Russo-Ukraine War - 17 May 2023 - Day 448

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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 over the last week, the air battle over the Russia-Ukraine border has intensified. On 13 May 2023 alone, four Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) aircraft (two advanced combat jets and two helicopters) crashed, apparently shot down over Russia's Bryansk region.

On 03 May 2023, Ukraine achieved the first ever shoot-down of a KILLJOY air-launched ballistic missile. Subsequently, Russia has prioritised attempting to neutralise Ukraine's improved air defence capabilities, but in the process has likely lost several more KILLJOY.

The increased air threat over Russia's border region will be of exceptional concern for the VKS because it uses the area to launch air power in support of the war. The apparent vulnerability of KILLJOY is likely a surprise and an embarrassment for Russia: Russian President Vladimir Putin has touted the system as undefeatable.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day, the Russian invaders launched 5x missile strikes on the cities of Bakhmut and Kherson using the S-300 air defense system. Furthermore, they carried out 32x airstrikes and launched more than 40MLRS attacks on Ukrainian troops and civilian areas. Unfortunately, there are dead and wounded among the civilians, private houses and other civil and administrative infrastructure have been damaged.

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

Russia continues to concentrate its main efforts on the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Mar'inka axes. During the day, up to 25x firefights took place on specified axes. Heavy fighting continues in the cities of Bakhmut and Mar'inka.
Volyn and Poliske axes: no significant changes detected.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russian forces carried out mortar and artillery attacks on the settlements of Khotiivka, Chernihiv Oblast; Novovasylivka, Komarivka, Volfyne of the Sumy Oblast, as well as Hur'yiv Kozachok, Udy, Okip, Kozacha Lopan', Hatyshche, Vovchansk, Budarky, Zybyne, Ustinivka and Zarubinka in the Kharkiv Oblast.
Kup'yans'k axis: Russia does not stop trying to improve the tactical position. During the day, Russia conducted unsuccessful offensive operations in the vicinities of Masyutivka and Novoselivskoho. Made an air strike near Pershotravnevogo. The settlements of Krasne Pershe, Figolivka, Novomlyns'k, Dvorichna, Zapadne, Masyutivka, Tabaivka, Berestovka of the Kharkiv Oblast and Stel'makhivka of the Luhansk Oblast were shelled by Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Lyman axis: during the day, Russian forces carried out offensive operations in the Nevsky district of the Luhansk Oblast. Russian forces carried out airstrikes in the areas of Bilogorivka, Verkhnokamyansky and Vesely. Makiivka, Nevs'ke, Belogorivka of the Luhansk Oblast and Torske, Dibrova, Verkhnokamianske and Spirne of the Donetsk Oblast were hit by artillery fire.
Bakhmut axis: Russia continues to conduct offensive operations. Heavy fighting continues for Bakhmut. Moreover, Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive operations near the settlement of Ivanovske. They carried out airstrikes in the vicinities of Bakhmut, Kurdyumivka.
Vasyukivka, Zaliznyans'ke, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Novomarkove, Hryhorivka, Bohdanivka, Bakhmut, Ivanivske, Chasiv Yar, Predtechine, Bila Gora, Severny, Shumy of the Donetsk Oblast were shelled by Russian forces.
Avdiivka axis: Russian troops did not conduct any offensive opperations. They carried out airstrikes in the vicinities of Novokalynove, Avdiivka, Novoselivka Persha and Pervomaiske settlements, and shelled Avdiivka, Pervomaiskyi, Karlivka and Nevel'skyi in the Donetsk Oblast.
Mar'inka axis: Ukrainian Armed Forces forces repelled numerous Russian attacks in the vicinities of Mar'inka. At the same time, the Russians carried out an airstrike on Krasnohorivka and shelled the settlements of Mar'inka, Paraskoviivka and Novomykhailivka in the Donetsk Oblast.
Shakhtars'k axis: during the day, the Russian forces did not conduct offensive operations. They carried out an air strike in the area of Velika Novosilka and shelled Vugledar, Prechistivka, and Novoukrayinka.
Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: Russian forces are on the defensive. They carried out an airstrike on the settlement of Novopil' in the Donetsk Oblast and Malia Tokmachka in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. At the same time, they shelled more than 20x settlements. Among them are Vremivka, Novosilka, Zelene Pole, Novopil' of the Donetsk Oblast; Olhivs'ke, Hulyaipole, Zaliznychne, Mala Tokmachka, Shcherbaki, Stepove and Kam'ians'ke of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast; Zolota Balka, Kachkarivka, Chervonyi Mayak, Zmiivka, Berislav, Tyaginka, Antonivka, Dniprovs'ke, Kizomys, Shiroka Balka of the Kherson Oblast and the city of Kherson itself.

During the day, Ukrainian Air Force carried out 14x strikes on concentration of Russian personnel and military equipment: 5 of the strikes hit the Russian forces' anti-aircraft missile systems. In addition, Ukrainian defenders destroyed 2x reconnaissance UAVs of the "Orlan-10" type.

Ukrainian missile and artillery units hit 1x command post, 6x manpower concentration areas, 2x ammunition depots, 2x fuel and lubricant depots, 1 artillery unit in a firing position, 2x air defense facilities and 2x more important Russian targets.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out a long-range sea-based high-precision weapons attack on a large ammunition depot at a ship-repair facility in Nikolayev.

The goals of the strike have been reached. The assigned target has been neutralised.

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 Novosyolovskoye (Lugansk People's Republic) Olshana, Petropavlovka and Masyutovka (Kharkov region).

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

The enemy losses were up to 115 Ukrainian servicemen, two armoured fighting vehicles, seven motor vehicles, as well as one Msta-B howitzer.

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 units of the 252nd Motorised Rifle Regiment have repelled two attacks by the AFU assault groups with the support of two tanks close to Chervonopopovka (Lugansk People's Republic). The enemy losses were over 30 Ukrainian servicemen and one tank.

In Krasny Liman direction, the enemy losses were over 70 Ukrainian servicemen, one tank, two armoured personnel carriers, one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system and one D-30 howitzer.

In Donetsk direction, the assault detachments continued to conduct combat actions against the enemy in the western part of Artyomovsk. The units of the Yug Group of Forces restrained the enemy on the assault units' flanks.

The most difficult situation was in the areas of Krasnoye and Bogdanovka (Donetsk People's Republic), where Russian troops have repelled seven AFU attacks.

As a result of the Airborne Troops' offensive actions, a more favourable line of defence has been taken.

The attacks, launched by Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, as well as artillery and heavy flamethrower systems of the Yug Group of Forces, have resulted in the neutralisation of the enemy manpower and hardware close to Konstantinovka and Krasnoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The aviation has made 7 sorties close to Artyomovsk. The Group's artillery has performed 64 firing missions.

In Donetsk direction, the enemy losses were up to 360 Ukrainian servicemen and mercenaries, four armoured personnel carriers, five armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, one British-manufactured L-119 howitzer, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

One munition depot of the AFU 110th Mechanised Brigade has been destroyed near Avdeevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

One U.S.-manufactured AN/TPQ-50 counterbattery warfare radar has been destroyed near Stupochki (Donetsk People's Republic).

In South Donetsk and Zaporozhye 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 Pavlovka, Shevchenko, Chervonoye, Velikaya Novosyolka (Donetsk People's Republic), Novodanilovka and Malaya Tokmachka (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy losses were up to 150 Ukrainian servicemen, two armoured vehicles, six motor vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer.

In Kherson direction, the enemy losses were up to 40 servicemen, two armoured vehicles, three motor vehicles, two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems, and one Msta-B howitzer.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, and Artillery of the Russian Group of Forces have engaged 83 AFU artillery units, manpower, and hardware in 112 areas during the day.

One AFU command post of Thunder tactical group has been hit close to Kherson.

One command post of the AFU 44th Artillery Brigade has been hit close to Preobrazhenka (Zaporozhye region).

One observation post of the AFU special forces has been hit near Velikiy Island (Kherson region).

Air defence facilities have intercepted nine HIMARS rocket-propelled projectiles.

Air defence facilities have shot down 19 unmanned aerial vehicles close to Chubaryovka, Inzhenernoye, Rabotino (Zaporozhye region), Velikiy Vyselok, Nezhdanovka (Kharkov region), Donetsk, Verhnetoretskoye, Staromlynovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Chervonopopovka, Novodruzhesk, Kolomiychiha (Lugansk People's Republic), as well as Novaya Kakhovka (Kherson region).

In total, 427 airplanes, 233 helicopters, 4,197 unmanned aerial vehicles, 422 air defence missile systems, 9,206 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,100 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 4,837 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 10,267 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation.