Russo-Ukraine War - 27 January 2023 - Day 338

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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 over the last six days, Russian online commentators have claimed Russian forces have made significant advances, breaking through Ukrainian defences in two areas: in Zaporizhzhia Oblast near Orikiv, and 100km to the east, in Donetsk Oblast, near Vuhledar.

Russian units have probably conducted local, probing attacks near Orikiv and Vuhledar, but it is highly unlikely that Russia has actually achieved any substantive advances.

There is a realistic possibility that Russian military sources are deliberately spreading misinformation in an effort to imply that the Russian operation is sustaining momentum.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Russia has intensified the employment of its aircraft on all axes.

During the day of January 27, the Russian occupant forces launched 24x air and 7x missile strikes. The Russian forces also launched more than 30x MLRS attacks. Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure in the cities of Kindrashivka (Kharkiv oblast), Chasiv Yar (Donetsk oblast), village of Kamyshany and the city of Kherson city killed and wounded civilians. The buildings of the regional civilian infectious diseases hospital in Kherson were damaged.

In spite of major casualties, Russia continues offensive operations on Bakhmut, Lyman, Avdiivka, and Novopavlivka axes in order to improve its tactical situation. The invaders are defending on Kup’yans’k, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson axes.

Volyn, Polissya, Sivershchyna, and Slobozhanshchyna axes: no changes, no Russian offensive groups were found. The vicinities of Sen’kivka, Tymonovychi (Chernihiv oblast), Volfyne, Tymofiivka (Sumy oblast), and more than 15x settlements in Kharkiv oblast, including Veterynarne, Kozacha Lopan’, Vesele, Vovchans’k, Varvarivka, Budarky, Bilyi Kolodyaz’, Milove, Novomlyns’k, and Dvorichna were shelled with tanks, mortars and artillery.
Kup’yans’k axis: Russian forces fired mortars and artillery at the vicinities of settlements of Dvorichne, Syn’kivka, Kucherivka, Ivanivka, Kotlyarivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast), Novoselivs’ke, Stel’makhivka, and Miasozharivka (Luhansk oblast).
Lyman axis: Makiivka, Nevs’ke, and Dibrova (Luhansk oblast) came under fire.
Bakhmut axis: Russian forces shelled the vicinities of more than 20x settlements. Among them are Vesele, Bilohorivka, Blahodatne, Bakhmut, Chasiv Yar, Klishchiivka, Bila Hora, Druzhba, Zalizne, and New York (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: Berdychi, Avdiivka, Nevel’s’ke, Krasnohorivka, Mar’inka, and Novomykhailivka came under Russian fire.
Novopavlivka axis: Russian forces shelled Bohoyavlenka, Vuhledar, and Zolota Nyva (Donetsk oblast) again.
Zaporizhzhia axis: Zalizne, Illinka, Vremivka, Zelene Pole (Donetsk oblast), Ol’hivs’e, Malynivka, Mala Tokmachka, Mali Shcherbaky, Kam’yans’ke, and Plavni (Zaporizhzhia oblast) were shelled. A total of 20x settlements.
Kherson axis: the vicinities of settlements of Zolota Balka, Havrylivka, Dudchany, Chervonyi Mayak, Monastyrs’ke, Tomaryne, Burhunka, Tyahynka, Stanislav, and Kherson were shelled with MLRS, artillery, and mortars.

Russia continues to use the network of civilian healthcare facilities in the temporarily occupied territory to treat its wounded soldiers. Thus, the Russian occupiers have set up a “field hospital” in the city hospital of Khrustalnyi (Rovenky district, Luhansk oblast), where they treat Russian servicemen and mercenaries of PMC Wagner. At the same time, Russian occupants also undergo treatment in Kairy (Kakhovka district, Kherson oblast), at the Kairy psychoneurological boarding house.

Plundering by russian forces persist. According to the available information, the Russian forces will have set up a commission at the nuclear power plant in Enerhodar since February 2 to incpect two 750 KW power lines. Their aim is to schedule restoration works and power supply to enable transit of electricity from Zaporizhzhia NPP to russia.

In the temporarily occupied resort village of Zaliznyi Port (Skadovs’k district, Kherson oblast), Russia’s so-called “administration” is taking inventory and confiscating Ukrainian businesses (boarding houses, cafes, restaurants) that have not been re-registered under Russian law.

Ukrainian Air Force launched 7x air strikes on Russian concentrations of troops, and 1x air strike on the positions of anti-aircraft missile systems. During the day of January 27, Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile troops shot down 1x Russian Su-25 jet and 1x Mi-8 transport helicopter.

At the same time, Ukrainian missile and artillery troops attacked 2x concentrations of Russian troops.

The Government of the Russian Federation has put forward for consideration by the State Duma a draft law on the recalculation of pensions in four new regions of the country. If it is approved, from March 1, the calculation for residents of these territories will be carried out in accordance with federal law. Interested persons can apply with a request to the local municipal authorities. If the size of the pension at the same time does not reach its previous value, then citizens will receive an increase that will cover the shortfall.

Russian fighters from the Airborne Forces clearly demonstrated to RIA Novosti correspondents the importance of advanced reconnaissance equipment in modern combat. With the help of a thermal imager, the servicemen managed to notice a group of Ukrainian saboteurs trying to penetrate the front line of Russian defense. After that, a small-sized drone was launched, and thanks to adjustments from the air, the soldiers managed to completely eliminate the enemy formation using small arms and an automatic grenade launcher. According to the interlocutor of the publication, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) often undertake such sorties, however, against the background of forest plantations, the thermal imager easily determines the silhouettes.

The Ministry of Defense in a daily briefing announced the destruction of the Ukrainian S-300 air defense system in the Senkovka area of the Kharkiv region. Previously, a similar video has already appeared on several channels in Telegram. The authors noted that the Armed Forces of Ukraine made a serious mistake by placing a scarce complex in relative proximity to the front line. Probably, the target was hit by an Iskander missile.

Events in Donbass

Active clashes continue in the Soledar direction. According to unofficial sources, Russian units are pushing through the defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the direction of Blagodatny, as well as Razdolovka and Nikolaevka. In addition, progress was noted in the areas of Kleshcheevka and Disputed. Fierce battles are going on in Bakhmut and Krasnaya Gora.

In several areas, the Armed Forces of Ukraine hold positions only due to the constant transfer of reinforcements, their confirmed losses amounted to over 100 people per day. In this regard, a large echelon with military equipment came to Druzhkovka for transportation near Bakhmut - more than 150 units.

Help is also coming to the Russian troops, including from volunteers. "People's Front" handed over to the defenders of Donbass things necessary for service in the cold period.

In the Lugansk People's Republic, more and more caches with weapons continue to be found. In one of the settlements, law enforcement officers found a cache containing two TNT bombs, electric detonators, hand grenades, a 5.45-mm machine gun and 3,000 rounds of ammunition for it, a GP-25 underbarrel grenade launcher and VOG-25 grenades. According to law enforcement officers, such a kit was intended for enemy sabotage groups.