Russia's war on Ukraine. 18.07.24
Operational situation
In the operational zone of the Ukrainian Operational Group of Forces (OTG) "Kharkiv" on the Kharkiv direction, 16 enemy attacks were repelled, including 11 near Hlyboke, and the rest in the Vovchansk area.
In the "Khortytsia" Operational-Strategic Group of Forces (OSG) operational zone on the Kupyansk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 10 enemy attacks in the areas of Pishchane, Berestove, Andriivka, and Synkivka. On the Lyman direction, there were 6 unsuccessful enemy attempts to advance towards Hrekivka, Makiivka, Terny, and Torske. On the Siversk direction, the enemy suffered losses during 7 attempts to assault the Ukrainian Defense Forces' positions near Verkhnyokamianske, Rozdolivka, and Vyimka. On the Kramatorsk direction, the total number of enemy attempts to improve their tactical position increased to 4. Fighting continues near Andriivka, with other attacks repelled. On the Toretsk direction, 23 enemy attacks were stopped. All the enemy's efforts today were focused on the areas of Pivnichne and New York. Ukrainian Defense Forces respond adequately to the invaders' actions, taking necessary measures to deplete their offensive potential.
In the "Tavriya" OSG operational zone, the enemy is concentrating significant efforts on the Pokrovsk direction. Russian invaders made 24 attempts to displace Ukrainian Defense Forces from their positions, focusing their efforts near Novooleksandrivka and Novoselivka Persha. On the Kurakhove direction, there were 12 enemy attacks near Heorhiivka, Paraskoviivka, and Krasnohorivka. On the Vremivka direction, there were 3 clashes. Enemy assaults were thwarted in the areas of Kostyantynivka and Novodarivka. On Orikhiv directions, Ukrainian Defense Forces units repelled 7 enemy attacks in the directions of Verbove-Mala Tokmachka and Nesteryanka-Novoandriivka, successfully repelling 6 attacks.
In the operational zone of "Odesa" OSG on the Prydniprovskiy direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces units repelled 3 enemy attacks on the left bank of the Dnipro River.
General conclusion:
The command of the enemy's "Yug (South)" Operational Grouping failed to create the conditions for flanking the defense area of the "Khortytsia" OSG in the city of Chasiv Yar.
In the Chasiv Yar area, there are only three sections where the canal runs underground, which are convenient for breaking through the "Khortytsia" OSG's defenses without crossing a water barrier: in the forest south of Kalynivka, south of the "Novyi" neighborhood (about 1-1.5 km), and south of the T0504 road east of Stupochky. The enemy has reached the first two and is concentrating its efforts there.
The command of the enemy's "Center" Operational Grouping is trying to solve two operational tasks simultaneously: push the Ukrainian Defense Forces units beyond the Vovcha River and the Karlivka Reservoir on the Pokrovsk direction, and actively attack in the area of New York and Zalizne on the Toretsk direction.
The introduction of the 27th Motorized Rifle Division of the 2nd Combined Arms Army on the Pokrovsk direction east of the Vovcha River aims to cut off the Ukrainian Defense Forces units fighting in Novoselivka Persha and further south from retreating west of the Vovcha River. To achieve this, the enemy is trying to advance along the Vovcha River from the north, from Voskhod to Mezhove, and to drive the Ukrainian Defense Forces units out of Yasnobrodivka completely, advancing from there towards Skuchne.
Russian forces have significantly advanced towards the important route of the "Tavriya" OSG in the Vuhledar area, the T0524 highway between Maryinka and Vuhledar, southeast of Vodyane and northeast of Vuhledar.
Change in the line of contact (LoC):
There were 118 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Kharkiv direction, Russian forces advanced slightly to the north of Hlyboke and attempted to dislodge the Ukrainian Defense Forces from positions north of the village. They continued their assaults near Hlyboke, Vovchansk, and Tykhe.
On the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces made minor advances in the wooded area northwest of Kyslivka, northwest of Dzherelne, near Berestove, Pishchane, Novoselivske, and continued their offensive near Synkivka, Stepova Novoselivka, Stelmakhivka, and Andriivka.
On the Lyman direction, Russian forces advanced near Makiivka and along the Terny-Torske line, continuing their offensive near Hrekivka and Nevske.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked from Novosadove towards Chervonopopivka.
On the Siversk Direction, the 106th Airborne Division advanced to the southern outskirts of Pereyizne and began to entrench in the southern part of the village. Russian forces also attacked near Verkhnyokamianske, Vyimka, Spirne, and Fedorivka.
On the Kramatorsk direction, forward units of the 98th Airborne Division, supported by units of the 200th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 14th Army Corps, the 11th Separate Air Assault Brigade, and the 102nd Motorized Rifle Regiment, captured the eastern part of Kalynivka. They launched several attacks at the intersection of the canal and the T0504 road (Kostyantynivka-Bakhmut) southeast of Chasiv Yar but failed to advance. The enemy unsuccessfully attempted to dislodge Ukrainian Defense Forces units from the railway section between Klishchiivka and Andriivka with several assault groups from the 3rd Army Corps.
On the Toretsk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces regained lost positions south of Toretsk along the forest belt southeast of New York.
Russian forces advanced to Kooperatyvna Street in New York. Fighting continued near Toretsk, Pivnichne, and Druzhba.
On the Pokrovsk direction, units of the 27th Motorized Rifle Division of the 2nd Army Corps attacked from the north and near Novoselivka Persha, making some advances. Intense fighting continues in and west of the village, with the enemy slowly advancing generally southward. The enemy has had no success from the direction of Yasnobrodivka. Fighting continues on the southern outskirts.
On the Kurakhove direction, fighting continued near Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Kostyantynivka, and Paraskoviivka.
On the Orikhiv direction, positional battles continued near Robotyne, Mala Tokmachka, and Novoandriivka.
On the Prydniprovskiy direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces units retreated from positions in Krynky. Fighting continued near Kozachi Laheri and on the islands in the Dnipro River delta.
In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, the enemy naval group on combat duty consists of:
Azov Sea: 4 ships, including 0 cruise missile carriers; the total salvo is 0 cruise missiles.
Mediterranean Sea: 1 ship, including 1 cruise missile carriers; the total salvo is 8 cruise missiles.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
The 30th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 72nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 44th Army Corps operates near Vovchansk.
Units of the 80th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade (Arctic) of the 14th Army Corps are engaged on the Kherson direction.
The main forces of the 47th Tank Division of the 1st Tank Army operate near Kyslivka and Stepova Novoselivka.
The command of the enemy's "Center" Operational Grouping has regrouped the 506th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 27th Motorized Rifle Division to the area west of Voskhod village. The 433rd Motorized Rifle Regiment, reinforced by a battalion of the 589th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the division, is advancing from Yevhenivka towards Vovche and Prohres from the southeast direction. The 589th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the division is attacking Novoselivka Persha from the north and in the strip of advance of the 506th Motorized Rifle Regiment. Thus, the commander of the "Center" Operational Grouping has concentrated the entire 27th Motorized Rifle Division of the 2nd Combined Arms Army in the Pokrovsk direction. On the Toretsk direction, it has been replaced by brigades of the 2nd and 41st Combined Arms Armies, which have suffered losses and have limited combat capability.
Possible operation situation developments:
On the Vovchansk direction, the enemy may abandon assault actions and shift to attacks on the flanks in the direction of Buhruvatka – Starytsya – Izbytske, attempting to bypass Vovchansk from the east through Tykhe and Vovchanski Khutory.
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. This assumption is supported he enemy's increased activity specifically on the flanks (Synkivka – Petropavlivka and Pishchane – Kolisnykivka directions). To bind the “Khortytsia" OSG forces, the enemy will exert frontal pressure on their positions in the Stepova Novoselivka area.
The enemy has completed the formation of a tactical group consisting of the 252nd Motorized Rifle Regiment, 237th Tank Regiment of the 3rd Motorized Rifle Division, 283rd Motorized Rifle Regiment, and 59th Tank Regiment of the 144th Motorized Rifle Division. This group will soon attempt to seize the crossing over the Chornyi Zherebets River in Makiivka and attack the positions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces units in Nevske from the areas of Makiivka and Chervonopopivka.
The enemy's "Yug (South)" Operational Grouping failed to advance through Kalynivka, failing to complete the task of bypassing Chasiv Yar from the north and breaking through Ridkodubya towards the railway station north of the Refractory plant, thus falling to force the forward units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces to retreat from the "Novyi" and "Zhovtnevyi" neighborhoods and avoid a frontal assault on their positions across the canal. A repeat attempt of such actions should be expected if the "Siversky Donets-Donbas" canal between Kalynivka and the "Zhovtnevyi" neighborhood is crossed.
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 a tactical group that will attempt to capture Vozdvyzhenka.
Units of the 55th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade are actively fortifying their forward positions between Novooleksandrivka and Arkhanhelske, particularly setting up mine-explosive barriers. If the enemy achieves success north of Novooleksandrivka, they may also launch an attack towards Kalynove.
Assault units of the enemy's 30th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade and the 433rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 27th Motorized Rifle Division currently attacking towards Prohres have received reinforcements (up to twenty to twenty-five personnel) and will attack shortly north and south of the Pokrovsk-Prohres railway.
Russian forces will intensify attacks south of Kostyantynivka to encircle the Vuhledar defense area.
Russian operational losses from 24.02.22 to 18.07.24
Personnel - almost 563,640 (+1130);
Tanks 8,245 (+7);
Armored combat vehicles – 15,883 (+12);
Artillery systems – 15,465 (+54);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,120 (0);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems - 893 (0);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 20,833 (+92);
Aircraft - 361 (0);
Helicopters – 326 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level –12,274 (+50);
Intercepted cruise missiles – 2,398 (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 11 regions of Ukraine over the past day. A total of 120 towns and villages and 117 infrastructure objects were attacked with various types of weapons. The number of casualties is being updated/clarified.
Ukraine has returned 758 children from the territory of the Russian Federation and occupied territories. This is a small number compared to the nearly 20,000 Ukrainian children identified to date, according to the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Dmytro Lubinets.
On the night of Thursday, July 18, Ukraine's air defense destroyed all 16 kamikaze attack drones launched by the enemy, as well as two of the three guided aviation missiles.
On the night of July 18, Russian occupiers struck the Kupyansk district in Kharkiv Oblast, resulting in the death of one resident and injuries to two others.
On July 18, during the day, Russian forces struck a high-rise building in the Central District of Kherson, wounding two women and a 16-year-old girl, who was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
On July 18, Russian forces killed a 74-year-old resident of the village of Oleksandrivka in Kherson Oblast with a drone. Later, the Russian army shelled Bilozerka in Kherson Oblast, injuring a 51-year-old woman.
Throughout the day, Russian occupation forces attacked villages in Donetsk Oblast with various calibers of weapons, killing five and injuring three civilians.
In Ukraine, the proportion of those who want closed borders, visas, and customs with Russia has risen to 79%. Only 12% now want the countries to be friendly, and just 0.3% would like the countries to unite, according to a survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology conducted from February 17-23 and May 16-22.
80% of Ukrainians stated that only negative words and phrases come to mind when they hear the term "ordinary Russian citizens," while the word "Russia" itself evokes negative associations in 94% of respondents.
Russian invaders used a crane to tear out memorial stones "To the Victims of Holodomor" and "To the Victims of Stalinist Repressions" from the ground in central Luhansk and transported them to an unknown location, reported the Center for National Resistance.