Russo-Ukraine War - 15 March 2023 - Day 385

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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 since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Russian public officials and workers have been subject to increasingly severe foreign travel restrictions. Some officials have likely had to forfeit their passports to the Federal Security Service. Employees closer to the centre of power face more severe restrictions; Kremlin officials are banned from all international leisure travel.

This is a widening of existing measures which date from the Soviet era. Travel restrictions were tightened after the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014.

The measures are likely designed to prevent the flight or defection of increasingly disaffected officials. There is a realistic possibility that as the securitisation of the Russian state continues, travel restrictions will be tightened for an increasing number of public sector employees.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Russian Federation does not abandon its intentions to occupy Ukraine and continues its offensive, regardless of the losses. Russia focuses its main efforts on Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Mar'inka, and Shakhtars'ke axes.

Due to being incapable of defeating the Ukrainian Defense Forces, the Russian Federation is using terror tactics. It is shelling settlements in gross violation of the rules of International Humanitarian Law.

During the day of March 15, Russian forces launched 3x missile attacks, including on a civilian infrastructure facility in Kharkiv. Russian forces also launched 26x air strikes and over 23x MLRS attacks. The likelihood of further missile attacks across Ukraine remains high.

Volyn, Polissya, Sivershchyna, and Slobozhanshchyna axes: no changes, no formation of Russian offensive groups were found. Training of Russian occupation troops at the training grounds of the Republic of Belarus is ongoing. Russia maintains its military presence in the border areas. During the day of March 15, Russian forces shelled the vicinities of settlements of Khrinivka (Chernihiv oblast), Atyns'ke, Volfyne, Stepne, Kindrativka, Pokrovka, Hrabovs'ke (Sumy oblast), Strilecha, Krasne, Starytsya, Vovchans'k, Bochkove, Budarky, Ambarne, and Kolodyazne (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k and Lyman axes: Russia does not abandon its attempts to break through the defense of Ukrainian troops. Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive operations in the vicinities of settlements of Bilohorivka and Spirne. The Russian invaders fired artillery at the vicinities of settlements of Dvorichna, Hryanykivka, Kup'yans'k, Krokhmal'ne (Kharkiv oblast), Novoselivs'ke, Nevs'ke, Dibrova, Bilohorivka (Luhansk), Kolodyazi, Sivers'k, Spirne, and Fedorivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: Russia continues to assault the city of Bakhmut. Ukrainian defenders repelled adversary attacks in the vicinities of settlements of Orikhovo-Vasylivka and Bohdanivka. In particular, Pryvillya, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Hryhorivka, Bohdanivka, Bakhmut, Chasiv Yar, Predtechyne, Oleksandro-Shul'tyne, Kurdyumivka, Ozarianivka, and Shumy (Donetsk oblast) came under Russian fire.
Avdiivka, Mar'inka, and Shakhtars'ke axes: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive operations in the vicinities of settlements of Stepove, Kam'yanka, Sjeverne, Mar'inka, and Vuhledar. Kam'yanka, Lastochkyne, Avdiivka, Tonen'ke, Heorhiivka, Nevel's'ke, Pobjeda, Vuhledar, Vremivka, Velyka Novosilka, and several other settlements of the Donetsk oblast came under Russian fire.
Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: the adversary is defending. Russian forces shelled the vicinities of settlements near the line of contact, including: Ol'hivs'ke, Malynivka, Hulyaipole, Mala Tokmachka, Novodanylivka, Novoandriivka, Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast), Tokarivka, Antonivka, and the city of Kherson.

Due to being powerless against the Ukrainian Defense Forces, the Russian occupiers are fighting against the civilians in the temporarily occupied territory of Kherson oblast. After the Russian concentrations were effectively hit over March 12-13 and the resulting heavy losses, the Russian invaders are intensifying security measures in certain settlements. The Russian occupiers usually travel in civilian cars taken from local residents. Also, a convoy of occupants carrying looted property was reported moving towards Crimea on March 14.

In another village in Kherson oblast, Russia is conducting counter-sabotage activities. To justify their actions, they accuse the villagers of killing a russian soldier whose body was found.

During the day of March 15, the Ukrainian Air Force launched 8x air strikes on the concentrations of Russian forces' personnel and military equipment. Also, Ukrainian units shot down 1x Russian Su-25 aircraft.

During the day of March 15, missile troops and artillery units hit 1x command post, 3x concentrations of Russian personnel and military equipment, 2x radar stations, 1x electronic warfare station, and 1x anti-aircraft missile system at its firing position.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reproted that Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (RF Armed Forces) used a combination of strikes from operational-tactical and army aviation, missile forces and artillery units to destroy 101 artillery positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). 197 areas of concentration of manpower and equipment were also fired upon.

At the same time, three radar stations of the S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems were destroyed in the regions of Ukrainsk, Novodmitrovka and Krasny. The Mi-8 helicopter of the Ukrainian Air Force was shot down by a fighter near the village of Uspenovka.

During the day, air defense systems successfully intercepted 15 rocket launchers from HIMARS, Uragan and Alder installations. Seven Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles shot down.

More than 35 Ukrainian servicemen, 6 vehicles and a D-30 howitzer were liquidated in the Kherson direction. At the same time, up to 70 enemy soldiers, an armored vehicle, 3 pickup trucks, 2 cars, Krab and Gvozdika self-propelled guns, and a D-20 howitzer were destroyed on the Kupyansk sector of the front.

The situation in the Donbass

In the Limansky direction, Russian forces liquidated more than 235 Ukrainian soldiers, 4 pickup trucks, 2 Akatsiya and Gvozdika self-propelled artillery mounts, a D-20 howitzer, an M777 gun and 2 armored fighting vehicles.

During the day, in the Donetsk direction, the Armed Forces of Ukraine suffered losses in the amount of 160 servicemen, a tank, 2 armored vehicles, an infantry fighting vehicle and 4 cars. Also liquidated self-propelled guns "Acacia" and M109 "Paladin", the artillery system M777, two rocket launchers "Grad" and "Hurricane".

In addition, three ammunition depots were destroyed in the areas of the settlements of Dachnoye, Galitsinovka and Novoselovka Pervaya.

In the South-Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, the enemy lost up to 75 soldiers, 3 armored combat vehicles, 4 pickup trucks and an Akatsiya self-propelled artillery mount. In addition, a sabotage and reconnaissance group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was liquidated in the area of ​​the settlement of Novodanilovka.

Meanwhile, fierce battles continue for Bakhmut and its environs. In the morning, units of PMC "Wagner" liberated the village of Zaliznyanskoye in this area.