Russia’s war on Ukraine. 20.04.2024

In the operational zone of the Ukrainian Operational-Strategic Group of Forces (OSG) “Khortytsia”, on the Lyman direction, the enemy launched 13 attacks on the positions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces in the areas of Tverdokhlibove, Kreminna, Yampolivka, Terny, and Torske. On the Bakhmut direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 25 Russian attacks in the areas of Bilohorivka, Verkhnyokamianske, Spirne, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, and Klishchiivka. 

In the “Tavriya” OSG operational zone on the Avdiivka direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 31 enemy attacks in the areas of Novokalynove, Ocheretyne, Berdychi, Umanske, Novobakhmutivka, Pervomaiske, and Nevelske. On the Novopavlivka direction, they continued to hold back the enemy in the areas of Novomykhailivka, Pobieda, and Urozhaine where the adversary, supported by aviation, attempted to breach Ukrainian troops’ defenses 23 times. On the Orikhiv direction, the enemy attacked the positions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces 5 times in the area of Staromayorske 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 7 unsuccessful attacks on their positions.

General conclusion: 

• Russian Su-25 and Su-34 aircraft operate at low altitudes near Chasiv Yar.
• The ability of Russian aviation to operate over 100 km deep into Ukrainian airspace near the front line without significant losses indicates the degradation of the Ukrainian air defense system.

Change in the line of contact (LoC):

• There were 102 combat engagements on various fronts.
• On the Lyman direction, positional battles took place near Tverdokhlibove, Kreminna, Terny, Torske, Yampolivka, and Bilohorivka.
• On the Bakhmut direction, the enemy is attempting to dislodge the Ukrainian Defense Forces from Bilohorivka to break through towards Zvanivka. On the Zolotarivka – Verkhnyokamianske direction, the 6th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 2nd Army Corps has slowed its advance. Russian forces unsuccessfully attacked near Verkhnyokamianske, Spirne, and Vyimka.
• Russian troops have advanced near Chasiv Yar, within the southwestern part of Bohdanivka. Battles occurred near Kalynivka, in the districts of “Novyi” and “Kanal” in Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, and New York. The enemy conducted air strikes with glide bombs over Chasiv Yar.
• On the Avdiivka direction, Russian forces made minor advancements within the southern part of Semenivka, in the areas of Novokalynove, Ocheretyne, Berdychi, Tonenke, and Netaylove.
• Battles persisted in the areas of Novokalynove, Ocheretyne, Novobakhmutivka, Berdychi, Semenivka, Umanske, Pervomaiske, Vodyane, Netaylove, and Nevelske.
• On the Novopavlivka direction Russian forces advanced west of Solodke. Positional battles continued in the areas of Heorhiivka, Krasnohorivka, Pobieda, and Novomykhailivka.
• On the Berdyansk direction, positional battles occurred near Staromayorske and Urozhaine.
• On the Orikhiv direction, positional battles continue near Robotyne and northwest of Verbove.
• On the Kherson direction, positional battles continued on the eastern bank of Kherson Oblast, particularly near Krynky, where up to a company of the Ukrainian Defense Forces is defending. The Naval Infantry of the Ukrainian Navy maintains positions near the Antonivsky Bridge.
• In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, the enemy naval group on combat duty consists of:
  • Mediterranean Sea: 7 ships, including 3 “Kalibr” sea launched cruise missile carriers. The total salvo is 20 cruise missiles.

Changes in the enemy disposition:

• 752^nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 3rd Motorized Rifle Division of the 20th Army, is engaged in combat near Nadiya. The 254th and 283rd Motorized Rifle Regiments of the 144th Motorized Rifle Division of the 20th Army are advancing towards Terny from the east and southeast.
• The 57th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade conducts combat operations near Vuhledar.
• The 1197th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the Territorial Troops operates along the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast.
• The 70th Missile Brigade equipped with the “Iskander” Missile Complexes has been formed within the 44th Army Corps of the Leningrad Military District. Major General Oleksandr Dembytskyi, former deputy commander of the 1st Tank Army, has been appointed as the corps commander.

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.
• In the Terny area, the adversary is regrouping forces from the 37th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 67th Motorized Rifle Division of the 25th Army to re-engage in offensive operations towards Yampolivka. This signifies an escalation of their efforts and a widening of the assault front.
• 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 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.
• 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 command of “Sever (North)” Operational Grouping may respond asymmetrically to the actions of pro-Ukrainian Russian formations with raiding operations in the Sumy and Kharkiv Oblasts or simulate an “advance on Kharkiv” as part of the enemy’s offensive campaign on the theater of operations.

Russian operational losses from 24.02.22 to 20.04.24  

Personnel – almost 458,580 (+750); 

Tanks 7,213 (+8); 

Armored combat vehicles – 13,873 (+21); 

Artillery systems – 11,678 (+20);

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

Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 763 (+1);

Vehicles and fuel tanks – 15,717 (+46);

Aircraft – 348 (+1);

Helicopters – 325 (0);

UAV operational and tactical level – 9,341 (+30);

Intercepted cruise missiles – 2,109 (+13);

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 97 towns and villages and 83 infrastructure objects were attacked with various types of weapons. The number of casualties is being updated/clarified.
• On the night of April 20th, Russian forces launched three Iskander-M ballistic missiles, two guided S-300/S-400 missiles, and two guided aviation missiles X-59/X-69 against Ukraine. The Ukrainian Air Defense Forces successfully intercepted and destroyed two X-59/X-69 guided aviation missiles.
• Russian attack on the night of April 20, targeted the industrial infrastructure of Zaporizhzhia and an infrastructure object in Odesa with ballistic missiles. There is no information about causalities.
• Due to Russian strikes on Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast on the morning of April 20th, two civilians were killed and two wounded. Direct hits on a nine-story residential building were confirmed. According to preliminary data, the enemy targeted the city with guided munitions and MLRS.
• On April 20th, Russia launched multiple attacks on Kharkiv during the day. The Oblast Military Administration emphasized that the Russian forces were targeting the city and advised people to take shelter. Currently, there are no further details available.
• Due to a strike by Russian forces in the Dniprovsky district of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on Saturday, a man was killed. At the time of the strike, he was repairing a car nearby.
• On Saturday afternoon, Russian forces launched a missile strike on the infrastructure of the city of Shostka in Sumy Oblast.
• At about 16:30 on April 20, Russian forces launched another missile strike on Odesa and the region. The enemy launched missiles, likely Kh-59 three of which were intercepted and destroyed by Ukrainian Air Defense Forces. Debris from the missiles damaged residential buildings. Eight civilians were injured, including two children one of whom was critically wounded.
• The missile strike on the Port of Pivdennyi in Odesa Oblast on April 19 destroyed storage facilities holding agricultural products intended for export to Asian and African countries. This marks the 39th attack by Russia on port infrastructure in Odessa Oblast, resulting in damage or partial destruction of 215 facilities, 153 transport vehicles, and 8 civilian vessels, with 26 civilians injured.

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