Russo-Ukraine War - 02 May 2023 - Day 433

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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]

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The UK Ministry of Defence reported that on 27 April 2023, Russian military-linked social media claimed that Russia's Deputy Defence Minister, Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev, had been dismissed. Mizintsev held the military logistics portfolio, and had only been in post for eight months.

Mizintsev's sacking was not immediately confirmed, but speculation about his future highlights how logistics problems remain at the heart of Russia's struggling campaign in Ukraine. Russia does not have enough munitions to achieve success on the offensive. Paucity of ammunition drives internal divisions, most notably between Russia's Ministry of Defence and Wagner Group.

Russia continues to give the highest priority to mobilising its defence industry, but it is still failing to meet war time demands. While Russia's political leaders persist in demanding success on the battlefield, Russia's logistics professionals are stuck in the middle.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Russian forces launched 3x missile strikes, 30x air strikes and carried out about 8x attacks from MLRS on the positions of Ukrainian troops and populated areas. There are wounded among the civilian population, destroyed and damaged private houses and other civilian infrastructure. The threat of launching missile and air strikes on the entire territory of Ukraine remains high.

Russia continues to focus its main efforts on conducting offensive actions on the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Mar'yinka axes. Units of the defense forces of Ukraine repelled more than 20x Russian attacks on the specified areas of the front during the day. The fiercest battles are going on for Bakhmut and Mar'yinka, Ukrainian soldiers are steadfastly defending.
Volyn' and Polissya axes: no signs of the formation of Russian offensive groups were detected. Certain units of the armed forces of the Russian Federation continue to be located on the territory of the Tepublic of Belarus.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia maintains a military presence in the in the Bryansk, Kursk and Belgorod regions bordering Ukraine. During the day, they carried out artillery and mortar shelling of the settlements of Hasychivka, Yeline, Bleshnya, Karpovychi, Tymonovichi, Leonivka, Muravya of the Chernihiv Oblast; Znob-Novgorodsk, Uralov, Seredyna-Buda, Kucherivka, Rivne, Vorozhba, Volfine, Mykolaivka, Myropillia in the Sumy Oblast, as well as Veterinarne, Vilkhivka, Gatyshche, Vovchansk, Potykhonov in the Kharkiv Oblast.
Kupyansk axis: Russian forces did not conduct offensive operations. Krasne Pershe, Figolivka, Novomlynsk, Lyman Pershyi, Kupyansk, Kislivka, Krokhmalne, Berestov of the Kharkiv Oblast were subjected to Russian artillery and mortar attacks.
Lyman axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive actions on the axis south of Dibrova. Makiivka of the Luhansk Oblast, Belogorivka, Verkhnokamianske, Spirne of the Donetsk Oblast were hit by artillery fire.
Bakhmut axis: Russia continues to conduct offensive actions. Heavy fighting continues for the city of Bakhmut. In addition, during the day, Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive actions near the settlements of Ivanovske and Predtechine. Vasyukivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Novomarkove, Hryhorivka, Khromove, Bakhmut, Ivanivske, Chasiv Yar, Kostyantynivka, Predtechine, Diliivka and Pivdenne of the Donetsk Oblast were affected by Russian shelling.
Avdiyiv axis: Russian forces carried out unsuccessful offensive actions in the vicinities of Pervomaisky. Shelled the settlements of Novokalynove, Avdiivka, Severne, Tonenke, Karlivka, Netaylove, and Pervomaiske of the Donetsk Oblast.
Mar'yinka axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled numerous Russian attacks in the Mar'yinka area during the day. Krasnohorivka, Georgiivka, Mar'yinka, Pobyeda and Novomykhailivka of the Donetsk Oblast got under Russian fire.
Shakhtars'ke axis: during the current day, Russian forces did not conduct offensive operations. They shelled the settlements of Novoukrayinka and Prechistivka in the Donetsk Oblast.
Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: Russian forces continue to conduct defensive operations. At the same time, during the day, theyshelled more than 30x settlements bordering the frontline. Among them are Vremivka, Novosilka, Donetsk Oblast; Gulyaipole, Biloghirya, Mala Tokmachka, Novodanilivka, Novoandriivka and Kamianske of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast; Nikopol', Dnipropetrovsk Oblast; Zolota Balka, Dudchany, Kachkarivka, Vesele, Lviv, Ivanivka, Mykilske, Antonivka, Dniprovske, Kizomys of the Kherson Oblast and the city of Kherson.

In the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, there are still cases of violent abduction of the pro-Ukrainian civilian population, as well as the construction of new torture camps for their detention. In particular, Russian terrorists set up one of these torture chambers in the police department of the temporarily captured Chaplynka of the Kherson Oblast. Up to ten civilians, including minors, are being illegally detained there at the moment. The Russian occupiers keep people in harsh, inhumane conditions and torture them. There are cases when kidnapped people were tortured to death by Russian terrorists.

Aviation of the Defense Forces per day made 5x strikes on areas of concentration of Russian personnel. Ukrainian defenders also shot down three Russian UAVs of different types. Missile and artillery units hit one command post, twelve manpower concentration areas, four ammunition depots, one anti-aircraft defense and one more important Russian target.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.

In Kupyansk direction, aviation and artillery of the Zapad Group of Forces have engaged the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Novoselovskoye, Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Novomlynsk, Timkovka, and Kamenka (Kharkov region). In addition, actions of two sabotage and reconnaissance groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been thwarted near Sinkovka and Berestovoye (Kharkov region).

Up to 60 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, one D-20 howitzer, and a Gvozdika self-propelled artillery unit have been eliminated in this direction during the day. Moreover, an ammunition depot of the 14th Mechanised Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was destroyed close to Kislovka (Kharkov region).

In Krasny Liman direction, Operational-Tactical and Army aviation and artillery of the Tsentr Group of Forces engaged the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Chervonaya Dibrova, Nevskoye (Lugansk People's Republic), and Serebryanka and Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Up to 65 Ukrainian personnel, two armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, and two D-20 howitzers. An ammunition depot of the 81st Airmobile Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has been hit close to Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

In Donetsk direction, the assault detachments continue fighting in the west part of the city of Artyomovsk. ?? The Russian aviation have made 7 sorties in this area during the day. The Group's artillery have performed 74 firing missions.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrowers of the Yug Group of Forces have foiled enemy's attempts to counter-attack from the areas of Chasov Yar, Bogdanovka, and Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic). Russia's Airborne Troops have been paralysing the enemy's action on the flanks of the assault detachments.

The enemy's losses in this direction during the day amounted to up to 290 Ukrainian servicemen and mercenaries, one tank, four armoured fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles, and a D-20 howitzer.

In South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, aviation and artillery of the Vostok Group of Forces inflicted a fire damage on AFU units close Ugledar (Donetsk People's Republic), and Temirovka, Gulyai Pole, and Orekhov (Zaporozhye region).

Up to 50 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer were destroyed.

In Kherson direction, up to 30 Ukrainian servicemen and three motor vehicles have been neutralised by fire. Moreover, an ammunition depot of the 124th Territorial Defence Brigade was neutralised close to Antonovka.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised 92 AFU artillery units at their firing positions, enemy manpower and hardware in 124 areas.

Russian air defence facilities have shot down three Ukrainian airplanes. Two Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jets have been shot down near Ulyanovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and Mirolyubovka (Kherson region). In addition, a Su-25 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force was shot down near Veletenskoye (Kherson region).

Air defence systems have also intercepted eight HIMARS projectiles and two HARM anti-radiation missiles during the day. In addition, six Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been destroyed in the areas of Zhytlovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Malaya Belozerka (Zaporozhye region), and Korsunka and Kakhovka (Kherson region).

In total, 416 airplanes and 230 helicopters, 3,919 unmanned aerial vehicles, 321 air defence missile systems, 8,938 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,095 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 4,709 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 9,911 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.