Russo-Ukraine War - 30 March 2023 - Day 400

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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 Russian media reporting suggests that the authorities are preparing to start a major military recruitment campaign with the aim of signing up an additional 400,000 troops.

Russia is presenting the campaign as a drive for volunteer, professional personnel, rather than a new, mandatory mobilisation. There is a realistic possibility that in practice this distinction will be blurred, and that regional authorities will try to meet their allocated recruitment targets by coercing men to join up.

Russian authorities have likely selected a supposedly 'volunteer model' to meet their personnel shortfall in order to minimise domestic dissent. It is highly unlikely that the campaign will attract 400,000 genuine volunteers. However, rebuilding Russia's combat power in Ukraine will require more than just personnel; Russia needs more munitions and military equipment supplies than it currently has available.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Day 400 of the full-scale Russian military aggression continues.

During the day, Russian forces launched 1x missile and 3x air strikes, and carried out 5x MLRS attacks on the positions of our troops and the civilian infrastructure of the populated areas. The probability of missile and air strikes on the entire territory of Ukraine remains high.

Russia continues to ignore the laws and customs of war, and continues to use terror tactics against the civilian population.

Kupyansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Mar'yinka axes: Russia is concentrating its main efforts on conducting offensive actions. The settlements of Bilogorivka, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Mar'yinka remain at the epicenter of hostilities. 47x Russian attacks on the specified axes were repelled.
Volyn', Polissya, Sivershchyna, and Slobozhanshchyna axes: the operational situation has not changed significantly, and no signs of the formation of offensive groups have been detected. During the day, Russian forces shelled Hirs'k (Chernihiv oblast); Novovasylivka, Nova Huta, Stukalyvka, Iskryskivshchyna, and Volfyne (Sumy oblast); as well as Hraniv, Kozacha Lopan, Vovchans'k, Zybyne, and Budarka (Kharkiv oblast).
Kupyansk and Lyman axes: during the day, Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive actions in the area of Stelmakhivka, Kuzmyny, and Berestovo. The settlements, namely: Dvorichanske, Zapadne, Dvorichna, Kupyansk, Krokhmalne (Kharkiv oblast); Novoselivs'ke, Nevs'ke, Bilogorivka (Luhansk Oblast); ss well as Kolodyazi, Tors'ke, Sivers'k, and Spirne (Donetsk oblast) were subjects to artillery fire;
Bakhmut axis: Russian forces makes further attempts to seize the town of Bakhmut. However, Ukrainian defenders courageously hold the city, repel numerous Russian attacks. During the day, the Russian occupiers conducted unsuccessful offensive actions in the Orikhovo-Vasylivka (Donetsk oblast). Minkivka, Orihovo-Vasylivka, Druzhkivka, and Bakhmut (Donetsk oblast) were shelled.
Avdiivka and Mar'yinka axes: Russian forces attempted offensives in the vicinities of Novobakhmutivka, Novokalynovy, Stepove, Avdiyivka, Severne, Vodyane, Krasnohorivka, and Mar'yinka (Donetsk oblast), to no success. Russian forces shelled Novokalynovka, Berdychi, Avdiivka, Nevels'ke, Krasnohorivka, Mar'yinka, Heorhiivka, Kurakhove, and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast).
Shakhtars'ke axis: during the day, Russian forces bombarded Vuhledar, Prechistivka, Zolota Nyva, Shakhtars'k, and Velika Novosilka (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: Russian forces shelled the Vremivka and Novopil' (Donetsk oblast); Malynivka, Hulyaipole, Zaliznychne, Hulyaipilske, and Mali Shcherbaki (Zaporizhzhia oblast); Marganets and Nikopol' (Dnipropetrovsk oblast); Zolota Balka, Havrylivka, Berislav, Vesele, Burhunka, Antonivka, and Berehove (Kherson oblast); and Ochakiv in Mykolaiv oblast.

During the day, Ukrainian Air Force launched 6x air strikes on the concentrations of Russian troops and military equipment. Ukrainian missile and artillery troops attacked 2x concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment, and 2x ammunition depots.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reporeted that PMC "Wagner" continues holding down battles in the vicinity of Bakhmut - near the settlements of Krasnoe, Khromovo and Orekhovo-Vasilevka. Violent clashes are also taking place in the city itself, including in the center near the administration building.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine are mining administrative buildings, trying to slow down the progress of the "orchestra". However, the "musicians" continue to grind the defense of the enemy, who suffers colossal losses in battles.

Acting head of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) Denis Pushilin said that Bakhmut could soon fall into the actual encirclement.

The situation in other directions

DNR

During the day, the Armed Forces of Ukraine opened fire on Donetsk, as well as the settlements of Golmovsky, Zaitsevo, Aleksandrovka and Yasinovataya. In Yasinovataya, 3 civilians were injured, the infrastructure of the local machine-building plant was damaged. In Zaitsevo, the building of the village administration was damaged.

During the briefing, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that over 340 enemy servicemen, as well as a large amount of equipment, were destroyed in the Donetsk direction during the day. In addition, the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of Vladimirovka and Vugledar were hit.

Denis Pushilin said that in the Ugledar direction, the allied forces repel attempts by the Armed Forces of Ukraine to conduct reconnaissance in force, while improving their positions as much as possible.

Acting head of the DPR appointed First Deputy Prime Minister Yevgeny Solntsev to the post of chairman of the republican government. Pushilin noted that Solntsev is responsible for the construction in his post - this unit under his leadership has demonstrated high efficiency.

LC

During the day, Ukrainian troops opened fire twice on the settlement of Troitskoye, using HIMARS MLRS. As a result of the attacks, a civilian was killed and 15 others were injured. In addition, the building of the central district multidisciplinary hospital and the store building were damaged.

The Russian Defense Ministry announced the defeat of units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of Chervonaya Dibrova, Nevsky, Novoselovsky and Stelmakhovka.

Zaporozhye region

The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that during the day strikes were carried out on units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the districts of Malinovka and Shcherbakov. In Zaliznychny, the fuel storage of the Ukrainian defense system was destroyed. In the Temirovka area, a Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter was shot down by means of air defense.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine are pulling armored vehicles and weapons transferred by the West to the line of contact in the Zaporozhye region. According to Vladimir Rogov, a member of the main council of the regional administration, M777 howitzers, HIMARS MLRS, tanks, including French AMX-10RC, were concentrated on this sector of the front of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The official also noted that he doubted the competence and impartiality of the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi. The latter, when visiting the Zaporozhye NPP, said that the depleted uranium shells that the UK intends to transfer to the Ukrainian side do not pose a radiological hazard to people. Grossi himself plans to go to Russia soon for further negotiations on the station.

Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergey Ryabkov said that Russia had submitted to the IAEA its vision of how the security zone around the ZNPP should work. In addition, the document outlines the Russian side's view of the role of the agency and its staff in this process.

Kherson region

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, an ammunition depot of the Ukrainian territorial defense was destroyed in the Olgovka area within 24 hours.