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Russia’s war on Ukraine. 27.10.24

In the operational zone of the Ukrainian Operational Group of Forces (OTG) “Kharkiv” on the Kharkiv direction, the enemy launched 7 assaults on Ukrainian Defense Forces’ positions near Vovchansk and Starytsia.

In the “Khortytsia” Operational-Strategic Group of Forces (OSG) operational zone on the Kupyansk direction, there were 14 enemy attacks. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled enemy assault actions near Kindrashivka, Synkivka, Petropavlivka, Kruhlyakivka, Zahryzove, Vyshneve, Berestove, and Pershotravneve. The enemy actively employed bomber and attack aviation in this area. On the Lyman direction, the aggressor conducted 18 assaults, attempted to penetrate Ukrainian defenses near Kindrashivka, Synkivka, Petropavlivka, Kruhlyakivka, Zahryzove, Vyshneve, Berestove, and Pershotravneve. On the Siversk direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled 2 Russian attacks near Bilohorivka. On the Toretsk direction, the enemy, supported by aviation, launched 9 attacks toward Toretsk and Shcherbynivka.

In the “Tavriya” OSG operational zoneon the Pokrovsk direction,Ukrainian Defense Forces stopped 41 enemy assaults in the areas of Vozdvyzhenka, Myrolyubivka, Promin, Lysivka, Krutyi Yar, Krasnyi Yar, Mykolaivka, and Selydove, with the highest concentration of attacks near Selydove. On the Kurakhove direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 43 attacks, with the occupiers most actively attempting to advance near Antonivka and Katerynivka. Additionally, the enemy attacked toward Novoselydivka, Hostre, Dalnie, Kostyantynivka, and Yelyzavetivka. On the Vremivka direction, the enemy launched 5 assaults on Ukrainian Defense Forces’ positions near Bohoyavlenka and Novoukrainka. On the Orikhiv direction, Russian forces attempted an unsuccessful assault on Ukrainian positions.

In the operational zone of “Odesa” OSG on the Prydniprovskyi direction, the occupying forces unsuccessfully attempted 5 times to push Ukrainian Defense Forces units out of their positions.

General conclusion:

  • The “Siversk” OTG units, which had been defending Vesioloe in Kursk Oblast, have retreated to the state border. 
  • The Command of the Counter-Terrorism Operation in Kursk Oblast is preparing to push the “Siversk” OTG off Russian territory with converging strikes, namely:
    • toward Korenevo from the 56th Air Assault Regiment of the 7th Air Assault Division and the 137th Airborne Regiment of the 106th Airborne Division,
    • from the west by the 810th Separate Marines Brigade of the Black Sea Fleet, and
    • from the southeast by the 11th Separate Air Assault Brigade and the 24th Separate SOF Brigade.

The adversary extensively employs drones guided by fiber-optic cables. 

  • The situation southeast of Kupyansk remains critical for Ukrainian Defense Forces. The enemy managed to breach the first tactical defense line of the “Khortytsia” OSG near Pishchane. To stabilize the front line, the 3rd and 92nd Separate Assault Brigades have been deployed, though movement is hindered by impassable terrain. The 3rd Separate Assault Brigade halted the enemy at the second line. The enemy cannot advance further due to limited mobility. 
  • The adversary is infiltrating, avoiding close combat, and attempting to encircle Selydove. Pressure on Ukrainian Defense Forces’ positions at Novodmytrivka has intensified. The enemy is actively moving southward from Novoselydivka toward Illinka to cut off Ukrainian Defense Forces’ retreat routes from Kurakhivka. 
  • The Russian Aerospace Forces conduct daily airstrikes, using up to 170 guided aerial bombs (KAB). Forty percent of these strikes target Kursk Oblast.   

Change in the line of contact (LoC):

  • There were 174 combat engagements on various fronts.
  • On the Kursk Direction, units of the 95th Separate Air Assault Brigade defeated up to a battalion of the 155th Separate Marines Brigade of the Pacific Fleet, stabilizing the situation in their sector. In coordination with the 82nd Separate Air Assault Brigade, they continue inflicting losses on the enemy’s 155th Separate Marines Brigade. The 47th Mechanized Brigade, equipped with M1 tanks and M2/M3 Bradley IFVs, launched several counterattacks, inflicting significant losses and partially pushing the enemy out of Novoivanovka. “Siversk” OTG units attacked positions of the 106th Airborne Division east of Novyi Put, engaging in combat in Daryino.
  • Fighting continued near Novoivanovka, Liubimovka, Zelenyi Put, Kamyshovka, Pogrebki, Malaya Loknia, and Plekhovo. The 137th Airborne Regiment of the 106th Airborne Division is defending the area near Liubimovka and Zelionyi Put.
  • On the Kharkiv direction, Russian troops continued offensive actions near Vovchansk and Starytsia but had little success.
  • On the Kupyansk direction, following an enemy breakthrough to Kruhlyakivka and reaching the Oskil River, the 115th Mechanized Brigade of “Khortytsia” OSG withdrew north to Hlushkivka, while the 154th Mechanized Brigade moved south to Zahryzove.
  • Russian forces advanced in the areas of Kolisnykivka and Vyshneve, continuing attacks near Synkivka, Holubivka, Kindrashivka, Stepova Novoselivka, and Pershotravneve.
  • On the Lyman direction, Russian troops attempted advances near Terny, attacking around Terny, Hrekivka, Nevske, Makiivka, Torske, Hryhorivka, Serebrianka, and the Serebriansk Forestry.  
  • On the Siversk direction, Russian forces maintained their offensive in the areas of Bilohorivka, Ivano-Dariivka, and Vyimka but failed to advance.
  • On the Kramatorsk direction, Russian forces continued an offensive near Chasiv Yar but did not achieve any progress.
  • On the Toretsk direction, Russian forces sustained their offensive near Toretsk and toward Shcherbynivka without success.
  • On the Pokrovsk direction, Ukraine’s 15th National Guard Operational Brigade continues to defend Selydove steadfastly, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy, though Russian assault groups managed to secure the northeastern part of the city and fully control the 11th Quarter. In the southern part of the city, the enemy is attacking and gradually clearing high-rise buildings.
  • A critical situation for “Tavriya” OSG is developing near Vyshneve, where the enemy has severed a logistical route for the Selydove garrison. Ukrainian Defense Forces lack sufficient ammunition to halt the enemy’s advance.
  • The enemy advanced south, captured Kurakhivka and Izmailivka west of Hirnyk, where it has started isolating this major Ukrainian Defense Forces stronghold. Russian forces reached the eastern outskirts of Novotoretske, west of Novohrodivka, advanced near the Korychenko Mine spoil heap northeast of Selydove, to the railway station south of Vyshneve, west of Tsukuryne, northeast of Novodmytrivka, north of Hrodivka, and west of Krasnyi Yar.
  • The 110th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 51st Army advanced on the northern outskirts of Oleksandropil, while the 114th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 51st Army is fighting for Hirnyk and advanced to Mine #42 southwest of the settlement. The 74th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 41st Army advanced near Novotoretske. The “Borz” and “Shturm” units assault Ukrainian Defense Forces positions near Zoryane.
  • The enemy continued its advance in the areas of Vozdvyzhenka, Myrolyubivka, Promin, Krutyi Yar, Lyskivka, Mykolaivka, Selydove, Novoselydivka, Novodmytrivka, Izmailivka, and Stepanivka.
  • On the Kurakhove direction, Russian forces maintained an offensive near Hostre and Dalnie but were unsuccessful.
  • On the Vremivka direction, the 79th Separate Air Assault Brigade repelled a major attack, inflicting losses on the enemy, although Russian forces continue advancing toward Antonivka, Yelyzavetivka, and Bohoyavlenka. Ukrainian Defense Forces are short on ammunition to halt the enemy’s progress.
  • Russian forces advanced west of Pobieda, north of Zolota Nyva, north and northwest of Prechystivka, in the southern and western parts of Bohoyavlenka, reached the outskirts of Novoukrainka, secured the southeastern outskirts of Shakhtarske, and continued assaults near Katerynivka.
  • On the Orikhiv direction, Russian forces advanced toward Novodanylivka. Reinforcements from the 1430th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 58th Army undergo preparation on the Zaporizhzhia direction.
  • In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, the enemy naval group on combat duty consists of:
    • Mediterranean Sea: 2 ships, 2 cruise missile carriers; the total salvo is 24 cruise missiles.

Changes in the enemy disposition:

  • The 291st Artillery Brigade of the 58th Army conducts combat operations near Kurakhove.
  • The 14th Separate SOF Brigade is active near Bohoyavlenka, and the 40th Separate Marines Brigade of the Pacific Fleet operates in the Zolota Nyva–Prechystivka area.

Possible operation situation developments:

  • The command of the enemy’s 25th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade on the Kupyansk direction in the near future will attempt to advance eastward and cut off all roads leading to Synkivka from the south, reach the Oskil River across from the village of Holubivka on the right bank, in order to force the “Khortytsia” OSG forward units defending in the Synkivka area to retreat towards Petropavlivka.
  • The command of the enemy’s “Zapad (West”) Operational Grouping will intensify efforts on the Lyman direction to ensure the advance of the 25th Combined Arms Army to the Borova–Lyman line. The goal is to assist in the elimination of the Siversk bridgehead held by the Ukrainian Defense Forces and create favorable conditions for the eventual capture of the Slovyansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration by the end of this year.
  • If the enemy achieves success on the Lyman and Kupyansk directions (for example, by breaking through to the Oskil River near Borova) and establishes a northern flank of the Siversk salient beyond the river, the importance of the operational area of the 3rd Army, particularly its left flank south of Siversk, will sharply increase in relation to both Siversk and the Kramatorsk-Sloviansk agglomeration.
  • The enemy’s military command in the theater of operations within the following 2-3 months will concentrate its efforts on achieving the military-political goal of the Special Military Operation: reaching the administrative borders of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts. For this purpose, they will maximize their advance towards Pokrovsk-Pavlohrad, in the direction of the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration, and aiming to reach the junction of Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk Oblasts near the village of Temyrivka.
  • If the enemy manages to advance to the Chervone–Stupochky line on the Kramatorsk direction and simultaneously begins intensive northward attacks at the junction of its 41st and 51st Armies from the Novooleksandrivka–Arkhanhelske line, reaching the Yablunivka–Oleksandro-Kalynove line on the Toretsk direction, then the “Khortytsia” OSG will be forced to withdraw not only from the city of Toretsk but also from the adjacent northern areas, retreating towards Kostyantynivka.
  • 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. October and partially November become the moment of maximum tension for both sides in the entire 2024 campaign.
  • The enemy has reached a line approximately 7.5-8 km from the eastern outskirts of Kostyantynivka, making it entirely possible that the Russian military command may attempt to bypass Kostyantynivka and penetrate the defenses on its outskirts through multiple frontal assaults along the shortest route. All significant changes and regroupings of enemy forces from the “Yug (South)” Operational Grouping should be continuously monitored.

Russian operational losses from 24.02.22 to 27.10.24  

Personnel – almost 689,040 (+1,440); 

Tanks 9,113 (+4);

Armored combat vehicles – 18,355 (+23); 

Artillery systems – 19,821 (+39);

Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,240 (0);

Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 984 (0);

Vehicles and fuel tanks – 27,560 (+100);

Aircraft – 369 (0);

Helicopters – 329 (0);

UAV operational and tactical level – 17,799 (+73);

Intercepted cruise missiles – 2625 (0)

Boats/ships – 29 (0).

Humanitarian + general:

  • Overnight on Sunday, Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 80 Shahed-type attack UAVs and drones of unidentified types. Of these, 41 were shot down, 32 were lost to tracking, and one flew towards Belarus.
  • President Zelensky reported that over the past week, Russia has deployed more than 1,100 guided aerial bombs, over 560 attack drones, and approximately 20 missiles of various types against Ukraine.
  • In Sumy, a person was injured during an overnight attack by enemy drones. Houses caught fire in the Sumy and Shostka districts. By 8:00 a.m., Russian forces had carried out 37 shelling attacks on border areas and villages in Sumy Oblast overnight and in the morning, with 48 explosions recorded.
  • On October 27, the enemy launched an airstrike on critical infrastructure in the Romny district, using Shahed-type UAVs, leading to a power outage.
  • In Kherson, a 71-year-old local resident was killed on Sunday after Russian forces dropped an explosive from a drone.
  • As a result of Russian shelling in Kherson’s Central District on October 27, one person was killed, and two were injured when shells struck near a postal office.
  • Around 9:00 p.m. on October 26, Russian forces carried out a targeted strike on a hangar in Malynivka, Kharkiv Oblast, using an S-300 surface-to-air missile system. A large fire destroyed tons of grain, including wheat, sunflower seeds, and corn.
  • Over the past day, two civilians were killed, and eight were injured in Russian shelling of Kherson Oblast. Nineteen towns and villages in the area were hit by enemy fire and airstrikes, and air defense forces shot down two Shahed attack drones over the region.
  • During the day, the enemy attacked the village of Dmytrivka in the Kutsurubska community of Mykolaiv Oblast three times with FPV-type drones. One UAV hit a 43-year-old man riding a moped, killing him on the spot. Two other drones struck police officers responding to a call, causing a fire that completely destroyed a police vehicle. The officers were unharmed.
  • According to media reports, the enemy shot two women in the city of Selydove. Additionally, the bodies of civilians were found in an area that had seen little active combat, suggesting that these killings likely occurred after these territories came under enemy control.

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