Russo-Ukraine War - 14 May 2023 - Day 445

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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 paper, the Russian Combined Grouping of Forces (CGF) in Ukraine is similarly organised to the invasion force of 446 days ago. It still likely consists of over 200,000 personnel organised into around 70 combat regiments and brigades divided into five Groups of Forces. It still struggles with limited freedom to conduct air operations.

However, in February 2022 it consisted of professional soldiers; was largely equipped with reasonably modern vehicles; and had been regularly exercised, aspiring to complex, joint operations. Now the force is mostly poorly trained mobilised reservists and increasingly reliant on antiquated equipment, with many of its units severely under-strength. It routinely only conducts very simple, infantry-based operations.

Critically, it is unlikely that CGF has been able to generate a large, capable, mobile reserve to respond to emerging operational challenges. It is unlikely to be an organisation which will effectively cohere large-scale military effect along the 1,200 km front line under stress.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of May 14th, Russian forces launched 6x missile attacks, in particular on the city of Kharkiv and the village of Zolochiv. In addition, Russian forces carried out 27x air strikes and launched 20x MLRS attacks on Ukrainian settlements and Ukrainian Defense Forces. The attacks caused casualties among civilian population and damage to private houses and other civilian infrastructure.

The threat of missile and air strikes remains high across Ukraine.

Russia continues to concentrate its main efforts on Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Mar'inka axes. In total, up to 30x firefights occurred on specified axes. Heavy fighting continues in the cities of Bakhmut and Mar'inka.
Volyn' and Polissya axes: the operational situation has not changed significantly, there are no signs of the formation of offensive groupings.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia continues to maintain enhanced military presence in the areas bordering Ukraine. Hirs'ke, Leonivka and Popivka (Chernihiv oblast); Volfyne and Sadky (Sumy oblast); as well as Oleksandrivka and Starytsa (Kharkiv oblast) came under mortar and artillery fire.
Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces attempted unsuccessful offensives in the vicinities of Masyutivka and Synkivka. Air strikes took place near Vilshana and Kislivka. The settlements of Kam'ianka, Topoli, Krasne Pershe, Figolivka, Novomlynsk, Dvorichna, Zapadne, Kindrashivka, and Tabaivka (Kharkiv oblast); and Stelmakhivka (Luhansk oblast) were subjects to artillery and mortar fire.
Lyman axis: during the day, Russian forces did not conduct offensive operations. Russian forces carried out air strikes in the vicinities of Yampil, Biloghorivka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, and Spirne. Makiivka (Luhansk oblast); Biloghorivka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne, and Berestov (Donetsk oblast) were bombarded by Russian artillery.
Bakhmut axis: Russia continues to conduct offensive operaions. The battle for Bakhmut continues. Russian occupiers made unsuccessful attempts to advance towards Hryhorivka, Bohdanivka, and Predtechine.
Air strikes took place in the vicinities of Ivanivs'ke and Stupochki.
Hryhorivka, Bohdanivka, Bakhmut, Ivanivsєke, Chasiv Yar, Chervone, Kostyantynivka, Druzhba, Sjeverne, Torets'k, and Shumy (Donetsk oblast) were subjects to Russian attacks.
Avdiivka axis: Russian forces carried out air strikes in the vicinities of Novokalynove and Avdiivka; and shelled Stepove, Lastochkine, Avdiivka, Tonen'ke, Netaylove, Pervomais'ke, and Karlivka (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled several Russian attacks in the vicinities of Mar'inka. At the same time, the settlements of Krasnohorivka, Heorghiivka, Mar'inka, Pobieda, and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast) were subjects to Russian shelling.
Shakhtars'k axis: during the day, Russian forces did not conduct offensive operations. However, russian occupiers shelled Vuhledar, Novoukrayinka, and Prechistivka.
Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: Russian occupiers stayed on the defensive. They carried out air strikes in the vicinities of Kizomys and Stanislav (Kherson oblast).
Meanwhile, the Russian occupiers shelled about 30x Ukrainian settlements, including, Vremivka and Novopil' (Donetsk oblast); Hulyaipole, Zaliznychne, Biloghirya, Mala Tokmachka, and Kam'ians'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast); Nikopol' (Dnipropetrovsk oblast); Zolota Balka, Vesele, Lviv, Antonivka, Dniprovs'ke, and Kizomys (Kherson oblast) and the city of Kherson.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation continues to take measures to integrate illegal armed formations of the so-called "DPR" into its own armed forces. Thus, military personnel from the so-called "DPR" serving in the 1st army corps of the Russian Federation have been ordered to replace their military IDs with Russian military IDs, and to re-sign contracts with the Russian Federation minimum for 2-year term. In case of refusal, service members are threatened to be sent to the most dangerous segments of the front to participate in assault operations as part of advanced units.

During the day, Ukrainian Air Force carried out 12x strikes on areas where Russian personnel and military equipment were concentrated.

In addition, during this day, Ukrainian defenders intercepted 3x reconnaissance UAVs, including 2x "Orlan-10" type and 1x - "Supercam". Ukrainian missile and artillery units attacked 1x command post, 6x concentrations of Russian troops, 2x artillery units at firing positions and 1x more important Russian target.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have launched a long-range sea- and air-based high-precision weaponry strike against AFU units and the depots of Western munitions in Ternopol and Petropavlovka (Dnepropetrovsk region).

The goal of the attack has been reached. All the assigned targets have been neutralised.

In Kupyansk direction, the attacks, launched by Operational-Tactical and Army Aviation, as well as artillery of the Zapad Group of Forces, have resulted in the neutralisation of the enemy manpower and hardware close to Kislovka, Timkovka, Berestovoye, Tabayevka (Kharkov region), and Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People's Republic).

Two Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups have been thwarted near Ivanovka and Dvurechnaya (Kharkov region).

The enemy losses were over 100 Ukrainian servicemen, five motor vehicles, one D-20 howitzer and one Rapira anti-tank gun.

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

Over 60 Ukrainian personnel, one armoured fighting vehicle, two motor vehicles, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system have been eliminated.

In Soledar-Artyomovsk direction, the assault units supported by the Airborne Troops units continued fighting for the western neighbourhoods of Artyomovsk.

The enemy made massive attempts to break through Russian troops' defence to the north and south parts of Artyomovsk in the past 24 hour.

All the attacks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) have been repelled. There has been no breakthrough in the defence of Russian forces.

The servicemen of the 4th and 200th motorised rifle brigades and the 6th Motorised Rifle Division of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation showed courage and heroism in repulsing the enemy attacks.

The units of the 4th Motorised Rifle Brigade have repulsed the attacks by AFU battalion tactical group to the south of Krasnoye (Donetsk People's Republic), as a result of which the enemy losses were around 200 servicemen killed and wounded.

The Commander of the 4th Motorised Rifle Brigade Colonel Vyacheslav Makarov led the battle while on the front line.

Two enemy attacks have been repulsed. The brigade destroyed three tanks, four infantry fighting vehicles and two armoured vehicles.

During the repulsion of the third attack, the brigade commander was seriously wounded and died while being evacuated from the battlefield.

Deputy Army Corps Commander for Military and Political Work Colonel Yevgeny Brovko led the actions of the personnel while in another area to repel the enemy attacks.

During the battle to repel one of the attacks, Colonel Yevgeny Brovko died heroically, suffering multiple shrapnel wounds.

The military personnel of the 3rd Battalion of the 200th Motorised Rifle Brigade repelled six attacks to the east of Bogdanovka (Donetsk People's Republic) involving over 100 Ukrainian assault unit servicemen, seven tanks, 14 infantry fighting vehicles and other military and special-purpose equipment.

The enemy losses were seven tanks, 11 infantry fighting vehicles and over 50 Ukrainian servicemen.

The 6th Division repulsed an attack by the enemy assault units supported by three tanks and four infantry fighting vehicles. The enemy losses were over 30 Ukrainian servicemen, two tanks and three infantry fighting vehicles.

In accordance with the decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, distinguished Russian servicemen were presented with orders and other state awards directly at combat positions.

Russian aviation have made 24 sorties in this area during the day. The Group's artillery have performed 107 firing missions.

In total, in Soledar-Artyomovsk direction, the enemy losses were over 400 Ukrainian servicemen killed and wounded, 12 tanks, 18 infantry fighting vehicles, two armoured fighting vehicles, as well as one D-20 howitzer.

In South Donetsk and Zapororozhye directions, aviation, as well as artillery and heavy flamethrower systems of the Vostok Group of Forces inflicted a fire damage on the enemy units near Vodyanoye, Nikolskoye, Shevchenko, Velikaya Novosyolka (Donetsk People's Republic), Poltavka and Malaya Tokmachka (Zaporozhye region).

One AFU sabotage and reconnaissance group has been destroyed near Sladkoye (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy losses were over 120 Ukrainian servicemen, four motor vehicles, one Msta-B howitzer, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

In Kherson direction, the enemy losses were over 20 Ukrainian servicemen, six motor vehicles and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

One ammunition depot of Kherson Ukrainian army group has been destroyed near Nikolayev.

One U.S.-manufactured AN/TPQ-36 counterbattery warfare radar has been destroyed near Tyaginka (Kherson region).

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised 102 artillery units of the AFU at their firing positions, manpower and military hardware at 114 areas.

One AFU ammunition depot has been destroyed close to Khmelnitsky.

In addition, AFU 5th assault and 44th artillery brigades' command and control posts have been hit close to Krasnoye (Donetsk People's Republic) and Preobrazhenka (Zaporozhye region).

Fighter Aviation of Russian Aerospace Forces have shot down one AFU Su-27 aircraft near Novogrodovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Air defence facilities have shot down six projectiles launched by HIMARS MLRS.

In addition, air defence facilities have intercepted 18 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been shot down close to Golaya Pristan (Kherson region), Kirillovka, Spornoye, Vesyoloye, Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Novoaleksandrovka, Oborotnovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Petrovka and Zhovtnyovoye (Kharkov region).

In total, 425 airplanes, 231 helicopters, 4,135 unmanned aerial vehicles, 421 air defence missile systems, 9,159 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,100 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 4,813 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 10,193 units of special military vehicles have been destroyed since the beginning of the special military operation.