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Russo-Ukraine War - 11 January 2023 - Day 322

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]

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that on 11 January 2022, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu announced that the head of the Russian military, Chief of the General Staff (CGS) Valery Gerasimov is to take over as commander of the 'special military operation' in Ukraine. Gerasimov is to have three deputies in the role, including the previous incumbent, General Sergei Surovikin.

This is a significant development in Russian President Vladimir Putin's approach to managing the war. The deployment of the CGS as theatre commander is an indicator of the increasing seriousness of the situation Russia is facing, and a clear acknowledgement that the campaign is falling short of Russia's strategic goals.

The move is likely to be greeted with extreme displeasure by much of the Russian ultra-nationalist and military blogger community, who have increasingly blamed Gerasimov for the poor execution of the war. In contrast, Surovikin has been widely praised by this community for his championing of a more realistic approach. As a now deputy commander, his authority and influence is almost certainly hugely reduced.

On 08 January 2023, the Belarussian Ministry of Defence announced a joint Russian-Belarussian tactical flight exercise to be held in the country from 16 January to 01 February 2023.

As of 08 January 2023, amateur aircraft spotters noted the arrival of total of 12 Mi-8 support helicopters and Mi-24 and Ka-52 attack helicopters. With some appearing with 'Z' markings, the aircraft landed at Machulishchy Air Base near Minsk.

The new deployment of Russian aircraft to Belarus is likely a genuine exercise, rather than a preparation for any additional offensive operations against Ukraine. Although Russia maintains a large number of forces in Belarus, they are mostly involved in training. They are unlikely to constitute a credible offensive force.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of January 11, 2023, Russian forces launched 2x missile and 22x air strikes. The invaders launched 18x MLRS attacks, including at civilian infrastructure.

The threat of air and missile attacks on critical infrastructure across Ukraine remains high.

Russia focuses its main efforts on attempts to completely capture Donetsk oblast, continues offensive operations on Bakhmut axis. The Russian invaders are trying to take control of the city of Soledar and supply routes of Ukrainian units, suffer heavy losses. The fighting continues.

Russian forces also conduct unsuccessful offensive operations on Avdiivka axis. On Kup'yans'k and Novopavlivka axes, Russia attempts to improve its tactical position, and defends on Lyman, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson axes. Volyn, Polissya, Sivershchyna, and Slobozhanshchyna axes: no significant changes. The Republic of Belarus continues to support the russian aggression, providing its infrastructure to restore the combat readiness of the adversary units. No signs of the formation of Russian offensive groups were found.

At the same time, Russian occupants do not stop shelling the positions of Ukrainian troops and civilian targets all along the line of contact.

Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: the vicinities of Novovasylivka, Vovkivka (Sumy oblast), Hur'iv Kozachok, Strilecha, Ohirtseve, Vovchans'k, and Novomlyns'k (Kharkiv oblast) came under fire.
Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces shelled the vicinities of Dvorichna, Kup'yans'k, Kyslivka, Krokhmal'ne, Berestove, Vyshneve, Pershotravneve, Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast), and Stel'makhivka (Luhansk oblast).
Lyman axis: Terny (Kharkiv oblast), Makiivka, Nevs'ke, Chervonopopivka, and Dibrova (Luhansk oblast) were shelled.
Bakhmut axis: Spirne, Vyimka, Bilohorivka, Rozdolivka, Bakhmut, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivs'ke, Klishchiivka, Bila Hora, and Druzhba (Donetsk oblast) were shelled by the Russian forces.
Avdiivka axis: Krasnohorivka, Avdiivka, Pervomais'ke, Mar'inka, and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast) came under fire.
Novopavlivka axis: shelling reported in Vuhledar and Velyka Novosilka (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia axis: the vicinities of Vil'ne Pole (Donetsk oblast), Zelenyi Hai, Hulyaipole, Zaliznychne, Charivne, Bilohir'ya, Kam'yans'ke, and Plavni (Zaporizhzhia oblast) were hit.
Kherson axis: Russia does not stop terrorizing the residents in settlements along the right bank of the Dnipro river. Dudchany, Stepanivka, and Kherson came under MLRS and artillery fire.

Russian invaders are intensifying security measures, checking and searching the local residents in the settlements of the temporarily occupied territory of Kherson oblast. Particular attention is paid to mobile phones.

It is increasingly more often that medical institutions in the temporarily occupied settlements are packed by the wounded Russian invaders. Thus, 100x additional beds were deployed in the local hospital of Markivka (Luhansk oblast) alone as of January 9.

According to the available information, the border guard service of the federal security service of the Russian Federation enacted an order on January 9, 2023, to enforce restrictions on travel abroad for citizens eligible for military service.

During the day of January 11, 2023, Ukrainian Air Force launched 13x air strikes on the concentrations of occupant forces and 3x air strikes on Russian anti-aircraft missile systems.

In addition, Ukrainian defenders shot down 1x russian Ka-52 attack helicopter and 2x reconnaissance UAVs (type is being finalized). Ukrainian missile and artillery troops attacked 1x Russian command post, 4x concentrations of Russian troops and military equipment, and 3x ammunition depots.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation announced an increase in the level of leadership of a special military operation and personnel changes in it. Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the RF Armed Forces, has been appointed the new commander of the Russian joint group of troops, and General Sergei Surovikin, who previously held this post, has been appointed his deputy.

Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces Oleg Salyukov and Deputy Chief of the General Staff Alexei Kim also took on the positions of deputies. According to a message on the Telegram channel of the Russian Ministry of Defense, the reshuffles are connected with "expanding the scale of tasks solved in the course of its (SVO — Ed.) implementation, the need to organize closer interaction between the branches and branches of the Armed Forces, as well as improving the quality of all types of provision and efficiency of army management".

Events in Donbass

In the Donetsk People's Republic, the main attention is also focused on the events in Soledar. According to military correspondent Yarem, the enemy's resistance is completely localized in the center of the city, its territory and underground communications are being cleaned up. He noted that soon we should expect news about the complete liberation of the settlement.

Also in the evening, military commander Alexander Simonov said that Wagner PMC units had liberated Experienced in the southern suburb of Bakhmut.

Meanwhile, 14 fighters from the DPR returned home from Ukrainian captivity. This was reported by the commissioner for human rights in the republic, Daria Morozova, who recently met in Turkey with her Ukrainian counterpart. According to her, all of them were released as part of the exchange and have already received priority medical care in various regions of the Russian Federation.