Russia’s war on Ukraine. 26.04.2024

In the operational zone of the Ukrainian Operational-Strategic Group of Forces (OSG) “Khortytsia”, on the Kupyansk direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 10 enemy attacks near Kyslivka, Berestove and Stelmakhivka. On the Lyman direction, the enemy attacked the positions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces 20 times in the areas of Druzheliubivka, Makiivka, Torske, Terni, Zarichne, and in the Serebriansk Forest. On the Bakhmut direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 26 Russian attacks in the areas of Bilohorivka, Verkhnyokamianske, Novy, Mykolaivka, Vyimka, Spirne, Ivanivske, and Klishchiivka. 

In the “Tavriya” OSG operational zone on the Avdiivka direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 30 enemy attacks in the areas of Ocheretyne, Umanske, Nevelske, Keramik, Berdychi, and Netaylove. On the Novopavlivka direction, they continued to hold back the enemy in the areas of Krasnohorivka, Pobieda, Novomykhailivka, Vodyane,  where the adversary attempted to breach Ukrainian troops’ defenses 19 time. On the Orikhiv direction, the enemy attacked the positions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces 3 times in the areas 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 3 unsuccessful attacks.

General conclusion: 

• Russian forces are shifting priorities for missile strikes and concentrating efforts on targeting Ukrainian transportation infrastructure to complicate maneuvering between frontlines for Ukrainian Defense Forces and slow down aid delivery from partners closer to the frontline.
• Enemy attempts to seize Chasiv Yar open up significant operational advancement prospects for Russian forces, as capturing the town would allow them to initiate further offensive operations against cities forming a significant Ukrainian defensive belt in Donetsk Oblast.
• Russian forces are seeking to expand their area of penetration into the “Tavriya” OSG defense in Ocheretyne, concentrating up to a division in this area.
• The penetration area in Ocheretyne is 2 km wide and highly vulnerable to Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacks, which would allow them to stabilize the situation in this area.
• Russian forces are to consolidate positions in Ocheretyne while simultaneously advancing westward, complicating the Ukrainian Defense Forces’ ability to maintain positions along the Berdychi-Semenivka-Umanske line.
• The enemy remains approximately 30 km from Pokrovsk, which is an operational objective, and about 17 km from relatively large villages east of Pokrovsk.

Change in the line of contact (LoC):

• There were 114 combat engagements on various fronts.
• On the Kupyansk direction, positional battles continued near Berestove, Stelmakhivka, Novovodyane, Druzhelyubivka, and Makiivka.
• On the Lyman direction, positional battles continued near Nevske, Terny, Torske, Zarichne, in the area of Serebriansk Forest, and Bilohorivka.
• On the Bakhmut direction, the defense forces have advanced further east of Verkhnyokamianske. Battles have been ongoing in the areas of Spirne and Vyimka.
• Enemy Aerospace Forces conduct air strikes with precision guided glide bombs on the positions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces in Kalynivka and Chasiv Yar. Enemy assault groups attack Kalynivka, the “Kanal” neighborhood, through Ivanivske towards the Siversky Donets-Donbas Canal.
• Battles have been ongoing in the “Novyi” neighborhood, near Ivanivske, and Klishchiivka, where Russian forces have slightly advanced.
• On the Avdiivka direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces have consolidated on new positions north and south of the enemy’s penetration area in Ocheretyne. The enemy’s Aerospace Forces blocked the battlefield, striking with precision guided glide bombs on the positions of Ukrainian units in Prohres, Yehoryvka, Kalynove, and Arkhangelske.
• The enemy is attempting to advance from Ocheretyne in a western direction along the railway, pushing the Ukrainian Defense Forces back 1 km west of the village, towards Solovyove, where they have reached the outskirts of the village, towards Berdychi from the north and east. The enemy’s “Tsentr (Center)” Operational Grouping has deployed at least two brigades to Ocheretyne and another two to the area southeast of the village, where they are attacking the positions of the 47th and 23rd Separate Mechanized Brigades. East of Ocheretyne, the enemy has managed to advance to the eastern side of Novokalynove, defended by the 115th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, but is struggling to halt the advance of two enemy brigades. The 15th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the enemy’s 2nd Army broke through to the center of Solovyove from Novobakhmutivka.
• On the Novopavlivka direction, in Krasnohorivka, the 80th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade continues to hold its positions under enemy air strikes (up to 30 per day), which attempt to assault in groups of up to a reinforced company. The 31st and 33rd Separate Mechanized Brigades have withdrawn to new positions extending southward from Heorhiivka. The 79th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade maintains fire control from several heights to the south of Maryinka and Pobieda. The 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigadein Vuhledar is defending against constant air strikes and artillery bombardments.
• On the Berdyansk direction, Russian forces advanced southeast of Urozhaine and commenced the assault on its southern outskirts after several days of intense air strikes. Russian troops unsuccessfully attacked near Staromayorske.
• On the Orikhiv direction, In Robotyne, the 141st Motorized Rifle Regiment of the enemy withdrew to the northern part of the completely destroyed village. The 42nd Motorized Rifle Division of the enemy’s 58th Army received reinforcements (the 1152nd, 1154th, 1429th, 1430th, 1434th, and 430th Rifle Regiments of Mobilization Reserve).
• Further to the east, the enemy displaced the 14th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine from Height 110 near Robotyne.
• On the Kherson direction, Russian forces have intensified the use of UAVs and shelling near Krynky.
• In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, the enemy naval group on combat duty consists of:
  • Mediterranean Sea: 2 ships, including 1 “Kalibr” sea launched cruise missile carrier. The total salvo is 16 cruise missiles.

Escalation indicators:

• The enemy resumed offensive actions on the Kupyansk direction, is increasing efforts near Ocheretyne and aggressively assaulting the eastern outskirts of Chasiv Yar.

Possible operation situation developments:

• 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.
• Expect a series of enemy attacks on the Kupyansk direction throughout the week.
• 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.
• In the next 2 days, an enemy breakthrough is expected through the wooded area located south of the “Novyi” neighborhood, across the “Siversky Donets – Donbas” canal, where the canal runs underground for a stretch of up to 1 km, towards Chasiv Yar either targeting the “Novyi” or “Zhovtnevy” neighborhoods. The breakthrough will be carried out by the 331st Airborne Regiment of the 98th Airborne Division and the main forces of the 11th Separate Assault Brigade. To exploit the success and consolidate the achieved positions in combat, the 85th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 2nd Army Corps may be introduced.
• 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.
• 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 “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 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 26.04.24  

Personnel – almost 463,930 (+950); 

Tanks 7,262 (+7); 

Armored combat vehicles – 13,957 (+15); 

Artillery systems – 11,867 (+31);

Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,049 (0);

Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 772 (0);

Vehicles and fuel tanks – 15,984 (+35);

Aircraft – 348 (0);

Helicopters – 325 (0);

UAV operational and tactical level – 9,461 (+12);

Intercepted cruise missiles – 2,119 (+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 9 regions of Ukraine over the past day. A total of 115 towns and villages and 58 infrastructure objects were attacked with various types of weapons. The number of casualties is being updated/clarified.
• During the past day, Russian occupiers shelled Kherson Oblast, targeting residential areas, a shopping center, a kindergarten, an agricultural enterprise, and vehicles, resulting in injuries to six civilians.
• During the past day, Russian forces shelled populated areas in Donetsk Oblast 10 times. 106 people, including 12 children, were evacuated from the front line. 5 people were killed, and 8 others were wounded because of Russian shelling.
• On April 26, the enemy conducted an aerial strike on an industrial facility in the city of Sumy, employing two glide bombs.
• On April 26, Russian military artillery shelled the city of Nikopol in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, resulting in injuries to a 42-year-old man and a 9-year-old boy.
• At 12:30 in the village of Sotnytskyi Kozachok, Bogodukhiv district, of Kharkiv Oblast two local civilian volunteers, a 56-year-old man and his 54-year-old wife, were wounded as a result of an enemy drone striking their car.
• The situation with Ukrainian civilians held prisoner by the Russian Federation remains unresolved. The Russian Federation denies holding Ukrainian civilians it arbitrarily detained, consequently that they do not legally exist, thus being in a “legal black hole.” Alternatively, Russia unlawfully classifies them as prisoners of war even if they never took part in combat.
• Kyiv City Administration urgently evacuated two hospitals, one of which is pediatric, as internet media had widely circulated videos allegedly announcing an enemy strike on these medical facilities, claiming that military personnel were present there. The claim was made by Belarusian KGB. Kyiv mayor Klychko called the information about the military fake. The Security Service of Ukraine urged to take any statements from the Belarusian authorities regarding mythical “terrorists” allegedly present in Ukrainian hospitals as manifestations of informational-psychological special operations that play into the hands of the Russian Federation.
• As a result of repatriation efforts to Ukraine, 140 deceased defenders have been returned. Specifically, 112 bodies of defenders who fought on the Donetsk front, 20 fallen soldiers from the Luhansk front, 5 deceased defenders from the Sumy front, 2 fallen soldiers from the Zaporizhzhia front, and one from the Kherson front were repatriated.

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