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Russo-Ukraine War - 09 February 2023 - Day 351

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 the weather continues to play a significant role in the course of Russia's war in Ukraine. With the ground frozen, there has likely been little change in cross country mobility (CCM) conditions in eastern Ukraine in recent weeks.

On 08 February 2023, surface temperatures were around 0 degrees Celsius; over the coming week, forecasts suggest soil temperature increases and snow melt are likely to deteriorate CCM across the Donbas.

CCM is likely to be at its worst, with extremely muddy conditions, over mid- to late-March. Commanders on both sides will highly likely seek to avoid scheduling major offensives at such times. However, perceived political or operational opportunities can override such concerns, as demonstrated by Russia launching its invasion in late-February 2022.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Russian Federation continues its full-scale armed aggression against Ukraine. Russia does not abandon its intentions to destroy the critical infrastructure of our country, continues to hit civilian targets and residences.

In an attempt to take full control of the territory of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, Russia continues to focus its main efforts on offensive operations on Kup'yans'k, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Novopavlivka axes.

During the day of February 9, Russia launched 41x air strikes, and 3x missile strikes, 2x of them targeted civilian infrastructure of the city of Kramatorsk (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces also launched 32x MLRS attacks, in particular, at the civilian infrastructure of Donetsk and Kherson oblasts.

The threat of further Russian air and missile strikes across Ukraine remains high.

Volyn, Polissya, Sivershchyna, and Slobozhanshchyna axes: no changes, no signs of the formation of Russian offensive groups were found.
The vicinities of more than 20x settlements came under fire, including Hai (Chernihiv oblast), Seredyna Buda, Brusky, Atyns'ke, Stepok (Sumy oblast), Udy, Veterynarne, Kozacha Lopan', Mali Prokhody, Starytsya, and Dvorichna (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k and Lyman axes: the vicinities of settlements of Kup'yans'k, Pishchane (Kharkiv oblast), Novoselivs'ke, Stel'makhivka, Chervonopopivka, Dibrova, and Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast) came under fire.
Bakhmut axis: the vicinities of settlements of Mykolaivka, Spirne, Vesele, Berestove, Bilohorivka, Krasna Hora, Chasiv Yar, Bakhmut, Pivnichne, and Maiors'k (Donetsk oblast) were shelled.
Avdiivka and Novopavlivka axes: the vicinities of Avdiivka, Pervomais'ke, Vodyane, Krasnohorivka, Mar'inka, Bohoyavlenka, Novomykhailivka, Zolota Nyva, Prechystivka, Vuhledar (Donetsk oblast) were shelled with tanks, mortars, and artillery.
Zaporizhzhia axis: the vicinities of settlements of Vremivka, Novopil' (Donetsk oblast), Ol'hivs'ke, Hulyaipole, Stepove, Shcherbaky, Novoandriivka, Orikhiv, Charivne (Zaporizhzhia oblast) came under fire.
Kherson axis: Russian fire damaged the vicinities of 16x settlements, including: Kachkarivka, Tokarivka, Vesele, Antonivka, Berehove, and Kherson.

Russia continues to suffer losses. In order to conceal the number of dead occupants, Russian invaders set up a mobile crematorium on the territory of Prydniprovska Biotes enterprise in Tokmak (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Local residents complain about the constant stench of corpses in the southeastern district of the city, especially at night.

During the day of February 9, the Ukrainian Air Force launched 13x air strikes on Russian forces concentrations of personnel and military equipment, and 2x air strikes on the positions of anti-aircraft missile systems.

During the day of February 9, the Air Defense Forces shot down 3x UAVs of the adversary: 2x Orlan-10 and 1x Orion. Missile and artillery units hit 2x Russian command posts, 2x concentrations of manpower, 1x ammunition depot, and 1x air defense position of the adversary.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that Alexei Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, held talks in Moscow with the head of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi. One of the topics of the conversation was the issues of ensuring the safety of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, which is regularly shelled by Ukrainian troops. As reported, Likhachev informed Grossi about the measures being taken by Russia in this area, and also talked about how the social needs of nuclear power plant workers and their families are provided.

The Belgorod region was again attacked by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). Air defense forces reportedly intercepted three missiles in the Grayvoron city district.

Events in Donbass

In the Donetsk People's Republic, fierce fighting continues on the territory of the village of Krasnaya Gora. According to military correspondent Alexander Simonov, "everything is very bad" for the Armed Forces of Ukraine in this area: Wagner attack aircraft practically took enemy formations into the cauldron, attacking them from three sides at once with artillery support. Nevertheless, it is too early to talk about the liberation of the village.

Another employee of the Ukrainian special services was liquidated in the NMD zone. It is reported that in the battle near Bakhmut, a certain Alexander Tkachenko with the call sign Domovoy, who was in the ranks of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, died.

Seven servicemen arrived in the DPR, previously returned from Ukrainian captivity as part of another exchange between Russia and Ukraine. This was told by the Ombudsman of the Republic Daria Morozova.