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Russo-Ukraine War - 18 August 2023 - Day 541

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 on 15 August 2023, First Deputy Head of the Russian Presidential Administration Sergey Kiriyenko travelled to Donetsk in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine to visit schools and check their integration into the Russian education system.

In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, the occupation administration received instructions from Russia regarding the introduction of new standards for the accreditation of educational institutions. Journalists from Russia are also being employed in media outlets in the occupied regions.

A new textbook on the history of Russia will be issued to schools in the occupied regions of Ukraine and throughout the Russian Federation from 1 September 2023. The book praises the so-called special military operation and describes Ukraine as an ultra-terrorist state.

Russia's aim is to create a pro-Kremlin information space in the occupied regions in order to erode Ukrainian national identity.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of August 18, Russian forces launched 1x missile and 31x air strikes, 45x 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 were damaged.

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

During the day of August 18, there were 30x combat engagements.

Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Chervona Zorya and Veeterynarne (Kharkiv oblast). The Russian adversary fired mortars and artillery at more than 20x settlements, including Yeline, Leonivka, Vyl'chyky, Mykolaivs'ke (Chernihiv oblast), Rozhkovychi, Iskryskivshchyna, Tur'ya, Pokrovka, Ryasne (Sumy oblast), Chervona Zorya, Hatyshche, Vovchans'ki Khutory, Budarky (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensives in the vicinity of Syn'kivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Kyslivka and Berestove (Kharkiv oblast). The following settlements were shelled with artillery and mortars: Kam'yanka, Krasne Pershe, Masyutivka, Kyslivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensives in the vicinities of Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast). The Russian invaders launched air strikes in the vicinities of Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast) and Spirne (Donetsk oblast). About 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Chervonopopivka (Luhansk oblast), Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Sviato-Pokrovske, Spirne, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast), were shelled with artillery.
Bakhmut axis: the Russian adversary attempted offensive operations in the area northeast of Orikhovo-Vasylivka (Donetsk oblast), to no success. The Russian invaders launched air strikes in the vicinities of Klishchiivka and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). More than 15x settlements, including Min'kivka, Bohdanivka, Chasiv Yar, Klishchiivka, Shcherbynivka (Donetsk oblast), suffered from Russian artillery shelling.
Avdiivka axis: the Russian adversary attempted offensive operations in the area southeast and east of Novokalynove (Donetsk oblast), to no success. The Russian invaders fired artillery at more than 10x settlements, including Keramik, Stepove, Avdiivka, Pervomais'ke, Netailove (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back the Russian offensive in the vicinities of Mar'inka and Krasnohorivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Krasnohorivka (Donetsk oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery at following settlements: Krasnohorivka, Pobjeda, Kostyantynivka, Halytsynivka, Katerynivka (Donetsk oblast).
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces made unsuccessful attempts to regain the lost position in the vicinity of Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast). The Russian invaders launched an air strike in the vicinity of Staromaiors'ke. More than 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Bohoyavlenka, Zolota Nyva, Blahodatne, Staromaiors'ke, Rivnopil' (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery shelling.
Zaporizhzhia axis: Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 15x settlements suffered from Russian artillery shelling, including Novodarivka, Malynivka, Hulyaipole, Charivne, Mali Shcherbaky, Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast).
Kherson axis: Russian forces artillery shelled more than 10x settlements, including Zolota Balka, Respublikanets', Odradokam'yanka, Veletens'ke, Novodmytrivka (Kherson oblast), Lupareve (Mykolaiv oblast).

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 18, Ukrainian Air Force launched 9x air strikes on the concentrations of troops, weapons, and military equipment of the Russian adversary.

During the day of August 18, the Ukrainian missile and artillery troops hit 2x areas of concentration of troops, weapons, and military equipment, 4x artillery systems at their firing position, 2x command points, and 2x electronic warfare station of the Russian occupiers.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Donetsk direction, active and coordinated actions of the Yug Group of Forces supported by ground-attack and army aviation reflected three AFU attacks close to Avdeyevka, Berestooye, and Maryinka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy's losses have amounted to around 220 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, three armoured fighting vehicles, five motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M-777 artillery system, one D-20 howitzer, and two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems.

Furthermore, three ammunition supply points of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were obliterated near Dyleyevka, Dzerzhinsk, and Novopokrovskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, strikes of Operational-Tactical Aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrowers repelled an enemy's attack close to Nikolskoye (Donetsk People's Republic), and inflicted fire damage on the AFU units near Urozhainoye and Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

Up to 210 Ukrainian servicemen, two infantry fighting vehicles, two armoured combat vehicles, three motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M777 artillery systems, and one MT-12 Rapira anti-tank gun have been neutralised during the day.

In Kupyansk direction, artillery and Army Aviation of the Zapad Group of Forces successfully repelled seven attacks and counter-attacks of the enemy close to Novosyolovskoye (Lugansk People's Republic), Sinkovka, Olshana, and Mankovka Urochische (Kharkov region).

A munition depot of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was annihilated close to Kamenka (Kharkov region).

Total enemy losses in this direction amounted to up to 75 Ukrainian servicemen, three armoured fighting vehicles, two pick-up trucks, and one Polish-made Krab self-propelled system.

In Krasny Liman direction, the Tsentr Group of Forces, army aviation, and artillery repelled two enemy attacks close to Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic).

Up to 80 Ukrainian personnel, three armoured fighting vehicles, and two pick-up trucks have been eliminated.

The Russian grouping of forces supported by artillery close to Rabotino (Zaporozhye region) repelled two attacks of the enemy and disable one sabotage and reconnaissance unit in Zaporozhye direction.

Up to 195 Ukrainian troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, one Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery system, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, and one U.K.-made L119 howitzer have been neutralised during the day.

In Kherson direction, the enemy suffered losses of up to 30 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, and one AN/TPQ-37 counterbattery radar station as a result of fire damage.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian grouping of troops engaged manpower, and military hardware of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 143 areas.

Fighter aviation of Russian Aerospace Forces has shot down one Su-25 aircraft of Ukrainian Air Force near Verolyubovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Air defence systems have shot down a Su-25 airplane of Ukrainian Air Force near Malaya Tokmachka (Zaporozhye region).

In addition, 26 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been shot down close to Verkhnyaya Duvanka, Kremennaya, Privolye, Lisichansk (Lugansk People's Republic), Berestovoye, Krasnaya Gora, Volodino, Orlinskoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Lyubimovka, Rabotino, and Tokmak (Zaporozhye region).

In total, 461 airplanes and 246 helicopters, 5,831 unmanned aerial vehicles, 431 air defence missile systems, 11,366 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,144 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 5,928 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 12,307 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.