Russo-Ukraine War - 17 October 2023 - Day 601
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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 Russia has highly likely begun a coordinated offensive across multiple axes in the east of Ukraine. Russian forces in Donetsk are conducting a combined arms offensive on the heavily defended town of Avdiivka, which has been on the front line since 2014. The town is a major obstacle in preventing Russian forces from their wider objective of taking control of Donetsk Oblast.
Russia's attack is likely being carried out with multiple armoured battalions, which are attempting to envelop the town. It is likely to be the most significant offensive operation undertaken by Russia since at least January 2023.
Entrenched Ukrainian forces have so far likely held back the Russian advance, with the latter sustaining heavy equipment and personnel losses. Slow progress and high casualties have likely triggered a change in messaging from Russia, from an offensive to 'active-defence', as successfully clearing Avdiivka looks increasingly unlikely in the short term.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that at the beginning of the day, the Russian occupants launched yet another missile and air strike on Ukraine, using 1x Kh-59 air-launched cruise missile, S-300 surface-to-air guided missiles and 6x Shahed-136/131 attack UAVs. The Ukrainian air defense forces and means shot down 1x Kh-59 air-launched cruise missile and 6x Shaheds.
During the day of October 17, there were 56x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 3x missile and 34x air strikes, 6x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. 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. The Russian occupiers launched an air strike in the vicinity of Mykolaivka (Sumy oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Sen'kivka, Tur'ya, Hrem'yach (Chernihiv oblast), Baranivka, Sosnivka, Shalyhyne, Holyshivs'ke, Pokrovka (Sumy oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Ukrainian soldiers repelled 12x Russian attacks in the vicinities of Syn'kivka, Kyslivka and Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast), and 7x more attacks near Nadiya (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Krasne Pershe, Syn'kivka, Kyslivka, Petropavlivka, Pishchane (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinity of Serebryans'ke forestry and Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), the settlements of Vesele and Spirne (Donetsk oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 20x settlements, including Makiivka, Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Kolodyazi, Bilohorivka, Vesele, Spirne (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian soldiers repelled Russian attacks in the vicinity of settlement of Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of New York (Donetsk oblast). More than 15x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Hryhorivka, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, Kostyantynivka (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful assault operations with air support in the vicinities of Avdiivka and south of Tonen'ke (Donetsk oblast). The Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 5x Russian attacks in that area. The occupiers also launched an air strike near Stepove (Donetsk oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at more than 15x settlements, including Sukha Balka, Keramik, Tonen'ke, Pervomais'ke, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful assaults with air support in the vicinities of Mar'inka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). The Ukrainian defenders repelled 17x attacks in that area. Around 10x settlements, including Oleksandropil', Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast), were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Shakhtars'ke axis: the Ukrainian defense forces repelled Russian attacks south of Zolota Nyva and south of Prechystivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Urozhaine, Staromaiors'ke, Rivnopil' (Donetsk oblast). Around 15x settlements, including Vuhledar, Bohoyavlenka, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Blahodatne (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled all of the Russian attacks west of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 15x settlements, including Malynivka, Hulyaipole, Charivne, Novodanylivka, Shcherbaky, Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Kherson axis: the Russian occupiers launched an air strike in the vicinity of Beryslav (Kherson oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at Zolota Balka, Odradokam'yanka, Antonivka, Kizomys (Kherson oblast), the city of Kherson, and Dmytrivka, 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 occupation forces, exhausting Russian forces all along the front line.
During the day of October 17, the Ukrainian Air Force launched 15x air strikes on the concentrations of Russian troops, weapons and military equipment, 3x air strikes on anti-air missile systems.
The Ukrainian missile troops hit 5x command posts, 1x concentration of troops, weapons and military equipment, 1x ammunition depot and 1x artillery system of the Russian invaders.
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, in the course of active operations, units of the Zapad Group of Forces, supported by aviation and artillery, have repelled seven enemy attacks close to Ivanovka and Timkovka (Kharkov region), Nadiya (Lugansk People's Republic).
The enemy losses were up to 270 soldiers killed and wounded, one tank, ten armoured fighting vehicles, and three pickup trucks.
During counter-battery warfare, two Polish-manufactured Krab self-propelled artillery systems, and two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems have been hit.
In Krasny Liman direction, as a result of coordinated actions by units of the Tsentr Group of Forces, helicopters and artillery, two attacks by assault groups of 21st and 63rd mechanised brigades of the AFU have been repelled, and 21st and 67th mechanised brigades of the AFU have been hit near Chervonaya Dibrova, Shipilovka, and Kuzmino (Lugansk People's Republic).
The enemy losses were up to 115 servicemen, three armoured fighting vehicles, and two motor vehicles.
In addition, during the counter-battery warfare, two D-20 guns, as well as one Msta-B howitzer, have been hit.
In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces, in cooperation with aviation and artillery, have repelled nine attacks by Ukrainian units. Enemy manpower and hardware have been eliminated close to Orekhovo-Vasilyevka and Andreevka (Donetsk People's Republic).
The enemy losses were up to 485 Ukrainian servicemen killed and wounded, three armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, one Msta-B howitzer, and one D-20 gun.
In addition, one U.S.-manufactured AN/TPQ-36 counter-battery radar station, as well as one field ammunition depot of the 3rd Assault Brigade of the AFU have been destroyed.
In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, in cooperation with helicopters and artillery, have inflicted a fire attack on manpower concentration areas of units of the 72nd Mechanised Brigade of the AFU near Ugledar (Donetsk People's Republic).
The enemy losses were up to 150 Ukrainian servicemen killed and wounded, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, as well as two D-20 howitzers.
In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces, aviation and artillery have repelled four attacks by 117th mechanised and 82nd air assault brigades of the AFU near Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).
The enemy losses were up to 110 Ukrainian servicemen, seven tanks, seven armoured fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles.
In the course of counter-battery warfare, one U.S.-manufactured M109 Paladin howitzer and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system have been destroyed.
In Kherson direction, the enemy losses were more than 45 Ukrainian servicemen, three motor vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer.
Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised manpower and military hardware in 117 areas.
Air defence facilities have shot down Mi-8 helicopter of the Ukrainian Air Force.
Five tactical missiles and four U.S.-manufactured guided GLSDB bombs have been intercepted.
In addition, 34 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been destroyed close to Belogorovka, Vasilyevka, Svatovo (Lugansk People's Republic), Berestovoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Novaya Tarasovka (Kharkov region), Peschanovka, and Sagi (Kherson region).
In total, 491 airplanes, 251 helicopters, 7,953 unmanned aerial vehicles, 441 air defence missile systems, 12,706 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,163 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 6,802 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 14,372 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation.
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