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Russo-Ukraine War - 28 April 2023 - Day 429

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 last week, Russian media reported that the annual Russian International Army Games will not take place in 2023. Pitched as the 'War Olympics', the games have symbolised Russia's attempt to re-establish the military at the heart of popular culture. The festival-like event is particularly known for the Tank Biathlon.

Russia has likely cancelled the games mainly because it is concerned the event would be seen as frivolous in wartime. Russian nationalist commentators, including former intelligence officer Igor Girkin, fiercely criticised the Russian Ministry of Defence (MOD) for going ahead with the 2022 iteration.

There is also a realistic possibility that due to losses in Ukraine, the Russian MOD is concerned a shortage of tanks, tank crews and other skilled personnel will risk the Russian team's usual domination of the medals table.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during this day of April 28, the Russian Federation launched yet another massive missile attack on civilian facilities and residential buildings. Unfortunately, there were hits that killed and wounded civilians. Having failed to achieve the desired results on the battlefield, the Russian aggressor cynically continues to use tactics of terror in gross violation of the rules of International Humanitarian Law.

During the day of April 28, the adversary launched a total of 23x X-101 and X-555 cruise missiles. Ukrainian defenders destroyed 21x cruise missiles and 2x operational-tactical level UAVs. The cities of Uman' (Cherkasy oblast), Dnipro, and Ukrainka (Kyiv oblast) suffered from russian missile terror. According to preliminary information, more than 20x civilians were killed, including 3x children. More than 10x apartment buildings and other civilian infrastructure were damaged. Russian forces also launched 28x air strikes and 11x MLRS attacks. The likelihood of missile and air strikes across Ukraine remains high.

Russia is focusing its main efforts on the offensive operations on Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Mar'inka axes. The Russian invaders conducted more than 40x attacks in these areas of the frontline during the day of April 28. Bakhmut and Mar'inka remain at the epicenter of the fighting, Ukrainian soldiers are bravely holding the line.
Volyn and Polissya axes: no major changes in the operational situation. No signs of formation of an offensive group.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia continues to maintain military presence in the areas of russia bordering Ukraine. During the day of April 28, Russian forces launched air strikes on the settlements of Semenivka and Leonivka. The Russian invaders shelled the settlements of Halahanivka, Leonivka, Buchky (Chernihiv oblast), Romashkove, Vil'na Sloboda, Iskryskivshchyna, Volfyne, Obody (Sumy oblast), Morokhovets', Lyptsi, Hatyshche, Volokhivka, Nesterne, and Budarky (Kharkiv oblast) with mortars and artillery.
Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces did not conduct any offensive operations, actively using UAVs to spot for artillery fire. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at the settlements of Krasne Pershe, Novomlyns'k, Fyholivka, Dvorichna, Zapadne, Lyman Pershyi, Syn'kivka, Kyslivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast), and Novoselivs'ke (Luhansk oblast).
Lyman axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensives towards Bilohorivka. The Russian invaders launched air strikes on the settlements of Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka, Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Spirne, and Ivanivka. Makiivka, Nevs'ke, Dibrova, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, and Spirne (Donetsk oblast) were shelled with artillery.
Bakhmut axis: Russia continues its offensive operations. Battles in the city of Bakhmut continue. In addition, Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive operations towards the settlements of Bohdanivka and Chasiv Yar during the day of April 28. Vasyukivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Bakhmut, Hryhorivka, Ivanivske, Kostyantynivka, Oleksandro-Shul'tyne, Pivdenne, Nelipivka, and New York (Donetsk oblast) suffered from Russian shelling.
Avdiivka axis: Russian forces conducted offensive operations in the vicinities of settlements of Avdiivka, Sjeverne, and Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast), to no success. The Russian invaders shelled the settlements of Novobakhmutivka, Novokalynove, Avdiivka, Vodyane, Pervomais'ke, and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled Russian attacks in the vicinity of settlements of Mar'inka and Novomykhailivka. 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 the day of April 28. The Russian invaders launched air strikes on Vuhledar, Prechystivka, and Shakhtars'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: the Russian adversary continues to defend. Yet, Russian forces shelled more than 40x settlements, including Hulyaipole, Zaliznychne, Huliaipilske, Bilohir'ya, Vysoke (Zaporizhzhia oblast), Mylove, Beryslav, Odradokam'yanka, Vesele, Antonivka, Kherson, and Bilozerka (Kherson oblast).

Russia continues to use educational institutions of the temporarily occupied territories, having them re-purposed as military facilities, hiding behind a human shield of schoolchildren and the teaching staff. For example, Russian occupation troops are stationed in the building of a local school in the settlement of Lub'yanka (Luhansk oblast). The personnel are stationed in the buildings of educational institutions, as they force the teaching staff to continue the educational process, with the attendance of children and teaching staff being mandatory.

The Russian occupiers re-purposed the local hospital in Kalanchak (Kherson oblast) into a military hospital, where a large number of gravely wounded russians were brought to on April 27. Russian forces used a KAMAZ-based medical truck to transport the casualties.

During the day of April 28, the Ukrainian Air Force launched 4x air strikes on the concentrations of Russian troops and military equipment. Ukrainian of missile and artillery troops hit 3x Russian command posts, 1x ammunition depot, and 4x concentrations.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that Russian units stop the attempts of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) to transfer reserves to help the remaining garrison in the city, but the enemy still puts up fierce resistance.

Artillery and aviation hit targets in Chasovoy Yar, Ivanovsky, Predtechino and Bogdanovka. Over the past day, Ukraine has lost up to 300 people in the Bakhmut direction, 3 infantry fighting vehicles, 4 armored cars, 8 vehicles and a D-30 howitzer.

There is also evidence of attacks on the joint defense headquarters of Bakhmut and units of the "Foreign Legion" in Konstantinovka.

The situation in other areas

During the day, artillery and aircraft of the RF Armed Forces hit 86 artillery positions and 112 areas of concentration of units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. A Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter was shot down over Drobyshevo. Eight rockets from HIMARS and Uragan were also intercepted, as well as five drones.

In the Kupyansk, Zaporizhia, Kherson and South Donetsk directions, the enemy lost about 265 servicemen, 2 armored vehicles, D-20, Msta-B and 3 D-30 howitzers, 7 vehicles, 2 Akatsiya self-propelled guns.

In addition, an ammunition depot of the 127th brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was destroyed in the Sinelnikovo area, and an AN / TPQ-50 counter-battery radar was destroyed near Bondarny.

Nevertheless, the Armed Forces of Ukraine also continue to attack Donbass. Today, the Ukrainian army carried out a massive shelling of Donetsk from multiple rocket launchers and cannon artillery. More than 15 houses, the Olympic stadium and the trauma center were damaged. Also there was a direct hit in a minibus with people. As a result, 9 civilians were killed and at least 19 others were injured.