Russo-Ukraine War - 16 May 2023 - Day 447

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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 Wagner Group forces continue to make gradual progress in clearing Ukrainian positions in the town centre of the contested Donetsk Oblast town of Bakhmut. However, over the last four days, Ukrainian forces have made tactical progress stabilising the flanks of Bakhmut to their advantage.

As well as progress to the south of town, Ukrainian assaults have forced back the Russian frontline to the north-west of the town. This has likely enabled Ukrainian forces to re-establish more secure use of the key 0506 supply road.

Ukraine is holding Russia's western advances along the line of Donets-Donbas Canal, turning the waterway into an obstacle as part of a deep defensive zone around the town of Chasiv Yar.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Russian Federation launched another massive missile attack on the civilian and critical infrastructure of Ukraine. The russian aggressor cynically continues to use terror tactics.

During the day of May 16th, Russian forces launched 27x missile and 37x air strikes, launched about 20x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian forces and populated areas. Precise information states that Russia used 6x 'Kinzhal' aeroballistic missiles, 9x 'Caliber' cruise missiles and 10x land-based missiles (S-400, Iskander-M) for missile strikes, all of which were destroyed by Ukrainian Air Defense. The Russian occupiers launched 2x more S-300 missiles at the civilian infrastructure of Kostyantynivka, Donetsk Oblast.

The civil infrastructure was damaged. In particular, due to shelling of settlements Dvorichna, Vovchansk and Tyshchenkovka of the Kharkiv Oblast, civilians were killed and wounded; private houses, a hospital and other civil infrastructure were destroyed.
Russia continues to concentrate its main efforts on Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Mar'inka axes. In total, up to 44x firefights took place on specified axes. Heavy fighting continues in the cities of Bakhmut and Mar'inka.
Volyn' and Polissya axes: no signs of the formation of Russian offensive groups were detected. Certain units of the armed forces of the Republic of Belarus continue to be present in the areas bordering Ukraine. The transfer of the Russian territorial troops, which were trained at the training grounds of Belarus, to the frontline continues.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russian forces continues to maintain a military presence in the areas bordering Ukraine. They carried out mortar and artillery shelling of Murav'yi settlements in Chernihiv Oblast; Romashkove, Iskriskivshchyna, Volfyne, Kindrativka, Sadky, Zapsilya of the Sumy Oblast, as well as Kozacha Lopan, Hoptivka, Luk'yantsi, Hatyshche, Pletenivka, Budarky, Nesterne, Krugle, Zemlyanky, Starits'a and Budarky in the Kharkiv Oblast.
Kup'yans'k axis: the Russian adversary carried out unsuccessful offensive operations in the vicinities of Masyutivka, Kharkiv Oblast, and Novoselyvs'ky and Stelmakhivka, Luhansk Oblast. russians conducted airstrikes near the settlements of Budarka, Vilshana, Kislivka, Kotlyarivka and Tabaivka of the Kharkiv Oblast. Dvorichanske, Kam'ianka, Krasne Pershe, Figolivka, Novomlyns'k, Dvorichna, Masyutivka, Kindrashivka, Kup'yans'k, Kislivka, Tabaivka, Berestov of Kharkiv Oblast and Stelmakhivka of Luhansk Oblast were subjected to Russian artillery and mortar attacks.
Lyman axis: Russian forces carried out offensive operations in the area of Belogorivka, Luhansk Oblast. They carried out airstrikes in the areas of the settlements of Bilogorivka in the Luhansk Oblast and Spirne, Sivers'k and Chervone in the Donetsk Oblast. Makiivka, Nevs'ke, Belogorivka of the Luhansk Oblast and Verkhn'okam'ians'ke, Torske, Spirne of the Donetsk Oblast were shelled by artillery.
Bakhmut axis: Russia continues to conduct offensive operations. Heavy fighting continues for Bakhmut. In addition, during the day, Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive operations in the vicinities of the settlement of Ivanovske. Invaders carried out airstrikes in the areas of Bohdanivka, Bakhmut, Ivanivske, and Toretsk settlements of the Donetsk Oblast. Hryhorivka, Bohdanivka, Bakhmut, Ivanivs'ke, Chasiv Yar, Stupochki, Pivnichne, Toretsk of the Donetsk Oblast were affected by artillery fire.
Avdiivka axis: Russia continues to destroy the infrastructure of settlements, carried out airstrikes on Avdiivka and Vodyanivka, shelled the settlements of Novokalynove, Berdychi, Stepove, Avdiivka, Pervomaiske, Nevel's'ke, and Karlivka of the Donetsk Oblast.
Mar'inka axis: Ukrainian armed Forces forces repelled numerous Russian attacks in the vicinities of Mar'inka. Russian forces launched an air strike in the Krasnohorivka area. At the same time, Gostre, Mar'inka, and Pobyeda of the Donetsk Oblast also got under Russian fire.
Shakhtars'k axis: during the day, Russian forces carried out airstrikes in the areas of Vugledar and Velyka Novosilka. They striked at Novomykhailivka, Paraskoviivka, Vugledar, Prechistivka and Novoukrayinka of the Donetsk Oblast.
Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: Russian forces are on the defensive. They carried out airstrikes on the settlements of Vremivka in the Donetsk Oblast, Novodanilivka in the Zaporizhia Oblast, and Berislav, Kizomys, and Mala Tokmachka in the Kherson Oblast. Meanwhile, they carried out artillery shelling of the settlements of Ol'hivske, Malinivka, Hulyaipole, Zaliznychne, Hulyaipilske, Biloghirya, Shcherbaki, Stepove and Kam'ianske of the Zaporizhia Oblast, as well as Tokarivka, Kizomys of the Kherson Oblast and the city of Kherson.

The Russian occupiers continue to rob the population of Ukraine, appropriating the grain harvest of peaceful citizens. Therefore, in the city of Feodosia, temporarily occupied Crimea, the so-called Russian occupation "authorities" are trying to transport the stolen grain to ports by loading it onto the sanctioned Syrian ship "Souria".

During the day, Ukrainian Air Force carried out 13x strikes on the Russian forces' personnel and military equipment concentration areas, as well as 3x strikes on the Russian forces' anti-aircraft missile systems. Also Ukrainian defenders destroyed 1x Iranian strike UAV "Shahed" and 2x reconnaissance drones.

Ukrainian missile and artillery units striked at 5 areas of concentration of manpower, 3 stations of radio-electronic warfare, 2 warehouses of Russian ammunition and 1 point of fuel and lubricating materials of the Russian occupiers.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that it launched a combined attack with long-range precision-guided air- and sea-based weapons against the AFU units, as well as depots of ammunition, weapons and military equipment supplied by Western countries.

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

U.S.-manufactured Patriot surface-to-air missile system has been struck by Kinnzhal hypersonic glide vehicle in Kiev.

In Kupyansk direction, the attacks, launched by aviation and artillery of the Zapad Group of Forces, have resulted in the neutralisation of the AFU manpower and hardware close to Novomlynsk and Kislovka (Kharkov region).

The actions of five Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups have been suppressed close to Timkovka, Masiutovka, Kotlyarovka (Kharkov region), and Novosyolovskoye and Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 60 Ukrainian servicemen and four motor vehicles.

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

The AFU losses were up to 65 Ukrainian servicemen, two infantry vehicles, and one Akatsiya self-propelled howitzer.

In Donetsk direction, the assault detachments continued to conduct offensive actions against the enemy in the western part of Artyomovsk.

The units of the Yug Group of Forces held the enemy by covering the flanks of the assault units.

The most difficult situation was near Krasnoye (Donetsk People's Republic), where the units of the 4th Motorised Rifle Brigade have repelled ten AFU attacks.

The enemy losses were over 70 Ukrainian servicemen, one infantry fighting vehicle and two armoured personnel carriers.
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).

As a result of the air strike, a road overpass, that used to transport the enemy reinforcements to the town of Artyomovsk, has been destroyed close to Krasnoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

Russian aviation have made 9 sorties in this area during the day. The Group's artillery have performed 74 firing missions.

In Donetsk direction, the enemy losses were up to 215 Ukrainian servicemen, five armoured fighting vehicles, seven motor vehicles, as well as Msta-B and D-30 howitzers.

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 Shevchenko and Velikaya Novosyolka (Donetsk People's Republic), Malinovka, Chervonoye, Belogorye and Novodanilovka (Zaporozhye region).

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

The enemy losses were up to 135 Ukrainian servicemen, three motor vehicles, two Msta-B howitzers and one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system.

In Kherson direction, the enemy losses were up to 25 Ukrainian servicemen, one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system and five motor vehicles.
Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, and Artillery of the Russian Group of Forces have engaged 75 AFU artillery units, manpower, and hardware in 102 areas during the day.

Fighter Aviation of Russian Aerospace Forces have shot down Su-24 and Su-25 aircraft of Ukrainian Air Force near Varvarovka and Krasnoarmeysk (Donetsk People's Republic).

Air defence forces intercepted seven Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles, three HARM anti-radar missiles and seven HIMARS multiple-launch rocket system projectiles.

Air defence facilities have shot down 22 unmanned aerial vehicles close to Ivanovka and Yevgenovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Topolyovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Inzhenernoye, Blagoveshchenka (Zaporpzhye region), and Krynki (Kherson region).

In total, 427 airplanes, 233 helicopters, 4,178 unmanned aerial vehicles, 422 air defence missile systems, 9,176 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,100 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 4,828 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 10,233 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation.