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Russo-Ukraine War - 12 August 2023 - Day 535

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 Russia has likely redeployed airborne forces' (VDV) units from the Kherson region to the heavily contested Orikiv sector in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The 58th Combined Arms Army (58 CAA) has been in combat facing Ukrainian assaults since 4 June 2023.

As early as 11 July 2023, the then commander of 58 CAA was sacked, likely partially because of his insistence that elements of his force needed to be relieved.

Reports suggest that the 70th and 71st Motor Rifle Regiments have faced particularly intense attrition and heavy combat on the front line. There is a realistic possibility that the arrival of VDV will finally allow elements of these regiments to be pulled out for rest and recovery. However, the redeployment will likely leave Russia's defences near the east bank of the Dnipro River weaker, where they are increasingly harassed by Ukrainian amphibious raids.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of August 12, the Russian occupiers launched 6x missile and 36x air strikes, 32x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian terrorist attacks have killed and wounded civilians residential, including children. Residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure were damaged.

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

During the day of August 12, there were 33x combat engagements.

Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Hur'iv Kozachok (Kharkiv oblast). The Russian adversary fired mortars and artillery at more than 15x settlements, including Kliusy (Chernihiv oblast), Seredyna-Buda, Yastrubyne, Vodolahy, Myropil's'ke (Sumy oblast), and Udy, Strilecha, Okhrimivka (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: the Russian adversary conducted unsuccessful offensives in the areas northeast of Syn'kivka, north of Kyslivka and southeast of Andriivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinities of Kyslivka and Pershotravneve (Kharkiv oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at Kup'yans'k, Masyutivka, Kyslivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Serebryanka, Sivers'k, Spirne, Vesele, (Donetsk oblast). The adversary fired artillery at more than 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: Russian forces attempted offensive operations in the vicinities of Klishchiivka and Bila Hora (Donetsk oblast), to no success. More than 10x settlements, including Min'kivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, Bila Hora, Pivnichne (Donetsk oblast), suffered from Russian artillery shelling.
Avdiivka axis: under heavy fire from Russian aircraft and artillery, the Ukrainian defenders continue to hold back russian troops' advance in the vicinity of Avdiivka (Donetsk oblast). The adversary launched air strike in the vicinity of Avdiivka. The Russianinvaders fired artillery at more than 10x settlements, including Novokalynove, Tonen'ke, Pervomais'ke, Nevel's'ke, Karlivka (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back the russian offensive in the vicinity of the city of Mar'inka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched air strike in the vicinity of Krasnohorivka (Donetsk oblast). The invaders fired artillery at more than 10x settlements, including Oleksandropil', Krasnohorivka, Mar'inka, Novomykhailivka, and Yelyzavetivka (Donetsk oblast).
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces made unsuccessful attempts to regain the lost position in the vicinity of Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Vuhledar, Bohoyavlenka, Prechystivka, Velyka Novosilka, Rivnopil' (Donetsk oblast) came under artillery fire.
Zaporizhzhia axis: Russian forces fired artillery at more than 20x settlements, including Novodarivka, Temyrivka, Poltavka, Chervone, Verkhnya Tersa, Novoandriivka (Zaporizhzhia oblast) and Nikopol' (Dnipropetrovsk oblast).
Kherson axis: Russian forces artillery shelled more than 20x settlements, including Zolota Balka, Zmiivka, Beryslav, Kozats'ke, Tyahynka, Ponyativka (Kherson oblast), and Kutsurub, Ochakiv (Mykolaiv oblast).

At the same time, the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to conduct the offensive operation on Melitopol' and Berdyans'k axes, have partial success in the vicinity of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast), consolidating their positions, and conducting counter-battery fire.

During the day of August 12, Ukrainian Air Force launched 10x air strikes on the concentration of troops, weapons, and military equipment of the adversary.

During the day of August 12, Ukrainian missile and artillery troops hit 1x anti-aircraft missile system and 1x artillery asset at a firing position.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that on 11 August, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation has launched a group strike with long-range air-based precision weapons against a military airfield near Kolomyia in Ivano-Frankovsk region.

The goal of the attack has been reached. All the assigned targets have been neutralised.

In Kupyansk direction, in the course of conducting offensive operations, assault detachments of the Zapad Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line.

Eight attacks and counterattacks by units of 95th airborne assault, 14th and 32nd mechanised brigades of the AFU have been successfully repelled close to Novosyolovskoye (Lugansk People's Republic), Pershotravnyovoye, Sinkovka, and Mankovka (Kharkov region).

The enemy losses were up to 70 Ukrainian servicemen, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, and one Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces, in close cooperation with aviation and artillery, have successfully repelled seven attacks by AFU assault groups close to Kleshcheevka, Yakovlevka, Vodyanoye, Krasnogorovka and Nevelskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

One ammunition depot of the AFU 59th Mechanised Brigade has been destroyed near Pervomaiskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 110 Ukrainian servicemen, two tanks, two armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, and two D-30 howitzers.

In South Donetsk direction, as a result of actions by aviation, artillery, heavy flamethrower systems, and units of the Vostok Group of Forces, two attacks by AFU assault groups have been repelled near Urozhainoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 130 Ukrainian servicemen, one tank, three armoured fighting vehicles, and one U.S.-manufactured AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar station.

In Zaporozhye direction, as a results of actions by units of the Russian grouping of troops, aviation and artillery, three attacks by the 46th AFU Airmobile Brigade have been repelled close to Rabotino (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy losses were up to 40 Ukrainian servicemen, five tanks, two armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, and one Msta-B howitzer.

In Krasny Liman direction, as a result of coordinated actions by units of the Tsentr Group of Forces, Army Aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems, three attacks by assault detachments of 63rd and 66th mechanised brigades of the AFU have been repelled near Sergeevka (Lugansk People's Republic) and Serebryansky forestry.

The enemy losses were up to 90 Ukrainian servicemen, two armoured fighting vehicles, two pickup trucks, and one D-20 howitzer.

In Kherson direction, the enemy losses were up to 35 Ukrainian servicemen, two motor vehicles, one Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer, and one U.S.-manufactured AN/TPQ-36 counter-battery radar station.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised manpower and military hardware in 126 areas.

In addition, one advanced command post of the 10th Army Corps of the AFU has been hit near Orekhov (Zaporozhye region).

Depots of the AFU rocket and artillery weapons and logistics have been destroyed in the districts of Zaporozhye and Malaya Tokmachka (Zaporozhye region).

In addition, 29 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been shot down close to Ploshchanka (Lugansk People's Republic), Belogorovka, Pokrovskoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Ulyanovka, Ocherevatoye (Zaporozhye region), Pokrovskoye (Kherson region), as well as over the waters of the Black Sea.

In total, 458 airplanes, 245 helicopters, 5,683 unmanned aerial vehicles, 429 air defence missile systems, 11,249 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,144 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 5,853 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 12,189 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation.