Russo-Ukraine War - 03 May 2023 - Day 434

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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 28 April and 01 May 2023, Russia mounted air launched cruise missile (ALCM) strikes against Ukraine. These were the first such strikes for 50 days, with the last prior strikes occurring on 09 March 2023.

The latest strikes were conducted by Russian Long Range Aviation strategic bombers, both Tu-95 and Tu-160 aircraft, likely using Kh-101 and Kh-555 ALCMs.

Both strikes used smaller numbers of missiles than seen in previous attacks, which is likely due to Russian attempts to rebuild its ALCM stockpiles. The observed types of facilities damaged by the Russian strikes indicates a possible shift away from targeting Ukraine's electrical power network. Both recent strikes were likely focused on Ukraine's military, industrial and logistical infrastructure.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the previous night, Russian forces launched yet another massive attack on the territory of Ukraine using Shahed-136/131 combat UAVs. 21x of 26x of these drones were intercepted by Ukrainian defenders.

Russian forces launched a total of 2x missile, 41x air strikes, around 25x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. The attacks caused civilian casualties, damage and destruction of private housing and other civilian infrastructure. The likelihood of missile and air strikes across Ukraine remains high.

Russia continues to focus its main efforts on offensive operations on Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Mar'inka axes, where Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled about 30x attacks during the day of May 3. The fiercest fighting is for Bakhmut and Mar'inka.
Volyn and Polissya axes: no signs of the formation of Russian offensive groups were found. The training of Russian territorial troops continues at the training grounds of the Republic of Belarus.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russian forces continue to maintain military presence in the areas of russia bordering Ukraine. During the day of May 3, the Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at the settlements of Buchky (Chernihiv oblast), Basivka, Yunakivka, Zapsillya (Sumy oblast), Sotnyts'kyi Kozachok, Hur'yiv Kozachok, Baranivka, Chervona Zorya, Strilecha, Hatyshche, Vovchans'ki Khutory, and Mykolaivka (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: the Russian offensive did not conduct any active operations. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at Topoli, Kam'yanka, Fyholivka, Dvorichna, Zapadne, Lyman Pershyi, Kyslivka, Krokhmal'ne, and Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive operations in the vicinity of Bilohorivka attempting to find weaknesses in Ukrainian defense. Makiivka, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, 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. Russian occupants' attacks towards the settlement of New York were unsuccessful. Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Bakhmut, Ivanivske, Chasiv Yar, Bila Hora, Pivnichne, Pivdenne, and New York (Donetsk oblast) suffered Russian shelling.
Avdiivka axis: Russian forces conducted offensive operations in the vicinity of Sjeverne (Donetsk oblast), to no success. The invaders also shelled Novokalynove, Berdychi, Avdiivka, Tonen'ke, Karlivka, Netaylove, and Pervomais'ke.
Mar'inka axis: Russian forces are attempting to improve their tactical position. During the day of May 3, Ukrainian defenders repelled numerous attacks in the vicinities of Mar'inka and Novomykhailivka. In addition, Krasnohorivka (Donetsk oblast) came under Russian fire.
Shakhtars'ke axis, Russian forces shelled the settlements of Vuhledar, Bohoyavlenka, Novoukrainka, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, and Shakhtars'ke (Donetsk Oblast).
Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: the Russian occupiers stay on the defensive. The invaders shelled Vremivka, Novosilka, Novopil' (Donetsk oblast), Hulyaipole, Mala Tokmachka, Novodanylivka, Orikhiv, Novoandriivka, Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast), Kapulivka (Dnipropetrovsk oblast), Antonivka (Kherson oblast), and the city of Kherson.

In order to provide at least somehow protect its troops from effective damage inflicted by the Ukrainian Defense Forces, Russia continues to cynically use the local civilians in the temporarily occupied territories. In the settlements of Kakhovs'kyi district, Russian invaders are deploying their units amid the private residences.

During the day of May 3, the Ukrainian Air Force launched 3x air strikes on the concentrations of Russian troops. In addition, during the day of May 3, Ukrainian defenders intercepted 5x reconnaissance UAVs of various types and 1x Lancet barrage munition. Ukrainian missile and artillery troops hit 1x concentration of troops and 1x Russian ammunition depot.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, aviation and artillery of the Zapad Group of Forces have engaged the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People's Republic), and Kamenka (Kharkov region).

Up to 40 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer were destroyed.

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 Nevskoye and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic).

Up to 50 Ukrainian personnel, one armoured fighting vehicle, two pick-up trucks, and two Msta-B howitzers.

In Donetsk direction, the assault detachments continue fighting in the west part of the city of Artyomovsk. Russia's Airborne Troops have been paralysing the enemy's action on the flanks. 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 Bogdanovka and Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The Russian aviation have made 9 sorties in this area during the day. The Group's artillery have performed 63 firing missions.

The enemy's losses in this direction during the day amounted to over 385 Ukrainian servicemen and mercenaries, one tank, four armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, and D-20 and D-30 howitzers.

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

Total enemy losses in these directions amounted to over 70 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, and one Giatsint-B howitzer.

In Kherson direction, more than 40 Ukrainian servicemen, three motor vehicles, one Giatsint-B howitzer, and one Akatsiya self-propelled gun have been eliminated during the day.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Group of Forces have engaged 86 AFU artillery units, manpower and hardware in 102 areas during the day.

One U.S.-manufactured AN/TPQ-50 counterbattery warfare radar has been destroyed near Stepnogorsk (Zaporozhye region).

An ammunition depot was annihilated close to Progress (Sumy region).

The air defence forces intercepted four HIMARS MLRS projectiles and one U.S.-made JDAM bomb during the day.

Moreover, 16 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been shot down close to Podstepnoye (Kherson region), Olshany, Svatovo (Lugansk People's Republic), Sergeevka, Volnovkha, Vasilyevka (Donetsk People's Republic), Tavolzhanka (Kharkov region), and Romashkovo (Sumy region).

In total, 416 airplanes and 230 helicopters, 3,935 unmanned aerial vehicles, 421 air defence missile systems, 8,948 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,095 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 4,717 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 9,928 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.