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Russo-Ukraine War - 04 April 2023 - Day 405

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]

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that Russia is likely seeking to sponsor and develop alternative private military companies (PMCs) to eventually replace the Wagner Group PMC in its significant combat role in Ukraine.

This takes place in the context of the high-profile feud between the Russian Ministry of Defence and Wagner Group. Russia's military leadership likely wants a replacement PMC that it has more control over. However, no other known Russian PMC currently approaches Wagner's size or combat power.

Russia likely sees continued utility for PMCs in Ukraine because they are less constrained by the limited pay levels and inefficiency which hamper the effectiveness of the regular army. Russia's leadership probably believe heavy casualties amongst PMCs will be better tolerated by Russian society compared to regular military losses.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during day of April 4, Russian forces launched 2x missile and 28x air strikes. In particular, 17x Shahed-136 UAVs were employed. 14x of them were destroyed by Ukrainian defenders. Russian forces also launched 7x MLRS attacks. The attacks have killed and wounded civilians.

The likelihood of missile and air strikes across Ukraine remains high, as the Russian invaders continue to use terror tactics.

Russia continues to focus its main efforts on the offensive operations on Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Mar'inka axes. More than 45x Russian attacks were repelled during the day of April 4. Bakhmut, and Mar'inka remain at the epicenter of the fighting.

Volyn, Polissya, Sivershchyna, and Slobozhanshchyna axes: no significant changes in the operational situation, no signs of the formation of Russian offensive groups were found. Certain units of the armed forces of the Republic of Belarus continue their missions in the areas bordering Ukraine. The Russian Federation continues to use the airspace and territory of the Republic of Belarus and its military infrastructure.
Russia continues to maintain military presence in the border areas of Kursk and Belgorod oblasts (Russia).
During the day of April 4, Russian forces shelled the settlements of Bachivs'k, Volfyne, Zapsillya (Sumy oblast), Veterynarne, Strilecha, Ohirtseve, Vovchans'k, Rublene, and Dvorichans'ke (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Masyutivka, Kup'yans'k, Kam'yanka, Pershotravneve (Kharkiv oblast), Novoselivs'ke, and Krokhmal'ne (Luhansk oblast) came under Russian fire.
Lyman axis: during the day of April 4, Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensives in the vicinity of Kreminna. Makiivka, Dibrova, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Ivanivka, Kolodyazi, and Zarichne (Donetsk oblast) were shelled with artillery.
Bakhmut axis: the Russian assault on the city of Bakhmut continues. During the day of April 4, Ukrainian defenders repelled about 20x Russian attacks.
At the same time, Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensives in the vicinity of Bohdanivka (Donetsk oblast). Vasyukivka, Min'kivka, Bakhmut, Hryhorivka, Ivanivske, Bila Hora, Kleban-Byk, and Novodmytrivka suffered from Russian shelling.
Avdiivka and Mar'inka axes: Russian forces conducted offensive operations in the vicinities of Novokalynove, Pervomais'ke, and Mar'inka. None of them were successful.
At the same time, Russian forces shelled the settlements of Novobakhmutivka, Avdiivka, Vodyane, Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, and Mar'inka (Donetsk oblast).
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces did not conduct any offensive operations during the day of April 4. The Russian invaders were actively using UAVs to spot for artillery fire. Russian forces shelled the settlements of Novomykhailivka, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Velyka Novosilka, (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: Russia continues to build up its defensive capabilities. The invaders shelled Hulyaipole, Zaliznychne, Bilohir'ya, Mala Tokmachka, Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast), Beryslav, Vesele, Burhunka, Antonivka, Veletens'ke, and the city of Kherson.

The Russian occupiers continue to steal from civilian citizens of the temporarily occupied territories, appropriating their private houses. For example, the so-called occupation "authorities" of Starobil's'k town (Luhansk oblast) use public service workers to move Russian militaries into apartments and houses temporarily abandoned by the Ukrainian citizens. This happens under the guise of preventive inspections of utility meter readings by the utility companies.

Also, cases of civilians being taken away to unknown destinations without no explanations after random checks of their mobile phones have become more frequent.

During the day of April 4, Ukrainian Air Force launched 7x air strikes on the concentrations of Russian occupation troops. In the meantime, Ukrainian missile and artillery units hit 2x Russian command posts, and 1x electronic warfare station.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that war correspondent Alexander Simonov reported on the completion of the cleansing of the AZOM industrial zone in Bakhmut by the fighters of the Wagner PMC.

The central region, according to the military correspondent, is completely liberated from units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (APU). Under the control of the "orchestra" are now all objects of importance, both administrative and industrial. Only a part of the residential area remains behind the enemy.

Now the fighting has shifted to the west, where the attackers have entrenched themselves on Sibirtseva Street, at school No. 11, and approached the Metallurg stadium. To the south, they are moving towards the Avangard sports complex.

At the same time, in the Vodokanal area, the offensive continues from south to north, and here the Wagnerites were also able to advance somewhat.

Readovka, meanwhile, reported that the fighters of the "orchestra" went on the defensive in Orekhovo-Vasilevka due to the continuing threat of Ukrainian counterattacks.

The situation in other directions

During the day, the Russian Armed Forces attacked 83 artillery positions and 96 areas of deployment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In Ogurtsovo, Kurakhovo and Orekhovo, three ammunition depots were liquidated, and in Konstantinovka - a storage of rocket and artillery weapons.

Anti-aircraft weapons shot down three HIMARS rocket launchers and three enemy drones.

As a result of artillery and air strikes on the contact line, about 400 soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were liquidated or wounded, 11 armored combat vehicles, 5 vehicles, a Gvozdika self-propelled gun, as well as 2 D-20 and 4 D-30 howitzers were hit.

Law enforcement officers seized from the former positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Severodonetsk 18 shells of 152 mm caliber, 16 fuses RGM-2M, 2 ammunition of 120 mm caliber, expelling cartridges for 152 mm caliber shells; more than 6000 rounds of 5.45 mm caliber.