Russo-Ukraine War - 06 May 2023 - Day 437

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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 six Russian regions, occupied Crimea, and 21 cities have cancelled their 09 May Victory Day parades citing security concerns. Victory Day commemorates the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany. Moscow's Victory Day celebration is likely to go ahead but on a smaller scale. Russian President Vladimir Putin's reception following the parade (last held in 2019) will not go ahead.

The traditional March of the Immortal Regiment, where family members display photographs of deceased veterans of the Second World War, associated with Victory Day, has also been cancelled. This follows the recent cancellation of the Russian-hosted International Army Games.

The timing of the UAV strike on the Kremlin a few days before Victory Day shows Russia's increasing vulnerability to such attacks and has almost certainly raised the threat perception of the Russian leadership over the Victory Day events. The potential for protests and discontent over the Ukraine war are also likely to have influenced the calculus of the Russian leadership.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during this day, Russian forces launched 6x missile attacks, in particular on the cities of Chasiv Yar, Kostiantynivka and Kherson. In addition, the Russian Federation carried out 25x airstrikes and more than 20 rounds from MLRS. Private residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged. 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 Bakhmut and Mar'yinka axes. Heavy battles are being fought for the cities of Bakhmut and Mar'yinka. In general, during the day, Russian forces conducted more than 30x attacks.
Volyn' and Polissya axes: no signs of the formation of offensive groups were found. Training of Russian territorial defense units continues at the training grounds of the Republic of Belarus.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia maintains a military presence in the border areas with Ukraine. During the day, Russian forces carried out airstrikes in the areas of Zareche, Leonivka and Krasny Khutir settlements of Chernihiv Oblast. They carried out mortar and artillery shelling of the settlements of Zalizniy Myst, Leonivka, Chernihiv Oblast; Rivne, Boyaro-Lezhachi, Volfyne of the Sumy Oblast, as well as Lemishchene, Graniv, Kozacha Lopan', Strelecha, Lukyantsi, Neskuchne, Staritsa, Vovchanski Khutory, Okhrimivka, Chorne and Khatnye in the Kharkiv Oblast.
Kupyansk axis: Russian forces carried out unsuccessful offensive actions near the settlement of Synkivka. Krasne Pershe, Dvorichna, Zapadne, Synkivka, Pischane, Vyshneve and Stelmakhivka of the Kharkiv Oblast were subjected to artillery and mortar shelling.
Lyman axis: Russian forces is searching for weak points in our defense. They led offensive actions on the axis of Bilogorivka and Spirny, but were unsuccessful. Makiivka and Nevske of the Luhansk Oblast and Belogorivka and Spirne of the Donetsk Oblast were hit by artillery fire.
Bakhmut axis: Russian forces continue offensive actions. Fighting continues in the city of Bakhmut. During the day, Russian forces carried out unsuccessful offensive actions on the axiss of Bohdanivka, Ivanovsky, Predtechyny and New York. Vesele, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Markove, Hryhorivka, Bakhmut, Ivanivske, Chasiv Yar, Kostyantynivka, Oleksandro-Shultyne, Pivdenne, Toretsk, Severnye and New York of the Donetsk Oblast were affected by Russian shelling.
Avdiivka axis: during the day, Russian forces did not carry out any offensive operations. They shelled the settlements of Berdychi, Avdiyivka, Severna, Karlivka, Netaylove and Pervomaiske of the Donetsk Oblast.
Mar'yinka axis: units of the defense forces repelled numerous Russian attacks in the vicinity of Mar'yinka. At the same time, the settlements of Georgiyivka and Pobyeda of the Donetsk Oblast were subjected to Russian shelling.
Shakhtars'ke axis: during the day, Russian forces did not carry out offensive actions. Fired at Vodyane, Vugledar, Prechistivka and Zolota Niva of the Donetsk Oblast.
Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axis: Russia continues to be on the defensive. Russian forces carried out shelling of populated areas, which are not far from the frontline. In particular, these are Burlatsk, Vilne Pole, Novopil' of the Donetsk Oblast; Olhivske, Malynivka, Gulyaipole, Charivne, Biloghirya, Mala Tokmachka, Novodanilivka, Mali Shcherbaki, Kam'ianske of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast; Zolota Balka, Antonivka of the Kherson Oblast and the city of Kherson.

The Russian occupiers do not stop robbing Ukrainian citizens and businesses in the temporarily occupied territories. In Energodar, as of May 5, not a single car was left on the territory of the Elektropivdenmontazh-10 enterprise. The warehouse was looted, and machine tools were also taken away.

Increasingly, information is being received about the low level of morale and psychological condition of Russian personnel. Thus, in one of the divisions of the Russian occupation forces, located in the village of Mulino, Nizhny Novgorod region, commanders openly refer to subordinates as "cannon fodder." In addition, servicemen complain about unsatisfactory medical care, as well as provision of personal protective equipment and equipment. About 50% of the personnel do not have the opportunity to issue payment cards, they fear that in the event of their death, their funds will not reach their families.

During the day, the Air Force of the Defense Forces of Ukraine carried out 5x strikes on areas where Russian personnel and military equipment were concentrated, as well as a strike on the Russian forces' anti-aircraft missile system.

During this day, Ukrainian defenders destroyed 4x attack UAVs "Shahed-136/131" and 2x reconnaissance drones.

During the day, units of missile and artillery forces hit the control post, 3x areas of the concentration of Russian weapons and military equipment, as well as an artillery unit in a firing position.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, the attacks, launched by aviation and artillery of the Zapad Group of Forces, have resulted in the neutralisation of the AFU units close to Kislovka and Berestovoye (Kharkov region).

 The AFU losses were up to 50 Ukrainian servicemen, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles and one Akatsiya self-propelled howitzer.

In Krasny Liman direction, Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, as well as the artillery of the 'Tsentr' Group of Forces, have neutralised the enemy near Nevskoe and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic).

 The enemy losses were up to 60 Ukrainian servicemen, one armoured fighting vehicle, three pickup trucks, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system and two D-30 howitzers.

In Donetsk direction, the assault detachments continued to conduct combat actions against the enemy in the western part of Artyomovsk. The Airborne Troops units were constraining the enemy movement on the flanks.

 Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, as well as artillery of the Yug Group of Forces inflicted a fire damage on the enemy units close to Chasov Yar and Bogdanovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

 The Russian aviation have made 7 sorties in this area during the day. The Group's artillery have performed 72 firing missions.

 The enemy losses were over 185 Ukrainian servicemen and mercenaries, one tank, four armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, two D-20 howitzers and one D-30 howitzer.

In South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, the aviation and artillery operations of the 'Vostok' Group of Forces have resulted in the neutralisation of the AFU units near Gulyai Pole (Zaporozhye region), and Ugledar (Donetsk People's Republic).

 The enemy losses were up to 90 Ukrainian personnel, two armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer.

 One ammunition depot of the AFU 35th Marine Corps Battalion has been destroyed close to Velikaya Novosyolka.

In Kherson direction, the enemy losses were up to 35 Ukrainian servicemen, two motor vehicles and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised 85 artillery units of the AFU at their firing positions, manpower and military hardware at 104 areas.

 One U.S.-manufactured AN/TPQ-48 counterbattery warfare radar has been destroyed close to Verkhnekamenka (Lugansk People's Republic). 

Air defence forces intercepted three HIMARS multiple-launch rocket system projectiles and one HARM anti-radar missile.

 Air defence facilities have shot down 32 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles close to Novoandreyevka, Svatovo, Pshenichnoye (Lugansk People's Republic), Gorlovka, Volnovakha (Donetsk People's Republic), Vasilyevka, Chubaryovka and Orekhov (Zaporozhye region).

In total, 418 airplanes, 230 helicopters, 3,995 unmanned aerial vehicles, 421 air defence missile systems, 9,002 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,096 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 4,748 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 10,002 units of special military vehicles have been destroyed since the beginning of the special military operation.