attacks in the areas of Verkhnyokamianske, Vyimka, Bilohorivka, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka where the enemy, supported by aviation, tried to improve its tactical position. 

In the “Tavriya” OSG operational zone on the Avdiivka direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 11 enemy attacks in the areas of Ocheretyne, Novokalynove, Berdychi, Semenivka, Netaylove, and Pervomaiske. On the Novopavlivka direction, they continued to hold back the enemy in the areas of Krasnohorivka, Novomykhailivka, where the adversary attempted to breach Ukrainian troops’ defenses 20 times. On the Orikhiv direction, the enemy attacked the positions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces 4 times in the area 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 and launched 5 unsuccessful attacks on their positions.

General conclusion: 

• Russian forces in eastern Ukraine have recently refrained from deploying large units for assaults, opting instead to operate with small tactical groups.
• On the Bakhmut direction, Russian troops avoid attacking with units larger than a battalion due to the active reconnaissance operations of the Ukrainian Defense Forces’ UAVs.
• Russian Aerospace Forces increasingly conduct missile strikes on Kherson Oblast from the waters of the Black and Azov Seas, but once a week, they engage with guided air bombs from their immediate combat line.

Change in the line of contact (LoC):

• There were 68 combat engagements on various fronts.
• On the Lyman direction, positional battles persisted near Terny, Torske, Hryhorivka, in the vicinity of Serebriansk Forest, and near Bilohorivka.
• On the Bakhmut direction, the enemy advanced 300 meters towards Kalynivka, initiating combat on the outskirts of the village. A unit named “Storm” from the 123rd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 2nd Army Corps, composed of former prisoners, advanced 100 meters south of Ivanivske towards Vyimka.
• Positional battles persisted on the Siversk direction. Russian forces unsuccessfully attacked near Verkhnyokamianske and Spine, where the 2nd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 2nd Army Corps conducted the assault.
• On the Chasiv Yar direction, units of the 331st Airborne Regiment of the 98th Airborne Division struggle to break through to the town and attack the positions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces near the “Kanal” area.
• The Ukrainian Defense forces launched a counterattack near Bohdanivka.
• Positional battles were ongoing in the areas of “Novyi” microdistrict, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, and Andriivka.
• On the Avdiivka direction, the enemy advanced 200 meters towards the Umanske – Netaylove line, and combat has commenced in Novokalynove.
• The UkrainianDefense Forces executed several counterattacks, regaining control over previously lost positions northwest and west of Avdiivka, operating in the center of Pervomaiske, and reclaiming positions north of Berdychi.
• Russian forces have advanced to the T0511 highway in Novokalynove, in the center of Semenivka, east of Novobakhmutivka, and in Netaylove.
• Positional battles persisted in the areas of Novokalynove, Stepove, Ocheretyne, Berdychi, Semenivka, Umanske, Netaylove, and Pervomaiske.
• On the Novopavlivka direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces control 25% of Novomykhailivka.
• The enemy initiated active operations in the Volodymyrivka area and slightly advanced in the southwestern part of Novomykhailivka. The 5th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 1st Army Corps has advanced to southern Krasnogorivka and seized several buildings, including the railway station. Russian forces deployed six attack helicopters to support the assault on Krasnohorivka, releasing 240 rockets.
• Positional battles persisted near Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Novomykhailivka, Pobieda, and Vodyane.
• On the Berdyansk direction, Russian forces advanced south of Velyka Novosilka and Staromayorske, and north of Pryiutne.
• On the Orikhiv direction, the adversary advanced by 200 meters between Robotyne and Verbove, with heavy fighting reported in Robotyne. The 71st Motorized Rife Regiment of the 42nd Motorized Rife Division of the 58th Army advanced in the western part of Robotyne. Positional battles continued near Bilohirya, Robotyne, and Verbove.
• On the Kherson direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces expanded their foothold in Krynky to the west by 500 meters, displacing the enemy from their positions.
• Russian forces advanced in the center of Krynky over a stretch of 400 by 100 meters.
• In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, the enemy naval group on combat duty consists of:
  • Mediterranean Sea: 3 ships, including 2 “Kalibr” sea launched cruise missile carriers. The total salvo is 24 cruise missiles.

Changes in the enemy disposition:

• The 200th Separate Motorized Brigade of the 14th Army Corps of the Northern Fleet, reinforced by the 1486th “Leningrad” Separate Motorized Rifle Regiment of Territorial Troops, conduct combat operations near Klishchiivka.
• The 9th Separate Motorized Brigade of the 1st Army Corps operates near Pervomaiske and Vodyane.
• The reconnaissance company of the 1472nd Motorized Rifle Regiment and the 39th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 68th Army Corps are active in the vicinity of Novomykhailivka. The “Perepel” unit of the 255th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 20th Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 8th Army operate near Marinka.

Possible operation situation developments:

• The forces of the 20th and 25th Army are unable to complete the forming operation on the Lyman direction and will not be able to occupy a favorable starting position for the offensive on Lyman and the Slovyansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration before the beginning of summer.
• The command of the enemy’s “Yug (South)” Operational Grouping, 2nd Army Corps, and 106th Airborne Division will make efforts to eliminate the Siversk salient and set conditions for the encirclement of the Slovyansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration from the southeast.
• The “Center” Operational Grouping command is focused on executing the following operational plan: to establish conditions for the blockade and encirclement of the Kurakhove area or to create advantageous circumstances for launching an offensive operation to encircle “Tavriya” OSG’s defense in Toretsk area from the south.
• The isolation or complete capture of Kostyantynivka will significantly impair the Defense Forces’ ability to maintain the frontline in the southern part of Donetsk Oblast, as it will disrupt the main logistical route along Highway N-20.

Russian operational losses from 24.02.22 to 17.04.24  

Personnel – almost 456,050 (+710); 

Tanks 7,193 (+4); 

Armored combat vehicles – 13,827 (+18); 

Artillery systems – 11,624 (+15);

Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,046 (0);

Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 760 (+1);

Vehicles and fuel tanks – 15,587 (+24);

Aircraft – 347 (0);

Helicopters – 325 (0);

UAV operational and tactical level – 9,279 (+2);

Intercepted cruise missiles – 2,093 (+1);

Boats/ships – 27 (0).

Humanitarian+general:

• According to information provided by the Situation Center of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Russian forces shelled 10 regions of Ukraine over the past day. A total of 107 towns and villages and 118 infrastructure objects were attacked with various types of weapons. The number of casualties is being updated/clarified.
• In the morning of April 17, Russian forces launched a strike on Chernihiv with three “Iskander” missiles. The missiles killed 17 people. 78 individuals sought medical attention, with over 40 being hospitalized. 6 people are missing. More than 20 multi-story residential buildings were damaged.
• In the morning, Russian forces launched targeted missile strikes on Odesa Oblast using ballistic missiles. The region’s infrastructure was once again hit.
• Overnight, Russian forces shelled the riverside area of the Korabelny district in Kherson, resulting in two civilian casualties. A civilian was also wounded by a munition dropped from a UAV in the village of Zmiivka in the morning.
• According to the Ukrainian Minister of the Interior, Ihor Klymenko, since the beginning of the current year, Russian forces have shelled Sumy Oblast over four thousand times, whereas for the entire previous year, the number of enemy strikes reached six thousand.
• The State Emergency Service (SES) of Ukraine has alerted that Russia is spreading disinformation on Signal. They’re sending fake messages, seemingly from the SES, urging evacuation from Kharkiv due to a potential encirclement. SES believes that this is a part of the Russian effort to destabilize the situation.
• The residents of the liberated territories identify their major challenges as destroyed housing (73%), missile and bomb strikes by Russian forces, a shortage of medications (33%), and the inability to find employment (63%). 7% said they don’t have enough money to buy food.
• In Donetsk Oblast, on April 16, rescuers aided in evacuating 69 civilians: 14 were transported from active combat areas, and 55 were assisted in reaching evacuation vehicles.
• In the temporarily occupied territory of Luhansk Oblast, efforts to “nationalize” abandoned housing continue. The focus is on Rubizhne and the Rubizhanska community, extending even into rural areas. Notices have already been posted on the fences of small single-family homes declaring these properties as ownerless assets, Luhansk Oblast Military Administration reported. Forest fires are raging in the area but the occupation authorities gave up trying to extinguish them.

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