Russo-Ukraine War - 06 March 2023 - Day 376

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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 the Russian military has continued to respond to heavy armoured vehicle losses by deploying 60-year-old T-62 main battle tanks (MBT). There is a realistic possibility that even units of the 1st Guards Tank Army (1 GTA), supposedly Russia's premier tank force, will be re-equipped with T-62s to make up for previous losses. 1 GTA had previously been due to receive the next-generation T-14 Armata MBT from 2021.

In recent days, Russian BTR-50 armoured personnel carriers, first fielded in 1954, have also been identified deployed in Ukraine for the first time.

Since summer 2022, approximately 800 T-62s have been taken from storage and some have received upgraded sighting systems which will highly likely improve their effectiveness at night. However, both these vintage vehicle types will present many vulnerabilities on the modern battlefield, including the absence of modern explosive reactive armour.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Russian Federation does not give up on its intentions to occupy Ukraine, continues to lead full-scale armed aggression. The main efforts focus on the conduct of offensive actions in the Kupyan, Limansky, Bakhmutsky, Avdiiv and Shakhtar directions.

During the day, Russian forces made 42 air and 5 missile strikes. In particular, during the task of air strikes, Russian forces used 11 BPLA of Shahed-136 type, 9 of which were shot down. Carried out more than 10 shelling from jet fire systems, including at settlements.

The threat of missile strikes remains significant throughout Ukraine.

In Volyn, Polísʹkomu, síversʹkomu and slobožansʹkomu directions operational environment without significant changes. The formation of offensive Russian groups has not been detected. At the same time, Russia continues to hold its units near the state border of Ukraine. During the current day, Russian forces carried out mortar and artillery shelling of the settlements of Senkivka, Chernihiv region; Starikove, Golishivka, Pavlivka, Wolfine Sumy region and Veterinarne, Strelecha, Krasne, Ternova, Ogirceve Vovchansk, Budarky of Kharkiv region.
Russia is trying to break through the defense of Ukrainian troops in the Kupyan and Limansʹkomu directions. Russian forces led unsuccessful offensive actions towards the settlements of Gryanikivka, Nevske, Bílogorívka and Fedorívka. They carried out artillery shelling in the areas of the settlements of Putnikove, Figolivka, Dvorichna, Gryanikivka, Krokhmalne Kharkivka, Novoselívske, Stelmakhivka, Nevske, Chervonopovka, Dibrova Luhansk region and Terni, Yampil, Rozdolivka, Fedorivka Donetsk region.
In the Bakhmut direction, Russia, despite the losses, does not stop storming the city of Bakhmut and its surroundings. Also led the offensive in the areas of the settlements of Zalíznânsʹke, Dubovo-Vasilívka and ivanívsʹke - no success. Russian forces made artillery and mortar shelling in the areas of the settlements of oríkhovo-vasilívka, dubovo-vasilivka, times-yar, bahmut, ivanívsʹke, stupočki, friendship, majorsk, new York donetsk region.
In the Avdií комуvsʹkomu and Shakhtarsʹkomu directions, Russia has made unsuccessful offensive actions towards the settlements of Krasnogorivka, Kamyanka, Avdiíivka, Severne, Pervomaiskke, Nevelske, Maryinka and Victory of Donetsk region. Russian shelling was experienced by the areas of settlements that are next to the line of collision, including: Krasnogorivka, Kamyanka, Avdiivka, Tonenʹke, Vodyane, Pervomaiskke, Nevelske, Maryinka, Vugledar and Great Novosilka of Donetsk region.
In Zaporizhzhya and Kherson directions, Russia leads the defense. The shelling suffered, in particular, vremívka donetsk region; gulyajpole, zaliznične, gulyajpilsʹke, kamianske zaporizhzhia region as well as shlyakhove, cossack, tyaginka, chernobayivka, bílozerka kherson region and the city of kherson.

Russia suffers significant losses every day in its personal composition, so it does not stop taking measures to replenish them. Recently, in temporarily occupied Donetsk, military commissioners received an instruction to specify the personal account data of reserve officers aged up to 65 years. As well as soldiers, sergeants, and flagship reserve under the age of 50.

In the hotel "Donbass" of the city of kadíivka temporarily occupied Luhansk region there is a military medical commission. The work of the VLK is aimed at recognizing suitable wounded soldiers of the 2nd Army Corps of the Russian occupation troops, for their further return to service. Thus, the Russian military leadership is trying to quickly restore its units.

The Ukrainian Defense Forces aviation carried out 12 strikes per day in the areas of the Russian occupiers' personnel and military equipment and a strike on the air-missile complex at the firing position. Ukrainian missile troops and artillery units during the day hit 3 areas of the Russian forces' focus and the Russian forces' air defense means in the fire position.

Statements of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

During the briefing, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kupyansky, Limansky, South-Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions were hit during the day. In total, Ukrainian troops lost about 270 servicemen and a large amount of equipment.

Up to 225 enemy servicemen, 5 infantry fighting vehicles, 9 armored fighting vehicles, 9 pickup trucks and cars, a Uragan multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) combat vehicle and a D-30 howitzer were liquidated in the Donetsk direction during active offensive operations. Also destroyed was an ammunition depot of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and a counter-battery radar (RLS) manufactured by the USA AN / TPQ-37.

Artillery fire in the Kherson direction destroyed 3 armored combat vehicles, 8 vehicles and an Akatsiya self-propelled howitzer.

Aviation, missile forces and artillery hit 86 artillery units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, manpower and equipment in 117 districts. In the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), a self-propelled firing system of the Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile system (SAM) BUK-M1 and a guidance radar for S-300 SAM were destroyed. In the Zaporizhzhya region, a US-made AN / TPQ-37 counter-battery radar was hit.

In the Zaporozhye region, a Su-27 of the Ukrainian Air Force was shot down in an air battle, and a Mi-8 helicopter was shot down in the DPR. Air defense systems intercepted 15 HIMARS and Uragan MLRS shells, as well as 9 Ukrainian drones in the DPR, Luhansk People's Republic (LPR), Kharkiv, Zaporozhye and Sumy regions.

Zaporozhye region

Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi called for the urgent creation of a security zone around the Zaporozhye NPP. According to him, consultations on this issue with all parties have been intensified.

The Zaporozhye region is ready to contain a possible offensive by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said Vladimir Rogov, a member of the main council of the regional administration. He said that the Russian units had prepared a good defense. According to the official, in the Zaporozhye direction, Ukrainian troops have accumulated a group of 30-32 thousand military personnel.

Kherson region

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) announced the detention of 3 residents in the Kherson region who are suspected of collaborating with Russia. According to investigators, they "participated in organizing and holding a referendum" on the region's entry into the Russian Federation.

DPR

During the day, Ukrainian troops opened fire on Donetsk, as well as the settlements of Gorlovka, Yasinovataya, Nikolskoye, Aleksandrovka and Panteleymonovka, using artillery pieces of 155 mm caliber and MLRS.

As a result of attacks near the Butovskaya mine in the Yasinovatsky district, a civilian was wounded. Another civilian was injured in Nikolskoye. In Donetsk and Oleksandrivka, damage was recorded to residential buildings of the school building.

It is reported about the advance of the allied forces in Marinka. According to the Rybar Telegram channel, Russian units also resumed the assault on enemy positions in the village of Pobeda. In the meantime, additional units of the Ukrainian territorial defense have been deployed to Maryinka.

The office of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said that, together with the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a decision was made to continue the defense of Bakhmut, where the units of the Wagner PMC are attacking. At the same time, Ukrainian troops continue to suffer colossal losses in the specified area.

The Investigative Committee of Russia is investigating evidence of Ukrainian snipers shooting at civilians in Bakhmut.

It is planned to open about 600 schools in the DPR by September 1. About 11 thousand children will go to the first grade, said Olga Koludarova, Minister of Education and Science of the Republic.

LC

The LPR elected a deputy chairman and secretary of the republic's election commission. These posts will be occupied by Marianna Skornyakova and Ekaterina Tereshchenko, respectively.

The acting head of the LPR, Leonid Pasechnik, believes that Kyiv will try to disrupt the elections to the people's council and local self-government bodies of the republic, voting on which is scheduled for autumn. According to Pasechnik, the Ukrainian authorities will try by any means to arrange provocations and intimidate voters.