Russo-Ukraine War - 18 October 2023 - Day 602
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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 there has been a significant increase in Russian offensive activity on the Kupiansk-Lyman axis in the last two weeks. Russian shelling has intensified and elements of the Russian 6th and 25th Combined Arms Armies (CAA) and the 1st Guards Tank Army have conducted attacks, but with limited success.
It is highly likely that this activity is part of an ongoing Russian offensive being conducted on multiple axes in eastern Ukraine. The objective of Russian Ground Forces (RGF) on the Kupiansk-Lyman axis is probably to advance west to the Oskil River to create a buffer zone around Luhansk Oblast.
RGF have built up combat capacity in the Kupiansk-Lyman direction in recent months. However, Ukrainian forces retain a significant defensive presence on this axis and it is highly unlikely RGF will achieve a major operational breakthrough.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that in the early hours of October 18, Russian forces launched yet another series of missile strikes on civilian targets in the cities of Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and the settlement of Obukhivka (Dnipropetrovsk oblast). During the day of October 18, there was a total of 64x combat engagements. Russian forces launched 11x missile and 46x air strikes, more than 30x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have killed and wounded civilians. A five-storey residential building, a church, more than 20x private houses 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. About 10x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Popivka (Chernihiv oblast), Volfyne, Obody, Novomykolaivka, Hrabovs'ke (Sumy oblast), Pletenivka, Zybyne (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Ukrainian soldiers repelled more than 10x Russian attacks in the vicinities of Syn'kivka Ivanivka and Kyslivka (Kharkiv oblast), and around 10x more attacks near Nadiya (Luhansk oblast). The Russian adversary launched an air strike in the vicinity of Pishchane (Kharkiv oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Petropavlivka, Kucherivka, Ivanivka, Kyslivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of settlements of Nevs'ke, Novolyubivka, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Spirne (Donetsk oblast). The Ukrainian defense forces also repelled 3x Russian attacks in the vicinity of Makiivka (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Kreminna, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Novosadove, Tors'ke, Spirne (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled Russian attacks in the vicinity of Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast). Around 20x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, Odradivka, Kurdyumivka Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful assault operations with air support in the vicinity of Avdiivka (Donetsk oblast). Also, the Russian adversary launched an air strike near Kam'yanka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Keramik, Stepove, Avdiivka, Opytne, Sjeverne, Tonen'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful assault operations with air support in the vicinities of Mar'inka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). The Ukrainian defense forces repelled around 15x Russian attacks in that area. Also, the occupiers launched air strikes near Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Oleksandropil', Heorhiivka, Mar'inka, Novomykhailivka, Katerynivka (Donetsk oblast), were under artillery and mortar fire of the occupiers.
Shakhtars'ke axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled Russian attacks near Novomaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast). The Russian invaders launched air strikes near Staromaiors'ke and Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast). Around 20x settlements, including Vodyane, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Blahodatne, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled all Russian attacks east of Mala Tokmachka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 15x settlements, including Bilohir'ya Orikhiv, Novodanylivka, Novoandriivka, Mali Shcherbaky, P'yatykhatky (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Kherson axis: the Russian occupiers launched air strikes in the vicinities of Novoberyslav, Kozats'ke, Ol'hivka, Prydniprovs'ke and Pishchanivka (Kherson oblast). The settlements of Kozats'ke, Tyahynka, Blahovishchenske, Chornobaivka (Kherson oblast), the city of Kherson, as well as Solonchaky (Mykolaiv oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
At the same time, the Ukrainian defense forces continue offensive operations in the Melitopol axis, offensive (assault) operations in the Bakhmut axis, inflicting losses in manpower and equipment on the occupation forces, and exhausting Russian forces along the entire front line.
The Russian occupiers continue to cynically violate the norms of international humanitarian law, forcibly living with civilians in their homes in order to use civilians as human shields. For example, in the settlement of Tokmak (Zaporizhzhia oblast), servicemen of the Russian occupation forces are being massively resettled in multi-story buildings inhabited by local residents.
During the day of October 18, Ukrainian Air Force launched 15x air strikes on the concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment, and 3x air strikes on anti-aircraft missile systems of the Russian adversary. Moreover, the Ukrainian defenders shot down 1x Su-25 aircraft and 4x operational-tactical reconnaissance UAVs of the Russian invaders.
The missile troops hit 2x command posts, 1x Tor air defense missile system, 1x Zoopark-1M counter-battery radar system and 11x artillery systems of the Russian occupiers.
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled 13 attacks of assault detachments of the AFU 14th, 32nd, 43rd, and 115th mechanised brigades near Sinkovka, Ivanovka, Pershotravnevoye, Orlyanskoye (Kharkov region), and Sergeyevka (Lugansk People's Republic).
Helicopters and heavy flamethrower systems delivered strikes on manpower and hardware of the AFU 68nd Jaeger Brigade and 103rd Territorial Defence Brigade near Nadiya (Lugansk People's Republic) and Berestovoye (Kharkov region).
AFU losses amounted to up to 80 Ukranian troops, three tanks, one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, three armoured fighting vehicles, two pick-up trucks, as well as oneAkatsiya self-propelled artillery system.
In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces, helicopters, and artillery repelled one attack of an assault detachment of the AFU 63rd Mechanised Brigade close to Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic).
Ground-attack aircraft and helicopters launched strikes at manpower and hardware of the AFU 67h Mechanised Brigade, 5th National Guard Brigade, 1st Special Operations Brigade, and 110th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic), and Serebryansky forestry.
The enemy losses were up to 60 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, and two pick-up trucks.
In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 28th, 42nd, 67th, 93rd mechanised brigades, 112th Territorial Defence Brigade, and 79th Airborne Brigade close to Kurdyumovka, Andreevka, Kleshcheyevka, Khromovo, and Mariynka (Donetsk People's Republic).
The enemy in this direction lost up to 115 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, two armoured fighting vehicles, two pick-up trucks, one D-20 howitzer, and one Msta-B howitzer.
In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces supported by helicopters and artillery repelled one attack of an assault detachment of the AFU 102th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Chervonoye (Zaporozhye region).
Ground-attack aircraft and helicopters launched strikes on manpower and hardware of the AFU 79th Airborne Brigade, 72nd Mechanised Brigade, 58th Motorised Brigade, 107th and 128th Territorial Defence Brigade near Novomikhailovka, Pavlovka, Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).
The enemy's losses amounted to up to 170 Ukrainian troops, two pick-up trucks, as well as one Rapira anti-tank gun.
In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by ground-attack aircraft, helicopters, and artillery repelled one attack of an assault detachment of the AFU 71st Jaeger Brigade close to Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).
In addition, strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware of the AFU 82nd Airborne Brigade and 116th Mechanised Brigade near Uspenovka (Zaporozhye region).
The enemy lost up to 85 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, and one U.S.-made M119 howitzer in this direction.
In Kherson direction, actions of four Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups were foiled close to Podstepnoye and Poyma (Kherson region).
Up to 70 Ukrainian troops and two motor vehicles have been neutralised by fire.
In the course of counterbattery warfare, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system and two D-30 howitzers were wiped out.
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 147 areas during the day.
In addition, one air-delivered ordnance depot of the Ukrainian Air Force was destroyed at Lozovoye airfield (Dnepropetrovsk region).
Command and observation posts of the AFU 67th Mechanised Brigade and 102nd Territorial Defence Brigade were destroyed near Serebryanka (Donetsk People's Republic) and Malinovka (Zaporozhye region).
The Black Sea Fleet units neutralised one AFU uncrewed surface vehicle in the Black Sea waters.
Air defence systems have shot down four HIMARS MLRS shells and one U.S.-made JDAM aerial guided bomb.
Moreover, 51 unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down near Donetsk, Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic), Losovoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Kamenskoye, Chervonogorka, Novofedorovka (Zaporozhye region), and Kazachi Lageri, Sagi (Kherson region), and Zhovtnevoye (Kharkov region).
In total, 491 airplanes and 251 helicopters, 8,004 unmanned aerial vehicles, 441 air defence missile systems, 12,746 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,163 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 6,810 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 14,419 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.
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