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Russo-Ukraine War - 13 September 2023 - Day 567

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 Russia's new 25th Combined Arms Army (25 CAA) have highly likely deployed to Ukraine for the first time. The formation is likely focused on Luhansk Oblast in the north-east of the country.

As recently as August 2023, recruitment adverts for 25 CAA claimed it would only deploy to Ukraine from December 2023.

It is likely that units have been rushed into action early partly because Russia continues to grapple with an over-stretched force along the front and Ukraine continues its counter-offensive on three different axes. However, there is also a realistic possibility that Russia will attempt to use parts of 25 CAA to regenerate an uncommitted reserve force in the theatre to provide commanders with more operational flexibility.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Russian Federation conducted another massive air strike with Iranian Shahed-136/131 strike UAVs in Odesa oblast and Sumy oblast. The main target of the strike was the port infrastructure in the cities of Izmail and Reni in Odesa oblast. Air defense destroyed 34 out of 45 Russian Shahed UAVs. In total the Russian invaders launched 1x missile, 80x air strikes and 32x MLRS strikes at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks killed and wounded civilians. Port infrastructure, residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged.

During the day of September 13, there were 24x combat engagements.

The operational situation in the east and south of Ukraine remains difficult.

Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes. There are no signs of offensive groups being formed. Certain units of the Belarusian armed forces are performing tasks in the areas bordering Ukraine.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia maintains its military presence in the border areas, continues shelling settlements from the territory of Russia, and unsuccessfully tries to carry out armed provocations assaulting Ukraine's frontiers. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Morokhovets', Pletenivka (Kharkiv oblast) and Stepok (Sumy oblast). More than 30x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Karpovychi, Hrem'yachka, Osove (Chernihiv oblast), Yastrubyne, Sadky, Velyka Pysarivka (Sumy oblast), Ohirtseve, Zybyne (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled Russian attack northeast of Berestove (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Petropavlivka, Kyslivka (Kharkiv oblast) and Novoselivs'ke (Luhansk oblast). The settlements of Fyholivka, Novomlyns'k, Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Kyslivka, Kotlyarivka (Kharkiv oblast) came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Lyman axis: the Russian adversary did not conduct any offensive actions and continues to regroup its troops. The Russian invaders launched air strikes against the settlements of Novojehorivka, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), and Sivers'k, Spirne (Donetsk oblast). Russian occupiers shelled with artillery and mortars more than 20x settlements, including Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Zarichne, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne, Vesele, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: Russian forces tried to regain the lost position in the area of Bohdanivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes against the settlements of Kurdyumivka and Klishchiivka, (Donetsk oblast). More than 20x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Vasyukivka, Zaliznyans'ke, Min'kivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Bohdanivka, Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the settlements of Keramik, Ocheretyne, Stepove, Avdiivka, Lastochkyne, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast) suffered Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Mar'inka axis: during the day of September 13, the Ukrainian defenders repelled more than 10x Russian attacks in the vicinity of Mar'inka. The Russian adversary launched an air strike near Krasnohorivka. The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Mar'inka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka, Kostyantynivka (Donetsk oblast).
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces launched air strikes at the settlements of Prechystivka, Novomaiors'ke, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Novoukrainka, Zolota Nyva, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Zaporizhzhia axis: Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 15x settlements, including Orikhiv, Hulyaipole, Robotyne, Stepove, P'yatykhatky (Zaporizhzhia oblast) and Nikopol' (Dnipropetrovsk oblast).
Kherson axis: the adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of Odradokam'yanka and Prydniprovs'ke (Kherson oblast). The Russian occupiers fired artillery and mortars at the settlements of Zmiivka, Odradokam'yanka, Antonivka, Kherson, Tomyna Balka (Kherson oblast).

At the same time, the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to conduct the offensive operation on Melitopol' axis and offensives (assaults) on Bakhmut axis, destroying Russian forces and step by step liberating the occupied territories. As a result of the assault operations, the Defense Forces have partial success in the vicinities of Klishchiivka, Andriivka, Kurdyumivka (Donetsk oblast), pushing the Russian forces out of their positions and consolidating new positions.

During the day of September 13, the Ukrainian Air Force launched 10x air strikes on the concentrations of troops, weapons, and military equipment as well as 2x strikes against anti-aircraft missile systems of the Russian adversary.

Missile troops hit 10x artillery systems, 2x ammunition depot, 1x command post and 1x anti-aircraft missile system and 1x electronic warfare station of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces, supported by aviation and artillery, have repelled eight attacks by assault groups of 80th airborne assault, 3rd assault, 59th motorised infantry and 110th mechanised brigades of the AFU close to Kleshcheevka, Andreevka, Pervomaiskoye, and Krasnogorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 140 Ukrainian servicemen, two infantry fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, and one Msta-B howitzer.

In addition, one ammunition depot of the AFU 79th Airborne Assault Brigade has been destroyed near Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

In South Donetsk direction, as a result of coordinated actions by units of the Vostok Group of Forces, supported by aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems, two attacks by assault groups of 38th and 36th brigades of the AFU Marines have been repelled close to Novomayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic) and Priyutnoye (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy losses were up to 235 Ukrainian servicemen killed and wounded, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, as well as one electronic warfare station.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian grouping of troops, aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems have repelled two attacks by assault groups of the 82nd Airborne Assault Brigade of the AFU near Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).
In addition, enemy manpower and hardware of 47th mechanised, 48th airmobile, and 82nd airborne assault brigades of the AFU have been hit near Rabotino (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy losses were over 205 Ukrainian servicemen, one tank, three armoured fighting vehicles, and two motor vehicles.

During the counter-battery warfare, U.S.-manufactured M777 and M119 howitzers, four D-30 guns, one D-20 gun, and one Msta-B howitzer have been hit.

In Krasny Liman direction, as a result of competent actions of units of the Tsentr Group of Forces, Ground-Attack and Army aviation, and artillery, two attacks by assault groups of the 21st Mechanised Brigade and the 12th Azov Special Operations Brigade have been repelled east of Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 65 servicemen and two armoured fighting vehicles.

In Kupyansk direction, the attacks, launched by aviation and artillery of the Zapad Group of Forces, have resulted in the neutralisation of the AFU manpower and hardware close to Novosyolovskoye (Lugansk People's Republic), Olshana and Kotlyarovka (Kharkov region).

The enemy losses were up to 85 Ukrainian servicemen, two armoured personnel carriers, and two motor vehicles.

In addition, in the course of counter-battery warfare, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, one M777 artillery system, and one U.S.-manufactured M109 Paladin howitzer have been destroyed.

One ammunition depot of the AFU 114th Brigade of the Territorial Defence of Ukraine has been destroyed near Glubokoye (Kharkov region).

In Kherson direction, artillery and heavy flamethrower systems have hit one manpower concentration area of the 124th Territorial Defence Brigade near Alekseevsky Island.

As a result of the fire attack, over 80 Ukrainian servicemen, two motor vehicles, and one U.S.-manufactured M777 artillery system have been destroyed.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised Ukrainian P-18 and ST-68 radar stations for the detection and tracking of air targets near Lukashevo (Zaporozhye region) and Krutoyarovka (Dnepropetrovsk region), as well as enemy manpower and military hardware in 129 areas.

Air defence facilities have shot down 5 projectiles launched by HIMARS MLRS.

In addition, 37 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been destroyed and suppressed by electronic warfare stations close to Blagodatnoye, Zaitsevo (Donetsk People's Republic), Verkhnekamenka, Novovodyanoye (Lugansk People's Republic), Kardashinka, Sagi (Kherson region), Novogorovka and Tarasovka (Zaporozhye region).

In total, 467 airplanes, 248 helicopters, 6,706 unmanned aerial vehicles, 437 air defence missile systems, 11,811 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,150 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 6,359 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 12,958 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation.