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Russo-Ukraine War - 22 July 2023 - Day 514

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 Russian former intelligence officer and leading nationalist mil-blogger Igor Girkin was almost certainly arrested for 'extremism' on 21 July 2023. Girkin has long been a critic of the Russian Ministry of Defence's conduct of the war. However, in recent days his comments turned to direct criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his time in power.

The move is likely to infuriate fellow members of the mil-blogger community - and elements within the serving military - who largely see Girkin as an astute military analyst and patriot. He played a major role in Russia's war in the Donbas from 2014 and spent months on the front line in 2022.

While Girkin is no ally of the Wagner Group, he was likely only prepared to push the limits of public criticism in the context of Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin's June 2023 abortive mutiny. The taboo against unmasked criticism of the Putin regime has significantly weakened.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day July 22, the Russian occupiers struck another blow on the territory of Ukraine, using "Shahed" strike drones. Due to successful work of Ukrainian Air Defense, all 5x strike UAVs were destroyed. In addition, Russian forces carried out 4x missile and 36x air strikes, launched 23x MLRS attacks on Ukrainian cities and Ukrainian Armed Forces. Unfortunately, there are victims among the civilians, houses and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed.

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

Russia continues to focus its main efforts on the Kup'yans'k, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Mar'inka axes, heavy battles continue. About 30x combat clashes took place during the day.
Volyn' and Polissya axes: no significant changes detected. There are no signs of the formation of Russian offensive groupings. Armed Forces of Belarus continue to perform tasks in the Ukrainian border.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russian forces maintain an enhanced military presence. They carried out an airstrike at Veterinarny of the Kharkiv Oblast. They carried out mortar and artillery shelling of more than 15 settlements, in particular, Tymonovichi, Chernihiv Oblast; Seredyna-Buda, Uhroidy, Ryasne of Sumy Oblast and Kozacha Lopan, Strelecha, Ternova, Budarka of Kharkiv Oblast.
Kup'yans'k axis: Ukrainian soldiers are firmly holding the defense. Kam'ianka, Novomlyns'k, Dvorichna, Zapadne, Kup'yans'ke and Kislivka of the Kharkiv Oblast were shelled by Russian artillery and mortars.
Lyman axis: Russian forces carried out unsuccessful offensives in the vicinities of Nadia, Luhansk Oblast, and Tors'ke, Hryhorivka, Donetsk Oblast. They carried out airstrikes at Serebryansky Forest and Spirnyi of the Donetsk Oblast. Nevs'ke, Bilogorivka in the Luhansk Oblast and Tors'ke, Verkhn'yokam'ians'ke, Spirne, Rozdolivka in the Donetsk Oblast were shelled by artillery.
Bakhmut axis: under heavy fire from theRussian forces' artillery, Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled Russian attacks in the Bohdanivka and Ivanivsky areas of the Donetsk Oblast. More than 10 settlements, including Vasyukivka, Markove, Bohdanivka, Ivanovske, Stupochki, Kostyantynivka, Druzhba and New York of the Donetsk Oblast, were affected by Russian artillery shelling.
Avdiivka axis: under heavy fire from the Russian forces' aircraft and artillery, Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled attacks by Russian troops in the vicinities of Avdiivka. The Russian forces carried out an airstrike in the Northern Oblast of Donetsk Oblast. russians shelled more than 10x settlements, such as Avdiivka, Pervomais'ke and Nevel'ske.
Mar'inka axis: Defense Forces continue to hold back the advance of russian troops at Krasnohorivka and Mar'inka of the Donetsk Oblast. Near Krasnohorivka, Russian forces carried out an air strike. They shelled more than 10x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Maksimilianivka, Georgiivka, Mar'inka, and Pobyeda in the Donetsk Oblast.
Shakhtars'k axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive operations in the Novomykhailivka area of the Donetsk Oblast. Conducted an airstrike near Blagodatny in Donetsk Oblast. Russian forces shelled more than 10x settlements, including Paraskoviivka, Novomykhailivka, Vugledar and Blagodatne in the Donetsk Oblast.
Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: Russia is concentrating forces to prevent further advance of Ukrainian troops. Made unsuccessful attempts to restore lost positions in the south of Novodarivka, Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Russian forces carried out airstrikes at Hulyaipilskyi, Mala Tokmachka, Novodanilivka, and Pyatikhatok of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast. More than 25x settlements were shelled by artillery fire, including Novodarivka, Hulyaipole, Hulyaipilske, Novoandriivka, Stepove, Kam'ians'ke of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast; Nikopol', Dnipropetrovsk Oblast; Zolota Balka, Dudchany, Berislav, Antonivka, Bilozerka, Veletens'ke of the Kherson Oblast and Kherson.

Defense Forces of Ukraine continue offensive operations on the Melitopol' and Berdyansk axes, are equipping captured positions, shell with artillery identified Russian targets, and carry out counter-battery measures.

The presence of Uzbekistan citizens was noted in Russian occupying forces stationed in the temporarily occupied Horlivka of the Donetsk Oblast. The specified people arrived in Mariupol to carry out construction works. Upon arrival, their passports were confiscated and they were mobilized to join the occupying forces as volunteers.

Ukrainian Air Force conducted 8x strikes on personnel, weapons and military equipment concentrations.

Ukrainian Defense Forces destroyed 4x operational-tactical reconnaissance UAVs.

Ukrainian missile and artillery units hit 7x Russian artillery units at firing positions during the day.