Центр оборонних стратегій

Russia’s war on Ukraine. 26.07.2024

In the operational zone of the Ukrainian Operational Group of Forces (OTG) “Kharkiv” on the Kharkiv direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 9 enemy attacks near Hlyboke, Vovchansk, and Tykhe.

In the “Khortytsia” Operational-Strategic Group of Forces (OSG) operational zone on the Kupyansk direction, there were 10 engagements near Stelmakhivka, Petropavlivka, Stepova Novoselivka, and Synkivka. On the Lyman direction, the enemy attacked 13 times near Makiivka, Nevske, and in the Serebriansk Forest. On the Siversk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 6 assaults by Russian invaders near Spirne, Verkhnyokamianske, Mykolaivka, and Ivano-Dariivka. On the Kramatorsk direction, the occupiers attacked 11 times in the areas of Ivanivske, Chasiv Yar, Kalynivka, Hryhorivka, and Mayske. On the Toretsk direction, the enemy conducted 11 attacks near Pivnichne, New York, and Zalizne.

In the “Tavriya” OSG operational zoneon the Pokrovsk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 43 assaults in the areas of Vozdvyzhenka, Ivanivka, Tymofiivka, Vesele, Novoselivka Persha, Novooleksandrivka, Novozhelanne, Yasnobrodivka, Prohres, and Kalynove. With the support of aviation, Russian forces tried to displace Ukrainian Defense Forces from their positions. The highest concentration of enemy attacks was near Novoselivka Persha and Vozdvyzhenka. On the Kurakhove direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 19 attacks near Krasnohorivka, Kostyantynivka, and Paraskoviivka, where the enemy tried to break through the Ukrainian defenses. On the Vremivka direction, Russian troops conducted 14 assaults near Velyka Novosilka, Vodyane, Kostyantynivka, and Rozdolne. On the Orikhiv direction, the occupiers continued to try to dislodge Ukrainian units from their positions, with 4 engagements occurring near Mala Tokmachka, Yuriivka, Shcherbaky, and Novoandriivka.

In the operational zone of “Odesa” OSG on the Prydniprovskiy direction, all Russian attacks were unsuccessful.

General conclusion:

  • Ukrainian Defense Forces have almost halted the enemy’s advance on the Kharkiv direction, but neither side has a decisive advantage to achieve victory on this direction.
  • On the Siversk direction, the enemy is slowly advancing in the Rozdolivka area and trying to break through to Bilohorivka.
  • The enemy lacks troops and ammunition to advance towards the center of New York, Nelypivka, Druzhba, Pivnichne, and/or Zalizne.
  • On the Pokrovsk direction, an intense exchange of airstrikes on tactical rear areas continues.
  • The “Yug” Operational Group on the Zaporizhzhia direction has concentrated up to 90,000 personnel throughout the operational depth of the Russian defense. There are no signs of a strike group formation.
  • The enemy mainly attacks areas defended by military units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces that it assesses as weak or unstable.

Change in the line of contact (LoC):

  • There were 147 combat engagements on various fronts.
  • On the Kharkiv direction, Russian forces attacked near Sotnytskyi Kozachok. Russian forces no longer maintain a presence in this village. The enemy advanced slightly north of Hlyboke and is attempting to capture the entire village. Fighting continues within Vovchansk, near Starytsya, and Tykhe.
  • On the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces continued offensive actions in the Synkivka area, near Stepova Novoselivka, Stelmakhivka, and Petropavlivka.
  • On the Lyman direction, Russian forces attacked near Makiivka, Nevske, and in the Serebriansk Forest area.
  • On the Siversk Direction, Russian forces advanced north of Rozdolivka towards Pereyizne, attacking near Verkhnyokamianske, Spirne, Ivano-Dariivka, and Mykolaivka.
  • On the Kramatorsk direction, Russian forces continued assaults near Chasiv Yar and the “Novyi” neighborhood, near Kalynivka, Mayske, Hryhorivka, Novomarkove, and Ivanivske.
  • On the Toretsk direction, Russian forces advanced along Slavyna Street in the northern part of Zalizne and along Zaporizka Street in the center, continuing offensive actions in the Dachne, Pivnichne, Druzhba, and New York areas.
  • On the Pokrovsk direction, units of the 15th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 2nd Combined Arms Army captured Vovche and advanced further north and west of Prohres. Russian forces advanced north and south of Lozuvatske, within the southwestern part of Novoselivka Persha, and northeast of Nevelske, continuing offensive actions in the areas of Novooleksandrivka, Vesele, Ivanivka, Novoselivka Persha, Vozdvyzhenka, Vovche, Yasnobrodivka, Novozhelanne, and Karlivka.
  • On the Kurakhove direction, Russian forces advanced to the southeastern outskirts of Kostyantynivka, continuing offensive actions in the areas of Krasnohorivka, Paraskoviivka, and Vodyane.
  • On the Vremivka direction, positional battles continued. Russian forces captured several Ukrainian positions north of Staromayorske, stormed near Novodarivka. The enemy conducted a series of assaults along the front line north of Mykilske, advancing 100-200 meters.
  • On the Orikhiv direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces slightly advanced northeast of Robotyne, while Russian forces slightly advanced south of Mala Tokmachka, pushing Ukrainian troops from the H-08 Orikhiv – Polohy highway, continuing attacks near Robotyne, Mala Tokmachka, Yuriivka, Novoandriivka, and Shcherbaky.
  • On the Prydniprovskiy direction, positional battles continued on the eastern bank of Kherson Oblast near Krynky.
  • In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, the enemy naval group on combat duty consists of:
    • Black Sea: 1 ship, including 1 cruise missile carriers; the total salvo is 4 cruise missiles.
    • Mediterranean Sea: 2 ships, including 1 cruise missile carrier; the total salvo is 16 cruise missiles.  

Changes in the enemy disposition:

  • Units of the 7th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 2nd Army Corps operate near Hryhorivka (northeast of Siversk).
  • The 98th Airborne Division is receiving reinforcements (mobilized personnel) in the Chasiv Yar area.
  • Units of the 7th Air Assault Division are engaged in battles southwest of Novopokrovka. The 1429th Motorized Rifle Regiment (sponsored by the “A Just Russia” party) and the 1430th Motorized Rifle Regiment (sponsored by the “United Russia” party) of the 58th Army conduct combat operations near Robotyne.
  • On the Kherson direction, units of the 25th Separate SOF Regiment of the 49th Army continue their activities.

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.
  • The enemy will 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 is avoiding a frontal assault on Chasiv Yar over the Siversky Donets-Donbas canal and attempts to advance through Kalynivka to bypass the city of Chasiv Yar from the north, break through Ridkodubya into the railway station area, and force the forward units of the “Khortytsia” OSG to retreat from the “Novyi” and “Zhovtnevyi” neighborhoods.
  • 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 the 35th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade that is attempting 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 26.07.24  

Personnel – almost 572,300 (+950); 

Tanks 8,320 (+7);

Armored combat vehicles – 16,050 (+11); 

Artillery systems – 15,840 (+36);

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

Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 904 (0);

Vehicles and fuel tanks – 21,414 (+56);

Aircraft – 363 (0);

Helicopters – 326 (0);

UAV operational and tactical level –12,683 (+73);

Intercepted cruise missiles – 2,402 (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 10 regions of Ukraine over the past day. A total of 102 towns and villages and 198 infrastructure objects were attacked with various types of weapons. The number of casualties is being updated/clarified.
  • On the night of July 26, Russian forces attacked Ukraine with an “Iskander-M” ballistic missile and 22 “Shaheds,” 20 of which were successfully destroyed.
  • On the night of Friday, Russian “Shaheds” hit an infrastructure facility and a residential dormitory in Nizhyn, Chernihiv Oblast. Fifteen people were injured. The dormitory hit by the occupiers is unfit for habitation.
  • During the night of July 26, Russian forces struck Ukrenergo facilities in Zhytomyr and Chernihiv Oblasts, causing power outages for a number of customers in certain areas of Zhytomyr. By morning, the power supply to most customers had been restored.
  • In the morning of July 26, the Russian army struck Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi in the Kharkiv Oblast with two KAB bombs, injuring two men aged 54 and 60.
  • On July 26, Russian forces dropped explosives from a drone on people standing near a store in Kherson, injuring five Kherson residents. Later in the day, in Kindiyka, Kherson Oblast, Russian forces dropped an explosive onto a civilian house, injuring a man.

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