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Russo-Ukraine War - 15 April 2023 - Day 416

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 on 11 April 2023, the Russian State Duma adopted a law establishing a unified registry of individuals eligible for military service. The key implication of the measure is that in future, the authorities will be able to serve call-up papers electronically, rather than by letter, removing one obstacle which has previously allowed some to dodge the draft.

With individuals' call-up data now digitally linked to other state-provided online services, it is likely that the authorities will punish draft-dodgers by automatically limiting employment rights and restricting foreign travel.

The measures are reported to be coming into force later in the year; they do not specifically indicate any major new wave of enforced mobilisation. Russia is, for now, prioritising a drive to recruit extra volunteer troops. However, the measure is highly likely part of a longer-term approach to provide personnel as Russia anticipates a lengthy conflict in Ukraine.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the during the day of April 15, Russian forces launched 19x air, 4x missile strikes, more than 15x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and civilian infrastructure in various settlements. The Russian aggressor keeps using terror tactics. The likelihood of missile and air strikes across Ukraine remains high.

Russia suffers considerable losses, but does not abandon its plans to occupy Ukrainian territory. The Russian invaders continue to focus their main efforts on the offensive operations on Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Mar'inka axes. Bakhmut, and Mar'inka remain at the epicenter of the fighting. During the day of April 15, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 40x Russian attacks in these areas of the frontline.
Volyn, Polissya, Sivershchyna, and Slobozhanshchyna axes: no signs of the formation of adversary offensive groups were found. A comprehensive inspection of the combat readiness of the armed forces of the Republic of Belarus is underway. Certain units of the territorial troops of the russian Armed Forces continue their deployment on the territory of Belarus.
Certain Russian units are still present in the areas of Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod oblasts (russia) bordering Ukraine.
During the day of April 15, Russian forces shelled the settlements of Bunyakyne, Iskryskivshchyna, Volfyne, Shpyl', Yunakivka (Sumy oblast), Kozacha Lopan', Hatyshche, Vovchans'k, and Vovchans'ki Khutory (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces mined the area in the vicinities of four settlements. The Russian invaders shelled the settlements of Novomlyns'k, Dvorichna, and Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensives near the settlement of Dibrova. Stel'makhivka, Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Ivanivka, and Spirne (Donetsk oblast) were shelled with artillery.
Bakhmut axis: Russia continues its offensive operations. Fighting for the city of Bakhmut continues. The Russian adversary attempted an attack in the vicinity of settlement of Khromove, to no success. Min'kivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Hryhorivka, Bakhmut, Ivanivske, Chasiv Yar, Stupochky, Dyliivka, and New York, (Donetsk oblast) suffered from Russian shelling.
Avdiivka axis: Russian forces conducted offensive operations in the vicinities of Sjeverne and Pervomais'ke, to no success. More than 10x settlements near the line of contact were shelled by Russian forces. In particular, these are Keramik, Berdychi, Avdiivka, Pervomais'ke, and Karlivka (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled numerous Russian attacks in the vicinity of Mar'inka (Donetsk oblast). At the same time, Heorhiivka, Mar'inka, Kurakhove, Pobjeda, and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast) were shelled by Russian forces.
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces did not conduct any offensive operations during the day of April 15. The Russian invaders shelled the settlements of Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Velyka Novosilka (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: Russia continues to defend. During the day of April 15, the invaders shelled several settlements. Among them are Vremivka, Novopil' (Donetsk oblast), Malynivka, Hulyaipole, Charivne, Mala Tokmachka, Novodanylivka, Orikhiv (Zaporizhzhia oblast), and the city of Kherson.

To replenish its casualties, Russia is conducting a campaign to support mobilization. All available methods are being used to popularize military service. The Russian leadership promises its citizens high salaries and a social benefits package. In addition to the media, propagandists use propaganda leaflets of the respective content in public places. Recently, the campaigning was reported to intensify in Voronezh.

During the day of April 15, Ukrainian Air Force launched 5x air strikes on Russian concentrations. In the meantime, missile and artillery units hit 3x concentrations of troops, as well as 1x concentration of artillery, 1x radar station, 1x anti-aircraft missile system, and 1x ammunition depot.

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that units of PMC "Wagner" attacked in the direction of Khromovo. During the day, positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of Minkovka, Orekhovo-Vasilevka, Grigorovka, Chasov Yar, Stupochek, Dyleevka were subjected to shelling.

In addition, during the briefing, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that rocket, artillery and air strikes were carried out on the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of Krasnoye, Kalinovka and Bogdanovka. The department reported that in this area aviation carried out 6 sorties, artillery performed 57 fire missions.

The situation on other sectors of the front

DNR

During the day, Ukrainian troops opened fire on Donetsk, Makiivka and Gorlovka. Fixed damage to residential buildings, as well as the building of the kindergarten and the contact network of the tram and trolleybus management.

The Ministry of Defense stated that during the day strikes were carried out on the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of Novomikhailovka and Vugledar. The enemy lost up to 30 servicemen, a pickup truck, Msta-B and D-30 howitzers. In addition, enemy units were hit in the areas of Ternov and Torskoy. In the region of Slavyansk, a warehouse of fuel and lubricants of Ukrainian troops was destroyed.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the DPR warned citizens about a possible increase in the intensity of shelling of the territory of the republic on Easter. Residents were urged to refrain from visiting cemeteries in the frontline zone, as well as near the village of mine No. 29 in Donetsk.

LC

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported on the defeat of units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of Stelmakhivka and Chervonopopovka.

On the territory of the republic for the time of Easter, the curfew was suspended. As the acting head of the LPR, Leonid Pasechnik, noted, restrictions have been temporarily lifted in those areas where the military situation allows it.

Kherson region

Up to 15 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed during the fire defeat in the Kherson direction during the day, the Russian Defense Ministry reported. In addition, Ukrainian troops lost 2 vehicles and 3 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery mounts.