Russo-Ukraine War - 27 March 2023 - Day 397

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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 22 March 2023, at least three uncrewed surface vessels (USV) and one uncrewed aerial vehicle reportedly attempted to strike the Russian naval base of Sevastopol, in occupied Crimea. Open source reports suggest that one USV was stopped by defensive booms, while two were destroyed in the harbour. Russian officials said that no Russian vessels had been damaged.

A previous USV attack on Sevastopol on 29 October 2022 reportedly damaged the minesweeper Ivan Golubets and the frigate Admiral Makarov.

Even though the new attacks likely failed to damage any military assets, the USV threat likely continues to constrain operations of Russia's Black Sea Fleet.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of March 27, Russian forces launched 7x air and 10x missile strikes, more than 15x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and civilian infrastructure in various settlements. For missile strikes, the Russian invaders continue to extensively use S-300 anti-aircraft guided missiles. The threat of missile and air strikes remains high across Ukraine.

Russia is focusing its main efforts on the offensive operations on Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Mar'inka axes. The fiercest fighting is for Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Mar'inka.

Due to professional and coordinated actions, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 41x Russian attacks on these axes, during the day of March 27.

Volyn, Polissya, Sivershchyna, and Slobozhanshchyna axes: no significant changes in the operational situation, no signs of the formation of offensive groups were found. During the day of March 27, Russian forces shelled the vicinities of settlements of Bleshnya (Chernihiv oblast), Tovstodubove, Holyshivs'ke, Stukalivka, Volfyne, Mais'ke (Sumy oblast), Tymofiivka, Krasne, Ustynivka, and Chorne (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k and Lyman axes: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensives in the vicinities of settlements of Syn'kivka and Bilohorivka. The invaders fired artillery near Kam'yanka, Kolodyazne, Krasne Pershe, Dvorichna, Zapadne, Kup'yans'k (Kharkiv oblast), Stel'makhivka, Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Spirne, and Vyimka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: Russia continues to assault the city of Bakhmut that is held by Ukrainian defenders, as well as the vicinity of Ivanivske (Donetsk oblast). The Russian forces shelled the settlements of Hryhorivka, Min'kivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Novomarkove, Bakhmut, Kurdyumivka, Ozarianivka, Druzhba, and Maiors'k.
Avdiivka and Mar'inka axes: Russian forces conducted offensive operations towards the settlements of Novokalynove, Stepove, Avdiivka, Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke, Nevel's'ke, and Mar'inka (Donetsk oblast), to no success. The Russian occupiers used non-lethal aerosol "tear gas" grenades in the vicinities of Novokalynove, Lastochkyne, Pervomais'ke, and Mar'inka. Russian forces shelled more than 10x settlements. Among them are Krasnohorivka, Stepove, Avdiivka, Tonen'ke, Pervomais'ke, Nevel's'ke, Mar'inka, and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast).
Shakhtars'ke axis: Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Velyka Novosilka, and Vremivka (Donetsk oblast) came under fire.
Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: Russia continues to defend. The invaders shelled Vil'ne Pole, Novosilka, Novopil' (Donetsk oblast), Poltavka, Malynivka, Hulyaipole, Zaliznychne, Bilohir'ya, Novodanylivka (Zaporizhzhia oblast), Antonivka, and the city of Kherson (Kherson oblast). In addition, the occupiers launched 1x air strike on civilian infrastructure of Beryslav.

During the day of March 27, the Ukrainian Air Force launched 9x air strikes on the concentrations of Russian troops and military equipment, and 1x on an anti-aircraft missile system.

During the day of March 27, Ukrainian troops shot down 1x Russian Orlan-10 UAV.

Ukrainian missile and artillery troops hit 2x command posts and 1x concentration of Russian troops.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reporeted that, over the past 24 hours, the army of the Russian Federation hit 93 enemy artillery positions, manpower and equipment in 107 regions, using operational-tactical and army aviation, missile forces and artillery. An ammunition depot of the 103rd Territorial Defense Brigade was liquidated near Berestovoye.

A Mi-8 helicopter of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and 13 unmanned aerial vehicles were also shot down. In the Kherson direction, up to 30 enemy soldiers, 2 vehicles and a Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer were destroyed. Up to 65 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 2 vehicles, self-propelled guns Krab and Akatsia, as well as a D-30 howitzer were liquidated on the Kupyansky sector of the front.

Today, the village of Grafovka in the Belgorod region came under fire from the Armed Forces of Ukraine. There were no casualties, but glass was broken in three nearby households, facades and fences were damaged, a household building was damaged, and gas supply was disrupted.

The situation in the Donbass

In the Limansky direction, a grouping of Russian forces using artillery and aviation liquidated more than 85 Ukrainian servicemen, 2 armored combat vehicles and a D-30 howitzer.

Meanwhile, in the Donetsk sector, more than 400 people, 4 armored combat vehicles, 10 cars, 4 pickup trucks, a Grad rocket launcher and a D-20 howitzer lost over 400 people during the day from air strikes, shelling and direct clashes.

In the South-Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, Ukrainian units were hit in the areas of the settlements of Vladimirovka, Novopol, Malaya Tokmachka and Shcherbaki. Their losses amounted to 40 servicemen, 2 pickup trucks and a D-20 howitzer.

Meanwhile, a fierce confrontation continues in Bakhmut and its environs. During one of the latest raids, Russian attack aircraft eliminated a large enemy group there.