Russo-Ukraine War - 01 March 2023 - Day 371

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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 on 27 February 2023, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence confirmed it had shot down 11 Shahed one-way attack uncrewed aerial vehicles (OWA UAVs) out of 14 launched overnight. Serhii Popko, head of Kyiv City Military Administration, reported nine of these were shot down in the vicinity of Kyiv airspace. Three additional Shahed UAVs were reportedly shot down in Chernhiv Oblast, northern Ukraine.

Prior to this 26 February 2023 attack, there have not been any reports of OWA UAVs being used in Ukraine since around 15 February 2023. This decrease in OWA UAV attack tempo likely indicates that Russia has run down its current stock: it will likely seek a resupply.

Due to the vector of the attack, these Shahed-UAVs were highly likely launched from the Bryansk Oblast, Russia. Previously, the only observed launch site since mid-December 2022 was from the Krasnodar region, across the Sea of Azov. A second launch site would give the Russians a different axis of attack, closer to Kyiv. This is likely to decrease time in the air over Ukraine and an attempt to further stretch Ukrainian air defences.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Russian Federation's main focus is the offensive operations on Kup'yans'k, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Shakhtars'ke axes.

Russia continues to violate the rules of international humanitarian law, continues to launch strikes, shell civilian facilities and homes with artillery, and is trying to destroy the critical infrastructure of Ukraine.

During the day of March 1, Russian forces launched 3x missile strikes on civilian targets in Kharkiv oblast. Civilians have been wounded. The Russian occupants also carried out 16 air strikes, including the use of 2x Shahed-136 UAVs. The combat drones were shot down by Ukrainian Defence Forces. Russian forces launched more than 20x MLRS attacks. There is significant threat of missile attacks across Ukraine.

Volyn, Polissya, Sivershchyna, and Slobozhanshchyna axes: no significant changes. No Russian offensive groups were found. During the day of March 1, the Russian occupants shelled the settlements of Yeline, Baranivka (Chernihiv oblast), Rozhkovychi, Starykove, Hirky, Atyns'ke, Stukalivka, Budky, Volfyne, Tur'ya, Grabovs'ke (Sumy oblast), Krasne, Hlyboke, Vesele, Vil'cha, Vovchans'k, Karaichne, Varvarivka, Kolodyazne, Novomlyns'k, and Dvorichna (Kharkiv oblast). The Russian invaders employed a UAV with a weapon load near Budarky (Kharkiv oblast). Russia is performing engineering development of area and installing anti-tank barriers in the bordering settlements of Gor'kovskii and Novostroevka-Vtoraya (Belgorod oblast, Russia).
Kup'yans'k and Lyman axes: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive operations in the vicinities of settlements of Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast) and Fedorivka (Donetsk oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery at the vicinities of settlements of Lyman Pershyi, Petropavlivka, Kucherivka, Pishchane (Kharkiv oblast), Stel'makhivka, Chervonopopivka, Nevs'ke (Luhansk oblast), Terny, and Kotlyarivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: Russia continues to advance. The assault on the city of Bakhmut continues. Ukrainian defenders repelled attacks in the vicinities of settlements of Bakhmut, Khromove, and Ivanivske (Donetsk oblast). Vasyukivka, Zaliznyans'ke, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Bakhmut, Ivanivske, Chasiv Yar, Dyliivka, Kurdyumivka, Maiors'k, and New York (Donetsk oblast) came under Russian fire.
Avdiivka and Shakhtars'ke axes: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive operations towards Kam'yanka, Pervomais'ke, Nevel's'ke, and Mar'inka (Donetsk oblast). The Russian invaders shelled the vicinities of settlements of Vesele, Avdiivka, Vodyane, Pervomais'ke, Nevel's'ke, Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Novomykhailivka, Pobjeda, Vuhledar, Neskuchne (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axis: Russia is defending, attempting to enable a changeover to the offensive in some areas. Russian forces fired artillery at the vicinities of more than 40x settlements. Among them are Illinka, Vremivka (Donetsk oblast), Zaliznychne, Huliaipilske, Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast), Vesele, Beryslav, Antonivka, Berehove, Veletens'ke (Kherson oblast), and the city of Kherson.

In Enerhodar (Zaporizhzhia oblast), Russian invaders involve local collaborators to propagate and highlight the fake "advantages" of the so-called "Russian authorities" coming to the oblast and to justify their legitimacy.

In the Manhushskyi district of the temporarily occupied territory of Donetsk oblast, the Russian occupiers continue to exert pressure on civilians, in particular by limiting the supply of electricity to homes. Russian forces destroyed an electric power pole and the settlement lost power for several days.

At the same time, local farmers in the temporarily occupied territories of Luhansk oblast have their summer and fall 2022 harvest spoiling en masse. The Russian occupation administration is completely blocking all local farmers from selling their grain both on the domestic and foreign markets.

Also, the so-called "occupation authorities" have unofficially banned all local bakeries from accepting grain from local farmers. Ukrainian farmers are desperate because of the large losses of their harvest.

During the day of March 1, Ukrainian Air Force launched 16x air strikes on the concentrations of Russian personnel and military equipment. Ukrainian defenders also shot down 1x Russian Orlan-10 unmanned aerial vehicle.

During the day of March 1, missile and artillery units hit 1x Russian concentration, 2x ammunition depots, and 2x Russian electronic warfare systems.

Statements of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced the prevention of an attempt by the Armed Forces of Ukraine to attack objects in the Crimea using drones. Air defense systems (air defense) shot down 6 vehicles, 4 more were disabled by electronic warfare.

In addition, during the briefing, the department stated that units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kupyansky, Limansky, South-Donetsk, Zaporozhye and Kherson directions were hit during the day. About 405 Ukrainian servicemen and a large amount of equipment were destroyed. In the Kharkov region, 3 enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups were destroyed. An ammunition depot of the territorial defense of Ukraine was hit in the Kherson region.

In the Donetsk direction, during active offensive operations, up to 190 Ukrainian servicemen were liquidated, 2 combat armored vehicles, 16 vehicles, D-20 and D-30 howitzers were destroyed. In addition, the ammunition depot and fuel storage base of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were hit.

Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile forces and artillery defeated 97 artillery units, as well as manpower and equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 173 districts. In the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), a point of temporary deployment of militants of the national formation was hit.

Aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces in the DPR shot down a Su-24 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force in an air battle. Air defense systems destroyed 15 Ukrainian drones in the DPR, Luhansk People's Republic (LPR), Kherson, Kharkov and Zaporozhye regions.

Zaporozhye region

On the line of contact in the Zaporozhye region, there is an accumulation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Acting Governor of the region Yevhen Balitsky told the media. According to him, there is no information that Kyiv has pulled to the front line the number of forces sufficient for the offensive, but the region is still waiting for the enemy to step up its actions. The official named Tokmak and Melitopol as the most likely directions for the offensive.

Kherson region

Acting head of the Kherson region Volodymyr Saldo said that Ukrainian troops are hiding heavy artillery between residential buildings in Kherson. In addition, mobile groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine operate on the territory of the city - moving mortar crews on pickup trucks. According to the official, the Ukrainian authorities understand that they will have to leave the city: they are taking out historical values from the regional museum of local lore, and also continue to forcibly mobilize into the ranks of the armed formations.

DPR

From the beginning of the day, Ukrainian troops opened fire on Donetsk, as well as the Yasinovatsky district and the settlements of Makeevka, Gorlovka, Panteleymonovka, and Vladimirovka. During the attacks, artillery pieces of 152 and 155 mm calibers were used, as well as multiple launch rocket systems.

As a result of attacks in Aleksandrovka, a civilian was injured, and another civilian was injured in Vladimirovka. Damage to residential buildings was recorded in Donetsk and Yasinovataya.

The Ukrainian command continues to transfer additional units to Bakhmut; reports about Kyiv's alleged plans to withdraw troops from the city do not correspond to reality. This was announced by businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, noting that tens of thousands of fighters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are fiercely resisting the advancing detachments of the Wagner PMC. According to the entrepreneur, the bloody battles are growing every day.

Statements about plans to "retreat" from Bakhmut were also denied by the press secretary of the eastern group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Serhiy Cherevaty, and the Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Anna Malyar said that Kiev had decided to transfer more forces to this sector of the front.

LC

Explosive technicians of the National Guard defused an unmanned aerial vehicle carrying explosives in the LPR. The UAV was stuffed with 25 kilograms of hexogen and fell in a forest belt without reaching civilian infrastructure.

40 defenders of Donbass released from Ukrainian captivity are returning to the republic. This was announced by the acting head of the LPR Leonid Pasechnik. We are talking about servicemen who were exchanged on February 16.