Russia’s war on Ukraine. 23.04.2024

In the operational zone of the Ukrainian Operational-Strategic Group of Forces (OSG) “Khortytsia”, on the Lyman direction, the enemy launched 19 attacks in the areas of Serebriansk Forest and Nadia, Novoyehorivka, Terny and Torske. On the Bakhmut direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 16 Russian attacks in the areas of Zolotarivka, Spirne, Vyimka, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, and Andriivka. 

In the “Tavriya” OSG operational zone on the Avdiivka direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 18 enemy attacks in the areas of Novobakhmutivka, Semenivka, Umanske, Keramik, Berdychi, Pervomaiske, Ocheretyne, Novokalynove, Yasnobrodivka, and Netaylove. On the Novopavlivka direction, they continued to hold back the enemy in the areas of Heorhiivka, Novomykhailivka, Vodyane, Mykilske and Urozhaine 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 3 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 and launched 7 unsuccessful attacks.

General conclusion: 

• The enemy’s hit of the TV tower in Kharkiv and systematic attacks on the city’s life-support infrastructure may indicate that the enemy’s objective is not further offensive operations to capture Kharkiv but rather to create social tension and spread panic.
• On the Berdychi – Novokalynove line, the enemy engaged 4 brigades with a combined combat potential close to a division.
• The “Vostok (East)” Operational Grouping forces attempt to restore positions on the Vremivka direction, launching attacks towards Staromayorske and Urozhaine.
• Advanced units of the “Vostok” Operational Grouping in the Marfopil area are approximately 4 km from the southeastern outskirts of Hulyaipole. Any successful offensive actions by the enemy in the area between Vuhledar and Zolota Nyva will create operational-scale problems for the Ukrainian Defense Forces on this direction, especially on the directions towards Bohoyavlenka and Uspenivka, particularly if the enemy manages to simultaneously break through to Kurakhove.
• Units of the 5th Separate Rifle Brigade of the 1st Army Corps and the 8th Army have been observed in the operational zone of the 29th Combined Arms Army, indicating preparations for intensifying combat actions in the Vuhledar area and possibly further west in the near future.

Change in the line of contact (LoC):

• There were 86 combat engagements on various fronts.
• On the Lyman direction, positional battles have been ongoing in the areas of Novoyehorivka, Terny, Torske, Serebriansk Forest, Bilohorivka, and Hryhorivka.
• On the Bakhmut direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled enemy attacks in the areas of Zolotarivka, Spine, and Vyimka.
• Between 20,000 to 25,000 Russian servicemen are attempting to storm the outskirts of Chasiv Yar, with the 217th Airborne Regiment of the 98th Airborne Division being particularly active. Russian troops have advanced south of Ozaryanivka. The enemy attacked near Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, and Andriivka.
• On the Avdiivka direction, the 433rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 27th Motorized Rifle Division of the 2nd Army captured the railway station in Ocheretyne, cut the railway tracks, and advanced north into the central part of the village. The Ukrainian Defense forces hold positions at the brick factory in the western part of Ocheretyne.
• The 9th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the enemy’s 1st Army Corps achieved minor tactical successes near Netaylove, pushing up to 400 meters into the southern outskirts of Pervomaiske.
• The 74th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 41st Army is engaged in combat near Berdychi.
• On the Novopavlivka direction, Russian forces have advanced to the eastern outskirts of Heorhiivka. An enemy tactical group consisting of up to 2 brigades and 8 regiments is attempting to dislodge the units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces from the western outskirts of Novomykhailivka.
• On the Berdyansk direction, Russian forces have advanced east of Urozhaine, with positional battles ongoing near Staromayorske.
• The 60th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 5th Army and the 37th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 35th Army periodically attack the Ukrainian defense positions in adjacent flanks in the area southwest of Staromayorske and south of Urozhaine, advancing on both banks of the Mokri Yaly River. However, even the engagement of units from the 394th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 127th Motorized Rifle Division of the 5th Army west of Staromayorske or the 5th Separate Tank Brigade in the attack zone of the 60th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade hasn’t yielded results.
• The 69th Separate Cover Brigade and the 38th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 35th Army are preparing to improve their tactical position in the Marfopil – Dorozhnyanka area. Units from the 114th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 127th Motorized Rifle Division of the 5th Army may be involved in these actions.
• In the Pavlivka and Shevchenkove area, the 36th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade continues positional battles with the forward Ukrainian units, and after their counterattack near Pavlivka, part of the units was forced to retreat from their positions.
• On the Orikhiv direction, positional battles continued near Robotyne and northwest of Verbove. The Ukrainian Defense Forces regularly strike Russian convoys on the T0401 Tokmak – Pologi highway using UAVs.
• In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, the enemy naval group on combat duty consists of:
  • Black Sea: 1 ship.
  • Mediterranean Sea: 7 ships, including 3 “Kalibr” sea launched cruise missile carriers. The total salvo is 20 cruise missiles.
• The Ukrainian Defense Forces hit an auxiliary ship “Komunna”

Changes in the enemy disposition:

• On the Vremivka direction, the enemy has deployed a grouping consisting of 9 brigades, 11 regiments, including 8-9 fully staffed by professional soldiers, 3 battalions, and 3 detachments, with 2 regiments and 3 reserve battalions in the First Line Reserve.
• On the Hulyaipole direction, the enemy has deployed a grouping of 3 brigades, 1 regiment, 1 battalion, and 2 BARS units, with 1 reserve battalion in the First Line Reserve.
• The “Vostok” Operational Grouping on these two directions has 51,000 personnel, 380 tanks, 850 armored vehicles, 510 artillery pieces, mortars, and MLRS, along with 8 “Iskander” missile systems. This represents the highest level of troops’ armament supply across the entire theater of 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.
• The enemy’s “Vostok” Operational Grouping is gearing up for active operations on the southern flank of the Kurakhove-Vuhledar bulge of the Ukrainian Defense Forces in coordination with the left flank of the “Yug” Operational Grouping, which is currently attempting to break through towards Kurakhove through Hryhorivka and Paraskoviivka-Kostyantynivka along the Vovcha and Sukhi Yaly Rivers.

Russian operational losses from 24.02.22 to 23.04.24  

Personnel – almost 461,060 (+800); 

Tanks 7,241 (+5); 

Armored combat vehicles – 13,916 (+12); 

Artillery systems – 11,765 (+29);

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

Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 769 (+1);

Vehicles and fuel tanks – 15,845 (+33);

Aircraft – 348 (0);

Helicopters – 325 (0);

UAV operational and tactical level – 9,407 (+23);

Intercepted cruise missiles – 2,117 (0);

Boats/ships – 27 (0).

Humanitarian+general:

• According to information provided by the Situation Center of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Russian forces shelled 11 regions of Ukraine over the past day. A total of 85 towns and villages and 118 infrastructure objects were attacked with various types of weapons. The number of casualties is being updated/clarified.
• The Russian forces attacked Ukraine during the night of April 23 using 2 Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 16 Shahed drones; 15 drones were successfully neutralized.
• Over the last 24 hours, Russian troops engaged in multiple artillery barrages on Kherson Oblast. The enemy strikes killed 2 people and wounded another 6.
• A Russian drone attack on Odesa on Tuesday night wounded nine individuals, including four children, two of whom are under a year old. Search and rescue teams saved 34 individuals, and at least 14 apartments suffered damage.
• Two civilians were killed due to Russian shelling In the Pokrovsky district of Donetsk Oblast. Over the past 24 hours, the Russian military targeted towns and villages in Donetsk Oblast 15 times. A total of 130 people, including 19 children, were evacuated from the frontline.
• On the morning of April 23, Russian forces dropped a guided aerial bomb on Kostyantynivka in Donetsk Oblast. Five people were injured. At the time of the shelling, they were traveling in a passenger car.
• Russian forces launched a missile attack on the Dniprovsky district of Dnipropetrovsk Oblat. According to preliminary information, four people were injured.
• During the day on April 23, the Russian army attacked a residential district in the center of Bilopillia, located in Sumy region, using “Grad” rockets, as well as the Shalyhynska community. Three injuries have been reported.
• At 11 a.m., it was reported that there’s an ongoing electricity deficit in the power grid. Due to this, the “Ukrenergo” Dispatch Center has been calling in emergency assistance for the second consecutive day, almost round-the-clock.

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