Центр оборонних стратегій

Russia’s war on Ukraine. 24.07.2024

In the operational zone of the Ukrainian Operational Group of Forces (OTG) “Kharkiv” on the Kharkiv direction, the enemy does not cease attempts to break through the Ukrainian defense and carried out 11 unsuccessful attacks in the directions of Hlyboke, Tyke, and Vovchansk.

In the “Khortytsia” Operational-Strategic Group of Forces (OSG) operational zone on the Kupyansk direction, units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 3 enemy attacks towards Pishchane, Stelmakhivka, and Andriivka. The enemy has already faced a strong rebuff near Hlushkivka and Petropavlivka. On the Lyman direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 11 enemy attacks in the directions of Novovodyane – Makiivka; Ploshchanka – Nevske; Zalyman – Makiivka; Holykove – Nevske.  On the Siversk direction, the number of combat clashes reached 8. Besides Spirne, where the occupiers failed 3 times, the enemy unsuccessfully tried to advance near Vyimka and Pereyizne. On the Kramatorsk direction, the enemy tried 7 times to break through the Ukrainian defense. Ukrainian defenders repelled 5 attacks, and battles continue in the areas of Chasiv Yar and Ivanivske. On the Toretsk direction, the number of enemy attacks increased to 12. Ten of them were repelled, and the enemy is attacking near Zalizne.

In the “Tavriya” OSG operational zoneon the Pokrovsk direction, the enemy attacked 9 times in the areas of Panteleimonivka, Novooleksandrivka, Prohres, and Novoselivka Persha. Another 24 Russian attempts to advance were stopped.  On the Kurakhove direction, the enemy does not cease attempts to break through the Ukrainian defense. Battles continue in the direction of Staromykhailivka – Krasnohorivka. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 6 enemy attacks near Kostyantynivka and Krasnohorivka.

General conclusion:

  • Russian forces concentrate their main efforts in the areas of Hlyboke and Vovchansk, continuing to regroup but not preparing for a new offensive operation.
  • On the Siversk direction, Russian forces use mobile electronic warfare systems deployed approximately 10 km from the front line to counter the UAVs of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
  • On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian forces attempt to attack the weakest Ukrainian units instead of the weakest positions.
  • Overall, the enemy’s advance on the Myrnohrad – Pokrovsk direction over the past week has been up to 6 km, and Russian forces are now 14 km from Myrnohrad.
  • The elimination of the Kurakhove-Vuhledar bridgehead of the Ukrainian Defense Forces remains one of the operational tasks of the enemy’s “Yug (South)” Operational Grouping.
  • During the period from spring to mid-summer, on the Kurakhove and Vremivka directions, the enemy managed to capture Staromayorske, Urozhaine, Novomykhailivka, most of Paraskoviivka, consolidate in the central and eastern parts of Heorhiivka, slightly push forward the advanced units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces in the most dangerous direction for themselves – Volodymyrivka – Pivdennodonbaska mine, and slightly advance in the direction of Solodke – Vodyane.
  • The enemy’s “Vostok (East)” Operational Grouping failed to achieve its main operational tasks – the complete expulsion of the Ukrainian Defense Forces west of the Marinka – Vuhledar road, which would have meant the elimination of the entire Kurakhove-Vuhledar salient, and the restoration of positions in most of the operational zone of the grouping. The operational-tactical situation suggests that the command of the Eastern Grouping abandoned the intention of rapidly breaking through towards Kurakhove to encircle the Kurakhove-Vuhledar salient.
  • Attempts to advance by the flanking forces of the “Vostok (East)” and “Yug (South)” Operational Groupings did not bring the expected results: the enemy failed to break through towards Kurakhove and reach the Hostre – Maksymilianivka line. The battles for Kostyantynivka require more resources than the battles for Novomykhailivka, and the prospects of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division reaching this village today are quite illusory. The 39th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade cannot break through to Vodyane; its rate of advance is low, and losses are excessive. The battles to re-capture Staromayorske and Urozhaine have exhausted the 60th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade.
  • The situation on other operational directions allows us to state that the enemy’s “Vostok (East)” and “Yug (South)” Operational Groupings are not receiving reinforcements and will rely on their own forces. The extremely limited number of operational reserves will not allow them to develop a potential tactical success into an operational one, so stagnation and positional battles should be expected on the Kurakhove and Vremivka directions.

Change in the line of contact (LoC):

  • There were 99 combat engagements on various fronts.
  • On the Kharkiv direction, Russian forces have completely pushed back the Ukrainian Defense Forces from Hlyboke, carried out airstrikes between Lyptsi and Hlyboke, and launched a vacuum bomb airstrike (ODAB-1500) near Borshchova. Positional battles continued near Hlyboke, Vovchansk, Vovchanski Khutory, and Tykhe.
  • Ukrainian Defense Forces have become more active near Starytsya.
  • On the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces captured positions on the northwestern outskirts of Synkivka, advanced over 800 meters in Pishchane, and continued their offensive in the area of Kindrashivka, near Petropavlivka, Hlushkivka, Kolisnykivka, Berestove, Stelmakhivka, Andriivka, Makiivka, and Novoserhiivka.
  • On the Lyman direction, Russian forces advanced near Nevske, Terny, and Yampolivka, and continued their offensive in the area of the Serebriansk Forest.
  • On the Siversk Direction, Russian forces advanced northeast of Rozdolivka and attacked near Verkhnyokamianske, Spirne, Vyimka, and Pereyizne.
  • On the Kramatorsk direction, Russian forces made slight advances north of Kalynivka and near Hryhorivka, attacking near Vasyukivka, Minkivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Hryhorivka, Kalynivka, and Bohdanivka. Battles continued near Novomarkove, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, and Bila Hora.
  • On the Toretsk direction, Russian forces advanced in Zalizne and in the center of New York. Battles continued near Pivnichne, Zalizne, New York, and Panteleimonivka.
  • On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian forces advanced to Molodizhna Street in the southwestern part of Novoselivka Persha, to the outskirts of Vovche, and on the northern and southern banks of the Karlivka Reservoir. Battles continued near Kalynove, Vozdvyzhenka, Novooleksandrivka, Ivanivka, Tymofiivka, Lozuvatske, Prohres, Novoselivka Persha, Vovche, Yasnobrodivka, Umanske, and Karlivka.
  • On the Kurakhove direction, forward units of the 36th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 29th Combined Arms Army continued local offensive and assault actions in the directions of Mykilske – Vuhledar, Volodymyrivka – “Pivdenno-Donbaska” mine, and the 39th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 68th Army Corps in the direction of Solodke – Vodyane. The enemy did not achieve success.
  • Forward units of the 9th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 1st Army Corps, the 103rd Motorized Rifle Regiment, and the 163rd Tank Regiment of the 150th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Combined Arms Army attacked in the direction of Maryinka – Maksymilianivka, trying to break through to the latter, but failed to advance and secure beyond Heorhiivka. The enemy only partially controls Heorhiivka. In the directions of Pobeda – Kostyantynivka and Novomykhailivka – Kostyantynivka, the 20th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Combined Arms Army is attacking, having engaged all its main forces – the 242nd, 255th, and 33rd Motorized Rifle Regiments, and the 10th Tank Regiment. The enemy is attempting to fully control Paraskoviivka and advance from it to the O0532 Marinka – Vuhledar road, bypassing Kostyantynivka from the north. In the attack zone of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division, at least three Territorial Defense Regiments, operationally subordinated to it, have been engaged in battle.
  • To the south, on the Solodke – Vodiane direction, the 39th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade and a combined tactical group of the 18th Machine Gun Artillery Division of the enemy’s “Vostok” Operational Grouping are advancing.
  • On the Vremivka direction, forward units of the 37th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, the 5th Separate Tank Brigade of the 36th Combined Arms Army, supported by units of the Airborne Assault Battalion of the 40th Separate Marines Brigade of the Pacific Fleet, conducted a series of attacks and assaults along the eastern bank of the Mokri Yaly River in the direction of Urozhaine – Blahodatne. On the opposite (western) bank of this river, units of the 394th, 114th Motorized Rifle Regiments, and the 218th Tank Regiment of the 127th Motorized Rifle Division of the 5th Combined Arms Army unsuccessfully attempted to break through towards the village of Makarivka from the direction of Staromayorske.
  • On the Orikhiv direction, positional battles continued in the area of Robotyne, Verbove, and Mala Tokmachka.
  • On the Prydniprovskiy direction, combat operations continue on the islands in the Dnipro River delta.
  • In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, the enemy naval group on combat duty consists of:
    • Black Sea: 4 ships, including 2 cruise missile carriers; the total salvo is 12 cruise missiles.
    • Azov Sea: 2 ships, including 0 cruise missile carriers; the total salvo is 0 cruise missiles.
    • Mediterranean Sea: 1 ship, including 0 cruise missile carriers; the total salvo is 0 cruise missiles.  
  • A missile strike by the Ukrainian Defense Forces disabled the last of the three railway ferries, “Slovyanin,” which was transporting cargo between the Russian Port Kavkaz and the occupied Crimea.

Changes in the enemy disposition:

  • The 7th Separate Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 11th Army Corps is preparing to resume offensive actions in the Lukyantsi area. The 18th Motorized Rifle Division of the 11th Army Corps, the 128th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 44th Army Corps, the 138th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 6th Combined Arms Army, and the 155th Separate Marines Brigade of the Pacific Fleet operate on the Kharkiv direction.
  • Units of the 132nd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 1st Army Corps have been spotted near Chasiv Yar, with their main forces engaged in combat operations on the Toretsk direction.
  • The 71st Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 42nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 58th Combined Arms Army is engaged in combat near Robotyne. The 76th Air Assault Division, the 503rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 19th Motorized Rifle Division of the 58th Combined Arms Army, and the 89th Separate Rifle Regiment of the 1st Army Corps operate on the Zaporizhzhia direction.

Possible operation situation developments:

  • The enemy will attempt to intensify efforts in the central part of Vovchansk towards the Aggregate Plant and along Lenin Street towards the bridge over the Vovcha River or along Khliborobiv Street. We should also expect increased enemy activity in the area between Hatyshche and the railway bridge towards the Vovchansk railway station, which will require crossing the Vovcha River. The enemy will try to join both of its wedges into one bridgehead and attack Starytsya.
  • In the direction of Lyptsi, enemy attacks are expected in the area of Hlyboke with the aim of completely pushing back the “Kharkiv” OTG forward units, especially in the area between Lyptsi and the forest southeast of it. The enemy will also attempt to advance along both banks of the Lypets River from the village of Lukyantsi towards Lyptsi to regain control over its northeastern outskirts. These actions may be accompanied by an enemy attempt to break through towards the Travyanske Reservoir, thereby cutting off the “Kharkiv” OTG units currently fighting of Hlyboke from the village of Lyptsi.
  • 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. To bind the “Khortytsia” OSG forces, the enemy will exert frontal pressure on their positions in the Stepova Novoselivka area.
  • 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 actively fortifying its forward positions between Novooleksandrivka and Arkhanhelske, particularly setting up mine-explosive barriers, 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. If the enemy achieves success north of Novooleksandrivka, they may also launch an attack towards Kalynove.
  • Russian forces will intensify attacks south of Kostyantynivka to encircle the Vuhledar defense area.

Russian operational losses from 24.02.22 to 24.07.24  

Personnel – almost 570,120 (+1140); 

Tanks 8,302 (+14);

Armored combat vehicles – 16,013 (+13); 

Artillery systems – 15,759 (+65);

Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,125 (0);

Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 902 (+1);

Vehicles and fuel tanks – 21,279 (+77);

Aircraft – 363 (+1);

Helicopters – 326 (0);

UAV operational and tactical level –12,544 (+33);

Intercepted cruise missiles – 2,402 (+1);

Boats/ships – 29 (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 85 towns and villages and 176 infrastructure objects were attacked with various types of weapons. The number of casualties is being updated/clarified.
  • On the night of July 24, 2024, Russian occupiers struck Kharkiv Oblast with an Iskander-M ballistic missile and a missile of an unspecified type. Additionally, the enemy attacked the south of the country with 23 Shahed-type drones, 17 of which were destroyed.
  • During the nighttime shelling of Kherson, a 69-year-old man was injured. Also, in Kherson Oblast, the Russian army targeted rescuers who had arrived at there scene to extinguish the fire caused by the night’s shelling. No rescuers were harmed.
  • On July 24, Russian troops struck an infrastructure facility in Lozova, Kharkiv Oblast. Six civilians were injured, and three people were killed. There may be people trapped under the rubble.
  • On July 24, Russian Armed Forces launched massive strikes on industrial facilities in the Kholodnohirskyi district of Kharkiv. Buildings and facilities were damaged, and windows were blown out in nearby apartment buildings. Nine people were injured.
  • In Kharkiv, a Russian airstrike hit the home of a well-known local businessman and volunteer, Yuriy Sapronov, who owns a golf club. Two of his employees were injured.
  • On July 24, one of the border villages in the Okhtyrka district of Sumy Oblast was struck from the aggressor country’s territory, causing a fire in the residential sector that was only extinguished by the evening.
  • In the city of Chasiv Yar, Donetsk Oblast, 530 people remain, but due to continuous enemy shelling, all roads into the city are almost impassable.
  • Currently, more than 20,000 hectares of agricultural state enterprise lands are mined, and another 98,000 hectares will need demining after de-occupation.
  • In the temporarily occupied territories of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, the occupiers have established 12 different youth organizations involved in propaganda and militarization.

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