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Russo-Ukraine War - 15 January 2023 - Day 326

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 12 January 2023, Andrey Kartapolov, the head of the Russian State Duma Defence Committee, suggested Russia would extend the upper age of routine military conscription from 27 to 30 in time for the Spring 2023 draft. Kartapolov said the move would be intended to enable the previously announced 30% increase in the size of Russia's forces.

Last year, President Putin said he supported such a move, and Russian officials are likely sounding out public reactions.

There is a realistic possibility that Russian leaders hope a change of age criteria for routine conscription could bolster personnel available to fight in Ukraine while appear less alarming to the population than announcing another round of the unpopular 'partial mobilisation' process.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of January 15, 2023, Russian forces launched 8x MLRS attacks.

The threat of air and missile strikes on critical infrastructure across Ukraine remains high. Russia does not abandon its intentions to completely capture Donetsk oblast. The Russian forces conduct offensive operations on Bakhmut and Avdiivka axes and attempt to improve their tactical situation on Kup'yans'k and Lyman axes. On Novopavlivka, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson axes, Russian forces are defending.

Volyn, Polissya, Sivershchyna, and Slobozhanshchyna axes: no Russian offensive groups were found. Certain units of the armed forces of the Republic of Belarus and the russian federation continue to perform tasks in the areas bordering Ukraine. At the same time, the vicinities of settlements of Sopych, Vovkivka, Kindrativka (Sumy oblast), Starytsya, Hur'yiv Kozachok, Budarky, Vovchans'k, Strilecha, Ternova, Khatnje, and Topoli (Kharkiv oblast) were shelled with mortars and artillery.
Kup'yans'k and Lyman axes: Russian forces shelled the vicinities of more than 15x settlements. Among them are Dvorichna, Kotlyarivka, Krokhmal'ne, Berestove, and Vil'shana (Kharkiv oblast), as well as Novoselivs'ke, Stel'makhivka, Nevs'ke, Kuz'myne, and Chervonopopivka (Luhansk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: positions of Ukrainian troops were shelled in the vicinities of more than 20x settlements. In particular, these are Spirne, Krasna Hora, Klishchiivka, Ivano-Dar'ivka, Soledar, Bakhmut, Druzhba, and Pivnichne (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: Heorhiivka, Vesele, Avdiivka, Mar'inka, Vod'yane, and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast) came under the Russian forces' fire.
Novopavlivka axis: Vuhledar, Prechystivka, and Mykil's'ki Dachi were shelled.
Zaporizhzhya axis: Russian forces fired at the vicinities of more than 20x settlements. Among them are Mylove, Hulyaipole, Dorozhnyanka, Zaliznychne, Charivne, Mala Tokmachka, Stepove, and Kachkarivka (Zaporizhzhia oblast).
Kherson axis: the vicinities of more than 15x settlements were shelled, including Kherson and its suburbs.

Russia continues to suffer significant losses. Thus, due to the lack of beds in hospitals in Horlivka (Donetsk oblast), all the wounded from the front line on Donetsk axis are evacuated to Zhdanivka.

During the day of January 15, 2023, the Ukrainian Air Forces launched 7x air strikes on the concentrations of occupants, as well as 2x air strikes on the Russian air defense positions. In the meantime, Ukrainian missile and artillery troops hit 2x concentrations of Russian invaders' manpower.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that law enforcement structures of the Russian Federation found another cache in the Zaporozhye region, which the Ukrainian security forces intended to use for terrorist attacks and sabotage in the region. According to RIA Novosti, the cache was equipped in one of the garage cooperatives of the city of Dneprorudnoe.

It contained small arms, Molotov cocktails, NATO military clothing and Ukrainian symbols. The garage itself belonged to an employee of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), now operating in the Zaporozhye direction.

Donbass

According to military correspondent Alexander Simonov, units of the Wagner PMC during the offensive established control over most of the village of Sol north of Bakhmut. Also, Russian fighters continue to push Ukrainian troops in other sectors of the front, moving towards Razdolovka, Krasnopolye and Krasnaya Gora.

The battle continues in Bakhmut, where the Wagnerites are actively grinding up suitable reinforcements of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. To the south, PMC fighters are fighting for Kleshcheevka, the capture of which will open the road to Bakhmut from the southwest.

In addition, Ukrainian sources report that Russian formations have taken control of the industrial zone near the "Mine No. 7" west of Soledar. The information was published on his channel by military analyst Boris Rozhin. However, the mine itself, the settlement of Blagodatnoye and part of the Sol railway station are still under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

According to some reports, Russian forces are also advancing along the Ploshchanka-Makeyevka line. Certain successes were also achieved in the Zarechnoye-Torskoye section, where the Armed Forces of Ukraine retreated from defensive positions.