Russia’s war on Ukraine. 22.04.2024

In the operational zone of the Ukrainian Operational-Strategic Group of Forces (OSG) “Khortytsia”, on the Lyman direction, the enemy launched 17 attacks on the positions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces in the areas of Serebriansk Forest and Terny. On the Bakhmut direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 14 Russian attacks in the areas of Bilohorivka, Verkhnyokamianske, Vyimka and Bohdanivka. 

In the “Tavriya” OSG operational zone on the Avdiivka direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 16 enemy attacks in the areas of Ocheretyne, Berdychi, Umanske, Yasnobrodivka, Netaylove, and Pervomaiske. On the Novopavlivka direction, they continued to hold back the enemy in the areas of Heorhiivka, Novomykhailivka, Vodyane, and Urozhaine where the adversary attempted to breach Ukrainian troops’ defenses 23 times. On the Orikhiv direction, the enemy attacked the positions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces 4 times in the area of Staromayorske and Robotyne.

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. Over the past day the occupiers launched 4 unsuccessful attacks.

General conclusion: 

• Ukrainian forces control key tactical heights north and northwest of Bohdanivka, though the situation on the front line in this area remains challenging.
• Russian troops will attempt to use Bohdanivka as a foothold to encircle Chasiv Yar from the north and capture Ivanivske to threaten the town from the south.
• Russian forces do not fully control Ivanivske and are trying to advance along the lowlands north of the village.
• Russian troops have taken a tactical pause near Domakha ravine on the Pervomaiske – Nevelske line due to dense Ukrainian minefields and the activity of Ukrainian UAVs in this area.
• The Russian command is pushing to keep up momentum on the Avdiivka front, bringing in the troops of the 41st Combined Arms Army, previously in a readiness recovery phase. The 74th and 35th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades have been deployed to back up the 30th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade advancing towards Ocheretyne.
• If the enemy manages to capture Ocheretyne, they will bypass the northern flank of the new Ukrainian defense line, which runs down along the Durna River;
• In the area of Novomykhailivka, the 79th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade has destroyed 320 visually confirmed enemy armored vehicles over the past six months of fighting for the village.
• The operational composition of the “Center” Operational Grouping shows an uneven distribution of forces and assets between the Pokrovsk and Toretsk directions. The main forces are engaged in combat on the Pokrovsk direction, while the Toretsk direction is manned by just one separate motorized rifle brigade and up to five rifle regiments.
• The “Tavriya” OSG troops holding the line from Novobakhmutivka to west of Berdychi, passing through Semenivka and Umanske, significantly affects the advance pace of the “Center” Operational Grouping forces.
• The “Center” Operational Grouping command is compelled to seek alternative routes to reach the Ocheretyne-Umanske line, primarily focusing on the flanks. The enemy is ramping up efforts towards Ocheretyne and is expected to do the same in the areas around Yasnobrodivka and Netaylove.

Change in the line of contact (LoC):

• There were 85 combat engagements on various fronts.
• On the Lyman direction, Russian forces have made minor advances east of Yampolivka. Positional fighting continues near Stelmakhivka, Terny, and Bilohorivka.
• On the Bakhmut direction, the enemy is actively attacking Kalynivka and Chasiv Yar. Due to losses, the 67th Separate Mechanized Brigade was pulled back and replaced by the 42nd Separate Mechanized Brigade. The 5th Separate Assault Brigade maintains its positions west of Ivanivske. The enemy managed to wedge between the defenses of the 5th and 42nd brigades, reaching the Siversky Donets-Donbas canal. The situation was stabilized by the 1st Battalion of the Separate Presidential Brigade, which carried out a successful counterattack.
• Russian forces unsuccessfully attacked near Verkhnyokamianske and near Spine, consolidating their position in Bohdanivka. Positional battles continue around Chasiv Yar, including in the areas of the “Novyi” and “Kanal” microdistricts, near Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Shumy, Pivdenne, New York, and Oleksandropil.
• On the Avdiivka direction, the 155th Separate Marines Brigade of the Pacific Fleet and the 22nd “BARS” detachment have completed the capture of Novomykhailivka, although fighting continues on the western and southern outskirts of the village. Russian forces seized the “Mashynobudivnyk” horticultural community directly north of Novomykhailivka and advanced westward along the Solodke-Vodyane road. Positional battles are ongoing in the areas of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, and Vodyane. The enemy inflicts air strikes on Krasnohorivka.
• The 31st Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Ukrainian Defense Forces holds its positions steadfastly in the area of Pobieda.
• On the Novopavlivka direction, Russian forces have made slight advancements in the eastern part of Ocheretyne. The 74th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade is attempting to capture Berdychi, attacking the village from the north. Positional battles are ongoing near Ocheretyne, Berdychi, Novokalynove, Novobakhmutivka, Umanske, Yasnobrodivka, Semenivka, Pervomaiske, Netaylove, and Nevelske.
• The 35th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 41st Army, the 30th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 2nd Army, and the 132nd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 1st Army Corps are striving to fully capture Novobakhmutivka and Ocheretyne. To support these efforts, the 35th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade was brought into battle to the right of the 30th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade towards Novokalynove.
• Units of the 132nd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade attacked towards Novokalynove. The enemy managed to get a hold of the eastern part of the village but could not advance further towards Keramik. The 1st Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 1st Army Corps attacked towards Umanske with the aim of breaking through north of the Durna River in this sector but failed to accomplish its mission.
• “Tavriya” OSG troops hold positions in the area of Novobakhmutivka, in Solovyov, west of Orlivka, pinning down the enemy’s 1st Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade in the Umanske area.
• On the Berdyansk direction, Russian infantry has advanced south of Urozhaine. Positional battles are ongoing near Staromayorske. The 36th Combined Arms Army continues to launch attacks using TOS-1A against Ukrainian positions.
• On the Orikhiv direction, Russian forces attack the bulge near Robotyne from all directions. The Ukrainian Defense Forces have rotated troops in this area, introducing the 141st Separate Mechanized Brigade into the operation.
• 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:

• The enemy’s “Tsentr (Center)” Operational Grouping operating in the Pokrovsk and Toretsk directions, consists of over 86,000 personnel, up to 280 tanks, 760 armored combat vehicles, 1,000 artillery pieces, mortars, and MLRS. The reserve of the ” Tsentr” Operational Grouping includes 3 motorized rifle regiments of territorial troops and up to 4-5 battalions, at least 2 of which serve as mobilization resource hubs.
• The 40th Separate Marines Brigade of the Pacific Fleet, the 57th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 6th Motorized Rifle Division of the 3rd Army Corps, the 39th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, and the 1472nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 68th Army Corps are engaged in combat near Novomykhailivka.
• On the Kinburn Spit in Mykolaiv Oblast, units of the Russian “Volunteer Cossack Brigade ‘Dnieper'” conduct combat operations.

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 forces will intensify missile and bomb strikes on transport routes and infrastructure in the operational and strategic rear of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, aiming to disrupt their logistics.
• Before Ukraine receive assistance from partners, the enemy will utilize active aerial attacks against Ukrainian defenses to destroy fortifications, primarily focusing on defense nodes in the Chasiv Yar, Siversk, and Novomykhailivka directions of Russian military operations.
• Ocheretyne is located at the intersection of Ukrainian defense lines, one of which Russian forces attacked after capturing Avdiivka in mid-February 2024, while another, prepared in advance, is positioned deeper in the operational depth as a subsequent defensive line further to the west. The enemy will have to pass through Ocheretyne and stabilize the northern flank of the Avdiivka direction before they can continue their tactical breakthrough against Ukrainian defenses in this area.

Russian operational losses from 24.02.22 to 22.04.24  

Personnel – almost 460,260 (+730); 

Tanks 7,236 (+7); 

Armored combat vehicles – 13,904 (+8); 

Artillery systems – 11,736 (+17);

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

Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 768 (+1);

Vehicles and fuel tanks – 15,812 (+27);

Aircraft – 348 (0);

Helicopters – 325 (0);

UAV operational and tactical level – 9,384 (+5);

Intercepted cruise missiles – 2,117 (+2);

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 94 towns and villages and 95 infrastructure objects were attacked with various types of weapons. The number of casualties is being updated/clarified.
• During the night of April 22nd, the Russian forces launched an attack using 7 of “Shahed-131/136” combat UAVs and 3 S-300/S-400 guided anti-aircraft missiles; 5 drones were successfully destroyed.
• On the night of April 22, Russian “Shahed” drones hit a farm in Odesa Oblast, destroying buildings and damaging equipment; no people were injured.
• Over the past day, Russian forces targeted five towns and villages in Kherson Oblast, including the regional center; three people, including a child, were injured. Hits were recorded on a medical facility, an educational institution, a kindergarten, private vehicles, and a gas pipeline.
• On the morning and afternoon of April 22, Russian military shelled residential areas of Kherson several times, resulting in four people being injured.
• On April 21, the enemy shelled one of the mines in Donetsk Oblast, injuring three workers.
• In the afternoon of April 22, Russian forces struck the television tower in Kharkiv. As a result, there are currently disruptions in the digital TV signal in the city.
• On April 22, Russian forces shelled Krasnohorivka in Donetsk Oblast, resulting in the death of a woman and damaging three multi-story buildings.
• A family with two children, a 12-year-old boy and a 5-year-old girl, was evacuated from Hola Prystan in the temporarily occupied Kherson region. They were alerted by a neighbor who collaborates with the new authorities that their parental rights might be revoked because their children do not attend Russian schools.
• As of 2024, in Ukraine, there are over 210 purely civilian port infrastructure objects that have been partially or completely destroyed due to Russian attacks.
• The Ukrainian audience has largely turned away from Russian content, including opposition and official Russian media, as well as music. The percentage of those who have completely rejected Russian information products ranges from 69% to 79%.

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