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Russo-Ukraine War - 17 April 2023 - Day 418

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 mine-related civilian casualties continue to be reported daily in Ukraine. The most affected areas are Kherson and Kharkiv oblasts: areas Russia has previously occupied.

With the arrival of spring, and more people involved in agricultural activities, the risk of civilian mine incidents will increase.

Over 750 mine related casualties among civilians have been reported since the start of the invasion - one in eight has involved a child. It will likely take at least a decade to clear Ukraine of mines.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of April 17, Russian forces launched 34x air strikes and 31x MLRS attacks that caused casualties among civilian population. The Russian aggressor keeps using terror tactics. The likelihood of missile and air strikes across Ukraine remains high.

Russia suffers considerable losses and focuses its main efforts on offensive operations on Kup'yans'k, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Mar'inka axes. During the day of April 17, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled more than 50x Russian attacks in these areas of the frontline. Bakhmut, and Mar'inka remain at the epicenter of the fighting.
Volyn, Polissya, Sivershchyna, and Slobozhanshchyna axes: no signs of the formation of Russian offensive groups were found. Comprehensive inspection of the combat readiness of the armed forces of the Republic of Belarus is underway.
During the day of April 17, Russian forces shelled the settlements of Sosnivka, Popivka, Iskryskivshchyna (Sumy oblast); Okip, Bairak, Vovchans'k, Okhrimivka, and Nesterne (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensives near the settlement of Syn'kivka. Topoli, Krasne Pershe, Novomlyns'k, Dvorichna, and Zapadne (Kharkiv oblast) came under Russian fire.
Lyman axis: Russian forces attempted unsuccessful offensive operations in the vicinities of Spirne.
Stel'makhivka, Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast); Ivanivka, and Spirne (Donetsk oblast) came under artillery fire.
Bakhmut axis: fighting for the city of Bakhmut continues. Russian forces attempted an advance in the vicinity of Ivanivs'ke and Predtechyne. Vasyukivka, Min'kivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Novomarkove, Bakhmut, Ivanivske, Chasiv Yar, Novodmytrivka, and Toretsk (Donetsk oblast) suffered from Russian shelling.
Avdiivka axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive operations in the vicinities of Novokalynove, Sjeverne, and Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast). The invaders shelled Keramik, Novokalynove, Berdychi, Avdiivka, Tonen'ke, Netaylove, Pervomais'ke, and Karlivka.
Mar'inka axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled numerous Russian attacks in the vicinity of Mar'inka (Donetsk oblast). At the same time, the settlements of Krasnohorivka, Mar'inka, 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 17. The Russian invaders shelled the settlements of Shakhtars'ke, Novoukrainka, Velyka Novosilka, Neskuchne, Zolota Nyva, Prechystivka, and Vuhledar (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: Russia stays on the defensive. During the day of April 17, the Russian invaders shelled several settlements, including Vremivka, Novopil' (Donetsk oblast); Malynivka, Chervone, Hulyaipole, Charivne, Mala Tokmachka, Orikhiv (Zaporizhzhia oblast); Nikopol' (Dnipropetrovsk oblast); Zolota Balka, Beryslav, L'vove, Ivanivka, Mykil's'ke, Antonivka (Kherson oblast); and the city of Kherson.

About 200x newly mobilized members of reserve units of Russian occupation forces have arrived in Zaitseve (Donetsk oblast) to replenish casualties. These military were identified to have low morale due to the lack of clear instructions as to their further employment, the short period of individual and collective training, and inadequate logistics. Therefore, the newly-recruited occupiers are looking for any excuse to avoid participation in combat actions.

During the day of April 17, Ukrainian Air Force launched 12x air strikes on the concentrations of Russian troops. Ukrainian Defense Forces shot down 1x "Merlin" reconnaissance UAV. During the day of April 17, Ukrainian missile and artillery troops hit 2x concentrations of Russian troops, and 1x electronic warfare station.

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that, according to the Rybar Telegram channel, most of the railway station in Bakhmut has been liberated by Wagner PMC fighters. To the north, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (APU) are knocked out of the elevator, but continue to counterattack.

Russian units have entrenched themselves on Kraynaya Street and are storming the enemy fortifications on Pobedy Street. They also managed to advance to the garages in the Poselok area, passing along Levanevskogo Street.

To the north of the city, positional battles are taking place, during which the fortifications of the 56th brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the firing point in Malinovka were hit by artillery.

To the south of Seversk, Ukrainian units received reinforcements: crews of Stugna anti-tank missile systems arrived.

In the meantime, near Belogorovka, Russian fighters made their way through the enemy defenses to the south of the village and now got involved in clashes on the southeastern outskirts.

The situation in other directions

During the day, combat units of the RF Armed Forces, as well as artillery and aviation, inflicted damage on the enemy along the entire line of contact. Up to 490 Ukrainian servicemen, 3 Akatsiya and Gvozdika self-propelled howitzers, 8 armored vehicles, a tank, an infantry fighting vehicle, 10 vehicles, Msta-B and M777 guns were eliminated.

Attacks were made on 95 artillery positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and 123 areas of accumulation of manpower and equipment, 3 shells from HIMARS and 4 drones were intercepted. Under Sinkovka, Kislovka, Stelmakhovka and Novomikhailovka, the activities of four sabotage groups were suppressed.

In addition, in the area of ​​the settlement of Kupyevakha, Ukrainian radar stations for all-round visibility and targeting P-18 and 36D6 were destroyed. Near Novodanilovka and Novoandreevka, an ammunition depot was blown up, as well as a hangar with weapons and equipment of the 65th brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

On the border of the DPR and the Rostov region, when scanning a bus, 200 grams of hexogen (explosive) were found. At the same time, only law enforcement officers in civilian clothes were in the cabin. An investigation has been initiated.