Daily Flyer - February 14, 2024
A voice of Ukraine to the West
Ukraine destroyed a large Russia ship
On February 14, special forces of "Group 13" of the GUR (Main Intelligence Directorate) of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine sank the Russian Federation landing ship "Cesar Kunikov" in Ukraine's territorial waters near Alupka. The attack was carried out using Magura V5 marine drones. The ship, part of the Black Sea Fleet, was destroyed with critical holes on the left side, causing it to sink. "Cesar Kunikov" was a large amphibious ship of the 775 project, one of Russia's newest ships, capable of accommodating 87 crew members. It has been involved in various military operations, including in Kosovo (1999), the Russian-Georgian war (2008), and supporting the Syrian army in the "Syrian Express" operation in 2015. The estimated cost of the ship was $60-70 million. Military expert Oleksandr Kovalenko highlighted the significance of the operation, emphasizing that such ships, capable of transporting armored vehicles and personnel, were essential in Russia's logistics chains and amphibious operations.
Russia launches missile attack against Kharkiv Oblast village
On February 14, Russia conducted a missile attack on the village of Velykyi Burluk in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine. The attack targeted two residential buildings, resulting in at least seven reported injuries. Governor Oleh Syniehubov stated that the attack occurred at 4:16 p.m. local time, likely involving S-300 anti-air missiles. Three individuals were hospitalized, including two rescued from the damaged building. Syniehubov mentioned that there were still people trapped under the rubble. Velykyi Burluk, situated approximately 80 kilometers east of Kharkiv and over 20 kilometers west of the Russian border, had experienced temporary occupation by Russian forces in 2022 but was later liberated during Ukraine's counteroffensive in the autumn of the same year.
Reports estimate Russia lost over 8,000 tanks, other armored fighting vehicles since February 2022
Reports from Estonia's Foreign Intelligence Service and the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) on February 13 indicate that Russia has lost over 8,000 armored fighting vehicles, including tanks and armored personnel carriers, in its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine's General Staff estimates a higher figure of over 12,000 armored fighting vehicles lost since February 2022. Estonia's Foreign Intelligence Service details that Russia's losses include 2,600 tanks, 5,100 armored personnel carriers, and 600 self-propelled artillery units. The IISS notes that Russia has maintained stable active inventory numbers by refurbishing over 1,000 tanks and 2,000 infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers in storage. The IISS suggests that, based on current figures and satellite imagery, Russia could sustain its assault on Ukraine at current attrition rates for another two to three years or even longer.
Russia has also turned to its inventory of armored vehicles in long-term storage, mostly inherited from the Soviet military, but many are decaying and technically outdated. Refurbishing vehicles from storage can compensate for losses for several more years, despite facing challenges such as shortages of components and skilled labor. The IISS highlights that the Ukrainian side has seen an increase in armored personnel vehicles and infantry fighting vehicles due to Western support, but some units lack equipment to be at full strength.
Death toll from Feb. 7 attack on Kyiv rises to 5
The death toll from Russia's attack against Kyiv on Feb. 7 rose to five after a woman died of her injuries, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported on Telegram on Feb. 14.
Lviv, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv oblasts were also targeted in the large-scale attack, with 20 Russian missiles shot down over the capital alone. Over 50 people were injured, according to local authorities.
According to Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, four people were found dead in Kyiv under the rubble of the damaged high-rise building in the city's Holosiivskyi district. Some 60 residents of the building were evacuated.
According to Klitschko, the woman was also injured in the building in Holosiivskyi district and had been in an "extremely serious condition."
"Doctors fought for the woman's life for a week" until she died in hospital, Klitschko said.
This was not the first attack of such scale during this winter. Russia carried out a number of massive attacks in the past weeks and months, most notably on Dec. 29, Jan. 2, and Jan. 23.