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Russo-Ukraine War - 23 October 2023 - Day 607

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 Russian government spending is becoming increasingly focused on the costs of its war on Ukraine. The state's proposed 2024 budget envisages an approximate 68% increase in planned defence spending compared to that allotted for 2023 – this puts defence spending for 2024 at around 6% of GDP. In contrast, education and healthcare spending will be frozen at the 2023 allocation, which amounts to a real term spending cut due to inflation.

More spending will need to be allocated to fund payments and healthcare costs for the mounting numbers of wounded soldiers and the families of those killed in the conflict. More than half of those soldiers wounded severely enough to require longer term medical care have lost limbs, with one in five requiring upper limb amputations, Deputy Labour Minister Alexei Vovchenko stated on 17 October 2023. These injured soldiers will almost certainly require lifelong healthcare.

Consistently heightened military spending will highly likely contribute to inflationary pressures within Russia. Furthermore, continued increases in military spending would force the Russian government to make difficult decisions about how to fund the war, likely increasing financial pressures on Russian businesses. However, any substantial future reduction in military expenditure would likely remove an increasingly central driver of Russian economic activity in the face of sanctions.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of October 23, there were 38x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 1x missile and 52x air strikes, 15x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have killed and wounded civilians. 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 its sabotage and reconnaissance activities, shelling 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 Karpovychi, Leonivka (Chernihiv oblast), Obody, Znob-Novhorods'ke, Stara Huta (Sumy oblast), Pletenivka, and Budarky (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Ukrainian soldiers repelled 3x Russian attacks in the vicinities of Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes near Syn'kivka and Petropavlivka (Kharkiv oblast). The invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Petropavlivka, Syn'kivka, Ivanivka, and Kyslivka (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled all of the Russian attacks near Nadiya (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Serebryans'ke forestry. At the same time, the Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Spirne, and Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled around 10x adversary attacks in the vicinities of Bohdanivka, Khromove, Klishchiivka, and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes near Klishchiivka and New York. Around 15x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, Kurdyumivka, and Chasiv Yar (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful assault operations with air support in the vicinities of Keramik, Stepove, Avdiivka, and Tonen'ke (Donetsk oblast). The Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled around 10x Russian attacks in that area. Also, the adversary launched an air strike near Orlivka. The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 20x settlements, including Keramik, Stepove, Avdiivka, Opytne, Sjeverne, and Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: the adversary conducted unsuccessful assault operations with air support in the vicinities of Mar'inka and Pobjeda (Donetsk oblast). The Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled more than 10x Russian attacks in that area. Around 10x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Mar'inka, and Pobjeda (Donetsk oblast), were under artillery and mortar fire of the Russian occupiers.
Shakhtars'ke axis: the Russian invaders launched an air strike in the vicinity of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast). Ukrainian troops repelled all Russian attacks near Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, and Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled Russian attacks southeast of Mala Tokmachka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Novodarivka, Orikhove, Mala Tokmachka, and P'yatykhatky (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 25x settlements, including Poltavka, Huliaipilske, Robotyne, Mala Tokmachka, and Novodanylivka (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Kherson axis: the Russian occupiers launched air strikes in the vicinities of Ol'hivka, L'vove, Tyahynka, Mykil's'ke, and Prydniprovs'ke (Kherson oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at Dar'ivka, Zelenivka, Antonivka, Kizomys (Kherson oblast), and Solonchaky (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 23, Ukrainian Air Force launched 7x air strikes on the concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment, and 3x air strikes on anti-aircraft missile systems of the Russian adversary.

The Ukrainian missile troops destroyed 8x artillery systems, 1x electronic warfare station, 1x pontoon bridge crossing, and hit 4x concentrations of personnel, weapons, and military equipment of the Russian adversary.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces exploiting results of aviation strikes, artillery and heavy flamethrower systems fire repelled nine attacks of assault groups of 32nd, 41st mechanised, 57th Infantry, and the 68th Jaeger brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Sinkovka, Ivanovka (Kharkov region), and Novoyegorovka (Lugansk People's Republic).

In addition, actions of one sabotage and reconnaissance group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been thwarted near Olshana (Kharkov region).

Up to 195 Ukrainian troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, one Grad MLRS vehicle, along with one D-20 howitzer have been neutralised during the day.

An ammunition depot was annihilated close to Stepovaya Novosyolovka (Kharkov region).

In Krasny Liman direction, the Tsentr Group of Forces, as well as air strikes and artillery fire, repelled 12 attacks launched by the enemy close to Grigorovka, Kirovo (Donetsk People's Republic) and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic).

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation inflicted fire damage on the manpower and hardware of the 63rd Mechanised Brigade close to Torskoye (Donetsk People's Republic) and the 15th National Guard Regiment close to Serebryanka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The losses of the enemy in the past 24 hours include up to 480 Ukrainian personnel killed and injured, four armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems, successfully repelled one attack launched by units of AFU 77th Air Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Bogdanovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, strikes were delivered at enemy manpower and hardware of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Usmanskoye, Semenovka, and Orlovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

During the day, a total of 165 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, one Msta-B howitzer, and one D-30 gun have been neutralised.

An ammunition depot of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has been destroyed near Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, ground-attack aircraft, helicopters, and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 65th, 72nd mechanised, and 58th Motorised Infantry brigades, as well as 128th Territorial Defence Brigade, near Ugledar, Staromayorskoye, and Urozhaynoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

Up to 160 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles have been neutralised in this direction during the day.

In Zaporozhye direction, seven attacks launched by assault groups of the AFU 82nd Air Assault Brigade near Rabotino (Zaporozhye region) were successfully repelled by skillful actions of the Russian Group of Forces supported by air strikes and artillery fire.

Clusters of AFU manpower and hardware were engaged close to Novodanilovka and Malaya Tokmachka (Zaporozhye region).

Up to 80 Ukrainian personnel, one tank, and three armoured fighting vehicles were eliminated.

In Kherson direction, up to 90 Ukrainian servicemen, three motor vehicles, one Grad MLRS launcher, and two D-30 howitzers 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 153 areas during the day.

Moreover, three AFU command posts (53rd Mechanised Brigade, 15th National Guard Regiment, and 38th Air Defence Artillery Regiment) were annihilated close to Usmanskoye, Serebryanka (Donetsk People's Republic), and Ingulets (Kherson region).

Nineteen Ukrainian drones were shot down by Russian Air Defence systems and small arms close to Verkhnekamenka, Kremennaya, Zolotarevka (Lugansk People's Republic), Kirillovka, Berestovoye, Spornoye (Donetsk People's Republic), and Krynki (Kherson region).

In total, 508 airplanes and 253 helicopters, 8,176 unmanned aerial vehicles, 441 air defence missile systems, 12,882 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,169 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 6,853 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 14,583 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.