Russia's war on Ukraine. 28.08.24
Operational situation
In the operational zone of the Ukrainian Operational Group of Forces (OTG) "Kharkiv" on the Kharkiv direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled a Russian offensive near Vovchansk.
In the "Khortytsia" Operational-Strategic Group of Forces (OSG) operational zone on the Kupyansk direction, there were 16 clashes. The enemy attacked near Synkivka, Novoselivka, Kolisnykivka, and Stelmakhivka. On the Lyman direction, Russian invaders launched assaults near Druzhelyubivka, Nevske, and Novosadove. On the Siversk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled an enemy advance in the area of Verkhnyokamianske. On the Kramatorsk direction, 12 battles took place near Hryhorivka, Ivanivske, Andriivka, and Klishchiivka. On the Toretsk direction, there were 16 clashes, with Russians attacking positions near New York and Toretsk. Ukrainian Defense Forces successfully halted all enemy assaults.
In the "Tavriya" OSG operational zone, on the Pokrovsk direction, 36 battles occurred in the areas of Sukha Balka, Vozdvyzhenka, Zelenе Polе, Novooleksandrivka, Myrolyubivka, Novohrodivka, Mykhailivka, and Selydove. On the Kurakhove direction, the enemy attacked Ukrainian positions 15 times near Karlivka, Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, and Staromykhailivka. On the Vremivka direction, the enemy made 6 unsuccessful attempts to dislodge Ukrainian Defense Forces units from their defensive lines near Vuhledar, Vodyane, and Prechystivka. On the Orikhiv direction, the enemy also failed during 4 offensive actions near Mala Tokmachka and Robotyne.
In the operational zone of "Odesa" OSG on the Prydniprovskiy direction, the enemy suffered defeats after 2 attempts to attack the positions of Ukrainian Defense Forces.
General conclusion:
The enemy's military command has concentrated a group of up to 30,000 personnel in Kursk Oblast and has organized defenses along 40% of the line of contact, initiating counterattacks with a focus on the area east of Sudzha and east of Glushkovo.
A strong air defense system, concentrated efforts by pontoon bridge units, and the rapid redeployment of reserves indicate that the enemy plans to hold Glushkovo at any cost.
Enemy losses on the Pokrovsk direction have remained at a record high for the fifth week.
The enemy's aviation maintains dominance on the Pokrovsk direction, with a significant advantage in forces, resources, artillery, and FPV drones, with a 4:1 ratio in favor of the aggressor.
The enemy has relocated its aviation from airfields within the range of ATACMS missile launches.
Russian forces have made significant tactical progress on the Pokrovsk direction, coinciding with the withdrawal of Ukrainian Defense Forces units from certain areas southeast of Pokrovsk.
Russian troops prefer advancing along the railway line in Novohrodivka towards Pokrovsk rather than engaging in battles across the entire city.
The withdrawal of Ukrainian Defense Forces from Novohrodivka indicates a lack of sufficient forces and resources for defense, even on advantageous lines.
Novohrodivka is not operationally significant, although its capture opens the path to Pokrovsk, which is more important due to its central position as a key logistics hub in the western part of Donetsk Oblast.
Change in the line of contact (LoC):
There were 125 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Kursk Direction: enemy forces transferred to Kursk Oblast are transitioning to defensive positions in the following areas: the 155th Separate Marines Brigade of the Pacific Fleet is holding the line from Glushkovo to Kulbaki; the 810th Separate Marines Brigade of the Black Sea Fleet is stationed at Kromskie Byki; the 200th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 14th Army Corps is positioned at Volokonsk; the 15th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 2nd Combined Arms Army is at Berdin; the 11th Airborne Brigade is between Kozyrevka and Shchegolek; and the 24th Special Purpose Brigade is defending the state border near Vishnevoe.
The 155th Separate Marines Brigade conducted a counterattack and regained control over Komarovka. The enemy also counterattacked near Tolpino, advancing towards the eastern outskirts of Korenevo and developing an offensive towards Olgovka and Kremyanoe. The 11th Airborne Brigade and the 15th Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 2nd Combined Arms Army successfully unblocked surrounded Russian units in Nizhnyaya Parovaya and pushed back the "Siversk" OTG to the Rozgrebli-Biryukovka-Borki line. A company from the 9th Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 51st Combined Arms Army managed to break out of encirclement and retreat towards Bakhtinka. The 24th Separae SOF Brigade forced Ukrainian units to retreat from Ulanok after capturing Spalnoe by crossing the Psel River, which also led to the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Belitsa and Giri.
The enemy established three pontoon bridges over the Seim River in the Glushkovo area: two north of Zvanoe and one near Glushkovo.
The "Siversk" OTG has secured positions along the line from Mala Loknya, Sheptukhovka, Kauchuk, Anastasievka, Mashkino, Bakhtinka, Rozgrebli, controlling Pushkarnoe and Russkaya Konopelka.
On the Kharkiv direction, Russian forces continued their offensive in the northern part of Kharkiv Oblast. Fighting continued near Hlyboke and close to Vovchansk. The enemy uses drones for remote mining near Hlyboke, conducts rotations, and logistical activities near Starytsya and Ohirtseve, and reinforces assault groups.
On the Kupyansk direction, battles continue near Synkivka, Stepova Novoselivka, Kolisnykivka, Hlushkivka, Novoosynove, Andriivka, and Stelmakhivka.
On the Lyman direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces regained lost positions southwest of Kreminna and advanced in the Serebriansk Forest area.
The enemy attacked near Druzhelyubivka, Makiivka, Hrekivka, Nevske, Novosadove, and Torske.
On the Siversk Direction, Russian forces continued offensive actions near Verkhnyokamianske, Vyimka, and Spirne.
On the Kramatorsk direction, Russian forces continued their offensive in the areas of Chasiv Yar, Hryhorivka, Andriivka, and Klishchiivka.
On the Toretsk direction, Russian forces made slight advances in the wooded areas on the western outskirts of Pivnichne and the southeastern outskirts of Toretsk, continuing offensive actions near New York and Panteleimonivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, the enemy’s "Tsentr (Center)" Operational Grouping is attacking with forces from the 2nd, 41st, and 51st armies, including the 27th Motorized Rifle Division, 1st, 30th, 114th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades, 90th Tank Division, 201st Military Base, and up to ten battalions of mobilization reserves. Assault groups are equipped with motorcycles. The main direction of the attack remains along the railway towards Novohrodivka, which the enemy captured after overcoming resistance from the 151st Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of Ukrainian Defense Forces. To the south, the enemy is expanding its penetration by storming towards Mykhailivka, Kalynove, and Svyato-Bohoyavlenske.
Russian forces have advanced more than 2 km in the northwestern part of Novohrodivka along Dubinina Street, holding positions in the central part of the city, making slight progress in the southeastern part of Hrodivka, and capturing Kalynove and Marynivka. Units of the 228th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 90th Tank Division, 41st Army, have captured Memryk. The enemy advanced in the southern part of Mykhailivka and is attacking the northeastern outskirts of Selydove.
On the Kurakhove direction, Russian forces continued attacks near Krasnohorivka, Hostre, and Heorhiivka.
On the Vremivka direction, Russian forces made slight advances along Berehova Street in the center of Kostyantynivka and further southeast of Vodyane along the O0532 (T0524) Vuhledar-Kostyantynivka highway, controlling a section of the highway, and continued attacks near Vuhledar.
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 carriers; the total salvo is 4 cruise missiles.
Mediterranean Sea: 3 ships, including 0 cruise missile carriers; the total salvo is 0 cruise missiles.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
The 810th Separate Marines Brigade of the Black Sea Fleet, having suffered significant losses last week, received reinforcements (a marines battalion composed of ship crews and several units from reserve regiments deployed to Kursk Oblast).
The 11th Separate Air Assault Brigade, which was relocated to Kursk Oblast, has been replaced in the Klishchiivka area by three battalions of the enemy's reserve forces.
The 128th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 44th Army Corps and the 4th "Volunteer Reconnaissance Assault Brigade" are engaged in combat in Vovchansk.
Escalation indicators:
Enemy forces captured Novohrodivka on the Pokrovsk direction.
Possible operation situation developments:
The development of the "Siversk" OSG operation will require the enemy's command on the theater of war to regroup forces towards the Kursk direction from other operational zones, primarily from the "Zapad (West)," "Yug (South)," and "Vostok (East)" Operational Groupings. We should expect the redeployment of the 47th Tank Division of the 1st Tank Army from the Kupyansk direction, the 6th Motorized Rifle Division and the 72nd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 3rd Army Corps from the Kramatorsk direction, and parts of the 35th Combined Arms Army from the Orikhiv direction.
On the Pokrovsk direction, the enemy will likely attempt to cut off the Pokrovsk–Kostyantynivka highway and prepare for an assault on the Pokrovsk–Myrnohrad agglomeration. It can be assumed that the enemy will reach the city by mid-September, but they will not be able to capture it. The open terrain, which is unfavorable for an offensive, and potential counterattacks from the Selydove and Kostyantynivka areas will slow their advance.
Russian forces are unlikely to be able to sustain the current pace of their offensive for a prolonged period, especially with the beginning of the assault on Pokrovsk.
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 on the Southwestern theater of war in 2024.
Russian operational losses from 24.02.22 to 28.08.24
Personnel - almost 611,190 (+1090);
Tanks 8,568 (+5);
Armored combat vehicles – 16,681 (+14);
Artillery systems – 17,522 (+27);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,1734(+1);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems - 938 (+1);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 23,654 (+41);
Aircraft - 368 (+1);
Helicopters – 328 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 14,348 (+94);
Intercepted cruise missiles – 2,553 (+6);
Boats/ships – 29 (0).
Humanitarian+general:
Around 10:00 PM on August 27, Russian forces launched X-59 missiles at the city of Izium in Kharkiv Oblast, resulting in 12 civilians being injured and damaging homes and a bakery.
A resident of Zmiivka in Kherson Oblast, who was struck by a Russian UAV on August 27, passed away in the hospital. She suffered an open head injury after the attack.
On August 28, the occupiers dropped an aerial bomb on the village of Izmailivka in the Pokrovskyi district. It hit a residential area, destroying a house. A whole family was killed under the rubble—45 and 53-year-old parents, as well as their 17-year-old son and 24-year-old daughter.
In the morning of August 28, Russian forces struck the Dnipro district of Kherson with drones, injuring two people. Both are currently in the hospital.
On Wednesday, while Kryvyi Rih was mourning the August 27 missile strike on a hotel, the enemy struck the city again with ballistic missiles—eight people were reported injured.
The occupiers launched a KAB strike on the central part of Kupyansk, injuring fourteen people including three policemen. A total of 898 windows in residential buildings and 95 windows in a courthouse were damaged. Other administrative buildings, shops, and civilian infrastructure were also affected.
Around 6:30 PM on Wednesday, Russian occupiers dropped an explosive device from a drone onto a house in Shyroka Balka, Kherson Oblast, injuring a 56-year-old woman
In 23 towns and villages of Donetsk Oblast, where mandatory evacuation of children along with their parents or other legal guardians has been ordered, 4,935 children still remain.
In Zhytomyr Oblast, cluster munitions have been found following Russian missile strikes on August 26.
Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, 1.468 million civilians have been evacuated from the Ukrainian-controlled territory of Donetsk Oblast. Around 399,000 residents remain in the region.
In the frontline city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, 38,000 residents still remain, including about 1,900 children.
Currently, debris is being cleared following the Russian missile strike on the Kyiv Hydroelectric Power Plant on August 26. It is still impossible to assess all the technical consequences and the required recovery time. However, there is no threat of the dam breaking and flooding is not expected.
On Thursday, August 29, power outage schedules will be applied throughout the day, according to a statement from the press service of "Ukrenergo."