Russo-Ukraine War - 27 May 2023 - Day 458

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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 have likely started to withdraw from some of their positions around the Donetsk city of Bakhmut.

On 25 May 2023, Wagner owner Yevgeny Prigozhin said the withdrawal of his forces from Bakhmut had begun and that transfer of positions to the Russian Ministry of Defence (MOD) would continue to 01 June 2023. The Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister also corroborated the rotation out of Wagner forces in the outskirts of the town.

As of 24 May 2023, so-called Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) forces have likely entered the city to start clearance operations. In recent weeks, elements of the 31st Brigade of Russia's Airborne Forces (VDV) have likely moved from the Svatove-Kreminna area to reinforce Bakhmut's flanks.

Ukrainian forces had taken 20 square kilometres on Bakhmut's flanks as of 16 May 2023. The rotation out of Wagner forces is likely to continue in controlled phases to prevent collapse in pockets around Bakhmut. Despite Prigozhin's ongoing feud with the Russian MOD, Wagner forces will likely be used for further offensive operations in the Donbas following reconstituting its forces.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of May 27, Russian forces launched 10x air strikes and around 30x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements.

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

Russia continues to focus its main efforts on attempts to completely seize Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts. During the day of May 27, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 13x Russian attacks.
Volyn, and Polissya axes: no significant changes or signs of the formation of offensive groups were found.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Vovchans'k (Kharkiv oblast), fired mortars and artillery at the settlements of Hrem'yach (Chernihiv oblast), Zaruts'ke, Hlukhiv, Bunyakyne, Katerynivka, Obody, Myropillya (Sumy oblast), Basove, Buhaivka, Hoptivka, Luk'yantsi, Zelene, Ternova, Starytsya, Ohirtseve, Hatyshche, Vovchans'k, Tykhe, Khatnje (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: launched an air strike in the vicinity of Kyslivka (Kharkiv oblast). Kolodyazne, Krasne Pershe, Fyholivka, Novomlyns'k, Dvorichna, Zapadne, Kyslivka, and Berestove (Kharkiv oblast) came under artillery and mortar fire.
Lyman axis: Russian forces did not conduct any offensive operations during the day of May 27. Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, and Spirne (Donetsk oblast) were shelled with artillery.
Bakhmut axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensives towards Khromove during day of May 27. Vasyukivka, Pryvillya, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Hryhorivka, Bohdanivka, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, Stupochky, Predtechyne, and Pivnichne (Donetsk oblast) came under Russian fire.
Avdiivka axis: the Russian occupiers conducted offensive operations towards the settlements of Sjeverne and Pervomais'ke, to no success. The Russian invaders fired artillery at the settlements of Novokalynove, Avdiivka, Pervomais'ke, and Karlivka (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 7x Russian attacks in the vicinity of the city of Mar'inka. At the same time, Heorhiivka, Mar'inka, and Pobjeda (Donetsk oblast) were shelled by Russian forces.
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces shelled the settlements of Paraskoviivka, Novomykhailivka, Vuhledar, Novoukrainka, Prechystivka, Shakhtars'ke, and Velyka Novosilka.
Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: Russia stays on the defensive. The invaders launched air strikes at the vicinities of settlements of Chervone (Zaporizhzhia oblast) and Zmiivka (Kherson oblast). The Russian adversary shelled the settlements of Vremivka, Vil'ne Pole, Novopil' (Donetsk oblast), Ol'hivs'ke, Poltavka, Hulyaipole, Charivne, Novodanylivka, Novoandriivka, Bilohir'ya, Mala Tokmachka, Stepove, Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhya oblast), Sadove, Antonivka (Kherson oblast), and the city of Kherson.

In the temporarily occupied Luhansk, the Russian occupiers continue to re-purpose local medical facilities to meet their needs. Recently, additional beds and equipment were brought to the Railway Hospital, where wounded Russian invaders are undergoing treatment. In addition, the Russian occupiers handed over maternity hospital No. 2 (Luhansk also) to PMC Wagner.

The Russian invaders continue their cynical practice of illegally taking children from the temporarily occupied territories of Luhansk oblast. In some settlements of Schastia district, the Russian occupants announced the so-called vacation for schoolchildren in summer camps located in Russia.

During the day of May 27, the Ukrainian Air Force launched 4x air strikes on the concentrations of troops and military equipment of the adversary, as well as 3x air strikes on the anti-aircraft missile systems.

The Ukrainian defenders intercepted 3x Russian UAVs of various types during the day of May 27.

The Ukrainian missile and artillery troops hit 1x concentration of weapons and military equipment, 2x command posts, 2x ammunition depots, and 1x other important military facility of the Russian forces.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, Ground-Attack and Army aviation and artillery of the Zapad Group of Forces have engaged the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Masyutovka, Timkovka, Krasnoye Pervoye, and Novomlynsk (Kharkov region). ?? One sabotage and reconnaissance group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been disabled close to Novosyolovskoye (Lugansk People's Republic).

More than 45 Ukrainian servicemen, two armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, one Msta-B howitzer, and a U.S.-made AN/TPQ-36 counter-battery radar station have been destroyed during the day. An ammunition depot of the 92nd Mechanised Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has been hit close to Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People's Republic).

In Krasny Liman direction, Operational-Tactical Aviation and artillery of the Tsentr Group of Forces engaged the units of the enemy close to Yampolovka, Serebryanka (Donetsk People's Republic), and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic). Up to 60 Ukrainian troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, two D-30 howitzers, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery unit have been eliminated in this direction during the day.

In Donetsk direction, Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, units, and artillery of the Yug Group of Forces have eliminated more than 260 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, five motor vehicles, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and two D-30 howitzers during the day. An ammunition depot of the 110th Mechanised Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has been hit close to Avdeevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

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

The enemy losses in these directions amounted to up to 120 Ukrainian troops, one infantry fighting vehicle, one armoured fighting vehicle, two motor vehicles, one Polish-made Krab two Akatsiya and Gvozdika self-propelled howitzers, one D-30 howitzer, and one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-37 counter mortar radar.

In addition, two ammunition depots of the 79th Air Assault Brigade and 128th Mountain Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces have been hit close to Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and Stepovoye (Zaporozhye region).

In Kherson direction, Russian troops have neutralised up to 10 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, D-30 howitzer, and two Gvozdika self-propelled howitzers during the day.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, and artillery of the Russian Group of Forces have engaged 82 AFU artillery units, manpower, and hardware in 96 areas during the day. ?? Command posts of the 24th and 54th mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were eliminated close to Verkhnekamenskoye and Toretsk (Donetsk People's Republic).

Air defence forces have shot downt two Storm Shadow, 19 HIMARS MLRS projectiles, and two HARM anti-radiation missile during the day.

In addition, 12 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed in the areas of Zatishnoye,Kremennaya, and Chernopopovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Kremenets, Yasnoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Pologi, and Removka (Zaporozhye region).

In total, 429 airplanes and 235 helicopters, 4,353 unmanned aerial vehicles, 424 air defence missile systems, 9,310 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,100 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 4,919 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 10,481 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.