Russo-Ukraine War - 13 May 2023 - Day 444

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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 over the last four days, elements of Russia's 72nd Separate Motor Rifle Brigade (72 SMRB) likely withdrew in bad order from their positions on the southern flank of the Bakhmut operation. Ukrainian forces regained at least a kilometre of territory.

The area has some tactical significance because it was a Russian bridgehead on the western side of the Donets-Donbas Canal, which marks the front line through parts of the sector.

72 SMRB is an element of Russia's 3rd Army Corps, a formation created in Autumn 2023 and dogged with allegations of poor morale and limited combat effectiveness. Its deployment to such a demanding and operationally important sector highlights Russia's severe shortage of credible combat units.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that this day, at night, the Russian Federation made another massive attack on the territory of Ukraine, using Iranian attack UAVs "Shahed-136/131". According to updated information, 18x out of 22x drones were destroyed by Ukrainian defenders.

In general, during this day, Russian forces launched missile attack with a S-300 missile against the civilian infrastructure of the city of Mykolaiv, as a result of which civilians were injured, a multi-story building and other civilian infrastructure were damaged. In addition, Russian forces carried out 66x airstrikes and shot about 70 rounds from MLRS. Settlements were also affected. In particular, as a result of the shelling of Kostyantynivka, Donetsk Oblast, there are 2 dead and 11 wounded civilians. Among them are children. A private house was destroyed, 4 high-rise buildings and other civil infrastructure were damaged.

The threat of launching missile and air strikes on the entire territory of Ukraine remains high, because Russia will continue to use terror tactics.

Russia continues to concentrate its main efforts on the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Mar'yinka axes. In general, during the day, about 40x combat clashes took place on the specified areas of the front, Bakhmut and Mar'yinka remain at the epicenter of hostilities.
Volyn' and Polissya axes: the operational situation has not changed significantly, and no signs of the formation of Russian offensive groups have been detected.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia continues to maintain a military presence in the areas bordering Ukraine.
Russians carried out airstrikes in the areas of the settlements of Mkhy, Progress, Semenivka of the Chernihiv Oblast and Budarka of the Kharkiv Oblast. They carried out mortar and artillery shelling of the settlements of Klyusy, Yelina, Zareche, Mkhi, Medvedivka of the Chernihiv Oblast and Stara Huta, Demyanivka, Bachivsk, Vilna Sloboda, Bobylivka of the Sumy Oblast, as well as Kozacha Lopan, Ogirtseve, Gatyshche, Bochkovo, Nesterne, Budarki on Kharkiv Oblast.
Kupyansk axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensives in the Novoselyvskyi area and the eastern outskirts of Stelmakhivka. They carried out airstrikes in the areas of the settlements of Vilshan and Kotlyarivka. Novomlynsk, Dvorichna, Tabaivka of the Kharkiv Oblast and Stelmakhivka of the Luhansk Oblast came under enRussian emy artillery and mortar fire.
Lyman axis: during the day, Russian forces did not conduct offensive operations. They carried out an airstrike on the areas of the settlements of Bilogorivka, Luhansk Oblast, and Verkhnokamianske and Spirne, Donetsk Oblast. Settlements near the battle line, such as Makiivka of Luhansk Oblast, Belogorivka, Verkhnokamianske Spirne, and Berestov of 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 in the axis of the settlements of Bohdanivka, Bakhmut and Bila Gora.
Along with conducting positional defense, Ukrainian defenders also conduct active actions, in particular, offensive ones. Vasyukivka, Orihovo-Vasylivka, Bohdanivka, Bakhmut, Ivanivske, Chasiv Yar, Bila Gora, Druzhba, Northern, Southern, Toretsk, Donetsk Oblasts were affected by Russian shelling.
Avdiivka axis: Russian forces launched an airstrike on the area of the settlement of Avdiivka. Pervomaiske and Karlivka in the Donetsk Oblast were also shelled with artillery.
Mar'yinka axis: units of the defense forces repelled numerous Russian attacks in the area of the city of Mar'yinka. At the same time, the settlements of Georgiyivka and Pobyeda in the Donetsk Oblast were also subjected to Russian shelling.
Shakhtars'ke axis during the day, Russian forces did not conduct offensive operations in the. They launched an airstrike on the Prechistivka area. russians shelled the settlements of Vugledar, Novoukrayinka, Prechistivka, and Shakhtarske.
Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: Russia continues to conduct defensive operations. They carried out airstrikes on the areas of the settlements of Vremivka in the Donetsk Oblast, Burlatske, Zatyshsha, Gulyaipole, Mali Shcherbaki in the Zaporizhia Oblast, as well as Berislav and Kozatske in the Kherson Oblast. In the meantime, they carried out shelling of populated areas, which are next to the line of military confrontation. Among them are Malynivka, Gulyaipole, Biloghirya, Novodanilivka, Novoandriivka, Novopavlivka, Mali Shcherbaki and Kam'ianske of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast; Zolota Balka, Mykhailivka, Antonivka, Chornobayivka of the Kherson Oblast and the city of Kherson.

Russian occupying forces continue to put pressure on Ukrainian citizens and violate human rights in the temporarily occupied territories. In particular, in Mariupol, on the territory of the police department, about 50 representatives of the investigative committee of the Russian Federation were involved for questioning the local population. They take part in humiliating interrogations accompanied by abuse of the civilian population.

At the same time, the Russian occupiers continue to use the infrastructure of temporarily captured settlements to provide medical care to their wounded servicemen. Recently, in the settlement of Tavriyske, Kherson Oblast, the Russian invaders set up a field hospital on the territory of a kindergarten. The day before, the arrival of 3 military trucks with wounded occupants was recorded.

During the day, the Air Force of the Defense Forces made 8x strikes on areas where the Russian forces' personnel and military equipment were concentrated, as well as a strike on the Russians' anti-aircraft missile system. Also, Ukrainian defenders shot down two Russian reconnaissance UAVs of the Orlan-10 type. Units of missile and artillery troops struck 4x areas of concentration ofRussian manpower, 2x ammunition warehouses, as well as 2x radio electronic warfare stations.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that on 12 May at around 6.30pm Moscow time, AFU Air Force combat aircraft launched a missile attack on Polipak polymer products company and Milam meat processing plant in Lugansk.

The strike was carried out using Storm Shadow missiles supplied to the Kiev regime by the UK, contrary to London's claims that these weapons would not be used on civilian targets.

As a result of the strike, a fire broke out on the territory of Lugansk food and chemical industries.

Some nearby residential buildings are destructed. Civilians, including six children, were injured.

The Russian Aerospace Forces fighter aircraft shot down AFU Su-24 aircraft that attacked Lugansk and Mig-29 fighter that was covering it.

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.

In Kupyansk direction, the attacks, launched by aviation, as well as artillery and heavy flamethrower systems of the Zapad Group of Forces, have resulted in the neutralisation of the enemy units close to Sinkovka, Kurilovka (Kharkov region), and Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People's Republic).
Two Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups have been thwarted near Berestovoye and Timkovka (Kharkov region).

The enemy losses were up to 170 Ukrainian servicemen, four motor vehicles, Gvozdika and Akatsiya self-propelled artillery systems.

In Krasny Liman direction, the attacks, launched by Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, as well as artillery of the Tsentr Group of Forces, have resulted in the neutralisation of AFU units near Terny, Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic), and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 75 Ukrainian servicemen, two infantry fighting vehicles, one Akatsiya self-propelled howitzer and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

In Donetsk direction, the assault detachments have liberated a neighbourhood in the northwestern part of Artyomovsk.

The Airborne Troops' units provided support to the assault units and restrained the enemy 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 Grigorovka, Krasnoye and Chasov Yar (Donetsk People's Republic).

Russian aviation have made 9 sorties in this area during the day. The Group's artillery have performed 98 firing missions.

The enemy losses were over 285 Ukrainian servicemen and mercenaries, two tanks, three infantry fighting vehicles, four armoured personnel carriers, four motor vehicles, two Akatsiya self-propelled howitzers, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one D-30 howitzer.

In addition, one AFU artillery-missile armament and munitions depot was destroyed near Kramatorsk (Donetsk People's Republic).

In South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, the attacks, launched by aviation and artillery of the Vostok Group of Forces have resulted in the neutralisation of the enemy units close to Ugledar, Pavlovka, Novopol (Donetsk People's Republic), Malinovka, Malaya Tokmachka and Novodanilovka (Zaporozhye region).

The actions of a Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group have been disrupted close to Novomayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were over 155 Ukrainian servicemen killed and wounded, 14 motor vehicles, as well as one U.S.-manufactured M777 artillery system.

In Kherson direction, the enemy losses were up to 20 Ukrainian servicemen, three motor vehicles, and one Giatsint-B gun.

One AFU ammunition depot has been destroyed near Nikolayev.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, and Artillery of the Russian Group of Forces have engaged 74 AFU artillery units, manpower, and hardware in 114 areas during the day.

One radar station of Ukrainian S-300 anti-aircraft missile system has been destroyed near Novodmitrovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The 5th Assault Brigade's battalion command and observation post has been hit near Krasnoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

One aircraft missiles and fuel depot for Ukrainian military equipment has been destroyed, close to Zaporozhye.

Fighter aviation of Russian Aerospace Forces has shot down one Mi-8 helicopter of Ukrainian Air Force near Kupyansk (Kharkov region).

Air defence facilities have intercepted three HIMARS projectiles. In addition, 18 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been shot down cloe to Velikiy Vyselok, Dvurechnoye (Kharkov region), Belogorovka, Kremennaya, Svatovo (Lugansk People's Republic), Veseloye (Donetsk People's Republic), Mirovoye, Pologi (Zaporozhye region), Korsunka and Krynki (Kherson region).

In total, 424 airplanes, 231 helicopters, 4,117 unmanned aerial vehicles, 421 air defence missile systems, 9,119 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,100 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 4,806 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 10,167 units of special military vehicles have been destroyed since the beginning of the special military operation.