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Russo-Ukraine War - 21 June 2023 - Day 483

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]

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that intense fighting continues in sectors of southern Ukraine. However, over recent weeks, Russia has continued to expend significant effort building defensive lines deep in rear areas, especially on the approaches to occupied Crimea.

This includes an extensive zone of defences of 9 km in length, 3.5 km north of the town Armyansk, on the narrow bridge of land connecting Crimea to the Kherson region.

These elaborate defences highlight the Russian command's assessment that Ukrainian forces are capable of directly assaulting Crimea.

Russia continues to see maintaining control of the peninsula as a top political priority.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of June 21, Russian forces carried out more than 30x airstrikes using 6x Iranian strike UAVs "Shahed-136/131". All "Shaheds" were destroyed by Ukrainian Defense Forces. Moreover, the Russian occupiers launched 23x MLRS attacks on Ukrainian settlements and Ukrainian Defense Forces. Unfortunately, there are dead and injured civilians, houses and other civilian infrastructure have been damaged.

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

Russia continues to focus its main efforts on the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Mar'inka axes, and heavy battles continue. Over 30x combat clashes took place during the day.
Volyn' and Polissya axes: no significant changes detected. There are no signs of the formation Russian groupings.
On the training grounds of the Republic of Belarus, combat training and coordination of units of the Russian armed forces are ongoing before they are sent to the frontlines in Ukraine.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: the Russian forces maintain an enhanced presence in the Ukrainian border. They carried out airstrikes on Leonivka, Mykolaivka of the Chernihiv Oblast and Volfyna of the Sumy Oblast. Russians shelled with mortars and artillery attacks the settlements such as Hrinivka, Yeline, Karpovychi, Leonivka, Chernihiv Oblast; Seredyna-Buda, Sytne, Fotofizh, Novi Virky, Volfine, Shpil', Obod, Kindrativka, Loknya, Stepne of the Sumy Oblast, as well as Odnorobivka, Udy, Veterinarne, Kozacha Lopan', Visoka Yaruga, Liptsi, Alisivka, Bugruvatka, Staritsa, Vovchans'k, Vovchans'ki Khutory, Bochkove, Pletenivka, Mala Vovcha, Varvarivka, Budarky, Rublene, Aniskine, Milove in Kharkiv Oblast.
Kup'yans'k axis: the Russian occupiers carried out an airstrike at Sinkivka of the Kharkiv Oblast. Krasne Pershe, Figolivka, Novomlyns'k, Dvorichna, Zapadne, Masyutivka, Kislivka, Berestov in the Kharkiv Oblast were shelled by Russian forces and mortars.
Lyman axis: the Russian forces carried out unsuccessful offensives near Dibrova in Luhansk Oblast and Serebryanka in Donetsk Oblast. They carried out airstrikes at Novoyehorivka and Belogorivka areas of the Luhansk Oblast and Siversk - Donetsk Oblast. Stelmakhivka, Nevs'ke, Dibrova, Kuzmyne, Bilogorivka in the Luhansk Oblast and Tors'ke, Verkhn'yokam'ians'ke, Spirne and Rozdolivka in the Donetsk Oblast were shelled by artillery fire.
Bakhmut axis: Russian forces carried out unsuccessful offensive operations in the vicinities of Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Ivanivskyi, and Bila Hora of the Donetsk Oblast. Russian carried out airstrikes near Kurdyumivka and New York in the Donetsk Oblast. Vasyukivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Bohdanivka, Kalynivka, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivs'ke, Ozaryanivka, Bila Hora, Kostyantynivka, Druzhba and Severny of the Donetsk Oblast were shelled by Russian forces.
Avdiivka axis: Russian forces carried out unsuccessful offensives near the Pivnichne and Pervomaisky areas of the Donetsk Oblast. Carried out airstrikes near Avdiivka, Severny and Pervomaisky. They shelled the settlements suck as Oleksandropil', Keramik, Novokalynove, Berdychi, Stepove, Avdiivka, Tonenke, Severne, Pervomais'ke, Netaylove and Nevels'ke of the Donetsk Oblast.
Mar'inka axis: Russian forces carried out offensive operations in the vicinities of Marinka, albeit without success. They carried out an airstrike at the Krasnohorivka area. At the same time, russians shelled Krasnohorivka, Zoryan, Hostre, Mar'inka, Georgiivka, Kurakhove, and Pobyeda in the Donetsk Oblast.
Shakhtars'k axis: the Russian occupiers carried out offensives in the vicinities of Novomykhailivka and Vugledar, albeit without success. They carried out an airstrike at the Novomykhailivka district of the Donetsk Oblast. russians shelled Paraskoviivka, Novomykhailivka, Kostyantynivka, Elizavetivka, Katerynivka, Bogoyavlenka, Blagodatne, Prechistivka, Zolota Niva, and Velika Novosilka in the Donetsk Oblast.
Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: russian forces are on the defensive. Conducted unsuccessful offensive actions near Pyatikhatok, Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Russian forces carried out airstrikes at Preobrazhenka and Stopnohirsk of the Donetsk Oblast. They shelled Novoocheretuvate, Neskuchne, Blagodatne, Makarivka, Storozheve, Zelene Pole, Temyrivka, Novopil', Burlats'ke of the Donetsk Oblast; Levadne, Chervone, Hulyaipole, Novoandriivka, Stepove, Pyatikhatky, Lobkovo, Kam'ians'ke of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast; Zolota Balka, Mykhailivka, Novooleksandrivka, Dudchany, Kachkarivka, Shlyakhove, Kozats'ke, Mykolaivka, Burgunka, Ivanivka, Sadove, Prydniprovs'ke, Naddniprians'ke, Molodizhne, Zimivnyk, Bilozerka, Romashkove, Antonivka, Kherson, Dniprovs'ke, Kizomys of the Kherson Oblast and Ochakiv of the Mykolaiv Oblast.

Ukrainian Air Force carried out 12x strikes on concentrations of Russian troops and 6x on Russian anti-aircraft missile systems.

Ukrainian Defense Forces shot down 1x Russian Mi-24 attack helicopter.

Ukrainian missile and artillery units attacked 1x command post and 1x Russian ammunition depot.