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Russo-Ukraine War - 23 January 2023 - Day 334

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 General Valery Gerasimov, Russia's Chief of the General Staff and newly appointed commander in Ukraine, has likely started his tour with a drive to improve deployed troops' day-to-day discipline. Since he took command, officers have been attempting to clamp down on non-regulation uniform, travel in civilian vehicles, the use of mobile phones, and non-standard haircuts.

The measures have been met with sceptical feedback. However, some of the greatest derision has been reserved for attempts to improve the standard of troops' shaving. Officials in the Donetsk People's Republic, described the prioritisation a 'farce' that would 'hamper the process of destroying the enemy'. Wagner proxy group owner, Yevgeny Prigozhin criticised military leadership, suggesting that, 'war is the time of the active and courageous, and not of the clean-shaven.'

The Russian force continues to endure operational deadlock and heavy casualties; Gerasimov's prioritisation of largely minor regulations is likely to confirm the fears of his many sceptics in Russia. Along with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, he is increasingly seen as out of touch and focused on presentation over substance.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day, the Russian invaders launched 4x missile strikes targeting Ukrainian settlements (2x missiles were intercepted by Ukrainian air defense) and 18x air strikes. Russian forces also conducted 24x MLRS attacks. The threat of Russian air and missile strikes across Ukraine remains high.

Russia continues its offensive on Bakhmut and Avdiivka axes, with the aim to capture the entire Donetsk oblast, regardless of suffering numerous casualties. Russia's offensive operations on Kup'yans'k axis failed, all attacks were repelled.

Lyman, Novopavlivka, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson axes: Russian forces are on the defensive. Volyn, Polissya, Sivershchyna, and Slobozhanshchyna axes: no significant changes, no Russian offensive groups were found.
At the same time, the vicinities of settlements of Novovasylivka, Boyaro-Lezhachi, Stukalivka (Sumy oblast), Hur'yiv Kozachok, Slobozhans'ke, Zelene, Ternova, Starytsya, Vovchans'k, Zemlyanky, Kam'yanka, and Krasne Pershe (Kharkiv oblast) were shelled.
Kup'yans'k axis: the adversary shelled the vicinities of Dvorichna, Hryanykivka, Kup'yans'k, Kyslivka, Krokhmal'ne, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast), as well as Novoselivs'ke and Stel'makhivka (Luhansk oblast).
Lyman axis: the vicinities of Makiivka, Ploshchanka, Kreminna, Dibrova, and Kuzmyne (Luhansk oblast) came under Russian fire.
Bakhmut axis: Spirne, Vyimka, Berestove, Bilohorivka, Vesele, Krasna Hora, Bakhmut, Klishchiivka, Kurdyumivka, Maiors'k, and New York were shelled.
Avdiivka axis: Berdychi, Avdiivka, Vodyane, Krasnohorivka, Mar'inka, and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast) came under Russian fire.
Novopavlivka axis: Mykil's'ke, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Neskuchne, and Velyka Novosilka (Donetsk oblast) suffered Russian attacks.
Zaporizhzhia axis: Komyshuvakha (Donetsk oblast), Chervone, Hulyaipole, Charivne, Novodanylivka, Orikhiv (Zaporizhzhia oblast) were subject to artillery attacks.
Kherson axis: the Russian occupants keep targeting civilian population on a daily basis. Antonivka and Kherson came under MLRS fire yet again.
The Russian invaders keep dying ingloriously in Ukraine. On January 20-21, Russian forces conducted offensive operations on Zaporizhzhia axis near Mali Shcherbaky. According to an update, Russian forces lost more than 50x troops, including 16x killed, in exchanges of fire and combats with Ukrainian Defense Forces over the mentioned period. In addition, 9x units of weapons and military equipment of various types (1x tank, 6x IFVs, and 1x Tiger armored vehicle) were destroyed. 4x more units were damaged.

Since early January 2023, the number of wounded Russian soldiers in the temporarily occupied part of Kherson oblast has seen a major increase. Local hospitals are packed beyond their capacity. All gravely wounded are distributed among medical institutions in the oblast. Only a small number are sent to the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea for further treatment.

In a number of settlements (Sievierodonetsk district, Luhansk oblast), Russian occupants are taking every effort to isolate the local residents. In particular, Ukrainian television and mobile connection are unavailable.

During the day of January 23, Ukrainian Air Force launched 5x air strikes on the concentrations of Russian troops. The Ukrainian Defense Forces shot down 2x russian Su-25 aircraft, 1x Ka-52 attack helicopter, 1x "Orlan-10" unmanned aerial vehicle, and 2x Kh-59 air-to-surface guided missiles. At the same time, Ukrainian missile and artillery troops attacked 3x Russian concentrations and 1x logistics depot.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation stated that Ukrainian troops shelled the village of Volfino in the Kursk region, firing six shells. As a result of the hit of the ammunition in the power line, the power supply of three more settlements in the area was interrupted: Popovo-Lezhachi, Tetkino and Krasnooktyabrsky. Repair crews have begun repairing the damage, and the work is expected to be completed as soon as possible.

A batch of humanitarian aid for local kindergartens was delivered to the Melitopol district of the Zaporozhye region, RIA Novosti reports. It includes toys, books, stationery and kits for creativity.

According to the statement of the Ministry of Defense, during the day the Russian Armed Forces delivered a series of strikes with precision-guided weapons on targets in the Zaporozhye and Dnepropetrovsk regions. As a result of one of the attacks, it was possible to destroy the American HIMARS multiple launch rocket system along with the crew, as well as one Grad MLRS.

Events in Donbass

In the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), Ukrainian troops again shelled several settlements. The targets were the administrative center of the region, Yasinovataya, Gorlovka, Zaitsevo and Golmovsky. One civilian was reportedly wounded in Gorlovka, and three people were also injured in Donetsk. In Yasinovataya, ammunition hit a school and a district hospital, as reported by the mayor's office.

Meanwhile, battles continue on the front lines. According to RIA Novosti, in the positions recaptured from the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), Russian fighters captured a rare trophy - ammunition for the American automatic 40-mm grenade launcher Mk47 Striker. The interlocutor of the publication said that previously Western weapons were encountered infrequently on this sector of the front, but recently the number of such finds has increased. At the same time, the fighter in the NVO zone had not seen such ammunition before.