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Russo-Ukraine War - 16 April 2023 - Day 417

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 General Colonel Mikhail Teplinsky, commander of Russia's corps of airborne troops, the VDV, has highly likely returned to a major role in Ukraine. He was previously dismissed from the theatre in January 2023.

Teplinsky is likely one of the few senior Russian generals widely respected by the rank-and-file. His recent turbulent career suggests intense tensions between factions within the Russian General Staff about Russia's military approach in Ukraine.

It is unlikely Teplinsky's remit will be limited to VDV units, but he is highly likely to promote the corps' traditional role as an elite force. In recent days, the VDV have resumed a key mission in the battle for Bakhmut, and likely undertaken novel integration with TOS-1A thermobaric rocket launchers in the Kremina sector.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of April 15, Russian forces launched 25x S-300 air defense system missile strikes targeting peaceful cities of Zaporizhzhia, Komyshuvakha (Zaporizhzhia oblast), and Snihurivka (Mykolaiv oblast). Also, Russia launched 28x air strikes. Russian forces launched 4x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and civilian infrastructure in various settlements. The attacks have killed and wounded civilians, destroyed and damaged multistory and private residential buildings, civilian educational institutions, hospitals, churches, and other civilian infrastructure.

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. Russian tactical and army aircraft are intensively employed on these axes. Bakhmut, and Mar'inka remain at the epicenter of the fighting. During the day of April 16, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled more than 45x Russian attacks in these areas of the frontline.
Volyn, Polissya, Sivershchyna, and Slobozhanshchyna axes: no signs of the formation of Russian 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 16, Russian forces shelled the settlements of Svesa, Bunyakyne, Iskryskivshchyna, Shpyl', Volfyne, Yunakivka, Basivka (Sumy oblast), Veterynarne, Neskuchne, Vovchans'k, Bochkove, Mala Vovcha, and Zemlyanky (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Novomlyns'k, Dvorichna, Zapadne, and Kindrashivka (Kharkiv oblast) came under Russian fire.
Lyman axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensives to the north of Hryhorivka and near Spirne. 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. Russian forces attempted attacks in the vicinities of settlements of Khromove and Ivanivske, to no success. Vasyukivka, Min'kivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Bakhmut, Ivanivske, Novodmytrivka, and Pivnichne (Donetsk oblast) suffered from Russian shelling.
Avdiivka axis: Russian forces conducted offensive operations in the vicinities of Novokalynove, Sjeverne, Vodyane and Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast), to no success. More than 15x settlements near the line of contact were shelled by Russian forces. These include Novokalynove, Avdiivka, Vodyane, Pervomais'ke, and Netaylove (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled numerous Russian attacks in the vicinity of Mar'inka. At the same time, Krasnohorivka, Mar'inka, Heorhiivka, Maksymil'yanivka, 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 16. The invaders shelled the settlements of Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Velyka Novosilka, and Vremivka (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: Russia continues to defend. During the day of April 16, the invaders shelled several settlements. Among them are Vremivka, Novopil' (Donetsk oblast), Hulyaipole, Zaliznychne, Bilohir'ya, Mala Tokmachka Novodanylivka, Novoandriivka, Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast), Dudchany, Beryslav, Vesele, Burhunka, Bilozerka, Dniprovs'ke (Kherson oblast), and the city of Kherson.

Russian occupation forces continue to suffer heavy losses. All medical facilities in the temporarily occupied territory are overcrowded with wounded invaders. As a result, Russia is using civilian educational institutions in the temporarily occupied territories for its own purposes.
For example, the Russian occupiers re-purposed a local school gym in the settlement of Vysoke (Zaporizhzhia oblast) into a military hospital. Medical services are provided to Russian military personnel exclusively.
As of April 15, about 100x occupants with injuries of varying severity were undergoing treatment.

Russian invaders continue to rob civilians, appropriating their grain harvest. For example, the Russian so-called "authorities" put in office by the occupation forces in the city of Berdiansk (Zaporizhzhia oblast) are trying to take out stolen corn by loading it onto barges.

At the same time, the Russian occupiers continue to force their passports on the population of the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. In particular, the Russian invaders are actively conducting house-to-house visits in the settlement of Tavriya (Kherson oblast) to check for Russian passports. Citizens of Ukraine who have not received a Russian passport have been informed they will be deported and all their personal property confiscated, unless they obtain the documents by June 1.

During the day of April 16, Ukrainian Air Force launched 5x air strikes on the concentrations of troops and the anti-aircraft missile system of the Russian occupiers. The Ukrainian defenders shot down 4x Russian UAVs (2x Orlan-10, 1x Eleron reconnaissance UAV, and 1x Lancet kamikaze drone). During the day of April 16, missile troops and artillery units hit 1x command post, 1x anti-aircraft missile system, 1x concentration of Russian troops, weapons, and military equipment, 1x fuel and lubricants depot, and 2x ammunition depots.

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that, according to the information provided to the military commissar Alexander Simonov by the Wagner PMC analyst, in the area of ​​Bakhmut (Artemovsk), the assault units of the "musicians" are confronted by an enemy group of about 80 thousand people. It is preparing to strike on the flanks in the direction of Seversk and Popasnaya, as well as Konstantinovka and Debaltseve.

Due to losses in personnel, the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) planned the rotation of units of the 93rd brigade, sending units of the 60th to replace them. However, due to the ongoing onslaught of the "Wagnerites", both of these formations are forced to jointly hold their positions.

The daily losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine here are up to 450 people, which is compensated by new battalions of territorial defense, which are being formed in the depths of the country. They do not lack weapons or ammunition.

In the meantime, mobilized Russian military personnel are voluntarily joining Wagner PMC, who already make up three motorized rifle brigades, who are now being trained by Orchestra instructors.

The situation in other directions

During the day of fighting, the Armed Forces of Ukraine lost up to 335 servicemen, 2 tanks, 11 vehicles, 2 armored vehicles, an infantry fighting vehicle, 3 pickup trucks, as well as 3 D-20 howitzers, 2 D-30, Msta-B, Grad rocket launcher, self-propelled gun "Carnation".

The Russian army delivered strikes on 92 enemy artillery positions and 127 troop concentration areas. Command posts of the 125th and 102nd brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were hit in Yampolovka and Zaliznichny, and three ammunition depots in Torsky and Terny.

In the districts of Masyutovka, Kuzemovka, Novoselovsky, Novodonetsky, the activities of four reconnaissance and sabotage groups were suppressed. In Kamyshevakh, the AN / TPQ-37 counter-battery radar was eliminated.

Air defense systems intercepted ten rockets from the HIMARS and Smerch systems, as well as three HARM anti-radar missiles. In addition, four enemy drones were shot down.