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Russo-Ukraine War - 26 September 2023 - Day 580

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 Russian Black Sea Fleet (BSF) has suffered a series of major attacks in recent weeks, culminating in strikes on its headquarters on 20 and 22 September 2023. These attacks have been more damaging and more coordinated than thus far in the war.

The physical damage to the BSF is almost certainly severe but localised. The fleet almost certainly remains capable of fulfilling its core wartime missions of cruise missile strikes and local security patrols. It is, however, likely that its ability to continue wider regional security patrols and enforce its de facto blockade of Ukrainian ports will be diminished. It also likely has a degraded ability to defend its assets in port and to conduct routine maintenance.

A dynamic, deep strike battle is underway in the Black Sea. This is likely forcing Russia into a reactive posture whilst demonstrating that Ukraine's military can undermine the Kremlin's symbolic and strategic power projection from its warm water port in occupied Sevastopol

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of September 26, there were 20x combat engagements. Also, Russia launched yet another strike at Ukraine using 38x Iranian Shahed-136/131 combat UAVs. The port infrastructure of Odesa oblast was damaged. Ukrainian air defense forces and means intercepted 26x Russian Shaheds. Russian forces launched a total of 7x missile and 73x air strikes, 37x 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 destroyed or damaged.

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

Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes. No signs of formation of an offensive group. Certain units of the armed forces of Belarus continue their missions in the areas bordering Ukraine.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia maintains its military presence in the areas of russia bordering Ukraine. Russia continues to shell Ukrainian settlements from the territory of Russia and increases the density of minefields along the state border of Ukraine. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of settlements of Hrabovs'ke, Popivka (Sumy oblast), Starytsya, and Hatyshche (Kharkiv oblast). More than 25x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Klyusy, Bleshnya, Hrem'yachka, Leonivka, Kostobobriv (Chernihiv oblast), Stara Huta, Porokhon', Volfyne, Myropillya, Pozhnya (Sumy oblast), Udy, Vovchans'k, Budarky, Vil'khuvatka, and Bolohivka (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces launched air strikes near Syn'kivka and Kup'yans'k (Kharkiv oblast). Vicinities of settlements of Syn'kivka, Tabaivka, and Berestove (Kharkiv oblast) came under artillery and mortar fire of the Russian adversary.
Lyman axis: Nadiya, Novojehorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Sivers'k, and Spirne (Donetsk oblast) were the targets of Russian air strikes. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 15x settlements, including Makiivka, Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Zarichne, Dibrova, Spirne, Rozdolivka, and Fedorivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian defenders continue to hold the line and defend Ukrainian land from the Russian occupants. Russian forces launched an air strike near Klishchiivka, Kostyantynivka, and Pivnichne (Donetsk oblast). More than 25x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Vasyukivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Andriivka, and Druzhba (Donetsk oblast). Russia is increasing the density of minefields.
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled Russian attacks in the area southeast of Sjeverne (Donetsk oblast). The Russian adversary launched an air strike near Avdiivka. The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Novokalynove, Stepove, Tonen'ke, Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke, and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: during the day of September 26, Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled 9x Russian attacks in the immediate vicinity of Mar'inka (Donetsk oblast). The Russian adversary launched an air strike near Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). The occupants fired at more than 10x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka, Katerynivka, and Yelyzavetivka (Donetsk oblast).
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Urozhaine, Blahodatne, and Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Blahodatne, and Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Zaporizhzhia axis: Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Mala Tokmachka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). About 20x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Levadne, Hulyaipole, Orikhiv, Shcherbaky, Stepove, and P'yatykhatky (Zaporizhzhia oblast).
Kherson axis: the Russian adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of settlements of Beryslav, Mykolaivka, and Ol'hivka (Kherson oblast). About 10x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Osokorivka, Respublikanets', Beryslav, Antonivka, Kizomys (Kherson oblast), and the city of Kherson.

At the same time, the Ukrainian defense forces continue their offensive operation on Melitopol' axis and offensive (assault) operations on Bakhmut axis, inflicting losses in manpower and equipment on the occupation forces, exhausting the Russian forces all along the front line.

During the day of September 26, the Ukrainian Air Force launched 12x air strikes on the concentrations of troops, weapons, and military equipment of the Russian adversary.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 4x artillery systems, 3x concentrations of troops, and military equipment, 1x command post, and 2x ammunition depots of the Russian adversary.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces, in cooperation with aviation and artillery, repelled four attacks by Ukrainian Armed Forces near Krasnogorovka, Pervomayskoye, and Khimik (Donetsk People's Republic). During the day, over 310 Ukrainian servicemen have been killed or injured, as well as five tanks, five infantry fighting vehicles, and eight motor vehicles. In counter-battery warfare, the Russian troops hit one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

In Zaporozhye direction, two attacks of AFU 71st Jaeger and 36th Airmobile brigades near Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region) were repelled by actions of the Russian Group of Forces units, air strikes and artillery fire. Up to 70 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles have been neutralised. Also, one U.S.-made M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system and one D-30 howitzer were hit during counter-battery warfare.

In Kupyansk direction, the Zapad Group of Forces units supported by aviation and artillery inflicted fire damage on the enemy near Berestovoye (Kharkov region) and Novosyolovskoye (Lugansk People's Republic). Up to 50 Ukrainian troops and two motor vehicles have been neutralised. One Gvozdika self-propelled artillery guns was eliminated. Moreover, two AFU field command posts were annihilated close to Seredina-Buda (Sumy region) and Kislovka (Kherson region).

In Krasny Liman direction, three attacks launched by assault detachments of the 67th Mechanised Brigade and the 12th Special Forces Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces close to Chervonaya Dibrova and Kuzmino (Lugansk People's Republic) were repelled by professional efforts of the Tsentr Group of Forces, helicopter strikes, and artillery fire. In addition, strikes were delivered at clusters of enemy manpower and hardware near Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and Serebryansky forestry.

During the day, the enemy has lost more than 90 Ukrainian personnel killed and injured, as well as two armoured fighting vehicles, and two pick-up trucks. Also, one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system and one D-20 howitzer were hit during counter-battery warfare.

In South Donetsk direction, the Vostok Group of Forces, supported by helicopters and artillery inflicted fire damage on AFU units near Rovnopol and repelled one enemy attack close to Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy's losses over the past 24 hours have amounted to up to 120 Ukrainian personnel killed or injured, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, and one D-20 howitzer.

In Kherson direction, over 15 Ukrainian servicemen and ten motor vehicles have been neutralised.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 117 areas during the day. In addition, a Ukrainian Anklav anti-UAV electronic warfare station was uncovered and destroyed near Dnepropetrovsk (Dnepropetrovsk region). An ammunition depot of the 124th Territorial Defence Brigade has been wiped out close to Kiselyovka (Kherson region).

Russian Aerospace Forces have eliminated one MiG-29 airplane of Ukrainian Air Force at the Kulbakino airfield near Kulbakino, Nikolayev region.

Air defence systems have shot down five HIMARS MLRS shells, one JDAM guided bombs, and one U.S.-made HARM anti-radiation missile during the day. In addition, 57 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been destroyed near Artyomovsk, Spartak, Nevelskoye, Novopetrikovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Lisichansk (Lugansk People's Republic), Krynki, Kazachyi Lageri (Kherson region), Veliky Vyselok (Kharkov region), Tokmak and Pologi (Zaporozhye region).

In total, 479 airplanes and 250 helicopters, 7,172 unmanned aerial vehicles, 438 air defence missile systems, 12,151 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,155 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 6,542 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 13,477 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.