Russia’s war on Ukraine. 20.07.2024

In the operational zone of the Ukrainian Operational Group of Forces (OTG) “Kharkiv” on the Kharkiv direction, the enemy attacked Ukrainian defensive positions near Vovchansk and Hlyboke 5 times but was unsuccessful.

In the “Khortytsia” Operational-Strategic Group of Forces (OSG) operational zone on the Kupyansk direction, the enemy conducted 9 assaults in the areas of Synkivka, Petropavlivka, Novoosynove, and Stelmakhivka. On the Lyman direction, Russian invaders attacked the positions of Ukrainian Defense Forces 13 times near Hrekivka, Nevske, Novosadove, and the Serebriansk Forest. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled the Russians, giving them no chance. On the Siversk direction, the enemy failed during clashes near Bilohorivka, Verkhnyokamianske, Vyimka, and Pereyizne. On the Kramatorsk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces stopped 3 Russian attacks near Chasiv Yar and Bila Hora. Fighting continues in the Chasiv Yar area. On the Toretsk direction, Russian forces attacked Ukrainian Defense Forces 13 times near Pivnichne, Toretsk, New York, and Zalizne.

In the “Tavriya” OSG operational zone, the enemy was most active today on the Pokrovsk direction, where they attempted to break through the Ukrainian defenses 28 times near Vozdvyzhenka, Novooleksandrivka, Prohres, Kalynove, Yasnobrodivka, and Novoselivka Persha. On the Kurakhove direction, the enemy attacked the positions of Ukrainian Defense Forces 9 times near Krasnohorivka, Karlivka, and Kostyantynivka. On the Vremivka direction, the invaders made 1 unsuccessful attack near Vodyane. On Orikhiv direction, all efforts of the occupiers to push Ukrainian Defense Forces from their positions were also unsuccessful. Ukrainian defenders repelled 6 enemy attacks near Mala Tokmachka, Shcherbaky, and Novoandriivka.

In the operational zone of “Odesa” OSG on the Prydniprovskiy direction, Russian forces also suffered defeats while attacking Ukrainian defensive lines on the left bank of the Dnipro River.

Change in the line of contact (LoC):

• There were 101 combat engagements on various fronts.
• On the Kharkiv direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked in the areas of Hlyboke, Starytsya, Vovchansk, Tykhe, and Vovchanski Khutory.
• On the Kupyansk direction, fighting continued near Synkivka, Petropavlivka, Berestove, Stelmakhivka, Pishchane, and Novoosynove.
• On the Lyman direction, Russian forces advanced east of Nevske. Fighting continued near Hrekivka, Makiivka, Terny, Torske, and in the area of the Serebriansk Forest.
• On the Siversk Direction, units of the 123rd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 2nd Army Corps captured Ivano-Dariivka and Spirne, reaching positions 8-9 km from Siversk, continuing offensive actions near Bilohorivka, Verkhnyokamianske, Vyimka, and Pereyizne.
• Ukrainian Defense Forces destroyed a bridge between Pereyizne and Fedorivka to slow the enemy’s advance.
• On the Kramatorsk direction, units of the 200th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 14th Army Corps crossed the Siversky Donets-Donbas canal near Kalynivka, advancing in the area of Chasiv Yar, towards Novomarkove, and near Ivanivske and Bila Hora.
• On the Toretsk direction, Russian forces advanced west along Petra Velykoho Street in the eastern part of Druzhba, within the southern districts of Pivnichne, captured Yuriivka, advanced in the central and northeastern parts of Zalizne, and in the southwestern part of New York.
• On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian forces advanced to Prohres and captured the entire village, advanced along the forest strips directly southeast of Karlivka, north and southeast of Lozuvatka, west of Yevhenivka, in Novoselivka Persha, in the area of Kalynove, near Vozdvyzhenka, Novooleksandrivka, Prohres, Yevhenivka, Novoselivka Persha, Umanske, Yasnobrodivka, and Karlivka.
• On the Kurakhove direction, Russian forces advanced west and northwest of Solodke towards Vodyane, along the O0532 highway, captured a wooded area north of Mykilske, advanced within Krasnohorivka, and continued their offensive in the area of Kostyantynivka and Paraskoviivka.
• On the Vremivka direction, Russian forces advanced northeast and northwest of Staromayorske.
• On the Orikhiv direction, positional battles took place near Mala Tokmachka, Shcherbaky, Novoandriivka, and Robotyne.
• On the Prydniprovskiy direction, positional battles continued on the left bank of Kherson Oblast, including near Krynky.
• 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.  

Changes in the enemy disposition:

• Units of the 433rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 27th Motorized Rifle Division of the 2nd Combined Arms Army and the 74th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 41st Combined Arms Army are operating near Yevhenivka.

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 enemy’s “Yug (South)” Operational Grouping failed to advance through Kalynivka, failing to complete the task of bypassing Chasiv Yar from the north and breaking through Ridkodubya towards the railway station north of the Refractory plant, thus falling to force the forward units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces to retreat from the “Novyi” and “Zhovtnevyi” neighborhoods and avoid a frontal assault on their positions across the canal. A repeat attempt of such actions should be expected if the “Siversky Donets-Donbas” canal between Kalynivka and the “Zhovtnevyi” neighborhood is crossed.
• The 55th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade is preparing to intensify offensive actions with at least two battalions and two to three assault groups from a consolidated assault company north of Novooleksandrivka towards Zelene Pole and Baranivka, aiming to support the right flank of a tactical group that will attempt to capture Vozdvyzhenka.
• Units of the 55th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade are actively fortifying their forward positions between Novooleksandrivka and Arkhanhelske, particularly setting up mine-explosive barriers. If the enemy achieves success north of Novooleksandrivka, they may also launch an attack towards Kalynove.
• Assault units of the enemy’s 30th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade and the 433rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 27th Motorized Rifle Division currently attacking towards Prohres have received reinforcements (up to twenty to twenty-five personnel) and will attack shortly north and south of the Pokrovsk-Prohres railway.
• Russian forces will intensify attacks south of Kostyantynivka to encircle the Vuhledar defense area.

Russian operational losses from 24.02.22 to 20.07.24  

Personnel – almost 565,610 (+990); 

Tanks 8,257 (+7);

Armored combat vehicles – 15,917 (+15); 

Artillery systems – 15,542 (+22);

Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,121 (+1);

Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 895 (+1);

Vehicles and fuel tanks – 20,968 (+59);

Aircraft – 362 (+1);

Helicopters – 326 (0);

UAV operational and tactical level –12,350 (+34);

Intercepted cruise missiles – 2,401 (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 12 regions of Ukraine over the past day. A total of 69 towns and villages and 193 infrastructure objects were attacked with various types of weapons. The number of casualties is being updated/clarified.
• During the night of July 20, the Russian military struck Ukraine with three Iskander-M ballistic missiles, one Iskander-K cruise missile, 16 Shahed attack UAVs, and one unidentified UAV. Ukrainian Defense Forces shot down 12 Russian Shahed attack drones and one unidentified UAV.
• On the night of July 20, Russian drones attacked energy transmission system facilities in Poltava, Sumy, and Chernihiv Oblasts. Industrial and residential consumers in some areas of Poltava and Chernihiv Oblasts were left without power. By morning, power was restored to most consumers.
• On the night of July 20, Russian forces attacked railway infrastructure in the Kharkiv Oblast, damaging buildings and rolling stock, and injuring four railway workers.
• During the night, Russian forces launched three missile strikes on the city of Barvinkove in the Kharkiv Oblast. More than 50 residential buildings, administrative buildings, and vehicles were damaged. Preliminary reports indicate that two civilians were killed, and three others were injured.
• As a result of artillery shelling in Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a 44-year-old man was killed. Additionally, a 60-year-old woman was injured during shelling in the Pokrovska community. She received medical assistance and will be treated at home.
• The enemy attacked the village of Antonivka in Kherson Oblast with a drone, injuring two women.
• In Kharkiv Oblast, the occupiers struck the village of Ivashky with a drone, injuring four people as a result of a hit on a shop.

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