Russia’s war on Ukraine. 16.07.2024

In the operational zone of the Ukrainian Operational Group of Forces (OTG) “Kharkiv” on the Kharkiv direction, there were a total of 18 combat engagements. Fighting occurred near Vovchansk and Hlyboke. The enemy actively employed aviation to support its assault actions.

In the “Khortytsia” Operational-Strategic Group of Forces (OSG) operational zone on the Kupyansk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 3 enemy attacks near Pishchane and Stelmakhivka. On the Lyman direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 8 enemy attacks in the areas of Nevske and Terny. On the Siversk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 7 assaults near Bilohorivka, Rozdolivka, Verkhnyokamianske, and Spirne. On the Kramatorsk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces stopped 6 enemy attempts to break through the defense in the areas of Hryhorivka and Chasiv Yar. On the Toretsk direction, the enemy carried out 14 attacks, concentrating efforts towards New York and Pivnichne, supporting its actions with bombing and assault aviation strikes.

In the “Tavriya” OSG operational zone, on the Pokrovsk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 31 assaults in the areas of Novoselivka Persha, Novooleksandrivka, Prohres, and Yasnobrodivka, where the aggressor, supported by aviation, tried to displace Defense Forces units from their positions. On the Kurakhove direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to restrain the enemy in the areas of Krasnohorivka, Paraskoviivka, and Karlivka, where the enemy attacked 17 times. On the Vremivka direction, the aggressor carried out 7 unsuccessful assaults near Vodyane, Kostyantynivka, and Makarivka. The occupiers unsuccessfully assaulted Ukrainian Defense Forces positions 3 times on the Orikhiv direction in the areas of Mala Tokmachka and Novoandriivka.

In the operational zone of “Odesa” OSG on the Prydniprovskiy direction, the enemy does not cease attempts to dislodge Ukrainian Defense Forces units from their positions. Three unsuccessful infantry assaults were repelled.

General conclusion: 

• The actions of the enemy’s “Sever (North) Operational Grouping suggest that its command has been tasked with capturing Vovchansk at any cost.
• The “Sever (North) Operational Grouping has partially shifted the direction of its main attack to the east of Vovchansk, towards Tykhe and Vovchanski Khutory, making efforts to unblock its group surrounded at the aggregate producing plant. These actions indicate an attempt to reach the Vovcha River on the widest possible front and to select the most convenient crossing point.
• The enemy has not yet succeeded in reaching the barrier line along the Vovcha, Kazenyi Torets, and Bychok rivers but has launched a frontal attack on the Toretsk area of Ukrainian Defense Forces, using most of its operational reserve. They misjudged the successful advance of the 506th and 589th Motorized Rifle Regiments of the 27th Motorized Rifle Division of the 2nd Combined Arms Army, which managed to break through to the eastern outskirts of Pivnichne, Pivdenne, and the eastern outskirts of Zalizne, and penetrated through Yuriivka to New York in the advance zone of the 132nd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 1st Army Corps.
• On the Toretsk direction, the prospects for a rapid and deep advance into the “Khortytsia” OSG defense are gradually diminishing, as the effect of tactical surprise has been exhausted.
• On the Pokrovsk direction, there is a sharp decline in the pace and scale of the advance by the “Tsentr (Center)” Operational Grouping.
• The brigades of the 2nd and 41st Combined Arms Armies are gradually losing their offensive capabilities. For instance, the 30th and 35th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades in the direction of Vozdvyzhenka and north of the railway have advanced as much in two weeks as they did in one day a month ago.
• The enemy is trying to maintain the pace of the offensive on the Pokrovsk and Toretsk directions by relying on the superiority of artillery and aviation support.

Change in the line of contact (LoC):

• There were 119 combat engagements on various fronts.
• On the Kharkiv direction, the enemy regrouped its troops and assets in the Vovchansk area, bringing in separate units and assault groups from the 2nd Separate SOF Brigade and the “Volunteer Assault Corps.” They carried out a series of attacks in the areas of Shevchenko, Korolenko and Khliborobiv Streets, as well as Gorky City Park, aiming to take control of the entire northern part of the city.
• On the auxiliary direction towards Lyptsi, the enemy is trying to hold their positions in the eastern and northern parts of Hlyboke and in the forest between Hlyboke and Lukyantsi on the western bank of the Lypets River.
• On the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces continued their offensive in the area of Pishchane and Stelmakhivka.
• On the Lyman direction, Russian forces advanced up to 300 meters east of Makiivka, attacking near Makiivka, Hrekivka, and in the area of Terny.
• On the Siversk Direction, Russian forces advanced in the area of Bilohorivka, Verkhnyokamianske, Spirne, and Vyimka.
• On the Kramatorsk direction, Russian forces attacked on the eastern outskirts of Chasiv Yar, near Hryhorivka, Kalynivka, Ivanivske, and near Andriivka.
• On the Toretsk direction, attempts to advance “head-on” from Mayorsk towards Pivnichne and Druzhba ended in failure for the enemy, as did its attempts to advance in Pivdenne towards Yunosti Street.
• On the Pokrovsk direction, the enemy’s “Tsentr (Center)” Operational Grouping continues efforts to reach the barrier line along the Vovcha, Kazenyi Torets, and Bychok rivers, attempting to break through between Vovcha and Kazenyi Torets towards Prohres and Ivanivka. To achieve this, the enemy engaged in battles in the central and northern parts of Novoselivka Persha, expanded their area of advance on the Vovcha River northwards, moved into the southern part of Yasnobrodivka but failed to fully occupy the village, and advanced towards Prohres and Vozdvyzhenka.
• On the Kurakhove direction, Russian forces made slight progress within the western part of Krasnohorivka, continued attacking near Paraskoviivka, Kostyantynivka, and Vodyane.
• On the Vremivka direction, Russian forces continued their offensive in the area of Makarivka, attempting to advance north of Urozhaine.
• On the Orikhiv direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled Russian attacks near Novoandriivka and Mala Tokmachka.
• In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, the enemy naval group on combat duty consists of:
  • Azov Sea: 4 ships, including 0 cruise missile carriers; the total salvo is 0 cruise missiles.
  • Mediterranean Sea: 1 ship, including 1 cruise missile carriers; the total salvo is 8 cruise missiles.  
• Ukrainian Defense Forces launched a missile strike on the launch positions of the 12th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment of the 31st Air Defense Division at Cape Fiolent in the occupied Crimea, damaging the radar station and the S-400 missile launcher.

Changes in the enemy disposition:

• Units of the 128th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 44th Army Corps, which had previously been in reserve, have been detected in the Vovchansk area.
• Units of the 752nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 3rd Motorized Rifle Division of the 20th Combined Arms Army are active near Makiivka.
• The 56th Air Assault Brigade of the 7th Air Assault Division, the 70th Motorized Rifle Division, and the 126th Separate Coastal Defense Brigade of the 18th Combined Arms Army conduct combat operations on the Kherson direction.

Possible operation situation developments:

• On the Vovchansk direction, the enemy may abandon assault actions and shift to attacks on the flanks in the direction of Buhruvatka – Starytsya – Izbytske, attempting to bypass Vovchansk from the east through Tykhe and Vovchanski Khutory.
• On the Kupyansk direction, in the operational zone of the 1st Tank Army, command of the enemy’s “Zapad (West)” Operational Grouping will attempt to reach the Oskil River in the Hlushkivka – Zahryzove sector, the Petropavlivka – Kurylivka line, and storm Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi railway junction. This assumption is supported he enemy’s increased activity specifically on the flanks (Synkivka – Petropavlivka and Pishchane – Kolisnykivka directions). To bind the “Khortytsia” OSG forces, the enemy will exert frontal pressure on their positions in the Stepova Novoselivka area.
• The enemy has completed the formation of a tactical group consisting of the 252nd Motorized Rifle Regiment, 237th Tank Regiment of the 3rd Motorized Rifle Division, 283rd Motorized Rifle Regiment, and 59th Tank Regiment of the 144th Motorized Rifle Division. This group will soon attempt to seize the crossing over the Chornyi Zherebets River in Makiivka and attack the positions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces units in Nevske from the areas of Makiivka and Chervonopopivka.
• The following units will attack through the wooded area of Chasiv Yar with assault groups: the 200th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 14th Army Corps will advance from the Kalynivka area, while the 98th Airborne Division will move between the T0504 Kostyantynivka–Bakhmut highway and the “Novyi” neighborhood, with part of its forces in the “Zhovtnevyi” neighborhood. Their actions will begin with the capture of Kalynivka and securing control over the intersection of the Siversky Donets–Donbas canal and the T0504 highway.

Russian operational losses from 24.02.22 to 16.07.24  

Personnel – almost 561,400 (+1110); 

Tanks 8,227 (+13);

Armored combat vehicles – 15,862 (+36); 

Artillery systems – 15,368 (+44);

Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,119 (0);

Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 892 (0);

Vehicles and fuel tanks – 20,680 (+57);

Aircraft – 361 (0);

Helicopters – 326 (0);

UAV operational and tactical level –12,193 (+45);

Intercepted cruise missiles – 2,398 (0);

Boats/ships – 29 (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 100 towns and villages and 75 infrastructure objects were attacked with various types of weapons. The number of casualties is being updated/clarified.
• During a nighttime drone attack in Kyiv Oblast, air defense forces engaged, and debris from downed “Shahed” drones fell into a private yard, causing a fire and damaging non-residential buildings.
• Around 11:00, the Russian army struck the Korabelny district of Kherson with a missile, damaging civilian infrastructure.
• On July 16, Russian forces launched a drone attack on a repair brigade fixing gas equipment in Antonivka in Kherson Oblast, injuring a worker, an Antonivka resident, and the village head.
• In the morning of July 16, rescuers recovered two bodies from the rubble of a residential building in Myrnohrad of Donetsk Oblast, struck by Russians on July 14, raising the death toll from that attack to three.
• In the evening of July 16, Russian forces struck Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, injuring at least four people and damaging seven buildings.
• According to the National Resistance Center of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, occupiers in temporarily occupied territories are establishing separate units under a so-called “Interior Ministry” for local population screening. These units will conduct checks on residents and vehicles, as well as provide “security” for filtration camps where Ukrainians suspected of disloyalty are unlawfully detained.

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