Russo-Ukraine War - 07 March 2023 - Day 377

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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 Ukrainian defence of Bakhmut continues to degrade forces on both sides. Over the weekend, Ukrainian forces likely stabilised their defensive perimeter following previous Russian advances into the north of the town.

A Russian strike destroyed a bridge over the only paved supply road into Bakhmut still under Ukrainian control around 02 March. Muddy conditions are likely hampering Ukrainian resupply efforts as they increasingly resort to using unpaved tracks.

Public disagreements between the Wagner Group and Russian Ministry of Defence over the allocation of munitions highlights the difficulty in sustaining the high levels of personnel and ammunition required to advance with their current tactics.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Russia continues to focus its main efforts on offensive operations on Kup'yans'k, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Shakhtars'ke axes. It continues unsuccessful offensives in the vicinity of Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Dubovo-Vasylivka, Bakhmut, Kam'yanka, Avdiivka, and Mar'inka (Donetsk oblast).

During the day of March 7, Russian forces launched 19x air strikes and 1x missile strike.

Russian forces also launched 5x MLRS attacks. The threat of russian missile strikes across Ukraine remains high.

Volyn, Polissya, Sivershchyna, and Slobozhanshchyna axes: no significant changes. During the day of March 7, Russian forces fired mortars and artillery at the vicinities of settlements of Sen'kivka, Karpovychi (Chernihiv oblast), Starikove, Holyshivs'ke, Pavlivka, Volfyne, Hrabovs'ke (Sumy oblast), Hur'yiv Kozachok, Veterynarne, Kozacha Lopan', Strilecha, Hlyboke, Krasne, Zelene, Anyskyne, Dvorichna, and Zakhidne (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k and Lyman axes: Russia attempts to break through the defence of Ukrainian troops. Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensives towards Hryanykivka, Nevs'ke, and Spirne. The Russian invaders fired artillery at the vicinities of settlements of Tabaivka, Krokhmal'ne (Kharkiv oblast), Stel'makhivka, Nevs'ke, Chervonopopivka, Dibrova (Luhansk oblast), Serebryanka, Spirne, Rozdolivka, Fedorivka, and Yahidne (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 Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, and Bakhmut (Donetsk oblast). Zaliznyans'ke, Dubovo-Vasylivka, Bohdanivka, Bakhmut, Ivanivske, Stupochky, Dyliivka, Toretsk, Zalizne, and New York (Donetsk oblast) came under Russian fire.
Avdiivka and Shakhtars'ke axes: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive operations towards Krasnohorivka, Novokalynove, Kam'yanka, Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke, Nevel's'ke, and Mar'inka. Russian forces shelled the vicinities of more than 15x settlements. Among them are Berdychi, Avdiivka, Vodyane, Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Vuhledar, Zolota Nyva, Velyka Novosilka, Vremivka, and Neskuchne (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: Russia is defending. Among the targets of the enemy shelling are Malynivka, Hulyaipole, Zaliznychne, Mala Tokmachka, Tavriis'ke, Novodanylivka, Novoandriivka, Stepove, Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast), Nikopol' (Dnipropetrovsk oblast), Shlyakhove, Beryslav, Shylova Balka, Tyahynka, Antonivka, Dniprovs'ke, Bilozerka, Stanislav (Kherson oblast), and the city of Kherson. In total, vicinities of 30x settlements were shelled.

Teachers and kindergartners of the so-called "authorities" established by the occupation regime force students and their parents to stay after classes in local primary education institutions in the settlement of Strilkove (Heniches'k district) of the temporarily occupied territory of Kherson oblast. They are forced to study the constitution and laws of the Russian Federation, as well as Russian history and literature. During recesses, children are forced to learn and sing the Russian anthem.

During the day of March 7, the Ukrainian Air Force launched 6x air strikes on the concentrations of occupants' personnel and military equipment, while the missile and artillery units hit 1x russian Buk-M1-2 air defense missile system and 3x concentrations of Russian manpower.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that, over the past 24 hours, the RF Armed Forces have attacked 74 artillery batteries of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and 128 troop concentration areas. An enemy Su-24 was shot down over Druzhkovka, and a Su-25 over Krynka. In addition, 12 missiles from HIMARS rocket launchers (MLRS) and 11 unmanned aerial vehicles were intercepted.

As a result of strikes in the Kherson direction, up to 35 Ukrainian servicemen, 4 cars and 2 D-30 howitzers were destroyed. The fire of army aviation and artillery led to the elimination of more than 30 soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Krab and Akatsiya self-propelled guns, as well as a tank in the Kupyansk direction.

Today, as a result of negotiations, an exchange of prisoners of war took place according to the 90-90 scheme. Russian servicemen have already been taken to the rear to provide them with the necessary assistance.

In the morning, the Armed Forces of Ukraine fired at Novy Oskol in the Belgorod region. Three Tochka-U missiles were shot down, but houses and power lines were damaged. One man was wounded by shrapnel.

The situation in the Donbass

Up to 125 Ukrainian servicemen, 2 infantry fighting vehicles, 3 armored vehicles and several D-20 and D-30 howitzers were destroyed as a result of strikes by the Russian Armed Forces in the Limansky direction.

More than 75 Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers, 2 tanks, 3 armored combat vehicles, 2 pickup trucks, Smerch MLRS and a D-30 gun were liquidated in the Donetsk region during the fighting. In addition, an AN / TPQ-37 counter-battery radar station was hit, and an ammunition depot of the 110th brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Avdiivka was also blown up.

In the South-Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, Russian units destroyed about 60 Ukrainian soldiers, two armored combat vehicles, two pickup trucks, an M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery mount and an M777 artillery system, as well as a D-30 gun.

Meanwhile, fierce fighting continues in Bakhmut and its environs. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the death of Dmitry Kotsyubaylo, one of the commanders of the Right Sector✱ (banned in the Russian Federation), who acted under the call sign da Vinci. This militant has been operating in the Donbass since 2014 and was involved in a number of provocations that violate the Minsk agreements.

The radical was liquidated by the fighters of the Wagner PMC, who were storming the strategic city.