Russo-Ukraine War - 23 March 2023 - Day 393

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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 March 2023, heavy fighting has continued in parts of the Svatove-Kremina sector of the front line in northern Luhansk Oblast. Russia has partially regained control over the immediate approaches to Kremina town, which was under immediate Ukrainian threat earlier in the year.

In places, Russia has made gains of up to several kilometres. Russian commanders are likely trying to expand a security zone west from the defence lines they have prepared along higher ground, and integrate the natural obstacle of the Oskil River. They likely seek to recapture Kupiansk, a logistics node.

Operationally, Russia's intent in the north-east likely remains defensive. Commanders probably fear this is one of the sectors where Ukraine could attempt major offensive operations.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day, Russian forces fired 2 air and 2 missile strikes and fired 18 shelling from battalion fire jet systems.

The level of missile threat throughout Ukraine remains high.

In Volyn, Polísʹkomu, síversʹkomu and slobožansʹkomu directions operational environment without significant changes. At the same time, Russia continues the engineering equipment of the area in the border areas of Bryansk and Kursk regions. Also, in the territory of the Belgorod region, the zs of the Russian Federation hold grouping troops for demonstration actions to prevent the transfer of Ukrainian units to other directions. During the day, Russian forces carried out shelling of the settlements of Basivka and Wolfine Sumy region; Archipívka and Keys of Chernihiv region, as well as Deep, Zemlyanki, Komísarove, Vilkhuvatka, Ambarne, Bologivka, Dvoríčna, Western, Kamyanka and Kreydyanka of Kharkiv region.
In the Kupyan and Limansky directions, Russia also maintains its military presence in the regions bordering with Ukraine to prevent the transfer of Ukrainian units to other directions. During the ongoing day, Russian forces unsuccessfully tried to break through the defense of Ukrainian troops in the areas of the settlements of Sinʹkívka Kharkivka and Makíivka Luhansk regions. Yesterday, a number of settlements along the line of combat were undergone artillery shelling, namely: Gryanikivka, Kupiansk and Krokhmalne of Kharkiv region; Novoselivske, Nevske, Píšte and Bílogorivka in Luhansk region, as well as Verkhnyokamianske, Siversk and Wells of Donetsk region.
In the Bakhmut direction, Russia does not abandon an attempt to capture the city of Bakhmut, where constant position battles are ongoing. At the same time, Ukrainian defenders fought back the Russian forces' attacks in the areas of Alexander-Šulʹtine and vas протиkívka. Russian shelling suffered vas Воkívka, mínʹkívko, oríkhoro-vasilívka, novomarkove, bakhmut, grigorívka, ivanívsʹke, iron and new york of donetsk region.
In the Avdiiv, Maryinsky and Shakhtar directions, the opponent made unsuccessful offensive actions towards the settlements of Novokalynov, Stepove, Avdiivka and Severne in Donetsk region. Russian shelling suffered, in particular, Avdiivka, Berdyči, Lastočkine, Nevelske, Krasnogorivka, Georgíivka, Maryinka, Bogoyavlenka, Vugledar and Great Novosílka of Donetsk region.
In Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, Russia leads defense actions. The areas of settlements Olgivske, Malinivka, Zatyshya, Gulyaypole, Zaliznychne, Bilogiria, Mala Tokmachka, Novodanilivka, Novoandriivka, Kamyan Zaporizhzhia region; Vremivka, Novopil and Novosilka - Donetsk, as well as Vesele, Kozatsk, Mykolaivka, Ivanivka, Novotyaginka, Molodizhny, Antonivka, Belozerka, Dniprovsk and Kizomys

As of March 22, 2023, all units of the army of the Russian occupier that were stationed in the settlement of Nova Kakhovka Kherson region left the city. This was preceded by bypassing the nearest residence of the local population for profit. The Russian invaders "confiscated" large quantities of household and electronics, jewelry, clothing items and mobile phones from civilians.

Also, in a number of settlements of the temporarily occupied left bank part of the Kherson region, the zagarbniki began searching for citizens with a pro-Ukrainian position. For this, they use lists of ATO participants, military retirees and lists of those who served in Ukrainian law enforcement.

The Defense Forces aviation carried out 11 strikes in the areas of concentration of Russian personnel and military equipment in a day.

Statements of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

During the briefing, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that as a result of strikes against the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a large number of equipment was destroyed, as well as about 500 enemy military personnel. Warehouses of ammunition and fuel of the Ukrainian territorial defense were hit in Kharkiv and Zaporozhye regions.

Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile forces and artillery hit 83 artillery units, manpower and equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 112 districts. On the territory of the Shkolny airfield near Odessa, strikes were made on 2 hangars with weapons and military equipment of the enemy.

Fighter aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces shot down a Mi-8 helicopter of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kharkiv region. Air defense systems destroyed 26 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles in the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions. 3 HIMARS multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) shells were shot down.

Zaporozhye region

In the Kyiv-controlled city of Zaporozhye, a series of explosions rocked during the day, Vladimir Rogov, a member of the main council of the administration of the Zaporozhye region, said. He also said that there were reports that a Ukrainian air defense missile had hit a residential building.

In Melitopol, a car was detained, which allegedly contained members of a Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group. Machine guns, grenades and cartridges were found in the trunk of the car.

Kherson region

The defense line along the left bank of the Dnieper within the Kherson region has been tripled, Acting Governor of the region Volodymyr Saldo said. The official stressed that in the event of an attempt to attack the positions of Russian troops, the Armed Forces of Ukraine would receive a harsh rebuff.

DNR

From the beginning of the day, Ukrainian troops opened fire on Donetsk, as well as the settlements of Gorlovka, Shirokaya Balka, Ozeryanovka, Aleksandrovka. During the shelling of Donetsk, the Armed Forces of Ukraine used the Tochka-U missile system, the school building and the site of the Water of Donbass enterprise were damaged. In addition, during the attacks in the capital of the DPR, 5 people were injured, and another civilian was injured in Dokuchaevsk.

Acting head of the DPR, Denis Pushilin, ordered the creation of a territorial defense headquarters in the republic, and the Minister for Civil Defense and Emergencies was appointed head.

The grouping of Ukrainian troops in the area of Chasov Yar could number tens of thousands of people, Pushilin's adviser Yan Gagin said.

The positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Bakhmut direction were visited by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky. His office reported that he heard reports on the operational situation and the course of hostilities in this sector of the front.

LC

Retired Lieutenant Colonel of the People's Militia of the LPR Andrey Marochko said that the UK is trying to provoke Russia by supplying shells with depleted uranium to Ukraine, forcing it to use nuclear weapons. He stressed that one should be attentive to the statements of Western politicians, since most of the promised weapons are already being delivered to Kyiv.