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Russo-Ukraine War - 05 October 2023 - Day 589

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 in recent days, Russia has been conducting civil defence exercises across much of the country, based on a scenario of large-scale international armed conflict.

These exercises have taken place annually since 2012 and coincide with Russian Civil Defence Day on 4 October. This year's exercises are unlikely to have been dramatically changed or expanded.

For generations, the USSR and then Russia has paid attention to domestic preparations for a major conflict. However, even with the ongoing war in Ukraine, it is unlikely Russia has significantly changed its posture of national preparedness in recent months.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of October 5, there were 30x combat engagements. Russian forces launched 3x missile and 49x air strikes, 26x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Also, the Russian Federation attacked Ukraine with 29x Shahed-136/131 strike UAVs from the southeast. The Ukrainian air defense intercepted 24x Russian Shaheds. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have killed and wounded civilians. Private 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 an air strike near Hrabovs'ke (Sumy oblast). The invaders fired artillery and mortars at more than 20x settlements, including Karpovychi (Chernihiv oblast), Stara Huta, Havrylova Sloboda, Atyns'ke, Stepok, Hrabovs'ke (Sumy oblast), Baranivka, and Hatyshche (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces launched air strikes near Ivanivka and Kyslivka (Kharkiv oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at more than 15x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Kyslivka, and Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defense forces repelled 4x Russian attacks in the area east of Makiivka (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes near Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast) and Spirne (Donetsk oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Spirne, and Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian defense forces had success east of Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces made unsuccessful attempts to regain the lost position in the area east of Dyliivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes near Klishchiivka and Ivanopillya (Donetsk oblast). More than 15x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Vasyukivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Bohdanivka, Predtechyne, Dyliivka, and Toretsk (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defense forces repelled all Russian attacks in the vicinity of Avdiivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Berdychi, Stepove, Avdiivka, Tonen'ke, Sjeverne, and Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: during the day of October 5, Ukrainian defense forces successfully repelled more than 10x Russian attacks in the vicinities of Mar'inka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of settlements of Mar'inka, Novomykhailivka, and Paraskoviivka. About 10x settlements, including Nevel's'ke, Oleksandropil', Krasnohorivka, Mar'inka, Pobjeda, and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast), were under fire of the occupiers.
Shakhtars'ke axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled Russian attacks in the vicinity of settlements of Zolota Nyva and Vodyane (Donetsk oblast). The Russian occupiers launched air strikes near Urozhaine and Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Urozhaine, Staromaiors'ke, and Rivnopil' (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled Russian attacks in the area southeast of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). The Russian occupiers launched air strikes near Novodarivka and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 20x settlements, including Levadne, Malynivka, Hulyaipole, Orikhiv, Novodarivka, and P'yatykhatky (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Kherson axis: Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of settlements of Beryslav, Kozats'ke, Odradokam'yanka, and Mykolaivka (Kherson oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Havrylivka, Chervonyi Mayak, Ol'hivka, Ponyativka, Kherson, Shyroka Balka (Kherson oblast), and Ochakiv (Mykolaiv oblast).

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 Russian occupation forces, exhausting Russian forces all along the front line.

During the day of October 5, Ukrainian Air Force launched 12x air strikes on the concentrations of Russian troops, weapons, and military equipment, and 3x air strikes on anti-aircraft missile systems.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x communications center, 1x anti-aircraft missile system, 1x heavy flamethrower system, 3x artillery systems, and 1x electronic warfare station 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 two attacks by Ukrainian Armed Forces near Krasnogorovka and Pervomayskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, strikes were delivered at clusters of enemy manpower and hardware near Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy's losses were up to 210 Ukrainian personnel killed or injured, four armoured fighting vehicles, and six motor vehicles.

In counter-battery warfare, the Russian troops hit one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, and one D-20 howitzer.

In Zaporozhye direction, the Russian Group of Forces supported by air strikes and artillery fire defeated manpower and hardware of the 65th Mechanised Brigade near Rabotino (Zaporozhye region).

Over 35 Ukrainian personnel, two armoured fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles were eliminated.

In counter-battery warfare, the Russian troops hit two French-made Caesar self-propelled artillery systems, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, two D-30 howitzers, as well as one Msta-B gun.

In Kupyansk direction, the Zapad Group of Forces supported by aircraft and artillery inflicted fire damage on manpower of the 25th Air Assault, 14th and 115th mechanised brogades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Novoselovskoye (Lugansk People's Republic), Timkovka and Sinkovka (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 170 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, four pick-up trucks, two M109 Paladin howitzers, as well as one D-30 gun.

In Krasny Liman direction, well-coordinated actions of the Tsentr Group of Forces, helicopter strikes and artillery fire repelled two attacks launched by assault groups of the 63rd and 67th mechanised brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic).

In addition, strikes were delivered at clusters of enemy manpower and hardware near Kuzmino (Lugansk People's Republic), Torskoye and Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

During the day in this direction, the enemy suffered losses of up to 80 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, two pick-up trucks, and one D-30 howitzer.

In South Donetsk direction, the Vostok Group of Forces supported by helicopters and artillery inflicted fire damage on assault detachments of the AFU 58th and 72nd mechanised brigades near Urozhaynoye, Nikolskoye, Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and repelled one enemy attack launched by the 128th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Priyutnoye (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy's losses amounted to over 80 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, and one Pion self-propelled gun.

In Kherson direction, up to 45 Ukrainian servicemen and two motor vehicles have been neutralised by fire.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 107 areas during the day.

One AFU ammunition depot was wiped out close to Bogdanovka (Kirovograd region).

Air defence systems have intercepted one JDAM guided bomb and eight U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles during the day.

In addition, 27 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been destroyed near Kremenets, Berestovoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Novaya Zburyevka, Proletarka (Kherson region), Pologi, Mirnoye (Zaporozhye region), Tavolzhanka (Kharkov region), and Svatovo (Lugansk People's Republic).

In total, 484 airplanes and 250 helicopters, 7,518 unmanned aerial vehicles, 440 air defence missile systems, 12,334 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,160 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 6,658 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 13,809 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.