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Russo-Ukraine War - 18 April 2023 - Day 419

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 heavy fighting has continued along the Donbas front line. However, there is a realistic possibility that Russia has reduced troop numbers and is decreasing offensive action around Donetsk city, most likely to divert resources towards the Bakhmut sector.

In Bakhmut, Russian MoD and Wagner Group forces continue to make creeping advances. The front line in the town centre largely follows the main railway line. Ukraine is generally holding Russia's envelopment from the south along the line of Korsunskovo Street, the old main road west out of town.

For both sides, the exact sequencing of any major drawdown of their units around Bakhmut has become a critical question, with Ukraine wanting to free-up an offensive force while Russia likely aspires to regenerate an operational reserve.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of April 18, Russian forces launched 4x missile, 44x air strikes, around 20x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements. The attacks caused civilian casualties. The likelihood of missile and air strikes across Ukraine remains quite high.

Russia continues to wage its war of aggression at the cost of heavy losses. The Russian invaders' main focus is the offensive operations on Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Mar'inka axes. During the day of April 18, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled around 30x attacks of the adversary in these areas of the frontline. The fiercest fighting is for Bakhmut and Mar'inka.
Volyn, Polissya, Sivershchyna, and Slobozhanshchyna axes: no significant changes. Certain units of the armed forces of the Republic of Belarus continue their missions in the areas bordering Ukraine. Certain units of the territorial troops of the Russian Armed Forces continue their deployment on the territory of belarus.
Russia continues to maintain military presence in the areas of Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod oblasts (Russia) bordering Ukraine.
During the day of April 18, Russian forces shelled the settlements of Koren'ok, Boyaro-Lezhachi, Iskryskivshchyna, Volfyne (Sumy oblast), Veterynarne, Kozacha Lopan', Hlyboke, Vovchans'k, Bochkove, Okhrimivka, and Nesterne (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Kam'yanka, Ridkodub, Krasne Pershe, Novomlyns'k, Dvorichna, and Zapadne (Kharkiv oblast) were shelled with artillery.
Lyman axis: Russian forces attempted to improve the tactical situation and conducted unsuccessful offensives near the settlement of Dibrova. Stel'makhivka, Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Ivanivka, Tors'ke, and Spirne (Donetsk oblast) were shelled with artillery.
Bakhmut axis: Russia continues its offensive operations.
Heavy battles for the city of Bakhmut continue. Vasyukivka, Min'kivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Hryhorivka, Bakhmut, Ivanivske, Chasiv Yar, Kostyantynivka, Toretsk, and New York, (Donetsk oblast) suffered from Russian shelling.
Avdiivka axis: Russian forces conducted offensive operations in the vicinities of Stepove, Berdychiv, Avdiivka, Sjeverne, and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast), to no success. The targets of the invaders' shelling included the settlements of Novokalynove, Avdiivka, Tonen'ke, and Pervomais'ke.
Mar'inka axis: during the day of April 18, Ukrainian defenders repelled numerous Russian attacks in the vicinity of settlement of Mar'inka. At the same time, Krasnohorivka, Mar'inka, Heorhiivka, Pobjeda, and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast) were shelled by Russian forces.
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces did not conduct any offensive operations during During the day of April 18. The Russian invaders shelled the settlements of Shakhtars'ke, Vuhledar, Novoukrainka, and Velyka Novosilka (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: Russia stays on the defensive. The invaders shelled several settlements, including Novopil' (Donetsk oblast), Ol'hivs'ke, Chervone, Hulyaipole, Charivne, Orikhiv, Stepove, Plavni (Zaporizhzhia oblast), Antonivka (Kherson oblast), and the city of Kherson. The attacks killed civilians.

During the day of April 18, Ukrainian Air Force air strikes launched 3x air strikes on the concentrations of Russian troops and 1x anti-aircraft missile system. Ukrainian missile and artillery troops hit 2x concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment, 1x electronic warfare station depots, and 1x other critical military target of the Russian occupant forces.

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that units of PMC "Wagner" continue to advance in the northern, central and southern parts of Bakhmut. During the day, units of Ukrainian troops in the areas of Vasyukovka, Minkovka, Orekhovo-Vasilevka, Grigorovka, Krasny, Chasov Yar were under fire.

During the briefing, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that aviation carried out 6 sorties in the Bakhmut direction in a day, artillery performed 63 fire missions. According to official data of the Ministry of Defense, the losses of Ukrainian troops per day exceeded 290 servicemen.

The situation in other directions

DNR

During the day, Ukrainian troops fired on Donetsk, Makeevka, Vladimirovka. As a result of attacks in the capital of the DPR, 3 civilians were killed, another was injured. Residential buildings were also damaged.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation during the briefing reported on the strikes on the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of Ugledar and Novopol. In the districts of Ternov and Avdiivka, the command posts of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were hit.

The Ukrainian command is transferring additional forces to the Ugledar direction. According to the Rybar Telegram channel, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are understaffing in the Novoukrainka area, and a large number of people and equipment are concentrated in positions in Bogatyr.

Acting head of the DPR Denis Pushilin and President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko held a meeting during which they discussed cooperation between the people's republic and Minsk. According to Pushilin, Donetsk is interested in the supply of Belarusian equipment - in particular, BELAZ and MAZ.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky visited the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Avdiivka, his office said. The apparatus noted that he heard the report of the commander of the local group of troops and presented awards to the military.

LC

During the day, Russian units hit enemy units in the areas of Chervonaya Dibrova and Chervonopopovka, the Russian Defense Ministry reported. In addition, the work of the sabotage and reconnaissance group (DRG) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was stopped near Novoselovsky.

On the territory of the LPR, mobile Internet was launched in test mode, said the acting head of the republic, Leonid Pasechnik. Previously, this type of communication was disabled for security reasons.

Zaporozhye region

In the Zaporozhye region, during the fire damage, 2 ammunition depots of Ukrainian troops were destroyed. In addition, during the day, Russian units attacked enemy positions in the areas of Malaya Tokmachka and Poltavka.

The authorities of the region intend to revive the Cossack structures, said the acting head of the Zaporizhia region Yevhen Balitsky. According to him, with the support of the administration, a meeting of leaders of Cossack organizations has already been held, where it was decided to create a registered army.

Kherson region

Over 25 Ukrainian servicemen were liquidated in the Kherson direction during the day. The Russian Ministry of Defense also reported on the destruction of 3 vehicles, the M777 artillery system and 2 D-30 howitzers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian army is preparing to cross the Dnieper, said Acting Governor of the Kherson region Volodymyr Saldo. According to him, a large amount of equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is concentrated on the right bank of the river, which indicates the plans of the Ukrainian command to organize a landing on the left bank.