Russia's war on Ukraine. 08.03.2024
Operational situation
In the operational zone of the Ukrainian Operational-Strategic Group of Forces (OSG) "Khortytsia" on the Kupyansk direction, the Russian military made 2 attacks in the areas of Synkivka, trying to improve its tactical position. On the Lyman direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 13 Russian attacks in the area of Bilohorivka, Terny, Spirne, Rozdolivka. On the Bakhmut direction, they repelled 6 Russian attacks in the areas of Andriivka and Klishchiivka.
In the "Tavriya" OSG operational zone on the Avdiivka direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 23 enemy attacks in the area of Berdychi, Tonenke, Orlivka, Pervomaiske and Nevelske. On the Novopavlivka direction, they continued holding back the enemy in the areas of Heorhiivka, Pobieda, Krasnohorivka and Novomykhailivka, where the adversary attempted to breach Ukrainian troops' defenses 27 times. On the Orikhiv direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 2 attacks in the areas of Robotyne and west of Verbove.
In the operational zone of the "Odesa" OSG on the Kherson direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold their positions. Over the past day, the adversary carried out 3 unsuccessful assault operations.
General conclusion:
In the Avdiivka operation, the enemy's command followed a predictable pattern by trying to breach the defense of the "Tavria" OSG on the Avdiivka front at the flanks. They incurred casualties in both personnel and equipment while advancing at a minimal rate. It's anticipated that in subsequent operations, the enemy will likely employ similar operational tactics. The enemy command has mastered the methodology in planning and executing encirclement operations, considering them a primary means for decisively defeating the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
The enemy command managed to execute a discreet shift of the primary attack direction from the southern to the northern sector near Avdiivka. Although, the "Tavria" OSG reconnaissance exposed the regrouping of the enemy's 114th and 30th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades and the deployment of another separate motorized rifle brigade in the second echelon.
The 114th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 1st Army Corps of the 8th Army and the 55th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 41st Army Corps of the enemy are delivering the main strike in the direction of Tonenke.
Russian forces have increased the use of all-terrain vehicles (quad bikes) for transporting infantry, particularly across minefields on the Zaporizhzhia direction.
Change in the line of contact (LoC):
There were 86 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces have made slight progress on the northern outskirts of Synkivka. Positional battles have been ongoing in the vicinity of Tabaivka.
On the Lyman direction, positional battles persisted near Yampolivka, Terny, and Bilohorivka.
On the Bakhmut direction, "Khortytsia" OSG units have advanced in the area of Bohdanivka. Positional battles continued near Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, Pivdenne, and New York.
On the Avdiivka direction, "Tavria" OSG units effectively counterattacked near Berdychi and displaced the enemy from their positions. Positional battles have been ongoing in the areas of Stepove, Berdychi, near Tonenke, Orlivka, Pervomaiske, and Nevelske.
On the Novopavlivka direction, Russian forces have advanced in the southern part of Heorhiivka and in the southwest part of Novomykhailivka. The 102nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 150th Motorized Rifle Division (8th Army) pushed "Tavria" units out of positions north of Novomykhailivka along the O05131 Maryinka – Vuhledar road. Positional battles have been ongoing near Pobieda and Krasnohorivka.
Berdyansk direction: positional battles persisted in the area of Vodyane.
Orikhiv direction: positional battles continued near Robotyne and Verbove. Russian forces have advanced up to 1 kilometer near Verbove.
Kherson direction: Positional battles have been ongoing near Krynky. "Odesa" OSG units also hold positions in the summer houses area near the Antonivskyi Bridge.
In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, the enemy naval group on combat duty consisted of:
Azov Sea: 1 ship.
Mediterranean Sea: 3 ships, including 1 Cruise Missile Carriers. The total salvo is 4 “Kalibr” cruise missiles
Changes in the enemy disposition:
The 25th and 30th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades (2nd Army) and the 114th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 1st Army Corps (8th Army) are operating near Stepove and Berdychi. The 1st Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 1st Army Corps and the 35th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 41st Army are advancing between Tonenke and Vodyane.
Troops of the 36th Army are advancing near Novoukrayinka.
The 503rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 19th Motorized Rifle Division and the 291st Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 42nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 58th Army are engaged in combat operations on the Zaporizhzhia direction. The 70th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 42nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 58th Army is active near Robotyne, and the 247th Air Assault Regiment of the 7th Air Assault Division operates near Verbove.
Possible operation situation developments:
Over the next 36 months, Russia intends to capture Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv Oblasts.
The command of the 2nd Army Corps is intensifying the offensive towards Siversk from the direction of Bakhmut.
The adversary's command is expected to engage the 348th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 90th Tank Division in the direction of Berdychi or Novobakhmutivka.
In the near future, the enemy command will attempt to breach the defense of the Ukrainian "Tavriya" OSG on the Pokrovsk direction. They will advance in the area of Kostiantynivka – Chasiv Yar – Toretsk with the aim of capturing Toretsk.
The command of the 58th Army is poised to imminently deploy the 136th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade into the operation northwest of Robotyne, aiming to bypass this defensive node of the Ukrainian OSG "Tavria" from the north and cut off the Robotyne-Novodanylivka road
The enemy is developing a new tactic for deploying its strike aviation and offensive capabilities, particularly the X-36 "Grom" missiles. Subsequently, they plan to escalate the frequency of their air assaults.
Russian operational losses from 24.02.22 to 08.03.24
Personnel - almost 422,310 people (+880);
Tanks - 6,706 (+11);
Armored combat vehicles – 12,798 (+19);
Artillery systems – 10,375 (+25);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) - 1,011 (+2);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems - 704 (+3);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 13,598 (+66);
Aircraft - 347 (0);
Helicopters – 325 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 7,998 (+35);
Intercepted cruise missiles - 1,919 (0);
Boats/ships – 27 (0).
Humanitarian+general:
According to information provided by the Situation Center of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Russian troops shelled 11 regions of Ukraine over the past day. A total of 145 towns and villages and 320 infrastructure objects were attacked with various types of weapons. 4 people were reported dead and 22 injured in different regions of Ukraine. The number of casualties is being updated/clarified.
On the night of March 8, Russian forces launched an attack on the southern and eastern regions of Ukraine, employing 1 S-300 surface-to-air missile, 2 X-59 guided aviation missiles, and 37 “Shahed” UAVs. The Ukrainian Air Defence Forces successfully destroyed 33 enemy drones.
On the night of March 8, Russian forces struck the town of Chuhuiv in Kharkiv Oblast. As a result, 7 individuals sustained injuries, including a 16 year old boy and a 3-year-old girl. A trunk water pipeline sustained damage. Preliminary reports suggest that the attackers utilized an S-300 missile from Belgorod Oblast, Russia.
As of March 2024, Ukrainian law enforcement authorities have documented and initiated investigations into 45 incidents of killings of Ukrainian prisoners of war since the onset of the full-scale invasion.
The Save Ukraine team has managed to bring back 10 more children to the Ukrainian-controlled territory, rescuing them from the occupied areas following Russia's full-scale invasion. These children were forced to attend Russian schools in the occupied territories, where they were coerced into writing letters to Russian soldiers and studying from Russian textbooks. Notably, the evacuation also included a girl born during the occupation, ensuring her safe return.
As of January 2024, there are 45,587 female military personnel in the Ukrainian army. For context, in 2014, this figure was just over 16,500, and in 2023, it had surpassed 43,400. Among the women serving in the military, 13,487 hold combatant status, with over 4,000 stationed in combat zones.
The Ministry of Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine has announced the compulsory evacuation of children from four villages in Donetsk Oblast due to the security situation. In total, 28 children are expected to be evacuated.
By a majority vote, the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) endorsed a resolution on nuclear safety, security, and guarantees proposed by Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy press office. The resolution calls on Russia to swiftly remove all unauthorized personnel, including military personnel, from the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and to restore the facility under the full control of Ukrainian authorities, in accordance with the existing license issued by the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine. This measure is crucial to guarantee the safe and reliable operation of the plant.