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Russo-Ukraine War - 20 August 2023 - Day 543

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 leadership of Russia's Aerospace Forces (VKS) is highly likely under intense pressure to improve air defences over western Russia. In recent months, the range of threats penetrating well inside Russia has increased. Strikes deep inside Russia are strategically important because President Putin almost certainly invaded Ukraine on the assumption that it would have little direct effect on Russians.

Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles are regularly hitting Moscow. In addition, there have also been increasing reports of SA-5 GAMMON missiles striking Russia. This Soviet-era 7.5 tonne, 11-metre long weapon is retired from its air defence role in Ukraine's inventory. However, it is now apparently being employed as a ground attack ballistic missile.

Pressure is likely to particularly fall on VKS Chief of Staff, Colonel-General Viktor Afzalov; VKS Commander-in-Chief General Sergei Surovikin remains absent, suspected to have been detained in relation to the June 2023 Wagner Group mutiny.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of August 20, Russian forces launched 22x air strikes and 30x 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 20, there were 22x combat engagements.

Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: the Russian adversary launched an air strike in the area southwest of Iskryskivshchyna (Sumy oblast). The adversary fired mortars and artillery at more than 20x settlements, including Karpovychi, Bohdanove, Bleshnya (Chernihiv oblast), Tovstodubove, Volfyne, Novooleksandrivka (Sumy oblast), Veterynarne, Izbyts'ke, Hatyshche, Vovchans'k, Vil'cha (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces launched an air strike to the west of Mykolaivka. The Russian occupiers attempted offensive operations in the vicinities of Syn'kivka (Kharkiv oblast), to no success. The settlements of Topoli, Masyutivka, Kyslivka, and Berestove (Kharkiv oblast) came under artillery and mortar fire of the Russian forces.
Lyman axis: Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Shyikivka, Terny, Pyskunivka, Vesele (Donetsk oblast). About 15x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne (Donetsk oblast), were shelled with artillery.
Bakhmut axis: Russian forces attempted offensive operations in the area of Kurdyumivka (Donetsk oblast), to no success. The Russian invaders launched air strikes in the vicinities of Vesele, Klishchiivka, Kurdyumivka (Donetsk oblast). More than 20x settlements, including Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Stupochky, Oleksandro-Shul'tyne (Donetsk oblast), suffered from Russian artillery shelling.
Avdiivka axis: the settlements of Keramik, Stepove, Orlivka, Avdiivka, Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast) came under artillery fire.
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 an air strike in the vicinity of Krasnohorivka (Donetsk oblast). The invaders fired artillery at the settlements of Krasnohorivka, Mar'inka, Pobjeda, Kurakhove, Katerynivka, Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast).
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast). The settlements Vodyane, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Blahodatne, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast) were shelled with artillery.
Zaporizhzhia axis: Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinity of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Russian forces fired artillery at more than 30x settlements, including Novodarivka, Chervona Krynytsya, Mala Tokmachka, Orikhiv, Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast).
Kherson axis: Russian occupiers launched air strikes in the vicinities of Ol'hivka and Sadove (Kherson oblast). Russian forces fired artillery at more than 20x settlements, including Novodmytrivka, Beryslav, Tyahynka, Tokarivka, Ponyativka, Antonivka (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 20, 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 20, the Ukrainian missile and artillery troops hit 3x artillery systems at their firing positions and 1x command posts of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Zaporozhye direction, active and coordinated actions of the Russian grouping of forces supported by artillery repelled eight attacks launched by the enemy close to Rabotino and Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy's losses amounted to up to 135 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, two infantry fighting vehicles, two Stryker armoured personnel carrier, three motor vehicles, one Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery system, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, as well as UK-made FH-79 and U.S.-made M119 howitzers, and one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar.

In Donetsk direction, the Yug Group of Forces in close cooperation with ground-attack and army aviation has successfully repelled six enemy attacks close to Andreyevka, Veseloye, Krasnogorovka, Pervomaiskoye, Veseloye, Maiorsk, and Staromikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic) over the past 24 hours.

The enemy suffered losses of over 280 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, six armoured fighting vehicles, two armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, and D-20 and D-30 howitzers in this direction in the past 24 hours.

Moreover, field ammunition depots of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were obliterated close to Kostantinovka and Ivano-Daryevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

In South Donetsk direction, the Vostok Group of Forces, Operational-Tactical Aviation, and artillery inflicted fire damage on the enemy neat Staromayorskoye and Urozhainoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The Russian Armed Forces disabled four sabotage and reconnaissance groups detached from the 56th Mechanised Brigade and 38th Marine Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Marfopol, Chervonoye (Zaporozhye region), and Urozhainoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

As a result of the fighting, more than 130 Ukrainian troops, a tank, three armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, one Msta-B howitzer, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery unit were eliminated.

In Kupyansk direction, as a result of air strikes and artillery fire and courageous actions of the Zapad Group of Forces, six enemy attacks were successfully repelled close to Olshana, Sinkovka, Ivanovka (Kharkov region), and Novoselovskoye (Lugansk People's Republic).

The ene?my's losses in this direction amounted to up to 60 troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one D-30 howitzer.

In Krasny Liman direction, three enemy attacks close to Torskoye (Donetsk People's Republic) and Belogorovka (Lugansk People's Republic) were repelled by the Tsentr Group of Forces, strikes by army aviation and artillery fire.

Up to 70 Ukrainian troops, as well as two armoured fighting vehicles, and two pick-up trucks were neutralised over the past 24 hours.

In Kherson direction, as a result of the shelling, enemy losses totalled up to 30 Ukrainian troops and two motor vehicles.

An AFU ammunition depot was destroyed near Ochakov (Nikolayev region).

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of groups of forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation engaged manpower and military hardware of the enemy in 153 areas during the past day.

Air defence systems intercepted three HIMARS projectiles, and shot down one HARM anti-radiation missile.

Moreover, 23 AFU's unmanned aerial vehicles have been shot down near Novopetrikovka, Zaitsevo, Yakovlevka, Pavlovka, Semigorie (Donetsk People's Republic), Tokmak (Zaporozhye region), Kamenka, Novoalekseyevka (Kherson region) and Lisichansk (Lugansk People's Republic).

In total, 461 airplanes and 246 helicopters, 5,877 unmanned aerial vehicles, 431 air defence missile systems, 11,409 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,144 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 5,951 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 12,334 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.