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Ukraine - Russia Invasion conflict
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As reported by Sternenko on March 13, 2024, Ukrainian operators of FPV drones from the 109th separate brigade have achieved success in locating and targeting several Russian vehicles. Among the targets successfully hit were a BTR-50, an armored personnel carrier dating back to the Stalin era, and a recent Z-STS Akhmat mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicle, which was unveiled in 2022.
Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukrainian intelligence, has announced that recent attacks in the Black Sea and Crimea were aimed at preparing for a major operation. Budanov stated, "All of this was aimed at preparing for a major operation in Crimea. A way to verify that our understanding of ways to enter and exit the area is correct."
On March 12, 2024, three Russian paramilitary groups based in Ukraine claimed to have crossed into Russia and are currently engaging Russian government troops in the Belgorod and Kursk regions. The Freedom of Russia Legion (FRL) and the Siberian Battalion (SB) have released videos purportedly showing their fighters in action in these regions. They claim to have launched an incursion with tanks and armored vehicles, potentially marking the largest cross-border attack since the beginning of the invasion.
On March 5, 2024, Patrick Senft posted photos on his Twitter account revealing the use of an OF-45 rocket, presumably launched from an A-22 naval multiple rocket launcher system (MBRLS) mounted on an MT-LB armored vehicle. This use had already been reported in September 2023 by various media outlets. However, the images shared by Senft indicate that the rocket launch was defective, highlighting potential issues in adapting these naval systems for terrestrial use.
The Russian Ministry of Defense recently highlighted, in an official statement, a successful operation conducted by Su-34 aircraft in the Avdeevka sector in Ukraine, employing FAB-500 bombs enhanced with a universal planning and correction module for precise targeting. This operation emphasizes the crucial role of the Su-34 in Russia's military strategy, capable of conducting strikes from safe distances, beyond Ukrainian air defenses.
On March 11, 2024, Ukrainian Special Operations Forces conducted an operation resulting in the destruction of a Russian Palantin electronic warfare system in the Zaporizhzhia region. The Palantin system, introduced into the Russian military in April 2019, represents the latest advancement in Russia's operational-tactical level electronic warfare capabilities.
Facing the advance of Russian troops, which has been faster and more significant for several weeks, the Ukrainians have undertaken to strengthen their defense system to halt or at least slow the Russian advance at any cost. This dynamic of reinforcing fortification systems was announced in a statement ( on X- ex Twitter) by British Defence Intelligence, released on March 10, 2024. British Defence Intelligence reports indicate this construction includes a comprehensive array of defenses such as anti-tank obstacles known as dragon's teeth, extensive ditch networks, infantry trenches, minefields, and robust fortified positions
Dmytro Lykhoviy, head of the public relations department of the Tavria military unit, revealed disturbing details, stating that Russian forces have increasingly employed grenades equipped with suffocating and tear gas, delivered via drones. Lykhoviy's disclosure of approximately 50 such drops within a week, with 15 recorded in just the past day, raises grave concerns about the potential humanitarian and security implications of Russia's actions. The development underscores heightened fears surrounding the use of chemical weapons in conflict zones and prompts urgent calls for international scrutiny and response.
In a significant revelation, researchers using satellite imagery have analyzed Russia's withdrawal of 25 to 40% of its strategic tank reserves, depending on the model, from outdoor storage facilities. They estimate that the most effective equipment has likely been removed, leaving less efficient or irreparable materials behind.
On March 10, 2024, the Ukrainian 45th Artillery Brigade utilized its social media platforms to share a video showcasing the successful counter-battery operation against three Russian 152mm D20 howitzers stationed in the Kreminna region, achieved using a Swedish-supplied Archer self-propelled gun.
The Ukrainian military has managed to integrate the donation of M-55S tanks from Slovenia into its operational forces. This contribution, made in April 2022, just two months after Russia expanded its offensive against Ukraine, included 28 M-55S tanks. This donation also brought a host of challenges that the Ukrainians had to overcome to best operate the Slovenian tanks.
Ukrainian soldiers have been reported to make crucial upgrades to the German-made Leopard 2 Main Battle Tanks, a contribution from Germany, Poland, Spain, Canada, and some other European countries aimed at bolstering Ukraine's defense capabilities following the invasion of the country by Russian troops. Recent pictures of the warfront show these armor improvements designed to increase the protection of the tanks against the evolving threats in the Ukrainian conflict zone and new Russian threats.
On March 9, 2024, Ukrainian forces launched a sophisticated drone attack on the Beriev Aircraft Company in Taganrog, Russia. This strike targeted a key facility involved in the modernization of Russia's A-50 AWACS aircraft, dealing a significant blow to the Russian military's aerial surveillance capabilities.
In a recent video released by the Russian Ministry of Defense dated March 9, 2024, it was claimed that a Ukrainian S-300 air defense missile system was successfully targeted and destroyed by a Russian Iskander ballistic missile. However, emerging analyses based on drone-captured photographs of the aftermath suggest a different narrative, hinting at the possibility that the actual target may have been a German-supplied Patriot missile launcher. If the destruction is confirmed, it would be the first Patriot system destroyed by Russian forces.
It was reported on March 8, 2024, that the Russian armed forces have introduced a new kind of precision-guided munition, marking a notable advancement in their military capabilities. The revelation came to light through photographs shared on the Telegram account of an officer in the Ukrainian armed forces. The images showcased the adaptation of the Soviet-era FAB-250, a 250-kilogram (550 lb) general-purpose bomb, into a more sophisticated and longer-range guided weapon.
In a significant shift on the Ukrainian front, Russian combat aviation has made a noticeable return following a period of relative withdrawal. This tactical change by Moscow has led to an increase in aerial engagements, resulting in a high number of Russian aircraft losses at the hands of Ukrainian forces during February. Despite limited use since the conflict's outset, and with Ukraine awaiting the delayed delivery of American F-16 fighter jets now scheduled for June 2024, Russia appears to be revising its strategy.
A Ukrainian Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) M2A2 ODS-SA "Bradley" engaged in rare close combat with a Russian BMP-2 IFV near Avdiivka. This intense encounter was vividly captured by a Ukrainian drone and posted on social media by the Ukrainian Front dated March 6, 2024. Utilizing its M242 Bushmaster automatic cannon, the Bradley fired a series of shells at its Russian counterpart leading to its destruction. However, it is noted that the BMP-2 did not appear to be moving, and there are doubts about the presence of a crew inside the vehicle.
Ukrainian soldiers have reported that the British AS90 155mm self-propelled howitzers offer a considerable advantage in terms of firing accuracy and range when compared to Soviet-era artillery systems in service with the Ukrainian army such as the 2S1 Gvozdika and 2S3 Akatsiya. This superiority is attributed to the AS90's use of L15A1/2 conventional high-explosive shells, which are more aerodynamic and thus capable of flying farther than even the American M107 shells.
On March 5, 2024, several Russian media reported the first confirmed instance of the destruction of a US-supplied M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) in use by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This event has been verified due to the provision of visual evidence by the Russian Armed Forces, showcasing the aftermath of the attack near the village of Pokrovsk, located approximately 40 kilometers away from the combat line.
In a series of strategic operations, Ukrainian forces have intensified their use of drone strikes against critical infrastructure in Russian-occupied territories and border areas, marking a significant shift in tactics aimed at disrupting Russian military efforts and energy supplies.
On March 4, 2024, Lieutenant General Mykola Oleschuk, the Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, disclosed through a video the utilization of the AASM-250 precision-guided munition, supplied by France, targeting a Russian Armed Forces facility within the Russia-occupied Kherson Oblast, Ukraine. This operation marked the initial use by the Ukrainian Air Force of such munitions in the context of the current conflict.
In the latest British Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine dated March 4, 2024, the British Defence Minister announced that throughout February 2024, Russia conducted a series of targeted attacks against Ukrainian infrastructure, including electrical power infrastructure, using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped for one-way attack (OWA UAVs).
Russia has announced the mass production of the new Scalpel loitering munition also called kamikaze drone, with plans to deliver several thousand units to its military forces deployed in Ukraine by the end of 2024. This move underscores the increasing reliance on drone warfare by Russian forces in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
As reported by Defense Express on February 21, 2024, the Ukrainian Armed Forces, confronted with a significant shortage of Western weapons and the uncertainty of further supplies, have developed three new military vehicles named Kharakternyk, Sikach, and Lys. These vehicles, designed as substitutes for the American Humvee, MaxxPro, and M113 respectively, have been deployed across various units of the Security and Defense Forces to address the urgent need for armored vehicles.
The French Ministry of Armed Forces has published the list of military equipment and combat vehicles delivered to Ukraine. On Monday, March 4, 2024, the French Ministry of Armed Forces released the inventory of military equipment supplied to Ukraine from February 24, 2022, to December 31, 2023. The French government provided Ukraine with military equipment valued at a total of 2.615 billion euros, in addition to an extra contribution of 1.2 billion euros to the European Peace Facility (EPF), bringing its total support to over 3.8 billion euros by December 31, 2023. While most of these items were already known, their quantities were not necessarily disclosed.
