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Russo-Ukraine War - 28 August 2023 - Day 551

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 Russia has highly likely cancelled Exercise ZAPAD ('West') 23, its planned 'joint strategic exercise' (JSE) and major annual event intended to be the culmination of the military's training year. The exercise should have taken place in September 2023.

From 2010 Russia ran a four-year cycle, rotating JSEs around the country. However, since 2021, Russia has based the JSE in western Russia at least every second year as it prioritises confronting what it perceives as the threat from NATO. This follows ZAPAD 21, the largest Russian exercise since Soviet times.

The Russian military's under-performance in Ukraine has highlighted how JSEs have had limited training value and have largely been for show. Russia has likely cancelled ZAPAD 23 because too few troops and equipment are available. There is a realistic possibility that the Russian leadership is also sensitive to domestic criticism liable from running another slickly presented JSE during wartime.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of August 28, Russian forces launched a total of 8x missile and 30x air strikes, 19x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have killed and wounded civilians. Residential buildings, schools, and other civilian infrastructure were damaged.

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

During the day of August 28, there were 26x combat engagements.

Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: the Russian adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of Popivka and Slavhorod (Sumy oblast). Russian forces fired mortars and artillery at more than 20x settlements, including Karpovychi, Kamin' (Chernihiv oblast), Volfyno, Boyaro-Lezhachi, Popivka, Stukalivka (Sumy oblast), Mala Vovcha, Okhrimivka, Veterynarne (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Ivanivka and Kyslivka (Kharkiv oblast). The settlements of Kyslivka, Kolodyazne, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast) came under artillery and mortar fire of the Russian adversary.
Lyman axis: the Russian invaders launched air strikes in the vicinities of Tverdokhlibove, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast) and Spirne (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Tors'ke, Spirne (Donetsk oblast), were shelled with artillery.
Bakhmut axis: the Russian occupiers launched an air strike in the vicinity of New York (Donetsk oblast). More than 15x settlements, including Pryvillya, Hryhorivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Druzhba (Donetsk oblast), suffered from Russian artillery shelling.
Avdiivka axis: Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Avdiivka. The Russian adversary fired artillery at the settlements of Oleksandropil', Novokalynove, Avdiivka, Sjeverne (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back the Russian offensive in the vicinity of Mar'inka (Donetsk oblast). The Russian adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of Krasnohorivka and Kostyantynivka (Donetsk oblast). The invaders fired artillery at the settlements of Krasnohorivka, Mar'inka, Pobjeda, Katerynivka, Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast).
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Vodyane, Novosilky, Blahodatne (Donetsk oblast). The settlements of Vuhledar, Vodyane, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast) suffered from Russian artillery shelling.
Zaporizhzhia axis: Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Robotyne and Novodanylivka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 20x settlements suffered from Russian artillery shelling, including Novodarivka, Poltavka, Huliaipilske, Charivne, Mali Shcherbaky, Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast).
Kherson axis: Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Mykolaivka and Ol'hivka (Kherson oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery at the settlements of Kherson, Sadove (Kherson oblast) and Ochakiv (Mykolaiv oblast).

At the same time, the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to conduct the offensive operation on Melitopol' axis, consolidating their positions and conducting counter-battery fire.

During the day of August 28, Ukrainian Air Force launched 8x air strikes on the concentrations of troops and 1x air strike on a command post and 3x strikes on anti-aircraft missile systems of the Russian adversary.

During the day of August 28, the Ukrainian missile and artillery troops hit 2x command posts, 1x asset of air defense, and 1x artillery systems of the Russian adversary at their firing positions.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that that night Russian Navy launched a long-range group maritime high-precision strike at an Armed Forces of Ukraine foreign-made aircraft weaponry ammunition depot.

The goal of the strike has been achieved. The facility has been neutralised.

In Zaporozhye direction, the Russian Group of Forces supported by Army aviation and artillery repelled seven attacks by units of the AFU 82nd Air Assault Brigade and the 46th Airmobile Brigade close to Rabotino and Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).

Up to 160 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, two U.S.-made M777 howitzers, one AS-90 Brave Heart self-propelled artillery howitzer, one U.K.-made FH-70 howitzer, as well as two D-30 howitzers have been neutralised.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces in cohesion with aviation and artillery repelled two attacks by AFU assault groups near Klescheevka and Krasnogorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

In Donetsk direction, over 185 Ukrainian troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, one Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery howitzer, as well as one Grad MLRS combat vehicle have been neutralised.

In Kupyansk direction, the Zapad Group of Forces units supported by aviation and artillery repelled two enemy attacks near Sinkovka (Kharkov region) and Novoselovkoye (Lugansk People's Republic).

Up to 30 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, and one D-20 howitzer were destroyed.

In Krasny Liman direction, the Tsentr Group of Forces' units, aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems repelled two attacks of units of AFU 12th Special Operations Brigade and 42nd Mechanised Brigade close to Kuzmino (Lugansk People's Republic).

In Krasny Liman direction, up to 60 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, two pick-up trucks, one Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer, and one D-30 howitzer have been neutralised.

In South-Donetsk direction, the Vostok Group of Forces units, Army aviation, and artillery repelled two attacks of the AFU 31st Marines Brigade near Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

In South-Donetsk direction, up to 100 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, two D-20 howitzers, and one Msta-B howitzer have been neutralised.

In Kherson direction, up to 35 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M109 Paladin artillery howitzer, and two D-30 howitzers have been neutralised.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Group of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 128 areas during the day.

A command and observation post of the AFU 67th Mechanised Brigade was destroyed close to Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic).

Russian air defence forces have intercepted three JDAM guided bombs, as well as one HIMARS MLRS projectile during the day.

Moreover, 27 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been shot down close to Druzhelubovka, Voskresenka (Kherson region), Lisichansk (Lugansk People's Republic), Mirnoye, Pologi (Zaporozhye region), Paraskovievka, Novoandreevka, Lidiyevka, and Soledar (Donetsk People's Republic).

In total, 466 airplanes and 247 helicopters, 6,179 unmanned aerial vehicles, 433 air defence missile systems, 11,538 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,146 combat vehicles equipped with MRLS, 6,095 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 12,480 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.