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Russo-Ukraine War - 16 February 2023 - Day 358

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 Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) continue to deploy a similar number of aircraft in support of the Ukraine operation as they have for many months. Russian sortie rates have increased over the last week, following several weeks of quieter activity. Air activity is now roughly in line with the average daily rate seen since summer 2022.

Overall, Russian air power continues to significantly underperform in the war, constrained by a continued high threat from Ukrainian air defences and dispersed basing due to the threat of strikes against Russian airfields. Russian combat jets operate almost exclusively over Russian-held territory, preventing them from carrying out their key strike role effectively.

Across Russia, the VKS likely maintains a largely intact fleet of approximately 1,500 crewed military aircraft, despite losing over 130 since the start of the invasion. However, it is unlikely that the VKS is currently preparing for a dramatically expanded air campaign as under the current battlefield circumstances it would likely suffer unsustainable aircraft losses.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of February 16, Russian forces launched another missile attack on the territory of Ukraine. 16x out of 36x Russian missiles were shot down by Ukrainian defenders. In addition, Russian forces launched 12x air strikes and more than 10x MLRS attacks, killing and wounding civilians.

The threat of strikes by the Russian Federation across Ukraine remains high.

Russia has not yet abandoned its aggressive plans, despite significant losses. The Russian invaders' main focus is the offensive operations on Kup'yans'k, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Shakhtars'ke axes.
Volyn', Polissya, Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: certain Russian units remain stationed in the areas bordering Ukraine, but no offensive groups have been found. During the day of February 16, the vicinities of settlements of Popivka, Bachivs'k, Partyzans'ke (Sumy oblast), Veterynarne, Hraniv, and Vovchans'k (Kharkiv oblast) were shelled by Russian forces. In addition, Russian forces launched a helicopter gunship attack on the settlement of Udy (Kharkiv oblast) from the territory of the Russian Federation.
Kup'yans'k and Lyman axes: Russian forces shelled the settlements of Dvorichna, Hryanykivka (Kharkiv oblast), Stel'makhivka, Nevs'ke, Chervonopopivka (Luhansk oblast), and Berestove (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: Spirne, Vyimka, Bilohorivka, Vesele, Rozdolivka, Bakhmut, Ivanivske, Stupochky, Predtechyne, Oleksandro-Shul'tyne, and Kurdyumivka came under fire.
Avdiivka and Shakhtars'ke axes: Russian forces fired artillery at the settlements of Vesele, Avdiivka, Vodyane, Pervomais'ke, Nevel's'ke, Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Mar'inka, Novomykhailivka, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Velyka Novosilka, Vremivka, and Neskuchne (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia axis: the vicinities of settlements of Zelene Pole (Donetsk oblast), Malynivka, Hulyaipole, Zaliznychne, Mala Tokmachka, Orikhiv, Novoandriivka, and Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast) came under fire.
Kherson axis: Zmiivka, Tokarivka, Antonivka, and Kherson were again hit by Russian artillery fire that caused civilian casualties.

The occupation administration of the city of Hola Prystan' (Kherson oblast) is pressuring the local residents to re-register their property rights under russian law. In particular, information is being spread that Ukrainian citizens who do not comply with the occupiers' demands by May 2023 will be deported to Russia.

In Mariupol, temporarily occupied by Russian forces, Russian invaders are taking measures to "mobilize" certain members of society. From now on, homeless people, as well as alcohol or drug addicts are being taken to the Russian army.

During the day of February 16, the Ukrainian Air Force launched 13x air strikes on concentrations of Russian troops, as well as 1x air strike on the position of the anti-aircraft missile system. Ukrainian missile and artillery units hit 3x concentrations of Russian troops, 1x artillery unit at its firing position, 1x ammunition depot, and 2x other important targets of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that, as a result of counter-battery actions in the Kherson direction, the Akatsiya self-propelled howitzer and the Msta-B gun of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) were destroyed in one day. In addition, four ammunition depots assigned to the 123rd and 126th defense brigades were hit near the cities of Kherson, Dudchany and Berislav.

Also, during the day, the command posts of the 36th brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the village of Avdeevka, the 72nd brigade in Uglesborochnaya and the 102nd brigade in Malinovka were destroyed. In addition, strikes were made on 92 enemy artillery positions, 118 areas of accumulation of manpower and military equipment. A warehouse with fuel and lubricants was liquidated not far from Poltava.

A Mi-8 helicopter of the Ukrainian Air Force was shot down by air defense systems near the village of Doroshovka, Kharkiv region. In addition, four rockets from HIMARS and 20 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were intercepted.

Today, 101 prisoners of war have been returned to Russia after negotiations. They were taken to Moscow for rehabilitation. Also, the Armed Forces of Ukraine fired at the village of Voznesenovka in the Belgorod region, concussing a local resident.

Events in Donbass

In the Donetsk direction, the southern group of troops of the Russian Federation destroyed up to 135 Ukrainian servicemen, two HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems, three tanks, three armored combat vehicles, eight vehicles, two D-20 and D-30 howitzers and a Gvozdika self-propelled gun. In addition, an ammunition depot of the 54th brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was blown up near the village of Verkhnekamenskoye.

In the South-Donetsk direction, enemy positions were hit in the areas of Ugledar and Prechistovka. The losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the day amounted to more than 55 servicemen killed and wounded, four armored combat vehicles, two cars, as well as D-20 and D-30 howitzers.

In addition, violent clashes are taking place in Bakhmut and its environs. According to the military correspondents in the region, the Wagner PMC detachments are now pushing the enemy in Paraskovievka, for which there are especially heavy battles.