• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Russo-Ukraine War - 17 August 2023 - Day 540

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 despite the consistent pressures of war, Ukrainian efforts to build up fuel stockpiles will likely be successful in ensuring that it will have sufficient fuel reserves during the approaching winter period.

Ukraine has been effective in mobilising its mining sector to maintain output, ensuring a continuous supply of coal is available for thermal power and heating plants in the winter, with substantial gas stocks providing a further reserve.

Despite Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure likely continuing this winter, Ukraine demonstrated last winter that it has the skilled workforce and expertise needed to operate and maintain the power network, even in wartime conditions.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of August 17, Russian forces launched 4x missile and 37x air strikes, 27x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian terrorist attacks have killed and wounded civilians. Residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure have been damaged.

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

During the day of August 17, there were 24x combat engagements.

Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: the Russian invaders fired mortars and artillery at more than 20x settlements, including Klyusy, Yeline, Tur'ya (Chernihiv oblast), Rozhkovychi, Iskryskivshchyna, Uhroidy (Sumy oblast), Ohirtseve, Hatyshche, Vovchans'k, Pokalyane (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: the Russian invaders conducted unsuccessful offensive operations in the vicinity of Syn'kivka (Kharkiv oblast). The Russian adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of Petropavlivka and Kucherivka (Kharkiv oblast). The settlements of Petropavlivka, Podoly, Kyslivka, Kotlyarivka, Tabaivka, Cherneshchyna (Kharkiv oblast) and Nadiya (Luhansk oblast) came under artillery and mortar fire of the Russian adversary.
Lyman axis: the Russian adversary conducted offensives in the vicinity of Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), to no success. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), and Terniv, Yampil', Sivers'k (Donetsk oblast). About 20x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Dibrova, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Yampil', Sivers'k, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke (Donetsk oblast), were shelled with artillery.
Bakhmut axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensives in the vicinity of Bohdanivka and Bila Hora (Donetsk oblast). The Russian invaders launched air strikes in the vicinities of Spirne and Vasyukivka (Donetsk oblast). More than 20x settlements, including Klishchiivka, Bila Hora, Dyliivka, Oleksandro-Shul'tyne (Donetsk oblast), suffered from Russian artillery shelling.
Avdiivka axis: the Russian occupiers conducted offensives in the vicinity of Keramik (Donetsk oblast), to no success. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Novokalynove and Avdiivka (Donetsk oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery at more than 10x settlements, including Oleksandropil', Keramik, Novokalynove, Avdiivka, Sjeverne, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back the Russian offensive in the vicinities of the cities of Mar'inka and Krasnohorivka (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, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka, Kostyantynivka, Katerynivka (Donetsk oblast).
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces made attempts to regain the lost position in the area of Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast), to no success. More than 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Bohoyavlenka, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Velyka Novosilka, Blahodatne (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery shelling.
Zaporizhzhia axis: Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinities of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 20x settlements suffered from Russian artillery shelling, including Bilohir'ya, Novodanylivka, Novoandriivka, Shcherbaky, Novoyakovlivka, Stepove (Zaporizhzhia oblast).
Kherson axis: Russian forces fired artillery at more than 15x settlements, including Novoberyslav, L'vove, Ponyativka, Mykil's'ke, Sadove (Kherson oblast), and the city of Kherson.
At the same time, the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to conduct the offensive operation on Melitopol' and Berdyans'k axes, consolidating their positions, and conducting counter-battery fire.

During the day of August 17, Ukrainian Air Force launched 7x air strikes on the concentrations of troops, weapons, and military equipment, as well as 2x air strikes on the anti-aircraft missile systems of the adversary. Also, the Ukrainian defenders intercepted 2x Ka-52 attack helicopters of the Russian forces.

During the day of August 17, Ukrainian missile and artillery troops hit 4x artillery assets at their firing positions, 2x ammunition supply points and 1x electronic warfare station of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces, in close cooperation with aviation and artillery, repelled four attacks by Ukrainian Armed Forces near Zaliznyanskoye, Staromikhailovka, and Krasnogorovka (Donetsk People's Republic). In addition, the assault detachments of the Russian grouping of forces conducted successful offensives and improved the situation along the front line.

A missile strike on the Mezhevaya station (Dnepropetrovsk region) destroyed a military echelon with ammunition.

The enemy lost up to 310 Ukrainian personnel, a tank, three armoured fighting vehicles, nine motor vehicles, and a D-20 artillery in this direction throughout the day.

In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line in the course of active operations with the support of aviation and artillery fire.

During the day, six attacks by assault groups of the 14th Mechanised, 25th Airborne, and 95th Air Assault brigades of the AFU were repelled in the areas of Olshana, Sinkovka (Kharkov region) and Novosyolovskoye (Lugansk People's Republic).

During the day, up to 125 Ukrainian personnel were eliminated, as well as two armoured fighting vehicles, two pick-up trucks, one Tyulpan self-propelled mortar, one M777 artillery system, and one U.S.-made M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces repelled an attack by an assault group of the AFU 42nd Mechanised Brigade near Kuzmino.

In addition, comprehensive fire damage was inflicted on the enemy close to Kremennaya and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic).

Up to 55 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three vehicles, one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery unit, and two D-30 howitzers were destroyed.

In the South Donetsk direction, professional actions by units of the Vostok Group of Forces, air strikes and artillery fire inflicted a comprehensive fire defeat on the enemy near Priyutnoye (Zaporozhye region), Staromayorskoye and Rovnopol (Donetsk People's Republic).

More than 175 Ukrainian soldiers were neutralised, as well as two tanks, three armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, one D-20 howitzer, and two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery units.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian grouping of forces, supported by aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrowers, repelled an enemy attack and inflicted a comprehensive fire defeat on the assault detachments of the 46th AFU Airmobile Brigade close to Rabotino (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy losses totalled up to 195 Ukrainian troops, four Stryker armoured personnel carriers, two infantry fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, a UK-made FH-70 gun, as well as two Msta-B and one D-20 howitzers.

In Kherson direction, Ukrainian units lost up to 30 troops, three motor vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer as a result of a fire attack.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Group of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 138 areas during the day.

Two AFU drone control points were hit in the areas of the settlements of Lastochkino (Donetsk People's Republic) and Ivanovskoye (Zaporozhye region). A command and observation post of a unit of the AFU 67th Mechanised Brigade and an ammunition depot were hit near Serebryanka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Russian air defence forces have intercepted one HIMARS MLRS projectile during the day.

In addition, 18 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were intercepted in the areas of Zhitlovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Soledar, Nikolayevka, Zarya, Orlinskoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Mirnoye, (Zaporozhye region), and Olshana (Kharkov region).

In total, 459 airplanes and 246 helicopters, 5,805 unmanned aerial vehicles, 431 air defence missile systems, 11,349 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,144 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 5,918 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 12,289 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.