Центр оборонних стратегій

Russia’s war on Ukraine. 10.09.24

In the operational zone of the Ukrainian Operational Group of Forces (OTG) “Kharkiv” on the Kharkiv direction, there were 2 enemy attacks in the areas of Vovchansk and Hlyboke.

In the “Khortytsia” Operational-Strategic Group of Forces (OSG) operational zone on the Kupyansk direction, there were 12 enemy assaults. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled enemy advances towards Synkivka, Petropavlivka, Hlushkivka, Stelmakhivka, and Lozova. On the Lyman direction, the enemy launched 14 attacks, trying to advance near 8 villages, with a focus on Nevske, Novosadove, Torske, Hryhorivka, and Makiivka. On the Siversk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 14 enemy assaults near Verkhnyokamianske, Ivano-Dariivka, Spirne, and Zvanivka. On the Kramatorsk direction, the occupiers attacked twice near Bila Hora. On the Toretsk direction, the enemy, with air support, launched 9 attacks near Nelipivka and Toretsk.

In the “Tavriya” OSG operational zoneon the Pokrovsk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces stopped 41 enemy attacks aimed at Vozdvyzhenka, Zelene Pole, Novotroitske, Hrodivka, Novohrodivka, Selidove, and Mykhailivka. The heaviest concentration of attacks was near Mykhailivka and Novohrodivka. On the Kurakhove direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 46 assaults, with enemy efforts concentrated near Ukrainsk, Krasnohorivka, Kostyantynivka, and Heorhiivka. On the Vremivka direction, the enemy conducted 9 assaults near Zolota Nyva, Shakhtarske, and Vuhledar, using both strike and bomber aircraft. On the Orikhiv direction, the occupiers tried to dislodge Ukrainian Defense Forces units from positions near Mala Tokmachka and Mali Shcherbaky, carrying out 3 attacks overall.

In the operational zone of “Odesa” OSG on the Prydniprovskiy direction, Russian forces attacked Ukrainian Defense Forces positions 9 times but faced stiff resistance and suffered losses.

General conclusion:

  • The command of the enemy’s “Tsentr (Center)” Operational Grouping is demanding that the 2nd Army and the 90th Tank Division of the 41st Army quickly eliminate the Ukrainian Defense Forces’ bridgehead on the Vovcha River, east of the line between Zhelanne Pershe and Zhelanne Druhe. At the same time, they aim to continue the offensive towards Pokrovsk with these same forces.
  • To bypass and encircle Ukrainian Defense Force units defending a 9 by 12 km section of terrain along the Vovcha River towards Nevelske (consisting of several understrength battalions), the enemy has concentrated a group equivalent to an Army Corps. This includes the 5th, 110th, and 114th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades from the 51st Army, the 228th Motorized Rifle Regiment, and the 239th Tank Regiment of the 90th Tank Division, as well as several mobilized reserve regiments placed under operational control. Despite this, they have been unable to achieve their objective.
  • The situation on the southern part of the Pokrovsk direction remains extremely difficult. There is an ongoing threat of the “Tavriya” OSG bridgehead east of the Vovcha River towards Nevelske being wiped out, and Ukrainian Defense Forces being pushed back behind the Ukrainsk-Kurakhivka line. The enemy has established a numerical advantage in this area.
  • In some sections of the Pokrovsk direction, the enemy conducts 16-20 attacks per day, while across several locations, there have been 70-75 combat engagements.
  • A clear trend has emerged showing a decrease in the size of enemy assault groups. Frequently, these groups consist of an assault platoon reduced to 15-17 personnel, or more often, an assault squad with 7-8 troops. The amount of military equipment involved in these assaults has also decreased, usually consisting of 1-2, and rarely 3-4, armored fighting vehicles. Company- or battalion-sized assaults have nearly ceased altogether.
  • Russian forces use K-51 and RG-VO gas grenades containing chemical agents banned by the UN Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling, and Use of Chemical Weapons. They also employ unidentified chemical compounds.

Change in the line of contact (LoC):

  • There were 167 combat engagements on various fronts.
  • On the Kursk Direction: Russian forces have regained lost positions west of Ulanok and are attempting to regain control over Komarovka and Vishniovka, while advancing east of Korenevo, in the area of Mala Loknya and Cherkasskoe Porechie.
  • Ukrainian Defense Forces launched attacks southwest of Korenevo, near Snagost, Kremyanoe, Mala Loknya, Pogrebki, Cherkasskoe Porechie, Mykhailivka, Martynovka, and Cherkasskaya Konopelka.
  • On the Kharkiv direction, Russian troops repelled Ukrainian counterattacks near Hlyboke and Vovchansk, and launched assaults near Hlyboke, Vovchansk, Starytsya, and Tykhe. They also destroyed a bridge over the Vovcha River near Okhrimivka and Mala Vovcha with an airstrike.
  • On the Kupyansk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces struck Russian positions in the center and northwest of Pishchane. Russian troops expanded their control around Synkivka and advanced near Nevske. They also attacked near Petropavlivka, Hlushkivka, Stelmakhivka, Lozova, Myasozharivka, and Cherneshchyna.
  • On the Lyman direction, Russian forces attacked 14 times near Nevske, Makiivka, Novosadove, Torske, Dibrova, and the Serebriansk Forest.
  • On the Siversk Direction, Ukrainian troops regained positions in eastern Ivano-Dariivka.
  • Russian forces made advances northwest of Bilohorivka and continued their assaults around Hryhorivka, Bilohorivka, Verkhnyokamianske, Ivano-Dariivka, Spirne, Zvanivka, and Pereyizne.
  • On the Kramatorsk direction, Russian forces pushed into western Kalynivka and continued attacks towards Mayske, targeting the “Novyi” and “Zhovtnevyi” neighborhoods, as well as Kalynivka, Predtechyne, Bila Hora, Klishchiivka, and Andriivka.
  • On the Toretsk direction, Russian forces advanced in Toretsk and west of New York towards Oleksandropil, launching attacks near Druzhba, Pivnichne, Zalizne, and Nelipivka.
  • On the Pokrovsk direction, Ukrainian forces struck west of Mykhailivka and are holding the Hirnyk–Zoryane–Oleksandropil–Kurakhivka line, maintaining logistics for units east of the Vovcha River and fighting near Halytsynivka, holding the Zhelanne Druhe–Krasnohorivka road. The defense of Marynivka is preventing the enemy from advancing around Selidove.
  • The enemy attacked near Zelene Pole, Vozdvyzhenka, Hrodivka, Novohrodivka, Selidove, Mykhailivka, Marynivka, Dolynivka, and Halytsynivka, moving towards Novotroitske. Russian forces advanced to the northern outskirts of Hirnyk and south of Ukrainsk, with heavy fighting continuing near Selidove. The aggressor has failed to break through between Ukrainsk and Hirnyk, and its forward units have become bogged down in combat around Ukrainsk, losing momentum.
  • The 5th and 110th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades of the 51st Army Corps crossed the Lozova River, trying to advance northwest and west from Krasnohorivka but were largely halted. The enemy occupied Novohrodivka and engaged in combat in Hrodivka, but has not made significant progress west of Novohrodivka or towards Lisivka or Sukhy Yar. Fighting in southeastern Hrodivka remains intense, with the enemy suffering heavy losses.
  • The 27th Motorized Rifle Division, along with the 15th and 30th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades of the 2nd Army Corps, advancing along a broad front from Selidove to Vozdvyzhenka, have stalled near Selidove and along the barrier line of the Zhuravka and Kazennyi Torets rivers due to thin battle lines, preventing further advances. The enemy has failed to enter Selidove from the Mykhailivka and Novohrodivka directions. The Russian command has committed reserves to continue the offensive towards Ukrainsk and Hirnyk, particularly near Krasnohorivka, leaving no capacity to reinforce efforts near Selidove.
  • Russian forces continue fighting for Halytsynivka but have been unable to fully break the defense along the Vovcha River northward towards Zhelanne Pershe.
  • On the Kurakhove direction, Russian forces captured Krasnohorivka, advanced north and west of the village, and continued attacking near Heorhiivka.
  • On the Vremivka direction, Russian troops advanced near the ” PIvdennodonbaska No. 1″ mine, south and northwest of Prechystivka, and captured Vodyane, advancing south of the village. They attacked near Vuhledar, Shakhtarske, and Zolota Nyva.
  • On the Orikhiv direction, positional battles continued near Robotyne and Mala Tokmachka.
  • On the Prydniprovskiy direction, Russian forces advanced to the island of Kruhlik.
  • 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 carrier; the total salvo is 4 cruise missiles.
    • Mediterranean Sea: 1 ship, 1 cruise missile carrier; the total salvo is 4 cruise missiles.

Changes in the enemy disposition:

  • The 79th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 18th Motorized Rifle Division from the 11th Army Corps is active on the Kharkiv direction. The 11th Tank Regiment of the same division is restoring its combat capabilities to continue attacks on Hlyboke.
  • The 1486th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 6th Motorized Rifle Division from the 1st Tank Army is engaged in combat operations on the Kupiansk direction.
  • The 123rd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade from the 3rd Army conducts operations on the Siversk direction near Ivano-Dariivka.
  • The 80th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade from the 14th Army Corps is involved in combat on the Kherson direction.

Possible operation situation developments:

  • The enemy’s command on the theater of operations must conduct strategic regrouping between operational zones and reinforce the “Tsentr (Center)”Operational Grouping on the Toretsk direction with at least a corps. For this purpose, the 3rd Army Corps may be redeployed to this direction from the Kramatorsk direction, or the main forces of the 51st Army may be concentrated.
  • Without the involvement of additional forces and resources, the enemy’s 41st Army Command will soon have to either concentrate on narrower directions and sectors or abandon simultaneous offensive actions across the entire operational zone and focus on high-cost battles in Toretsk itself or conclude combat operations in the area of New York and Nelipivka.
  • The enemy’s shift of their main offensive focus to the southern sector of the “Tsentr (Center)” Operational Grouping’s operational zone on the Pokrovsk direction will soon intensify combat operations around Selidove, Ukrainsk, Halytsynivka, Kurakhivka, and Hirnyk. Without securing the Selidove area, the enemy cannot sustain their offensive towards Pokrovsk, but they will continue attacking in an attempt to breach the defensive line along the Zhuravka and Kazennyi Torets rivers.
  • The enemy’s “Tsentr (Center)” Operational Grouping may attempt to advance through “Tavriya” OSG positions along the Novohrodivka-Hrodivka line, despite higher levels of casualties, in order to maintain the speed of their advance and try to capture Myrnohrad more quickly.
  • Delaying the decision to withdraw the “Tavriya” OSG forces from the bridgehead on the Vovcha River in the Nevelske area on the Pokrovsk direction to the Hirnyk – Kurakhivka line will lead to their encirclement.
  • “Tavriya” OSG will not be able to hold the Zhelanne Pershe – Zhelanne Druhe line, as the enemy is already on the western bank of the Vovcha River and is actively advancing along it in a southern direction (Danylivka – Hirnyk). The situation could be salvaged if the “Tavriya” OSG forces reliably hold the Hirnyk – Kurakhivka line, though this remains uncertain.
  • By the end of this year, the enemy will not only fail to occupy Donetsk Oblast within its administrative borders but also will be unable to seize the “fortress belt” of Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka-Kramatorsk-Slovyansk. The upcoming battle for Pokrovsk will be the climax of the enemy’s offensive operation in the Southwestern Theater of Operations in 2024.
  • In the area of Staromayorske, the aggressor is forming a tactical breakthrough group consisting of 7,000 to 10,000 troops, which may attempt to break through in the direction of Velyka Novosilka. Another tactical group, smaller in size, is being formed east of Kostyantynivka with the objective of enveloping Vuhledar from the north or advancing towards Kurakhove from the south. The main problem is the lack of personnel. The most likely scenario would be an attempt to encircle and capture the areas of Makarivka – Velyka Novosilka – Zolota Nyva and Prechystivka – Pavlivka – Vodyane.

Russian operational losses from 24.02.22 to 10.09.24  

Personnel – almost 627,790 (+1,380); 

Tanks 8,640 (+1);

Armored combat vehicles – 16,925 (+19); 

Artillery systems – 17,880 (+50);

Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,180 (0);

Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 942 (0);

Vehicles and fuel tanks – 24,330 (+68);

Aircraft – 368 (0); 1380

Helicopters – 328 (0);

UAV operational and tactical level – 14,933 (+36);

Intercepted cruise missiles – 2,591 (0);

Boats/ships – 29 (0).

Humanitarian+general:

  • According to the Department of Communication of the National Police of Ukraine, as of September 10, 2024, since the beginning of the full-scale war, 575 children have been killed in Ukraine, 1,599 children have been injured, and 1,916 children are considered missing.
  • On the night of September 10, Russian occupiers attacked Ukraine with two missiles and 46 Shahed drones. Ukrainian forces shot down 38 enemy drones; three were lost in location tracking, two flew in the direction of the occupied Luhansk Oblast, and one headed back toward Russia.
  • In Kherson Oblast, three men were injured by Russian drone bombings: one resident of Kherson, one from Kindiika, and one from Antonivka. All three were taken to hospitals, with the Kindiika resident in critical condition.
  • Around 5:00 p.m., the Russian army shelled Stanislav in Kherson Oblast. Two people in the yard of their house—a 58-year-old man and a 57-year-old woman—were injured, suffering concussions and blast injuries.
  • Today, at around 10:40 a.m. in the city of Pokrovsk, a gas distribution station was damaged due to an enemy attack, leaving almost 28,000 customers without gas. Additionally, at 11:30 a.m., during an attack on the village of Hnativka, the owner of a private household was killed, and his wife was injured.
  • Russian forces attacked Nikopol throughout the day with heavy artillery and kamikaze drones, launching over 20 attacks. Fortunately, no casualties or injuries were reported.
  • Over the past day, Russian troops carried out 82 shelling attacks on border territories of the Chernihiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv Oblasts, using various weapons, resulting in a total of 251 explosions.
  • As of July 31, more than 4.1 million Ukrainians who fled due to Russia’s full-scale invasion have temporary protection status in EU countries. This number was 4.3 million at the end of June.
  • Two girls, aged 14 and 16, were returned from the temporarily occupied left bank of the Kherson Oblast thanks to the efforts of the “Save Ukraine” volunteer organization. In total, 192 children have been evacuated from the occupied left bank this year.
  • By the end of 2024, the Kremlin plans to “passportize” the entire local population aged 14 and older in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. A harsh informational campaign has begun among employees of enterprises, institutions, and organizations in the occupied areas. According to the Center for National Resistance, starting in 2025, those who do not receive Russian documents will be put on a special registry and deprived of the rights of “foreign citizens.”

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