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Russo-Ukraine War - 31 October 2023 - Day 615

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 as reported by Russian state-backed media, the deputy commander of Russian forces in Ukraine, Colonel General Mikhail Teplinsky, has likely personally taken over command of Russia's Dnipro Grouping of Forces. He replaces Colonel General Oleg Makaevich. The force is responsible for the occupied areas of Kherson Oblast, including the eastern bank of the Dnipro River.

Fighting has intensified in this area in recent weeks as Ukrainian forces have contested Russian control of the river's eastern bank. Teplinsky is likely held in high regard by the Russian General Staff and has experience commanding operations in the area: he was the officer on the ground in charge of Russia's relatively successful withdrawal from west of the Dnipro in November 2022.

It is almost certain that repelling Ukrainian attacks across the Dnipro and holding territory in occupied Kherson Oblast remains a high priority objective for Russian forces in Ukraine. Teplinsky's appointment is likely an indication of increased pressure on Russian forces defending the area.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of October 31, there were 68x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 8x missile and 97x air strikes, 84x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have killed and wounded civilians. Private residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed or damaged. Also, Russian occupants launched yet another missile and air strike on Ukraine last night, using 1x Kh-59 air-launched guided missile and 20x Shahed-136/131 attack UAVs. The Ukrainian air defense forces and means destroyed 1x missile and 18x attack UAVs. Information on the aftermath of this attack is currently being updated.

Air strikes hit Pishchane, Novoserhiivka, Cherneshchyna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Podoly (Kharkiv oblast), Serebryans'ke forestry, Makiivka (Luhansk oblast), Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Oleksandropil', Orlivka, Spirne, Novobakhmutivka, Ocheretyne, Avdiivka, Lastochkyne, Kostyantynivka, Veselyi Hai, Hannivka, Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast), Malynivka, Novodanylivka (Zaporizhzhia oblast), Urozhaine, Mykil's'ke, Ivanivka, Beryslav, Kozats'ke, Sadove, Tyahynka, and L'vove (Kherson oblast).

More than 140x settlements in Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Mykolayiv oblasts came under artillery fire.

Pivnich operational-strategic group, Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia maintains its military presence in the areas of Russia bordering Ukraine. Russian troops conduct active subversive activities in order to prevent the deployment of Ukrainian troops to threatened axes. The Russian adversary increases the density of minefields along the state border in Belgorod oblast (russia).
Khortytsia operational-strategic group, Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful assault operations in the vicinities of settlements of Syn'kivka, Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast), and Nadiya (Luhansk oblast), where Ukrainian defenders repelled 10x attacks of the Russian adversary.
Lyman axis: Russian forces did not conduct any offensive (assault) operations.
Bakhmut axis: the Russian adversary made unsuccessful attempts to regain the lost ground near Klishchiivka and Andriivka, where Ukrainian defenders repelled 5x attacks of the Russian occupiers. Also, Russian forces conducted unsuccessful assault operations in the vicinity of Pivdenne (Donetsk oblast). At the same time, the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue assault operations south of Bakhmut (Donetsk oblast), inflict losses in manpower and equipment on the Russian forces, and consolidate their new positions.
Tavria operational-strategic group, Avdiivka axis: the Russian adversary keeps trying to encircle Avdiivka. The Russian invaders use aircraft to support their troops. The Ukrainian soldiers are standing their ground and inflicting major losses on the Russian enemy. For instance, the Russian invaders' offensive actions were unsuccessful in the vicinities of Avdiivka, Keramik, Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke, Stepove (Donetsk oblast), where the Ukrainian defenders repelled around 20x attacks.
Mar'inka axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful assault operations in the vicinities of Mar'inka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). The Ukrainian soldiers repelled more than 20x occupiers' attacks there.
Shakhtars'ke axis: the Russian adversary conducted unsuccessful assault operations in the vicinity of Prechystivka and Zolota Nyva (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia axis: Russian forces attempted to regain the lost ground in the vicinity of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast), to no success.

At the same time, the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue their offensive operation on Melitopol' axis, inflicting losses in manpower and equipment on the occupation forces, exhausting Russian forces all along the front line.
Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces conduct counter-battery fire and strike behind the Russian lines.

During the day of October 31, Ukrainian Air Force launched 15x air strikes on the concentrations of troops, weapons, and military equipment, 1x air strike on a command post, and 2x air strikes on the anti-aircraft missile systems of the Russian adversary.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 3x radar stations 2x ammunition depots, 1x concentration of troops, weapons, and military equipment, as well as 8x artillery systems of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, the Zapad Group of Forces supported by aircraft, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems repelled five counter-attacks of the AFU 54th Mechanised Brigade near Sinkovka (Kharkov region).

Up to 60 Ukrainian troops, four tanks, with two German-made Leopard tanks of them, three armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system were eliminated.

In Krasny Liman direction, well-coordinated actions of the Tsentr Group of Forces, aviation strikes and artillery fire repelled three attacks launched by assault groups of the 21st and 24th mechanised brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic) and Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 250 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, two pick-up trucks, as well as two U.S.-made M777 artillery systems.

In Donetsk direction, the Yug Group of Forces' units supported by artillery and heavy flamethrowers inflicted fire defeat on AFU manpower and hardware of the 42nd and 93rd mechanised brigades close to Kleshcheyevka and Kurdyumovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy has lost up to 170 Ukrainian personnel, three tanks, two Bradley IFVs, three armoured fighting vehicles, and two motor vehicles.

Moreover, in counter-battery warfare, the Russian troops hit U.S.-made M198 and M119 howitzers, D-20 and D-30 howitzers; Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery system, Akatsiya and Gvozdika guns, along with two Grad MLRS launchers.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, helicopters and artillery inflicted damage on clusters manpower and hardware of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade and 128th Territorial Defence Brigade near Ugledar and Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

Up to 160 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, seven motor vehicles, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system were eliminated.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems repelled an attack launched by an assault group of the AFU 118th Mechanised Brigade close to Rabotino (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to over 140 Ukrainian troops, five armoured fighting vehicles, six pick-up trucks, as well as two Paladin M109 howitzers.

In Kherson direction, units of the Dnepr Group of Forces jointly with helicopters and artillery inflicted damage on clusters manpower and hardware of the AFU 35th and 36th marine brigades near Alekseyevsky Island and Berislav (Kherson region).

The enemy's losses, as a result of the fire strike, included up to 125 military personnel killed and wounded, along with two motor vehicles, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one D-30 howitzer.

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 132 areas during the day.

Moreover, manufacturing sites of unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned boats were effectively destroyed close Malodolinskoye (Odessa region).

Russian air defence means have shot down MiG-29 airplanes and one Mi-8 helicopter of Ukrainian Air Force near Privetnoye (Zaporozhye region) and Verovka (Kherson region).

Eight Storm Shadow cruise missiles, two Neptune anti-ship missiles, and six HIMARS projectiles have been intercepted.

Moreover, 33 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down close to Zolotaryovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Podgornoye and Kleshcheyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

In total, 518 airplanes and 254 helicopters, 8,464 unmanned aerial vehicles, 441 air defence missile systems, 13,044 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,172 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 6,929 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 14,797 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.