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Russo-Ukraine War - 13 August 2023 - Day 536

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 the Wagner Group is likely moving towards a down-sizing and reconfiguration process, largely to save on staff salary expenses at a time of financial pressure.

Since the abortive mutiny of June 2023, the Russian state has acted against some other business interests of Wagner owner Yevgeny Prigozhin. There is a realistic possibility that the Kremlin no longer funds the group.

If the Russian state no longer pays Wagner, the second most plausible paymasters are the Belarusian authorities.

However, the sizable force would be a significant and potentially unwelcome drain on modest Belarusian resources.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that During the day of August 13, the Russian occupiers launched 2x missile, 24x air strikes and around 40x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian terrorist attacks have killed and wounded civilians, 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 13, there were 24x combat engagements.

Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: the Russian adversary fired mortars and artillery at more than 15x settlements, including Halahanivka, Hrem'yach, Novovasylivka (Chernihiv oblast), Volfyne, Tur'ya (Sumy oblast), and Ohirtseve, Okip, Budarky (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: the Russian occupiers conducted unsuccessful offensives in the area northeast of of Andriivka (Luhansk oblast). Kam'yanka, Petropavlivka, Kyslivka, and Berestove (Kharkiv oblast) came under artillery and mortar fire of the Russian adversary.
Lyman axis: Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), and Vesele (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements, including Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Serebryanka, Zvanivka (Donetsk oblast), were shelled with artillery.
Bakhmut axis: Russian forces made attempts to regain the lost position in the areas south of Andriivka and west of Yahidne (Donetsk oblast), to no success. Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast). More than 15x settlements, including Min'kivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, Bila Hora, Pryvillya (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). Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Avdiivka. Russian forces fired artillery at Oleksandropil', Stepove, Keramik, Novokalynove, Avdiivka (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 an air strike in the vicinity of Krasnohorivka (Donetsk oblast). The invaders fired artillery at more than 10x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Mar'inka, Novomykhailivka, Kostyantynivka (Donetsk oblast).
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces made unsuccessful attempts to regain the lost position in the area west of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast). The adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of Blahodatne and Staromaiors'ke. The invaders fired artillery at more than 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Vuhledar, Bohoyavlenka, Zolota Nyva, Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia axis: Russian forces made attempts to regain the lost position in the area east of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast), to no success. The Russian invaders launched air strikes in the vicinities of Chervone and P'yatykhatky (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Russian forces fired artillery at more than 15x settlements, including Ol'hivs'ke, Malynivka, Hulyaipole, Mali Shcherbaky, Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast).
Kherson axis: Russian forces launched air strike in the vicinity of Zelenyi Hai (Kherson oblast). Russian artillery shelled more than 15x settlements, including Zolota Balka, Veletens'ke, Stanislav, Komyshany, Novotyahynka, Antonivka (Kherson oblast), the city of Kherson and Ivanivka (Mykolaiv oblast).

At the same time, the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to conduct the offensive operation on Melitopol' and Berdyans'k axes, consolidate their positions and conduct counter-battery fire.

During the day of August 13, Ukrainian Air Force launched 10x air strikes on the concentrations of troops, weapons, and military equipment and 4x air strikes on anti-aircraft missile systems of the Russian adversary.

During the day of August 13, the Ukrainian missile and artillery troops hit 2x artillery assets at their firing positions, 1x anti-aircraft missile system, 1x electronic warfare station, and 1x asset of Russian air defense.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, as a result of actions by units of the Zapad Group of Forces, Army Aviation and artillery, six unsuccessful attacks and counterattacks by units of 14th, 44th mechanised and 95th airborne assault brigades of the AFU have been successfully repelled close to Novosyolovskoye (Lugansk People's Republic), as well as Sinkovka and Mankovka tract (Kharkov region).

The enemy losses were up to 60 Ukrainian servicemen, four armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, and one U.S.-manufactured AN/TPQ-36 counter-battery radar station.

In Donetsk direction, as a result of active and well-coordinated actions by units of the Yug Group of Forces, with continuous support of artillery, six attacks by assault groups of 110th mechanised, 5th assault, 81st airmobile and 79th airborne assault brigades of the AFU have been successfully repelled near Belogorovka, Vesyoloye, Krasnogorovka and west of Kleshcheevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 300 Ukrainian servicemen killed and wounded, three armoured fighting vehicles, and two motor vehicles.

In Krasny Liman direction, as a result of professional actions by units of the Tsentr Group of Forces, Army Aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems, an attack by an assault group of the AFU 68th Jaeger Brigade has been successfully repelled south-east of Novoyegorovka (Lugansk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 45 Ukrainian servicemen, three armoured fighting vehicles, four pickup trucks, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one D-30 howitzer.

In South Donetsk direction, as a result of actions by units the Vostok Group of Forces, Operational-Tactical Aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems, enemy units have been hit close to Staromayorskoye and Urozhaynoye (Donetsk People's Republic.)

The enemy losses were up to 80 Ukrainian servicemen, one tank, four armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, as well as D-20 and D-30 howitzers.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian grouping of troops, supported by artillery, repelled an enemy attack south-west of Uspenovka (Zaporozhye region).

In addition, Russian troops have launched a comprehensive fire attack on AFU manpower and hardware concentration areas close to Yablonevoye and Malaya Tokmachka (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy losses were up to 40 Ukrainian servicemen, five tanks, five infantry fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, one UK-manufactured FH-70 howitzer, two Msta-B howitzers, and one D-20 gun.

In Kherson direction, the enemy losses were up to 20 Ukrainian servicemen, four motor vehicles, and one U.S.-manufactured M777 artillery system.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised manpower and military hardware in 137 areas.

In addition, one forward command post of the 9th Army Corps of the AFU has been hit near Orekhov (Zaporozhye region).

One control point for unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as AFU manpower and military hardware have been eliminated close to Pervomaiskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

Fighter Aviation of Russian Aerospace Forces has shot down one Mi-8 aircraft of Ukrainian Air Force near Brusovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Air defence facilities have shot down 8 projectiles launched by HIMARS MLRS.

In addition, 25 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been hit close to Kremennaya, Rubezhnoye, Zolotaryovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Trudovskoye, Gorlovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Chapaevka and Ocherevatoye (Zaporozhye region).

In total, 458 airplanes, 246 helicopters, 5,708 unmanned aerial vehicles, 429 air defence missile systems, 11,274 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,144 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 5,862 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 12,207 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation.