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Russo-Ukraine War - 20 October 2023 - Day 604

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 on 17 October 2023, several Russian helicopters and air defence equipment were likely struck at Berdyansk and Luhansk airfields. Although the extent of damage is currently unconfirmed, it is likely nine Russian military helicopters at Berdyansk and five at Luhansk were destroyed, with Ukraine claiming to have used the US-provided long-range army tactical missiles (ATACMS) for the first time.

Given that Russian fixed wing close air support to date has been extremely poor, Russian defensive lines have become increasingly reliant on rotary wing support in the face of the Ukrainian offensive. Berdyansk was being used as a primary Forward Operating Base on the southern axis providing both logistics and offensive/defensive capabilities. If confirmed, it is highly likely these losses will have an impact on Russia's ability both to defend and conduct further offensive activity on this axis. Given the current strain on Russian military production, the confirmed loss of any air frames will be difficult to replace in the short to medium term.

This loss will also likely create additional pressure on Russia's pilots and air frames, already almost certainly suffering combat exhaustion and maintenance issues due to the unanticipated protracted campaign. There is a realistic possibility this strike will compel Russia to once again relocate its operating bases and command and control nodes farther from the front lines, increasing the burden on logistics chains.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that During the day of October 20, there were 77x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 5x missile and 33x air strikes, 32x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have killed and wounded civilians. A school, private houses, apartment buildings and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed or damaged.

The operational situation in eastern and southern 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. More than 10x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Starykove, (Sumy oblast), Hatyshche, Vovchans'k, Ohirtseve, Bolohivka (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Ukrainian soldiers repelled around 20x Russian attacks in the vicinities of Syn'kivka and Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast), and 3x more attacks near Nadiya (Luhansk oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Kucherivka, Syn'kivka, Ivanivka, Kyslivka (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defense forces repelled a Russian attack to the east of Nevs'ke (Luhansk oblast). The Russian adversary launched an air strike in the vicinity of Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast). The invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 20x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Makiivka, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne, Tors'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled more than 10x adversary attacks in the vicinities of Bohdanivka, Khromove, Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast). The Russian occupiers launched air strikes in the vicinities of Klishchiivka, New York and Kurdyumivka (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, New York (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful assault operations with air support in the vicinities of Avdiivka, Novokalynove, Stepove, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast). The Ukrainian defense forces repelled around 20x Russian attacks in that area. Also, the Russian adversary launched air strikes near Keramik and Lastochkyne (Donetsk oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at more than 15x settlements, including Oleksandropil', Novokalynove, Avdiivka, Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke, Nevel's'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 more than 15x Russian attacks in that area. Also, the Russian occupiers launched an air strike near Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Mar'inka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast), were under artillery and mortar fire of the Russian occupiers.
Shakhtars'ke axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled Russian attacks near Zolota Nyva, Staromaiors'ke, Rivnopil' (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes near Staromaiors'ke and Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast). Around 15x settlements, including Vodyane, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Zaporizhzhia axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful assault operations near Poltavka (Zaporizhzhia oblast), and also made attempts to regain lost ground near Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast), to no success. More than 20x settlements, including Hulyaipole, Huliaipilske, Charivne, Mala Tokmachka, Robotyne, P'yatykhatky (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Kherson axis: the Russian occupiers launched air strikes in the vicinities of Zmiivka, Beryslav, Kozats'ke and Novoberyslav (Kherson oblast). The settlement of Dudchany (Kherson oblast) and the city of Kherson 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 Russian occupation forces, and exhausting Russian forces along the entire front line.

During the day of October 20, Ukrainian Air Force launched 7x air strikes on the concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment, and 4x air strikes on anti-aircraft missile systems of the Russian adversary.

The missile troops hit 1x command posts, 1x ammunition depot, 3x concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment, 1x electronic warfare station of the Russian occupiers.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in the period from 14 to 20 October 2023 the Russian Armed Forces have carried out four group strikes by precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles at the AFU missile and artillery weapons, military-technical hardware, production workshops of enterprises manufacturing weapons and military equipment, as well as accommodation points for Ukrainian servicemen, nationalists, and foreign mercenaries.

As a result of the strikes, a storage warehouse for uncrewed boats, workshops for the manufacture of explosives, a workshop for the assembly of operational-tactical missiles, as well as units of the Azov Special Forces Brigade, foreign instructors, and mercenaries have been eliminated.

In Kupyansk direction, the Zapad Group of Forces' units have repelled 61 counter-attacks by AFU units.

Aviation and artillery have launched attacks at AFU 25th airborne, 14th, 43rd, 44th, and 115th mechanised, 68 jaeger, 95th air assault brigade close to Sinkovka, Ivanovka, Timkovka (Kharkov region), Makeyevka (Lugansk People's Republic). As a result of the combat operations, the Russian Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line.

The enemy losses were more than 995 servicemen, 10 tanks, 27 armoured fighting vehicles, 20 motor vehicles, as well as 18 field artillery guns.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces, aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems have repelled 18 attacks of assault groups of AFU 63rd, 67th mechanised brigades and the 12th Special Forces Brigade.

The enemy's casualties were more than 940 Ukrainian personnel, 21 armoured fighting vehicles, 14 motor vehicles, and five guns.

In Donetsk direction, the Yug Group of Forces' units have inflicted fire damage on AFU 28th, 56th, 67th, and 93rd mechanised brigades' combat groups near Kurdyumovka, Andreevka, Kleshcheyevka, and Maryinka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Over the past week, 25 attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces have been repelled. The enemy losses were more than 2,065 servicemen, four tanks, 14 armoured fighting vehicles, 27 motor vehicles, and 28 field artillery guns.

Aviation and Missile Troops have destroyed five depots with ammunition and hardware.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Russian units have captured more favourable positions and repelled two attacks by assault groups of AFU 58th motorised infantry, 72nd mechanised, 128th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Ugledar, Urozhaynoye, and Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were more than 1,010 servicemen, nine armoured fighting vehicles, 19 motor vehicles, eight field artillery guns, and one MLRS.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces have carried out intensive defence, during which have repelled 10 attacks of the AFU units near Verbovoye and Rabotino (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy losses were more than 475 servicemen, 11 tanks, 22 armoured fighting vehicles, 18 motor vehicles, and 14 field artillery guns.

In Kherson direction, the enemy units have made unsuccessful attempts to capture bridgeheads on islands and the left bank of the Dnepr by AFU 36th, 38th marine brigades.

As a result of preventive actions by the Russian forces and artillery fire assaults, AFU have lost up to 345 servicemen, 11 field artillery guns, 48 boats and 38 motor vehicles.

Fighter jets and air defence units have effectively eliminated 12 aircraft (ten MiG-29, two Su-25 fighter jets) and two Mi-8 helicopters over the past week.

Over the past 24 hours, air defence systems have shot down seven AFU MiG-29 aircraft.

In addition, 314 Ukrainian UAVs have been destroyed, 35 HIMARS projectiles, five operational-tactical missiles, two S-200 converted surface-to-surface missiles, and six JDAM guided bombs have been shot down over the week.

In total, 500 airplanes and 252 helicopters, 8,104 unmanned aerial vehicles, 441 air defence missile systems, 12,778 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,165 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 6,837 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 14,463 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.