Russia's war on Ukraine. 31.03.2024

Operational situation

Mar 31, 2024

In the operational zone of the Ukrainian Operational-Strategic Group of Forces (OSG) "Khortytsia" on the Lyman direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 6 Russian attacks in the areas of Bilohorivka and Terny, where the enemy, supported by aviation, attempted to breach the defense. On the Bakhmut direction, they repelled 7 enemy attacks in the areas of Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, and Klishchiivka.

In the "Tavriya" OSG operational zone on the Avdiivka direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 24 enemy attacks in the areas of Berdychi, Semenivka, Umanske, Pervomaiske, and Nevelske, where the enemy tried to dislodge Ukrainian Defense Forces from their positions. On the Novopavlivka direction, they continued to hold back the enemy in the areas of Krasnohorivka, Pobieda, Novomykhailivka, and east of Vodyane, where the adversary attempted to breach Ukrainian defenses 36 times. On the Orikhiv direction, the enemy carried out 5 attacks on the positions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces in the area of Staromayorske and Robotyne.

In the operational zone of the "Odesa" OSG on the Kherson direction, the enemy attacked the positions of the Defense Forces on the left bank of the Dnipro River twice.

General conclusion:

Russian forces are concentrating efforts on the Lyman direction, having slowed down their offensive actions on the Kupyansk direction in recent weeks. Their objective is to advance to the administrative borders of Luhansk Oblast on the Lyman direction and the eastern bank of the Oskil River on the Kupyansk direction.
Russian forces on the Horlivka direction positioned artillery at the maximum feasible distance from the front line to defend against strikes by Ukrainian UAVs.

Change in the line of contact (LoC):

There have been 85 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Kupyansk direction, positional battles persisted near Synkivka.
On the Lyman direction, positional battles took place near Terny and Bilohorivka.
On the Bakhmut direction, Russian forces resumed their advance on the Siversk direction, advancing nearly 1 km deep southeast of Rozdolivka, seizing 7 km2 of territory. Units of the 51st Airborne Regiment of the 106th Airborne Division displaced Ukrainian forces from several positions on the Vesele-Vyimka line, while units of the 137th Airborne Regiment of the 106th Airborne Division displaced Ukrainian troops from positions west of Vesele and advanced to the southern outskirts of Rozdolivka. Near Spirne, the 6th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 2nd Army Corps (AC) of the 8th Army is advancing.
Positional battles persisted in the areas of Bohdanivka, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, and New York.
On the Avdiivka direction, the units of the enemy’s 1st AC entered the eastern outskirts of Semenivka and advanced along a front of up to 750 meters with a depth of 200 meters. In the area of Pervomaiske, the 9th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 1st AC advanced along the front line of up to 450 meters and to a depth of up to 1.5 km. The enemy forces captured new positions in Berdychi. Following the assault on Semenivka, the 98th Rifle Regiment of the mobilization reserve of the 1st AC, placed under operational command of the 114th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the same corps, suffered critical losses, estimated at 85% of personnel. Those who refused to participate in the assault in the 98th Rifle Regiment were threatened with execution.
Positional battles persisted in the areas of Berdychi, Semenivka, Umanske, Orlivka, Tonenke, Netaylove, Pervomaiske, and Nevelske.
On the Novopavlivka direction, positional battles continued in the areas of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Pobieda, Novomykhailivka, and Vodyane. The 238th Artillery Brigade of the enemy’s 8th Army struck the railway bridge in Kurakhove. Forces of the 1st AC struck a hydrotechnical facility in the area of Paraskoviivka, leading to the flooding of a section of road connecting the village to the O0532 Kostiantynivka-Maryinka highway.
On the Berdyansk direction, positional battles persisted near Staromayorske and north of Pryiutne.
On the Orikhiv direction, positional battles continued near Robotyne and northwest of Verbove.
On the Kherson direction, Russian forces made several unsuccessful attacks on Ukrainian positions on the eastern bank of the Kherson Oblast near Krynky.
In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, the enemy naval group on combat duty consisted of:
- Mediterranean Sea: 1 Cruise Missile Carrier. The total salvo is 8 “Kalibr” cruise missiles.

Changes in the enemy disposition:

Near Ivanivske, units of the Russian 58th Separate SOF Battalion of the 1st Army Corps of the 8th Army are operating.
Units of the 114th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade and the reconnaissance battalion "Sparta" of the 1st Army Corps are operating near Avdiivka.
The "Yug-Akhmat" unit of the Russian National Guard is engaged in combat actions on the Polohy direction.

Possible operation situation developments:

The likely operational-strategic objectives of the Russian troop grouping in the theater of military operations may include the seizure of the Luhansk, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts within their administrative borders.
The Ukrainian Defense Forces will make efforts to stabilize the front line and ensure an operational pause for 3-4 months to rearm and replenish personnel, aiming for a minimum force strength of 150-200 thousand servicemen.
The enemy command will endeavor to cut off the Nevske-Torske road along the left bank of the Chornyi Zherebets River from north to south in the area of Terny and will attempt to eliminate the southern part of the Ukrainian Defense Forces’ foothold on the Chornyi Zherebets River.

Russian operational losses from 24.02.22 to 31.03.24

Personnel - almost 442,170 people (+650);

Tanks - 6,966 (+15);

Armored combat vehicles – 13,304 (+20);

Artillery systems – 11,050 (+44);

Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) - 1,023 (0);

Anti-aircraft warfare systems - 743 (+7);

Vehicles and fuel tanks – 14,717 (+47);

Aircraft - 347 (0);

Helicopters – 325 (0);

UAV operational and tactical level – 8,731 (+30);

Intercepted cruise missiles - 2,048 (+2);

Boats/ships – 27 (0).

Humanitarian+general:

On this date two years ago, Bucha and Irpin, north of Kyiv, were liberated from Russian occupation, exposing the extent of Russian atrocities. President Zelensky paid a visit to the memorial honoring the killed residents of Bucha. Presently, the memorial bears the names of 509 identified civilian victims. However, some plaques remain without names.
According to information provided by the Situation Center of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Russian troops shelled 14 regions of Ukraine over the past day. A total of 128 towns and villages and 147 infrastructure objects were attacked with various types of weapons. The number of casualties is being updated/clarified.
During the night of March 31st, Ukrainian air defense successfully intercepted 9 "Shahed" drones and 9 cruise missiles. Russian forces launched 14 Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles, one "Iskander-M" ballistic missile, Kh-59 cruise missiles, and 11 "Shahed" drones targeting Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Southern Defense Forces reported that their air defense systems successfully intercepted all 8 enemy drones launched over the Odesa Oblast. However, the crash of one "Shahed" drone caused a fire and power outage in multiple locations. Once again, the enemy targeted the energy infrastructure of Odesa and agricultural facilities in Kherson Oblasts.
During the nighttime air raid on March 31st, the adversary once again targeted a critical infrastructure site in Lviv Oblast with cruise missiles, the same target, that was hit on March 24th and 29th. One civilian casualty has been reported. Additionally, there is a possibility of people being trapped under the debris, and rescue operations are underway to clear the rubble.
After a brief lift of electricity supply restrictions, Kharkiv has returned to hourly power outages due to the unreliability of the power transmission system and a shortage of local generation.
During the day, the enemy launched a missile strike on a village in Zmiivskyi district of Kharkiv Oblast. Preliminary information indicates that five people sustained injuries.
Around 3:15 PM on March 31, 2024, the Russian forces targeted a village in the Beryslav district of Kherson Oblast. The strike was allegedly conducted using an S-300 missile. Two local residents were injured as a result of the explosion, and both were transported to the hospital.