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Russo-Ukraine War - 02 September 2023 - Day 556

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 Ukrainian Forces continue to take offensive action on the Orikhiv axis in southern Ukraine, with units reaching the first Russian main defensive line. Russian forces, primarily composed of the 58 Combined Arms Army and Russian Airborne Forces elements, seek to halt the Ukrainian counter-offensive whilst maintaining their own offensive on the northern axis around Kupiansk.

Russian forces are likely seeking to distract Ukraine from its counter-offensive, thereby forcing it to divide its forces between Orikhiv and Kupiansk. Given that Russia has made modest gains near Kupiansk since the Ukrainian counter-offensive began in June, they are highly likely seeking to capitalise on these by continuing to resource the axis. However, Russia risks dividing its forces as it seeks to prevent a Ukrainian breakthrough.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of September 2, Russian forces launched 2x missile and 34x air strikes, 42x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian 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 September 2, there were 15x combat engagements.

Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: the Russian invaders launched an air strike in the vicinity of Chuhunivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired mortars and artillery at more than 20x settlements, including Khrinivka, Karpovychi, Leonivka (Chernihiv oblast), Ukrains'ke, Shalyhyne, Kostyantynivka, Veselivka, Ryasne, Hrabovs'ke (Sumy oblast), Kozacha Lopan', Ohirtseve, Vovchans'ki Khutory, Varvarivka, Potykhonove (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: the settlements of Kam'yanka and Berestove suffered from the Russian artillery shelling.
Lyman axis: the Russian occupiers conducted unsuccessful offensives in the vicinity of Novojehorivka (Luhansk oblast). The adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of Cherneshchyna (Kharkiv oblast), Novojehorivka and Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery at more than 10x settlements, including Makiivka, Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Yampolivka, Dronivka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Vyimka, Vesele, Pryvillya (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: more than 15x settlements, including Vasyukivka, Hryhorivka, Chasiv Yar, Stupochky, Predtechyne, Kurdyumivka (Donetsk oblast), suffered from Russian artillery shelling.
Avdiivka axis: the Russian adversary conducted unsuccessful offensives in the vicinity of Sjeverne (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at the settlements of Karlivka, Novokalynove, Avdiivka, Pervomais'ke, Stepove (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: the Russian adversary conducted unsuccessful offensives in the vicinities of Krasnohorivka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). The settlements of Oleksandropil', Heorhiivka, Pobjeda, Kostyantynivka, and Yelyzavetivka (Donetsk oblast) suffered from the Russian artillery shelling.
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Vuhledar and Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery at more than 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Prechystivka, Velyka Novosilka, Staromaiors'ke, Novosilka, and Zelene Pole (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia axis: the Russian adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of Mala Tokmachka, Novodanylivka, Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). The Russian adversary fired artillery at more than 15x settlements, including Levadne, Malynivka, Hulyaipole, Novodanylivka, Mali Shcherbaky, P'yatykhatky (Zaporizhzhia oblast), and Nikopol' (Dnipropetrovsk oblast).
Kherson axis: Russian forces shelled more than 10x settlements, including Mykhailivka, Novoberyslav, Mykolaivka, Tyahynka, Kherson, Pervomais'ke (Kherson 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 September 2, Ukrainian Air Force launched 9x 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 Russian adversary.

During the day of September 2, the Ukrainian missile and artillery troops hit 5x concentrations of troops, weapons, and military equipment, 12x artillery systems at their firing positions, 2x command posts, 2x ammunition depots, and 1x anti-aircraft missile systems of the Russian occupiers.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Zaporozhye direction, the Russian Group of Forces' units, artillery and aviation repelled four attacks by AFU 47th, 65th mechanised brigades, the 46th Aeromobile Brigade, the 82nd Air Assault Brigade and the 15th National Guard Brigade near Rabotino and Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).

Over the past 24 hours, up to 115 AFU servicemen, two armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, two M777 artillery systems, one U.S.-manufactured M119 towed howitzer, as well as two howitzers: one Msta-B howitzer and one D-30 howitzer were eliminated.

One U.S.-manufactured AN/TPQ-50 counterbattery warfare radar has been destroyed near Charivnoye (Zaporozhye region).

In South Donetsk direction, the Vostok Group of Forces' units, supported by Army Aviation and artillery, launched attacks at the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade near Ugledarn (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, one ammunition depot of the AFU 117th Mechanised Brigade has been destroyed near Kamyshevakha (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy losses were more than 105 AFU militants, four tanks, three infantry fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles, two Akatsiya and Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems, as well as two howitzers: one D-20 howitzer and one D-30 howitzer.

In Donetsk direction, Russian troops actively improved positions along the front line close to Klescheyevka (Donetsk People's Republic.)

Over the past 24 hours, the Yug Group of Forces' units, artillery and aviation repelled five attacks of AFU 129th, 241st territorial defence brigades' assault groups near Artyomovsk (Donetsk People's Republic), as well as three attacks of the AFU 109th Territorial Defence Brigade'units and the 79th Air Assault Brigade's units close to Maryinka (Donetsk People's Republic.)

More than 250 AFU servicemen, one tank, one infantry fighting vehicle, four armoured fighting vehicles, two motor veicles, one Strela-10 surface-to-air missile system, one Polish-manufactured Krab self-propelled artillery system, two D-2- howitzers, one D-30 howitzer, as well as one U.S.-manufactured M119 howitzer were eliminated.

In Kupyansk direction, the Zapad Group of Forces' units, supported by Army Aviation and artillery, launched attacks at the AFU 103rd Territorial Defence Brigade's units near Kislovka (Kharkov region).

The enemy losses were up to 40 servicemen, three armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, one U.S.-manufactured M777 artillery system, and one D-20 howitzer.

In Krasny Liman direction, as a result of coordinated actions by units of the Tsentr Group of Forces, Army Aviation, artillery and heavy flamethrower systems, two attacks by assault groups of the 5th National Guard Brigade's units and the 67th Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been repelled close to Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic).

In addition, AFU 63rd and 67th mechanised brigades' units have been hit near Torskoye (Donetsk People's Republic), and Kuzmino (Lugansk People's Republic).

More than 60 AFU servicemen, as well as otwo armoured fighting vehicles, two pickup trucks, and two D-30 howitzers were eliminated.

In Kherson direction, the enemy losses were more than 30Ukrainian servicemen, two motor vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer.

One field ammunition depot of the AFU 106th Territorial Defence Brigade was destroyed near Tyaginka (Kherson region), as well as one UAV control post close to Otradokamenka (Kherson region).

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised manpower and military hardware in 108 areas.

Two command and observation posts of the 28th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU have been destroyed near Dyleevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

One communications center of the AFU 110th Mechanised Brigade has been destroyed near Avdeyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Air defence systems intercepted two U.S.manufactured HIMARS rocket-propelled projectiles and one HARM anti-radar missile.
Over the past 24 hours, 25 AFU unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down near Trudovskoye, Kodema, Klinovoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Pshenichnoye, Ocheretovatoye and Tarasovka (Zaporozhye region), as well as Tavolzhanka (Kharkov region)

In total, 466 airplanes, 247 helicopters, 6,318 unmanned aerial vehicles, 435 air defence missile systems, 11,607 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,147 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 6,182 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 12,620 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation.