Russo-Ukraine War - 21 October 2023 - Day 605
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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 on 18 October 2023 Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia will begin conducting fighter patrols in the eastern Black Sea using the MiG-31I interceptor aircraft armed with Kh-47M2 KINZHAL (DAGGER) air-launched ballistic missiles.
His justification referred to the recent uplift in the US' maritime presence in the eastern Mediterranean, with the intent of holding these vessels at risk using a weapon system with a published range of up to 2000km. This announcement is in line with typical Russian rhetoric aimed at its domestic audience, calling the West aggressors whilst framing Russian activity as necessary for protection of the state.
The specific mention of the KINZHAL missile and its capabilities by Putin was almost certainly for strategic messaging purposes, to demonstrate that Russia remains able to produce and operate newly developed weapons, despite the ongoing Ukrainian conflict.
The KINZHAL effectively remains in operational testing, with its performance in Ukraine to date being poor. It remains highly capable on paper, able to fly at hypersonic speeds and evade modern air defence systems, although there almost certainly needs to be significant improvement in how Russia uses it to achieve this potential.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of October 21, there were 68x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 4x missile and 33x air strikes, more than 24x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have killed and wounded civilians. Private houses, apartment 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. About 10x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Starykove, Bilopillya (Sumy oblast), Hatyshche, Budarky (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled more than 10x Russian attacks in the vicinities of Syn'kivka Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast) and Nadiya (Luhansk oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Ivanivka, Kyslivka, Pishchane (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defense forces repelled around 10x Russian attacks in the vicinity of Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Serebryans'ke forestry and Spirne (Donetsk oblast). The invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Makiivka, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled all Russian attacks in the vicinities of Vasyukivka and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). The Russian adversary launched air strike in the vicinities of Klishchiivka and New York (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, Chasiv Yar Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful assault operations with air support in the vicinities of Avdiivka, Keramik, Stepove, Tonen'ke, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast). The Ukrainian defenders repelled around 15 Russian attacks in the area. Also, the Russian adversary launched air strikes near Novobakhmutivka and Novokalynove (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 15x settlements, including Novokalynove, Stepove, Avdiivka, Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful assault operations in the vicinities of Mar'inka, Krasnohorivka and Pobjeda (Donetsk oblast). The Ukrainian defense forces repelled more than 20x Russian attacks in the 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 all Russian attacks near Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched an air strike near Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements, including Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled a Russian attack north of Pryyutne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). The Russian occupiers launched air strikes near Mala Tokmachka and Novodanylivka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 20x settlements, including Poltavka, Malynivka, Chervone, Mala Tokmachka, Novodanylivka (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Kherson axis: the Russian occupiers launched air strikes in the vicinities of Burhunka, Mykolaivka, Tyahynka, Ivanivka (Kherson oblast). The settlements of Sadove, Stanislav (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 21, Ukrainian Air Force launched 12x air strikes on the concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment of the Russian invaders.
The missile troops hit 1x radar station, 1x ammunition depot, 1x anti-air missile system, 2x concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment and 5x 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 five attacks of the AFU 43rd, 115th mechanised brigades, and 68th Jaeger Brigade near Sinkovka (Kharkov region) and Sergeyevka (Lugansk People's Republic).
The enemy lost up to 50 Ukrainian troops and three pickup trucks.
?? In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces, helicopters, and artillery repelled 10 attacks of assault detachments of the AFU 24th, 51st, 53rd, 110th mechanised brigades, and 1st Special Operations Brigade, as well as inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 21st and 67th mechanised brigades near Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
In addition, one field ammunition depot of the AFU 53rd Mechanised Brigade has been hit close to Pervomayskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).
The enemy losses amounted to up to 100 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, two armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer.
In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery inflicted losses on AFU manpower and hardware near Vasyukovka, Andreyevka, Razdolovka, and Kurdyumovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
?? The enemy's losses totalled up to 260 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, as well as four motor vehicles.
In the course of counterbattery warfare, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system and one Grad MLRS were destroyed.
?? In South-Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, helicopters, and artillery inflicted losses on manpower concentration areas of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade near Ugledar and Vodyanoye (Donetsk People's Republic).
The enemy lost up to 140 Ukrainian troops and three motor vehicles.
In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled three enemy attacks and delivered strikes on a unit of the AFU 118th Mechanised Brigade close to Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).
Up to 20 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, and three motor vehicles have been neutralised.
In addition, in the course of counterbattery warfare, one UK-made FH70 howitzer, one D-20 howitzer, as well as one U.S.-made M119 howitzer were destroyed.
In Kherson direction, up to 30 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, one D-30 howitzer, and one electronic warfare station were neutralised.
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 118 areas during the day.
In addition, ammunition and fuel depots of Ukrainian Air Force were destroyed at Dolgintsevo airfield close to Krivoy Rog (Dnepropetrovsk region).
Fighter Aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces intercepted one Su-24 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force close to Odessa.
Air defence units shot down one Su-24 aircraft, two MiG-29 aircraft, and one Mi-8 helicopter of the Ukrainian Air Force.
Four HARM anti-radiation missiles, two Neptune anti-ship cruise missiles, and one HIMARS projectile have been intercepted.
In addition, 23 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were neutralised near Belogorovka, Berestovoye, Spornoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Verkhnekamenka, Zolotaryovka (Lugansk People's Republic), and Ulyanovka (Zaporozhye region).
?? In total, 504 airplanes and 253 helicopters, 8,127 unmanned aerial vehicles, 441 air defence missile systems, 12,828 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,166 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 6,843 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 14,515 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.
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