Russia's war on Ukraine. 15.08.24
Operational situation
In the operational zone of the Ukrainian Operational Group of Forces (OTG) "Kharkiv" there were 9 enemy attacks on the Kharkiv direction. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled enemy assault actions near Synkivka, Petropavlivka, and Berestove.
In the "Khortytsia" Operational-Strategic Group of Forces (OSG) operational zone there were 9 enemy attacks on the Kupyansk direction. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled enemy assault actions near Synkivka, Petropavlivka, and Berestove. On the Lyman direction, the enemy attacked 15 times, attempting to advance near Nevske, Terny, and Makiivka. On the Siversk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 25 enemy assault actions near Bilohorivka, Verkhnyokamianske, Pereyizne, Spirne, and Vyimka. On the Kramatorsk direction, the occupiers attacked 5 times near Chasiv Yar and Andriivka. On the Toretsk direction, the enemy, supported by aviation, conducted 24 attacks in the areas of Pivnichne, Nelypivka, Zalizne, New York, and Toretsk.
In the "Tavriya" OSG operational zone, on the Pokrovsk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces stopped 58 enemy assault and offensive actions toward Vozdvyzhenka, Yelyzavetivka, Hrodivka, Orlivka, Mykolaivka, Zhelanne, Skuchne, Yasnobrodivka, and Ptyche. The highest concentration of enemy attacks was near Vozdvyzhenka and Hrodivka, where the enemy actively used assault and bomber aviation. On the Kurakhove direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 8 attacks near Krasnohorivka, Kostyantynivka, and Heorhiivka. On the Vremivka direction, the enemy conducted 7 assaults on Ukrainian Defense Forces positions near Vodyane and Vuhledar. On the Orikhiv direction, the occupiers attempted to dislodge Ukrainian Defense Forces units from their positions in the areas of Mala Tokmachka and Novodanylivka, conducting 3 assaults.
In the operational zone of "Odesa" OSG on the Prydniprovskiy direction, Russian occupiers attacked Ukrainian Defense Forces positions 7 times but faced fierce resistance and suffered losses.
General conclusion:
Ukrainian Defense Forces have established a buffer (sanitary) zone in Kursk Oblast to secure Ukraine's sovereign territory from attacks originating from Russian territory, pushed the enemy's artillery away from critical areas, cut off supply routes that enable Russian forces to provide reserves across the entire theater of operations, drew international attention to the failures of the military-political leadership and civil authorities of the Russian Federation in the frontline regions, and brought the war directly onto the enemy's territory.
Ukrainian Defense Forces have made minor advances in Kursk Oblast, but the overall pace of the operation is slowing due to Russian forces' efforts to stabilize the front line. Enemy resistance is increasing, particularly on the approaches to Kursk.
The Russian military command is concerned about the potential rapid advance of Ukrainian Defense Forces to the north of Kursk Oblast and is preparing to defend the main highways and logistical routes of their forces on Ukrainian territory, especially the E38 and 38K highways.
The enemy has reached positions 6 km from Selydove. Holding the town may not be sustainable due to the surrounding terrain. If the enemy reaches the highway near this location, it should signal the withdrawal of the garrison.
The loss of Selydove will severely complicate the defense of Kurakhove, which is currently shielded by fire from the heights around Selydove. However, losing the town will not allow the enemy to quickly advance toward Pokrovsk.
The enemy has crossed the Maryinka-Vuhledar highway and secured former Ukrainian Defense Forces positions. This tactical situation will allow the enemy to prepare to encircle Ukrainian Defense Forces defending Vuhledar, potentially leading to their partial encirclement.
The Russian side has ceased accepting trains from Belarus on the Kursk-Oryol direction until "the order is lifted." A significant number of trains have accumulated in Smolensk Oblast, where there are no available locomotives. Russian Railways (RZD) is also not accepting trains from Belarus on the Moscow and Bryansk routes.
Change in the line of contact (LoC):
There were 165 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Kursk Direction: Ukrainian Defense Forces advanced into Krasnooktyabrskoe, beyond Martynovka, into the western part of Kamyshnoe and to the west of the village, operating in the eastern part of Zhuravli, northwest of Ulanki, and they control Mikhailovka.
Russian forces repelled Ukrainian attacks near Skrylyovka, Levshinka, Semenovka, and Alexeyevskoe. They are trying to hold Giri and Ozerki and continue to repel Ukrainian Defense Forces’ attempts to cross the "Kolotilovka" checkpoint in Belgorod Oblast.
The enemy recently constructed a series of field fortifications, including trenches and anti-tank ditches southwest of Lgov along the E38 Lgov – Rylsk – Hlukhiv highway, and near the 38K-024 highway south of Lgov.
On the Kharkiv direction, Russian forces advanced near the eastern shore of the Travyanske Reservoir, west of Hlyboke, and southward along the tree line southeast of Lukyantsi. They attacked near Hlyboke, Lyptsi, close to Vovchansk, Tykhe, and towards Vovchanski Khutory.
On the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces attacked in the areas of Synkivka, Petropavlivka, Berestove, Novoosynove, and Kruhlyakivka.
On the Lyman direction, Russian forces attacked near Makiivka, Nevske, Terny, and in the Serebriansk Forest area.
On the Siversk Direction, Russian forces advanced near Bilohorivka, Verkhnyokamianske, Spirne, and Vyimka.
On the Kramatorsk direction, Russian forces continued assault actions near Chasiv Yar, Bila Hora, Ivanivske, Andriivka, and captured a height near Klishchiivka.
On the Toretsk direction, Russian forces continued attacks near Toretsk, Pivnichne, Zalizne, New York, and Sukha Balka, but made no progress in any of these attack directions.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian forces advanced in the fields north of Novoselivka Persha, northwest of Zhelanne, in the fields west of Svyrydonivka, east of Hrodivka and Orlivka, entered Mykolaivka, and continued attacks near Malynivka, Vozdvyzhenka, Novooleksandrivka, Zelenyi Hai, Yelyzavetivka, Kalynove, Vodyane, Skuchne, Karlivka, and Ptyche.
On the Kurakhove direction, Russian forces continued unsuccessful attacks near Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Kostyantynivka, Vodyane, and Vuhledar. The enemy holds one-third of Kostyantynivka and continues to clear Krasnohorivka.
On the Orikhiv direction, positional battles continued near Robotyne, as well as near Novodanylivka and Mala Tokmachka.
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, including 0 cruise missile carriers; the total salvo is 0 cruise missiles.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
Units of the 153rd Tank Regiment of the 47th Tank Division of the 1st Tank Army, along with the "4th Volunteer Assault Brigade," continue fighting in the center of Vovchansk. Units of the 83rd Separate Air Assault Brigade are advancing east of Vovchansk near Tykhe.
The Russian military command is transferring conscript soldiers from the spring draft of this year from Moscow, Leningrad, Kaliningrad, Sverdlovsk, Murmansk, and Samara Oblasts to Kursk Oblast to reinforce their troops. There is negative feedback from human rights activists and relatives who protest the use of conscripts in active combat operations.
Escalation indicators:
Successful development of the Ukrainian Defense Forces' operation in the Russian Kursk Oblast.
Possible operation situation developments:
The sides are deploying reserves to the Belitsa and Giri areas of Kursk Oblast, where combat clashes are expected to occur in the next day or two.
Stagnation of battles is expected on the Vremivka and Kurakhove directions, and later on the Kharkiv, Kupyansk, and Lyman directions.
The Russian military command on the Kursk direction will have to quickly deploy a second echelon of additional troops and assets (reserves), as the troops of its first echelon will not be able to stop the offensive of the Ukrainian Defense Forces' Operational Maneuver Group.
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.
On the Pokrovsk direction, the enemy will attempt to advance to the Orlivka-Mykolaivka line.
Russian operational losses from 24.02.22 to 15.08.24
Personnel - almost 595,620 (+1220);
Tanks 8,484 (+8);
Armored combat vehicles – 16,426 (+24);
Artillery systems – 16,868 (+47);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,154 (+3);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems - 922 (+1);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 22,775 (+65);
Aircraft - 367 (+1);
Helicopters – 328 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 13,598 (+50);
Intercepted cruise missiles – 2,428 (+2);
Boats/ships – 29 (0).
Humanitarian+general:
On the night of August 15, Russian occupiers attacked Ukraine with three Kh-59 guided missiles and 29 Shahed-type strike UAVs; all enemy drones were successfully destroyed.
On the night and morning of August 15, Russian invaders attacked the border areas and villages of Sumy Oblast 14 times using various types of weapons, with five communities coming under enemy fire.
As a result of yesterday's enemy attack with ballistic missiles on port infrastructure in Odesa, three civilians were injured.
On the morning of August 15, Russians destroyed a logistics infrastructure facility in the village of Osynove in the Kupiansk district.
Due to the falling debris from downed Russian targets on August 15 in Kyiv Oblast, four private houses and one car were damaged.
On August 15, 2024, at around 16:30, Russian forces, presumably using artillery, shelled Tokarivka in Kherson Oblast. A woman sustained fatal injuries in the yard of a private house.
On August 15, at approximately 15:20, the Russian Armed Forces launched airstrikes on the village of Prykolotne in the Kupiansk district. The strike hit a civilian enterprise, resulting in two fatalities and six injuries.
On August 15, 2024, at around 17:30, the enemy, according to preliminary data, dropped two guided bombs on civilian infrastructure in the Krasnopillia community of the Sumy district. A 40-year-old civilian man was killed, and two others were injured.
In the village of Havrylivka in the Beryslav district, two people were injured due to a Russian drone attack. At around 16:30, the occupiers dropped explosives from a drone onto a car carrying two men, aged 60 and 61.
Two families with children were successfully evacuated from the temporarily occupied left bank of Kherson Oblast to Ukrainian-controlled territory. Three boys were returned to Ukraine, the youngest of whom is 10 years old, and the oldest is 17.
The eleventh evacuation train from Donetsk Oblast arrived in Rivne Oblast. A total of 175 people were evacuated from the dangerous region, including 41 children and 19 people with disabilities.
The day before, 102 Russian soldiers were captured in the Russian Kursk Oblast by special forces of the Security Service of Ukraine.