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Russo-Ukraine War - 19 August 2023 - Day 542

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 over the last week, most of the front line has remained static. However, in the south, Ukrainian forces have continued their advance along the course of the Mokri Yaly river, securing the village of Urozhaine in the face of stiff Russian resistance.

In the north, Russian forces have continued probing attacks in the Kupiansk area but achieved no significant advances.

Across the front, both sides confront a similar challenge: attempting to defeat well-entrenched forces while having limited uncommitted forces to open new assaults.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of August 19, Russian forces launched 5x missile and 44x air strikes, 17x 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 19, there were 26x combat engagements.

Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinities of Kostyantynivka (Sumy oblast). Russian forces fired mortars and artillery at more than 15x settlements, including Karpovychi, Bleshnya (Chernihiv oblast), Kostyantynivka, Myropil's'ke, Popivka (Sumy oblast), Vil'cha, Loshakove, Hatyshche, Okhrimivka (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Kyslivka (Kharkiv oblast). The following settlements were shelled with artillery and mortars: Kucherivka, Petropavlivka, Kyslivka (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Russian invaders launched air strikes in the vicinities of Bilohorivka, Serebryanka forestry (Luhansk oblast) and Terniv (Donetsk oblast). About 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne, and Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast), were shelled with artillery.
Bakhmut axis: the Russian adversary attempted offensive operations in the areas north of Bohdanivka, north and south of Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast), to no success. The Russian invaders launched an air strike in the vicinities of Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements, including Klishchiivka, Bila Hora, Bohdanivka (Donetsk oblast), suffered from Russian artillery shelling.
Avdiivka axis: the Russian invaders fired artillery at following settlements: Novokalynove, Avdiivka, Sjeverne, Karlivka (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back the Russian offensive in the vicinity of Mar'inka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Krasnohorivka, Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). Settlements Krasnohorivka, Mar'inka, Pobjeda, Katerynivka, Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast), suffered from Russian artillery shelling.
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces made unsuccessful attempts to regain the lost position in the vicinity of Urozhaine. Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Velyka Novosilka. Settlements Vodyane, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Blahodatne, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery shelling.
Zaporizhzhia axis: the Russian adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of Mala Tokmachka and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 15x settlements suffered from Russian artillery shelling, including Novodarivka, Poltavka, Malynivka, Hulyaipole, Novodanylivka, Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast).
Kherson axis: the Russian adversary fired artillery at more than 10x settlements, including Tokarivka, Dudchany, Veletens'ke (Kherson 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 19, Ukrainian Air Force launched 7x air strikes on the concentrations of troops, weapons, and military equipment, as well as 1x air strike on the anti-aircraft missile system of the Russian adversary.

During the day of August 19, the Ukrainian missile and artillery troops hit 5x artillery systems at their firing positions, 3x command posts, and 3x air defense systems of the Russian forces.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, the Zapad Group of Forces repelled four attacks and counter-attacks of assault detachments from the 14th, 32nd, 44th mechanised and 95th Air Assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Novosyolovskoye (Lugansk People's Republic), Sinkovka and Urochishche Mankovka (Kharkov region) .

Over 130 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, and two U.S.-made M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery systems have been eliminated in this direction during the day.

In Donetsk direction, the Yug Group of Forces in close cooperation with aviation and artillery has successfully repelled five enemy attacks close to Andreyevka, Veseloye, Krasnogorovka, and Nevelskoye (Donetsk People's Republic) over the past 24 hours.

In addition, ammunition depots of the 24th Mechanised and 79th Air Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has been hit close to Toretsk and Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses amounted to up to 400 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, 14 armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, and one D-20 howitzer.

In South Donetsk direction, the Vostok Group of Forces repelled and attack launched by AFU assault group close to Urozhaynoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

Moreover, Russian troops disabled four Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups close to Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic), and Priyutnoye (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy losses amounted to up to 200 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, and Msta-B and D-30 howitzers.

In Zaporozhye direction, Russian forces, aviation, and artillery repelled an attack launched by units of the 82nd Air Assault Brigade of the AFU Strategic Reserve close to Raborino (Zaporozhye region).

Up to 190 Ukrainian troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, two motor vehicles, two Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery systems, as well as one U.S.-made M119 howitzer have been eliminated.

In Krasny Liman direction, the Tsentr Group of Forces in coordination with army aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrowers repelled an attack of the 42nd Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine south of Kuzmino (Lugansk People's Republic). In this direction, the enemy has lost over 40 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, and one D-20 howitzer.

In Kherson direction, up to 15 Ukrainian servicemen, two motor vehicles, two D-30 howitzers, and one Msta-B gun have been neutralised by fire.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Group of Forces have inflicted fire damage on enemy manpower and hardware in 139 areas in the past 24 hours.

A forward command post of the 10th Army Corps was destroyed near Orekhov (Zaporozhye region). ?? An AFU's ammunition depot was annihilated close to Goloskov (Khmelnitsky region).

Air defence facilities have shot down 23 unmanned aerial vehicles near Berestovoye (Kharkov region), Kremennaya, Zolotaryovka, Svatovo, Privolye (Lugansk People's Republic), Staromikhailovka, Spornoye(Donetsk People's Republic), Energodar and Shevchenko (Zaporozhye region).

In total, 461 airplanes and 246 helicopters, 5,854 unmanned aerial vehicles, 431 air defence missile systems, 11,387 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,144 combat vehicles equipped with MRLS, 5,940 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 12,319 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.