Russo-Ukraine War - 25 May 2023 - Day 456

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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 analysis by Geollect indicates that since 14 May 2023, commercial vessels' Automatic Identification System (AIS) data has been remotely spoofed to create the impression of a 65km long Russian pro-war Z symbol on the Black Sea, visible on open source tracking software.

AIS is used to track vessels, including to ensure their safety. Tracks making up the image suggested vessel speeds of up to 102 knots (188 km/h), further suggesting they were fake.

Pro-Russian actors likely conducted the spoofing as an information operation, potentially in an attempt to bolster Russian morale ahead of an anticipated Ukrainian counter offensive.

The spoofing of AIS increases the risk of maritime accidents. Despite Russian virtual information operations in the Black Sea, its physical navy remains vulnerable: the Ivan Khurs intelligence gathering vessel was likely attacked on 24 May 2023.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that that day, at night, the Russian Federation launched another massive attack on the territory of Ukraine, using Iranian strike UAVs "Shahed-136/131". 36x of 36x were destroyed by Ukrainian Armed Forces.

During the day of May 25th, Russian forces conducted 2x missile strikes using air defense systemsS-300 on the civil infrastructure of the Tsyrkuny in Khirkiv Oblast, some private house was damaged. In addition, Russian forces carried out 48x airstrikes and launched about 10x MLRS attacks.

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, 17x 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.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia continues to maintain enhanced military presence in the areas bordering Ukraine.
Russian forces shelled the settlements of Hai, Kam'ians'ka Sloboda, Chernihiv Oblast; Khodine, Volodymyrivka, Oleksandrivka, Velika Pisarivka in the Sumy Oblast, as well as Strelecha, Krasne, Cherkassy Tyshki, Lukyantsi, Neskuchne, Ternova, Vovchans'k, Chugunivka, Hatne in the Kharkiv Oblast.
Kup'yans'k axis: russian invaders do not stop trying to improve the tactical position. They carried out airstrikes in the area of the settlements of Chaykivka and Kislivka of the Kharkiv Oblast. The Russian adversary conducted unsuccessful offensive operations in the vicinities of Masyutivka. The settlements of Topoli, Figolivka, Novomlynsk, Dvorichna, Masyutivka, Zapadne, Kislivka of the Kharkiv Oblast and Novoselivs'ke, Stelmakhivka of the Luhansk Oblast were shelled by Russian artillery and mortars.
Lyman axis: Russian forces carried out unsuccessful offensive operations in near Bilohorivka. They carried out airstrikes at Belogorivka in the Luhansk Oblast and Ivano-Daryivka in the Donetsk Oblast. Makiivka, Nevs'ke, Dibrova, Belohorivka of the Luhansk Oblast and Ivanivka, Tors'ke, Verkhn'okam'ians'ke and Spirne of the Donetsk Oblast were hit by artillery fire.
Bakhmut axis: Russian troops continue to conduct offensives. Vasyukivka, Privillia, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Hryhorivka, Bakhmut, Kalynivka, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivs'ke, Stupochki, Predtechine, Kostyantynivka, Bila Hora, North of the Donetsk Oblast were shelled.
Avdiivka axis: the Russian adversary conducted unsuccessful offensive operations near Krasnohorivka. Airstrikes at the Avdiivka area. Conducted artillery shelling of Avdiivka, Pervomaiskyi and Karlivka in the Donetsk Oblast.
Mar'inka axis: Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled numerous Russian attacks in the vicinities of Mar'inka. Russian forces carried out airstrikes near the Maryinka area. At the same time, the settlements of Mar'inka and Pobyeda of the Donetsk Oblast were subjected to Russian shelling.
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces shelled Vugledar and Prechistivka.
Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: Russian forces are on the defensive. They carried out airstrikes in the districts of Olhivskyi, Hulyaipole, Novodanilivka in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast and Novoberyslav in the Kherson Oblast. Shelled the settlements of Zelene Pole, Olhivske, Malinivka, Hulyaipole, Hulyaipil's'ke, Charivne, Mala Tokmachka, Novodanilivka, Shcherbaki, Stepove, Kam'ians'ke, and Stepnohirsk of the Zaporizhia Oblast; Zolota Balka, Novooleksandrivka, Havrylivka, Vesele, Kozatske, Lviv, Vysuntsi, Bilozerka, Antonivka, Veletens'ke of the Kherson Oblast and the city of Kherson.

Russian occupying forces militarized the island of Dzharylgach, which was connected by them to the temporarily captured mainland part of the Kherson Oblast near Lazurne on May 19th. In particular, the Russian occupiers placed about 300x Russian servicemen and 15x foreign-made boats on the island, which were stolen from the local population.

Ukrainian Air Force carried out 4x strikes on manpower and military equipment concentration areas, and missile and artillery units hit 2x areas of concentration of Russian manpower, 1x ammunition depot, 1x radar station and an artillery unit at firing positions.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, aviation and artillery of the Zapad Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on the units of the enemy close to Masyutovka, Timkovka, Kotlyarovka (Kharkov region), and Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People's Republic).

In addition, actions of four sabotage and reconnaissance groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were thwarted near Novomlynsk, Sinkovka (Kharkov region), Ivanovka (Donetsk People's Republic), and Rozovka (Lugansk People's Republic).

Up to 190 Ukrainian servicemen, three motor vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer have been neutralised in these directions during the day.

In Krasny Liman direction, Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems of the Tsentr Group of Forces engaged the units of the enemy close to Raigorodka, Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic), and Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Up to 65 Ukrainian personnel, three pick-up trucks, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, as well as D-20 and D-30 howitzers have been eliminated.

In Donetsk direction, units, aviation, and artillery of the Yug Group of Forces have eliminated up to 270 Ukrainian troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer during the day.

Moreover, two ammunition depots of the 80th Air Assault and 110th Mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been annihilated close to Stupochka and Avdeevka.

In South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems of the Vostok Group of Forces have hit the enemy units in the areas of Novomikhailovka, Novoselka (Donetsk People's Republic), and Malaya Tokmachka and Nesteryanka (Zaporozhye region).

One sabotage and reconnaissance group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been disabled close to Vladimirovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Up to 110 Ukrainian servicemen, four motor vehicles, and two D-30 howitzers have been neutralised in these directions during the day.

In Kherson direction, up to 25 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system have been destroyed over the past 24 hours.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, and artillery of the Russian Group of Forces have engaged 95 AFU artillery units, manpower and hardware in 102 areas during the day.

Russian air defence forces have intercepted eight HIMARS MLRS shells during the day.

In addition, 28 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed in the areas of Tokarevka (Kharkov region), Chervonaya Dibrova, Kremennaya, Zhitlovka, Zatishnoye, Novokrasnyanka (Lugansk People's Republic), Svetlodarskoye, Yevgenovka, Zelenyi Gai (Donetsk People's Republic), Chubarevka (Zaporozhye region), and Kairy (Kherson region).

In total, 429 airplanes and 235 helicopters, 4,321 unmanned aerial vehicles, 424 anti-aircraft missile systems, 9,298 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,100 combat vehicles equipped with multiple launch rocket systems, 4,901 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 10,447 units of special military hardware have been destroyed during the special military operation.