Russo-Ukraine War - 11 December 2022 - Day 291

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A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

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The UK Ministry of Defence reported that on 5 December 2022, President Putin signed the law on Russia's Feferal Budget. Draft budgets have stated over 9 trillion rubles [US $143bn] will be allocated across defence, security and law enforcement in 2023. This is a significant increase compared to prior years and will represent over 30 percent of Russia's entire budget.

The budget approved by Putin is likely over-optimistic in its expectation of revenue and spending in 2023. Therefore, other parts of Russia's budget are likely to come under increasing pressure to support the costs of the war.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Russian occupiers do not stop striking civilian infrastructure objects and civilian homes on the territory of Ukraine, violating the norms of International Humanitarian Law, laws and customs of war. During the day, Russian forces carried out 5 airstrikes and launched more than 40 MLRS attacks.

There is still a threat of Russian forces launching strikes with the use of missiles and attack UAVs against the objects of the energy system and critical infrastructure throughout the territory of Ukraine.

In the Volyn and Polissya directions, the situation has not changed significantly, and no signs of the formation of Russian offensive groups have been detected.
In the Slobozhansk direction, Russian forces shelled the areas of the settlements of Strilecha, Krasne, Starytsa, Vovchanski Khutory, Okhrimivka, Ambarne, Dvorichanske, Fiholivka, Dvorichna, and Kupyansk of the Kharkiv oblast.
On the Kupyansk and Lyman directions, Russian forces inflicted fire damage near the settlements of Makiivka, Ploshchanka, Nevske, and Chervonpopivka in the Luhansk oblast and Terny, Kolodyazi, Zarichne, Dibrova, and Yakovlivka in the Kharkiv oblast.
In the Bakhmut and Avdiivka directions, Russia continues to make attempts to break through the defense of Ukrainian troops. Areas of twenty-six settlements were hit by fire from tanks and artillery. Among them are Verkhnokamianske, Vasyukivka, Soledar, Bakhmut, Klishchiivka, Bila Hora, Avdiivka, Opytne, Krasnohorivka and Maryinka of the Donetsk oblast. The Russian occupiers also carried out an airstrike near Klishchiivka.
In the direction of Novopavlivka, Russia is defending and shelling Ukrainian positions with mortars, barrel and rocket artillery near the settlements of Velyka Novosilka, Zolota Nyva, Pavlivka and Vuhledar of the Donetsk oblast.
On the Zaporizhzhia direction, Vremivka in the Donetsk oblast and Temyrivka, Olhivske, Gulyaipole, Dorozhnyanka, Orihiv, Novoandriivka, Shcherbaky, Lobkovo and Plavna in Zaporizhzhia oblast were affected by Russian fire.
In the Kherson direction, the Russian occupiers shelled, in particular, Havrylivka, Dudchany, Kachkarivka, Zmiivka, Beryslav, Ivanivka, Zelenivka, Inzhenerne, Antonivka and Dniprovske, and the city of Kherson.

Russian occupation leadership continues the forced passporting of the population of the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine. These measures are ongoing in the Melitopol district of the Zaporizhzhia region. Ukrainian hryvnias are gradually withdrawn from the circulation of trade networks, the population is forced to switch to Russian rubles.

The Russian occupiers are also trying to financially encourage the local population to collaborate, providing cash assistance to pensioners in the amount of 10,000 rubles and charging a higher salary to loyal local residents who agreed to work in the institutions of the so-called occupying power.

During the current 24 hours, the Ukrainian aviation has carried out 5 strikes on areas where personnel, weapons and military equipment are concentrated. Units of rocket troops and artillery at the same time hit 7 control points, 10 personnel concentration areas, an artillery concentration area and a Russian ammunition depot.

Statements of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

The Russian Ministry of Defense in a daily briefing reported that during the day in the Kupyansk direction, accumulations of manpower and military equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of Sinkovka, Tabaevka and Krakhmalny (Kharkiv region) were hit. Up to 30 Ukrainian servicemen, an armored personnel carrier, 3 artillery pieces and 6 vehicles were destroyed.

In the Liman direction, Russian units continued their offensive, occupying more advantageous positions. At the same time, the Armed Forces of Ukraine tried to counterattack in the direction of Zhitlovka, Ploschanka and Kolomyychikha (Luhansk People's Republic, LPR), all attacks were repelled. Up to 65 Ukrainian servicemen, an armored combat vehicle and 2 pickup trucks were destroyed. In the areas of Chervona Dibrova and Serebryansky forestry, 3 Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups and 3 mortar crews of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed.

In the Donetsk direction, Russian troops were advancing, repelling attempts by the enemy to counterattack. Up to 40 Ukrainian servicemen, an infantry fighting vehicle, 2 armored fighting vehicles and 3 pickup trucks were destroyed.

In the South-Donetsk direction, the Armed Forces unsuccessfully tried to attack in the direction of Neskuchnoye (Donetsk People's Republic, DPR). Up to 40 Ukrainian servicemen, an infantry fighting vehicle, 2 armored fighting vehicles and 2 pickup trucks were destroyed.

Operational-tactical aviation, missile forces and artillery defeated 86 artillery units, manpower and military equipment in 177 districts.

During the counter-battery fight, 2 artillery batteries of the territorial defense and the 95th brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were hit in the areas of Seversk and Liman (DPR). Also in the Liman area, a platoon of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) "Grad" was hit. In the region of Kramatorsk (DPR), a launcher of the Ukrainian Buk-M1 anti-aircraft missile system was destroyed.

Air defense systems shot down 5 HIMARS MLRS shells and 2 Uragan MLRS shells in the DPR and Zaporozhye region.

Kherson region

Ukrainian troops attacked civilian infrastructure in Hola Pristan, firing 4 cannon artillery shells. Information about the damage and victims is being specified.

Zaporozhye region

Acting Governor of the Zaporizhia region Yevgeny Balitsky said that 3 victims of the night strike of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the recreation center in Melitopol remain in the hospital, they are provided with all the necessary assistance. In total, as a result of the shelling, 2 people were killed, 10 more were injured.

According to Balitsky, the rubble continues to be cleared at the scene, task forces are working. The official said that Ukrainian troops aimed rockets at a civilian infrastructure facility, where there were barbecue houses, gazebos and a corner with birds and animals.

DPR

During the day, Ukrainian troops opened fire on Donetsk, as well as the settlements of Panteleimonovka, Kashtanovoe, Gorlovka, Yasinovataya, Mikhailovka, Makeevka, Zaitsevo, Aleksandrovka, Novoselovka, Yakovlevka. As a result of attacks in Donetsk, 2 civilians were injured, the buildings of the Opera and Ballet Theater named after M.M. Brovun, Dongirproshakht Institute, Information Technology Center, Gymnasium No. 6. In addition, numerous hits on residential buildings were recorded.

Acting head of the DPR Denis Pushilin dismissed Igor Zakharevich, head of the administration of Debaltseve. In addition, he appointed Larisa Tolstykina as Deputy Prime Minister of the region.

Pushilin appealed to the population not to lock the doors of entrances and shelters.

"The open doors of entrances and shelters are the price of someone's life. Let's take these very simple precautions," he said.

There are reports of clashes in the area of Velikaya Novoselka: there, according to the commander of the Vostok Brigade of the People's Militia of the DPR, Alexander Khodakovsky, Russian units are on the offensive. The Armed Forces of Ukraine, according to the brigade commander, were forced to retreat to the second line of defense, pulling up reserves and putting up resistance at this line.

LC

During the day, the Armed Forces of Ukraine opened fire on Svatovo, using artillery. As a result of the attack, a residential building was damaged.

There are reports of fighting along the entire Kremennaya-Makeevka arc. According to the Older Edda Telegram channel, Russian artillery and aviation are working non-stop, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are responding with MLRS and tanks.