Russia's war on Ukraine. 18.09.24
Russia's war on Ukraine. 18.09.24
Operational situation
In the operational zone of the Ukrainian Operational Group of Forces (OTG) "Kharkiv" on the Kharkiv direction, a combat engagement occurred near Vovchansk.
In the "Khortytsia" Operational-Strategic Group of Forces (OSG) operational zone on the Kupyansk direction, there were 13 enemy attacks. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled enemy assaults near Synkivka, Novoosynove, Kruhlyakivka, Andriivka, Kolisnykivka, Petropavlivka, and Lozova. On the Lyman direction, the enemy attacked 14 times, attempting to advance near Cherneshchyna, Druzhelyubivka, Makiivka, Torske, and Nevske. On the Siversk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 2 Russian assaults near Verkhnyokamianske and Vyimka. On the Kramatorsk direction, the occupiers attacked 10 times near Chasiv Yar, Stupochky, Klishchiivka, and Bila Hora. On the Toretsk direction, the enemy, supported by aviation, carried out 15 attacks near Shcherbynivka, Toretsk, Dachne, and Nelipivka.
In the "Tavriya" OSG operational zone, on the Pokrovsk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 51 enemy assaults in the areas of Hrodivka, Novotoretske, Novohrodivka, Mykolaivka, Ukrainsk, Oleksandropil, Vozdvyzhenka, Marynivka, and Zelene Pole. The highest concentration of enemy attacks was near Hrodivka and Novohrodivka. On the Kurakhove direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 49 attacks towards Tsukuryne, Zhelanne Pershe, Hirnyk, Katerynivka, Heorhiivka, and Kostyantynivka, with the enemy actively using assault and bomber aviation. On the Vremivka direction, the enemy conducted 6 attacks near Vuhledar and Novoukrayinka. There was disturbance on the Hulyaipole direction, where the enemy launched 2 unsuccessful offensives near Hulyaipole. On the Orikhiv direction, there were 8 unsuccessful combat clashes for the enemy near Mala Tokmachka, Novodanylivka, Novoandriivka, and Shcherbaky.
In the operational zone of "Odesa" OSG on the Prydniprovskiy direction, 4 enemy attempts to capture Ukrainian Defense Forces positions were unsuccessful.
On the Volyn and Polissya directions, no signs of enemy offensive group formations were detected.
Along the border with Chernihiv and Sumy Oblasts, the enemy actively uses artillery and aviation from Russian territory to target Ukrainian villages.
General conclusion:
The "Siversk" OTG raid towards Khomutovka led the governor of Kursk Oblast to announce the forced evacuation of civilians from a 15-kilometer zone along the border with Ukraine, stretching from Khomutovka to Rylsk.
On the Kharkiv direction, Russian forces increasingly use conscript soldiers for logistical tasks on Russian territory, freeing up professional military personnel for assault operations.
Russian forces continue executing and torturing Ukrainian prisoners of war. The Ukrainian Prosecutor's Office is investigating 84 cases of possible executions of Ukrainian POWs by Russian forces.
Change in the line of contact (LoC):
There were 194 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Kursk Direction, "Siversk" OTG pushed the enemy back from Liubimovka, Obukhovka, and Apanasovka, with its units advancing to the southwestern outskirts of Glushkovo, expanding their penetration towards Kulbaki, surrounding Vesioloe by moving west and east of the village, and encircling the enemy in Kremyanoe.
The enemy counterattacked with forces from the 200th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 14th Army Corps, 51st Airborne Regiment of the 106th Airborne Division, and 155th Separate Marines Brigade of the Pacific Fleet from the area of Snagost in the direction of Liubimovka but suffered losses from flanking counterattacks by the "Siversk" OTG. In the area of Olgovka, the 225th Separate Assault Battalion completed the elimination of a Russian resistance pocket. The enemy garrison continues to resist in the area of Kremyanoe. Ukrainian Defense Forces control most of the territory between this village and the railway east of Aleksandrovka, conducting raids to the north, repelling attempts by the 810th Separate Marines Brigade of the Black Sea Fleet to break through to the encircled forces, and have completely suppressed their radio communications.
The enemy's 24th Separate SOF Brigade, supported by irregular formations, managed to take control of Borki after two weeks of assaults. Russian forces are repelling Ukrainian unit attacks near Vesele and Medvezhie, attempting to seize control of Uspenovka and Daryino.
On the Kharkiv direction, "Kharkiv" OTG units forced the enemy from positions at the Vovchansk Aggregate Producing Plant, with the enemy retreating northwest. Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Hlyboke.
On the Kupyansk direction, the enemy is trying to expand its penetration in the area of Pishchane, advancing towards Kruhlyakivka and Kolisnykivka, attacking near Synkivka, Novoosynove, Lozova, Cherneshchyna, Druzhelyubivka, Hrekivka, and Makiivka.
Ukrainian Defense Forces hold positions in western Stelmakhivka.
On the Lyman direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces restored their positions near Torske.
The enemy is advancing east of Nevske and Novosadove, attacking near Torske and in the area of the Serebriansk Forest.
On the Siversk Direction, Russian forces continued local attacks, advancing near Verkhnyokamianske. Fighting continued near Vyimka, Ivano-Dariivka, and Pereyizne.
On the Kramatorsk direction, the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Defense Forces took over the defensive strip in Chasiv Yar. The 5th Separate Assault Brigade repelled an enemy attack near Kurdyumivka, cutting off part of its forces that had crossed the canal.
Russian forces crossed the "Siversky Donets – Donbas" canal towards Stupochky, advanced southwest of the Stupky-Holubovski reserve, within the "Zhovtnevyi" neighborhood, and attacked near Chasiv Yar, Vasyukivka, Klishchiivka, Stupochky, and Bila Hora.
On the Toretsk direction, the enemy is storming the center of Toretsk, regaining control of New York after the 12th “Azov” National Guard Brigade of Operative Purpose ensured the withdrawal of encircled Ukrainian Defense Force units from the town.
Russian forces advanced along Lomonosova Street in eastern Toretsk, continued attacks near Toretsk, Druzhba, Zalizne, and Nelipivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, the enemy's "Tsentr (Center)" Operational Grouping is regrouping, transferring part of its forces to the Toretsk direction, which has slowed its advance. On the northern flank, the 35th and 74th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades of the 41st Combined Arms Army continue to storm the center of Hrodivka. From the western side, the enemy managed to advance north of Novohrodivka, resume the assault on Mykhailivka, and attack east of Selydove.
On the southern flank, the 114th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 51st Combined Arms Army is completing the occupation of Ukrainsk. The enemy is advancing towards the northern outskirts of Hirnyk.
The enemy advanced northeast and west of Novokalynove, northwest of Arkhanhelske, within the central and northwestern parts of Hrodivka, southwest of Mykhailivka, and continued advancing near Novotoretske, Vozdvyzhenka, Hrodivka, Krasnyi Yar, Novohrodivka, Orlivka, Marynivka, Mykolaivka, Ukrainsk, Tsukuryne, Zhelanne Pershe, and Hirnyk.
"Tavriya" OSG withdrew units from the bridgehead east of the Vovcha River, but its units control two dominant heights over Zhelanne Pershe, Zhelanne Druhe, Kurakhivka, and Krasnohorivka. The 46th Separate Airborne Brigade is firmly holding its positions near Krasnohorivka.
On the Kurakhove direction, the 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade repelled an enemy assault in the area of the "Pivdennodonbaska #3" mine.
The enemy launched an intense assault on Vuhledar from the eastern direction, continued its offensive near Heorhiivka, advanced within Maksymilianivka, made minor advances northeast of Kostyantynivka, and reached Solena Balka. Fighting continued near Kostyantynivka, Katerynivka, and Vodiane.
On the Orikhiv direction, Russian forces advanced near Kamianske.
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: 5 ships, 4 cruise missile carriers; the total salvo is 32 cruise missiles.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
Command of the enemy's “Sever (North)” Operational Grouping has formed an assault group from units of the 11th Tank Regiment of the 18th Motorized Rifle Division of the 11th Army Corps. The 380th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 47th Tank Division of the 1st Tank Army is operating in the area of Lukyantsi, and the 128th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 44th Army Corps is in Vovchansk.
Units of the 98th Airborne Division are operating in the "Novyi" and "Zhovtnevyi" neighborhoods of Chasiv Yar. The 200th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 14th Army Corps is attacking within Kalynivka, and the 4th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 3rd Army Corps is on the attack south of Ivanivske.
A unit fully composed of Syrian citizens operates within the 488th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 144th Motorized Rifle Division of the 20th Army Corps.
Possible operation situation developments:
The enemy will soon reach the left bank of the Oskil River in the Hlushkivka-Kruhlyakivka sector and split the "Khortytsia" OSG bridgehead on the Oskil River into two parts: a smaller northern (Kupyansk) and a larger southern (Borova) section.
"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.
We should expect enemy attempts to repeat the tactical maneuver they used at the beginning of the assault on Chasiv Yar: concentrating a large grouping of forces in a narrow sector, creating high tactical density in their formations, while deploying reserves dispersed along the entire front. Until then, the enemy will continue its frontal assault towards Pokrovsk from the southeast, advancing along the Avdiivka-Pokrovsk railway in a relatively narrow corridor (up to 5 km wide) between the Solonenka and Zhuravka rivers.
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.
Russian operational losses from 24.02.22 to 18.09.24
Personnel - almost 637,010 (+1,130);
Tanks 8,691 (+6);
Armored combat vehicles – 17,080 (+3);
Artillery systems – 18,154 (+25);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,188 (0);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems - 947 (0);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 24,784 (+45);
Aircraft - 369 (0);
Helicopters – 328 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 15,354 (+25);
Intercepted cruise missiles – 2,592 (0);
Boats/ships – 29 (0).
Humanitarian+general:
On the night of September 18, 2024, the Russians attacked Ukraine with three guided aerial missiles and 52 kamikaze drones. Air defense destroyed 46 UAVs, with five lost due to electronic warfare interference, and one drone returned to Russia.
At 03:45 on September 18, the enemy attacked the Bashtanka district of Mykolaiv Oblast with a cruise missile, likely an X-59. The impact of the debris caused a fire on the premises of an agricultural enterprise. The blast wave damaged agricultural equipment and destroyed a fence.
During the night, Russian forces attacked the city of Kropyvnytskyi, damaging several residential buildings. A fire broke out in one yard. One person was killed, and another was injured.
Throughout the day, Russian forces repeatedly attacked the Nikopol and Kryvyi Rih districts of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. A 42-year-old man, wounded in a Russian attack on Nikopol, died in the hospital. Four other people in the oblast were injured by Russian shelling, including a 9-year-old boy.
Around 5:00 p.m., Russian military forces attacked a municipal military administration service vehicle in the Dnipro district of Kherson with a drone. There were no casualties or injuries from the attack. Earlier, three people were injured due to shelling in the Dnipro district.
Over the past 24 hours, Russian forces carried out 106 attacks using various types of weapons on the border areas of Chernihiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv Oblasts, resulting in a total of 312 explosions.
Yesterday afternoon and during the night of September 17, the Russians used KABs, ballistic missiles, and Shahed-type UAVs to launch a massive strike on energy infrastructure in the Konotop, Okhtyrka, and Sumy districts. Restoration work is underway in the oblast. In Sumy, 53 "Points of Invincibility" were quickly set up.
In Toretsk, Donetsk Oblast, where shelling continues, around 1,500 people remain. One person was evacuated from the city yesterday. In the city of Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, 16,000 people remain, including 177 children. Evacuations are ongoing.
At the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, armed personnel with military equipment are present, obstructing access for the IAEA mission. Anti-personnel mines have been placed between the inner and outer fences of the facility, according to the IAEA.