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Russo-Ukraine War - 09 September 2023 - Day 563

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 elements of the Ukrainian Armed Forces have advanced into the multi-layered main Russian defensive line east of the town of Robotyne. Ukrainian dismounted infantry forces are continuing to make gradual tactical advances against Russian positions and attrite Russian forces in the area.

Ukrainian forces have also maintained pressure on Russian positions to the south of Bakhmut, making gradual gains between Klishchiivka and Adriivka.

It is highly likely that Russia has redeployed forces from other areas of the frontline to replace degraded units around Robotyne. These redeployments are likely limiting Russia's ability to carry out offensive operations of its own along other areas of the front line. The redeployments are also highly likely an indication of pressure on their defensive lines, particularly around Robotyne.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of September 9, there were 26x combat engagements. Russian forces launched 2x missile, 29x air strikes, more than 14x MLRS as attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and civilian infrastructure in various settlements.
Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes.

Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Ambarne, Budarkiv (Kharkiv oblast). More than 20x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Karpovychi, Leonivka (Chernihiv oblast), Novomykolaivka, Myropil's'ke, Tur'ya (Sumy oblast), Hur'iv Kozachok, Budarky, Starytsya (Kharkiv oblast).
The operational situation in east and south of Ukraine remains difficult.
Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Syn'kivka, Kyslivka (Kharkiv oblast), Novoselivs'ke (Luhansk oblast). The settlements of Kyslivka, Kucherivka (Kharkiv oblast) came under artillery and mortar fire.
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled Russian attacks in the vicinity of Berestove. Russian forces launched air strikes against Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Spirne, Vesele (Donetsk oblast). More than 20x settlements, including Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Dibrova, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne, Berestove (Donetsk oblast), were shelled with artillery and mortars.
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces successfully holding back the Russian offensive in the vicinities of Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Bohdanivka and Klishchiivka. Russian forces launched air strikes against Klishchiivka and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). More than 20x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Chasiv Yar, Klishchiivka, Bila Hora, Kurdyumivka, New York (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Keramik, Stepove, Avdiivka, Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: during the day of September 8, Ukrainian defenders repelled 8x Russian attacks in the vicinity of Mar'inka. Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Krasnohorivka. The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at around than 15x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Mar'inka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast).
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces launched air strikes near Prechystivka and Zolota Nyva (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Zaporizhzhia axis: Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at more than 20x settlements, including Ol'hivs'ke, Hulyaipole, Huliaipilske, Mala Tokmachka, Novodanylivka, P'yatykhatky, Robotyne, Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast).
Kherson axis: the settlements of Ponyativka, Sadove (Kherson oblast) and Dniprovs'ke (Mykolaiv oblast) came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

At the same time, the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to conduct the offensive operation on Melitopol' axis and offensives (assaults) on Bakhmut axis. Ukrainian defenders make gains in the area south of Robotyne and Klishchiivka, consolidating the new positions, crushing Russian forces and step by step liberating the occupied territories.

During the day of September 9, Ukrainian Air Force launched 8x air strikes on the concentrations of troops, weapons, and military equipment.

Missile, artillery, and UAV units hit 5x artillery systems and 1x anti-aircraft missile systems of Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that from 2 September to 9 September, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out six group strikes with high-precision long-range sea- and air-based armament and unmanned aerial vehicles against Ukrainian radio-technical reconnaissance facilities, port infrastructure, the production of unmanned boats, ammunition and Western weapons, fuel depots, as well as training bases for AFU sabotage groups and terrorists from the so-called 'Russian Volunteer Corps'.

In addition, as a result of aviation strikes, the work of strategic radio-technical reconnaissance systems, as well as the logistical support of AFU troop groups operating in the Kherson and Zaporozhye was disrupted.
In Zaporozhye direction, AFU units continued unsuccessful attempts to break through the defences of Russian troops close to Rabotino and Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy 39 times threw assault units of 46th aeromobile, 47th mechanised, 82nd air assault brigades, as well as the 15th Brigade of Ukrainian National Guard into battle to break through Russian positions.

To support the offensive actions of the AFU units in this direction, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have deployed a group of up to 360 artillery pieces, of which more than 160 are Western-manufactured pieces of 155mm calibre.

All enemy attacks were repelled by the self-sacrificing actions of Russian servicemen.

During the fierce fighting in this area, more than 845 Ukrainian servicemen, 27 tanks and armoured combat vehicles, including a UK-made Challenger tank and 25 vehicles were eliminated. In the course of the counter-battery fight, 63 enemy field artillery guns were destroyed.

The 82nd Air Assault Brigade of the AFU alone has lost up to 500 servicemen killed and wounded over the past week.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Russian forces repelled four enemy attacks with concerted action during the week, continuing to inflict a comprehensive fire attack on AFU manpower and hardware concentration areas.

Over the past period, the total losses of the enemy in this direction were over 1,230 Ukrainian soldiers, 24 armoured combat vehicles, 37 motor vehicles, as well as 17 field artillery guns.

In Donetsk direction, the competent actions of units of the Yug Group of Forces repelled 56 attacks by Ukrainian troops, as a result of which more than 2,100 servicemen, 23 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 45 vehicles and 30 field artillery pieces were eliminated.
In Kupyansk direction, Russian units of the Zapad Group of Forces continued to improve the tactical situation in their areas of responsibility by conducting active operations.
During the week, 22 attacks were repelled in this direction, during which the enemy losses were up to 425 Ukrainian servicemen, eight armoured combat vehicles, 18 cars and pickup trucks, as well as 15 artillery pieces.

In Krasny Liman direction, 12 enemy attacks were successfully repelled as a result of the actions of the Tsentr Group of Forces' units, aviation strikes, artillery fire and heavy flamethrower systems.
The losses of the AFU units were more than 450 servicemen, 13 armoured combat vehicles, 15 motor vehicles and seven guns.

In Kherson direction, the main efforts were concentrated on the fire defeat of AFU manpower, as well as on preventing landings on islands in the Dnieper River bed, and counter-battery warfare.
During the fulfilment of combat missions, an attempt to land troops in the area of Tendrovskaya Spit Island was prevented.

In addition, five Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups were destroyed.

Up to 355 Ukrainian AFU servicemen, a tank, 32 vehicles, and twelve field artillery guns were eliminated in this direction.

Ships of the Black Sea Fleet during combat duty in the southern part of the Kerch Strait have detected and destroyed three Ukrainian unmanned semi-submersible boats attempting to attack the Crimean bridge.
In addition, four high-speed boats with landing groups of the AFU special operations forces, totalling up to 50 Ukrainian servicemen, were destroyed by Naval Aviation aircraft in the waters of the Black Sea west of the Crimean peninsula.

Operational-Tactical Aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces, and air defence systems shot down a MiG-29 aircraft and a Mi-8 helicopter of the Ukrainian Air Force during the week, as well as destroyed launchers of the S-300ps anti-aircraft missile system near the village of Lyubimovka (Zaporozhye region).

Russian air defence and electronic warfare systems destroyed and suppressed 247 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, including 23 in the western regions of the Russian Federation during the week.

In addition, 49 HIMARS MLRS projectiles, three JDAM guided aerial bombs, and one HARM anti-radiation missile were intercepted.

In total, 467 airplanes, 248 helicopters, 6,540 unmanned aerial vehicles, 436 air defence missile systems, 11,742 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,149 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 6,306 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 12,840 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation.