Russo-Ukraine War - 24 May 2023 - Day 455

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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 credible research by independent Russian journalists suggests that between January and May 2023, Russian military courts dealt with 1,053 cases of personnel going absent without leave (AWOL) – more than during the whole of 2022.

Russia's military has struggled to enforce discipline in its ranks throughout its operations in Ukraine, but its issues have highly likely worsened following the forced mobilisation of reservists since October 2022.

Court data suggests that most of those found guilty of going AWOL are now punished with suspended sentences, meaning they can be redeployed to the 'special military operation'. Russia's efforts to improve discipline have focused on making examples of defaulters, and promoting patriotic zeal, rather than addressing the root causes of soldiers' disillusionment.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of May 24th, Russian forces carried out 17x airstrikes, launched about 20 MLRS attacks on Ukrainian settlements and Ukrainian Defense Forces.

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

Russia continues to concentrate its main efforts on the Kup'yans'k, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Mar'inka axes. In total, 23x combat clashes took place on the specified axes of the front.
Volyn' and Polissya axes: the operational situation has not changed significantly, there are no signs of the formation of offensive groupings. Certain units of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus continue to serve near the areas bordering with Ukraine.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia continues to maintain enhanced military presence in the areas bordering Ukraine.
The adversary shelled the settlements of Yanzhulivka, Chernihiv Oblast; Bunyakyne, Shpyl', Oleksiivka of the Sumy Oblast, as well as Udy, Veterinarne, Lyptsi, Zelene, Ohirtseve, Hatyshche, Vovchans'k, Budarky, Zemlianka in the Kharkiv Oblast.
Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces continue to improve tactical positions. They conducted unsuccessful offensive operations in the area of Masyutivka. Stroivka, Kam'ianka, Krasne Pershe, Ridkodub, Dvorichna, Zapadne, Tabaivka, Berestov, Kharkiv Oblast, and Stelmakhivka, Luhansk Oblast, were shelled by Russians.
Lyman axis: Russian forces did not conduct offensive operations. They carried out an airstrike near the the settlement of Dibrova. Nevske, Belogorivka of the Luhansk Oblast were shelled by artillery; Tors'ke and Spirne of Donetsk Oblast.
Bakhmut axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive operations in the vicinities of Ivanovs'ke. They carried out an airstrike near Bila Hora. Vasyukivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Markove, Hryhorivka, Bakhmut, Ivanivs'ke, Stupochki, Kostyantynivka, Bila Hora, Torets'k, Pivnichne, Pivdene and New York of the Donetsk Oblast were shelled.
Avdiivka axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensives in the axis of Novokalynove and Avdiivka. Russian forces carried out airstrikes in the vicinities of Novokalynovo and Stepovo. They carried out artillery shelling at Novokalynove, Avdiivka, Karlivka, Pervomais'ke and Netaylove in the Donetsk Oblast.
Mar'inka axis: units of the defense forces repelled numerous Russian attacks in the area of the city of Ma'rinka. At the same time, Krasnohorivka, Mar'inka, Novomykhailivka and Pobyeda of the Donetsk Oblast got under Russian fire.
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces shelled the settlements of Vodyane, Vugledar and Velyka Novosilka.
Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: Russian forces are on the defensive. They shelled Vremivka, Novosilka, Donetsk Oblast; Olhivs'ke, Malynivka, Hulyaipole, Hulyaipils'ke, Novoselivka, Omelnyk, Biloghirya, Mala Tokmachka, Kam'ians'ke of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast; Veletens'ke of the Kherson Oblast and the city of Kherson.

Ukrainian Air Force carried out 7x strikes on Russian manpower and military equipment concentrations.

Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed 2 Russian attack UAVs of the "Shahed" type and 1 reconnaissance UAV of the "Orlan-10" type.

Ukrainian missile and artillery units hit 2x manpower concentration areas, 4x ammunition depots, an electronic warfare station, 4x artillery units at firing positions and 4x other important Russian targets.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that following the 26 September 2022 terrorist attack on Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are taking measures to protect such facilities. And not in vain.

At 5:30 a.m. today, the Ukrainian Armed Forces unsuccessfully attempted to attack the Black Sea Fleet's ship Ivan Khurs ship, which is carrying out tasks to ensure the safe operation of the Turkish Stream and Blue Stream gas pipelines in the exclusive economic zone of the Republic of Turkey, by three unmanned speedboats.

All the enemy's boats have been neutralised by standard weapons if the Russian warship 140 km north-east of the Bosphorus Strait.

The Black Sea Fleet ship Ivan Khurs continues her missions.

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

In Kupyansk direction, aviation and artillery of the Zapad Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) close to Dvurechnaya, Pershotravnevoye, Timkovka (Kharkov region), and Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People's Republic).

In addition, actions of two sabotage and reconnaissance groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been thwarted near Sinkovka and Kislovka (Kharkov region).

Over 40 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, and D-20 and D-30 howitzers have been neutralised in this direction during the day.

In Krasny Liman direction, Russian Operational-Tactical Aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems of the Tsentr Group of Forces hit units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Chervonaya Dibrova, Nevskoye (Lugansk People's Republic), and Torskoye and Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy has suffered losses of over 60 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one D-30 howitzer in this direction in the past 24 hours.

Moreover, an ammunition depot of the 54th Mechanised Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has been hit close to Verkhnekamenskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

In Donetsk direction, units, aviation, and artillery of the Yug Group of Forces have eliminated up to 150 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two armoured personnel carriers, two armoured fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles during the day.

Moreover, ammunition depots of the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade and 112nd Territorial Defence Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces have been destroyed close to Slavyansk and Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

In South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, aviation and artillery of the Vostok Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on AFU units close to Ugledar, Shevchenko (Donetsk People's Republic), and Malaya Tokmachka, Marfopol, and Kamenskoye (Zaporozhye region).

Total enemy losses in these directions amounted to up to 125 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, three motor vehicles, and one Msta-B howitzer.

In Kherson direction, up to 25 Ukrainian servicemen, one Msta-B howitzer, and two motor vehicles of the enemy have been neutralised by fire.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, and artillery of the Russian Group of Forces have engaged 93 AFU artillery units, manpower and hardware in 107 areas during the day.

A command and observation post of the 110th Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was engaged close to Avdeevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Russian air defence systems have shot down one MiG-29 airplane of Ukrainian Air Force near Griogorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, 16 HIMARS projectiles have been intercepted.

In addition, 20 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been downed in the areas of Pokrovskoye, Terny, Kirillovka, Krapivnitskoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Zolotarevka, Chervonaya Dibrova, Novokrasnyanka, Zmiyevka (Lugansk People's Republic), Tsvetkovoye (Zaporozhye region), and Rubanovka (Kherson region).

In total, 429 airplanes and 235 helicopters, 4,293 unmanned aerial vehicles, 424 air defence missile systems, 9,295 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,100 combat vehicles equipped with MRLS, 4,893 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 10,433 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.