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Russo-Ukraine War - 28 October 2023 - Day 612

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 over the last week, heavy but inconclusive fighting has continued around the Donetsk Oblast town of Avdiivka, where Russia initiated a major offensive effort in mid-October 2023.

Russia has probably committed elements of up to eight brigades to the sector. These elements have likely suffered some of Russia's highest casualty rates of 2023 so far.

Russian nationalist 'mil bloggers' have been harshly critical of the military's tactics in the operation. The nature of the operation suggests that Russia's core military-political challenge remains the same as it has throughout most of the war. Political leaders demand more territory to be seized but the military cannot generate effective operational level offensive action.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of October 28, there were 48x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 5 missile strikes, 18x air strikes and 20x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the attacks injured and killed civilians. Private houses and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged. Also, the Russian occupiers launched another missile attack on Ukraine, using 4 Iskander-K ground-launched cruise missiles. The Ukrainian air defense forces destroyed 3 cruise missiles.

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, continues to conduct sabotage and reconnaissance activities and increases the density of minefields along the state border of Ukraine. Around 10x settlements, including Sen'kivka (Chernihiv oblast), Zaruts'ke, Tur'ya (Sumy oblast), Kozacha Lopan', Starytsya, Vovchans'k (Kharkiv oblast) suffered artillery and mortar fire of the Russian occupiers.
Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful assault actions in the vicinities of Syn'kivka and Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast), where Ukrainian defenders repelled 5x Russian attacks. The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Kam'yanka, Krasne Pershe, Syn'kivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: Russian forcesdid not conduct any offensive (assault) actions and continued to regroup their troops. The Russian occupiers fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Makiivka, Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: Russian forces made unsuccessful attempts to regain the lost ground near Andriivka and Klishchiivka, where Ukrainian defenders repelled 6x attacks. More than 20x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Min'kivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful assault operations in the vicinities of Keramik, Avdiivka, Stepove, Tonen'ke, Opytne (Donetsk oblast). The Ukrainian defenders repelled more than 10x Russian attacks in the area. The adversary launched an air strike in the vicinity of Novobakhmutivka (Donetsk oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Oleksandropil', Keramik, Stepove, Avdiivka, Sjeverne (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian defense forces repelled 16x Russian attacks in the area of Mar'inka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). The Russian adversary launched an air strike in the vicinity of Katerynivka. Around 10x settlements in Donetsk oblast, including Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Mar'inka, Pobjeda were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful assault actions with air support near Staromaiors'ke and south of Zolota Nyva (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Zaporizhzhia axis: Russian forces made failed attempts to regain the lost ground near Verbove (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 30x settlements, including Malynivka, Huliaipilske, Mala Tokmachka, Robotyne, Orikhiv (Zaporizhzhia oblast) came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Kherson axis: the occupiers launched air strikes in the vicinities of Beryslav, Novoberyslav, Kozats'ke, Odradokam'yanka, Tyahynka, Ivanivka (Kherson oblast). Russian forces fired artillery at the city of Kherson.

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.

During the day of October 28, Ukrainian Air Force launched 5x air strike on the concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment of the Russian invaders.

The missile troops hit 1x concentration of troops, weapons and military equipment, and 1x 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 three attacks of the AFU 43rd, and 68th jaeger brigades near Sinkovka (Kharkov region) and Nadiya (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 two attacks of assault groups of the AFU 63rd Mechanised Brigade and 15th National Guard Regiment close to Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic) and Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

AFU 63rd, 67th mechanised brigades' units have been hit near Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and Serebryansky forestry.

Up to 100 Ukrainian personnel, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles were neutralised.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled three enemy attacks and inflicted fire damage on AFU manpower and hardware near Krasnoye, Andreevka, Kurdyumovka, Kleshcheyevka, and Maryinka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Up to 160 Ukrainian servicemen, two armoured fighting vehicles, and four motor vehicles have been eliminated in this direction during the day.

In the course of the counter-battery warfare Also, one HIMARS MLRS and one U.S.-made M119 artillery system were hit .

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, helicoptes, and artillery inflicted fire damage on clusters of manpower of AFU 72nd mechanised and 128th territorial defence brigades near Vodyanoye and Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy lost up to 120 Ukrainian troops and three pickup trucks.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled four attacks at AFU 65th, 118th mechanised brigadesnear Rabotino (Zaporozhye region), and inflicted fire damage on the enemy units close to Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).

Up to 80 Ukrainian personnel, one German-manufactured Leopard tank, four armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, and one U.S.-made M119 howitzer were neutralised.

In Kherson direction, up to 110 Ukrainian servicemen, four motor vehicles, and Giatsint, Msta-B howitzers 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 117 areas during the day.

One air traffic control tower of the Ukrainian Air Force has been destroyed at the Kanatovo airfield (Kirovograd region).

Russian air defence means have shot down Su-25 and MiG-29 aircraft of Ukrainian Air Force near Daryevka (Kherson region) and Ternovka (Dnepropetrovsk region).

Air defence systems have intercepted four ATACMS operational-tactical missiles, two JDAM guided bombs, three HARM anti-radiation missiles, and eight U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles during the day.

In addition, 36 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were neutralised near Proletarka, Sagi (Kherson region), Valeryanovka, Veseloye, Spornoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Verkhnekamenka (Lugansk People's Republic), and Tokmak (Zaporozhye region).

In total, 517 airplanes and 253 helicopters, 8,348 unmanned aerial vehicles, 441 air defence missile systems, 12,980 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,170 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 6,897 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 14,720 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.