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Russo-Ukraine War - 13 November 2023 - Day 628

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 in September 2023, independent Russian media outlet Vertska reported that up to 15% of Russian soldiers in Ukraine were using drugs, including amphetamines and cannabis, and that they were easy to obtain even on the frontline.

These reports are credible and follow numerous reports since the invasion of a high rate of disciplinary incidents, crimes and deaths related to alcohol abuse amongst the Russian force.

Russian commanders likely frequently punish drug and alcohol abusers by posting them to Storm-Z assault detachments, which have effectively become penal units. One of the core drivers of poor Russian discipline and substance abuse likely remains the continued lack of opportunity for combat troops to rotate away from the front line.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of November 13, there were 50x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 2x missile and 32x air strikes, 23x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, russian terrorist attacks have resulted in civilian casualties and injuries. Private residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and 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. Around 15x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Tymonovychi, Leonivka (Chernihiv oblast), Seredyna-Buda, Bunyakyne, Mohrytsya, Hrabovs'ke, Popivka (Sumy oblast), Kozacha Lopan', Starytsya, Vovchans'k (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces conducted assault operations in the vicinities of Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast). The Ukrainian defenders repelled 6x attacks in the area. The Russian adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of Pershotravneve and Kopanky (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at the settlements of Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Russian adversary made failed assaults near Novojehorivka (Luhansk oblast). The Russian invaders launched air strikes in the area of Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast), and Spirne, Vyimka (Donetsk oblast). The Russian occupiers fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Spirne, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: Russian forces conducted assault operations in the vicinities of Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka (Donetsk oblast), where Ukrainian defenders repelled 11x attacks. The Russian occupiers launched an air strike near Klishchiivka. The settlements of Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Kurdyumivka (Donetsk oblast) came under artillery and mortar fire.
Avdiivka axis: Russian forces conducted failed assault operations south of Novokalynove, Avdiivka, Sjeverne and east of Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast), where the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 8x attacks. The Russian occupiers launched air strikes near Novobakhmutivka and Avdiivka. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Sukha Balka, Keramik, Berdychi, Avdiivka, Opytne, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: Russian forces made unsuccessful assaults with air support in the vicinities of Mar'inka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast), where Ukrainian defenders repelled 15x attacks. The settlements of Oleksandropil', Krasnohorivka, Mar'inka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka, (Donetsk oblast) were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces conducted assaults south of Zolota Nyva (Donetsk oblast), to no success. Also, Russian forces launched air strikes near Vuhledar and Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Blahodatne, Rivnopil' (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Zaporizhzhia axis: The Russian occupiers made unsuccessful assaults near Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast), where Ukrainian defenders repelled 4x Russian attacks. More than 10x settlements, including Poltavka, Huliaipole, Huliaipilske, Novodanylivka, Shcherbaky, Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Kherson axis: Russian forces launched air strikes near the settlements of Beryslav, Ivanivka (Kherson oblast). The settlement of Beryslav, Antonivka, Zelenivka, Veletens'ke (Kherson oblast) and the city of Kherson suffered from Russian artillery shelling.

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 Russian occupation forces, exhausting Russian forces all along the front line.

During the day of November 13, Ukrainian Air Force launched 8x air strikes on concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment, 1x strike on an air defense system of the Russian occupiers.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 6x concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment, 2x command posts, 4x artillery systems, 1x air defense system, and 1x vital target of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, the active actions of the Zapad Group of Forces supported by air strikes, artillery fire, and heavy flamethrower systems repelled four attacks launched by the assault groups of the 30th, 54th, and 57th mechanised brigades of the enemy close to Zagoruykovka and Timkovka (Kharkov region). The losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine amounted to 160 troops killed and wounded, as well as two motor vehicles.

In Krasny Liman direction, the coordinated actions of the Tsentr Group of Forces, strikes of helicopters, artillery fire repelled four attacks launched by the assault groups of the 24th and 63rd mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 12th Azov Special Forces Brigade, and 15th National Guard Regiment close to Chervonaya Dibrova and Kremennaya (Lugansk People's Republic). The enemy's losses amounted to 150 troops and one motor vehicle.

In Donetsk direction, the Yug Group of Forces jointly with aviation and artillery repelled two enemy attacks close to Belogorovka (Lugansk People's Republic) and Kleshcheyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, the Russian troops inflicted fire damage on the 28th mechanised and 77th airmobile brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as the 241st territorial defence brigade close to Kurdyumovka, Razdolovka, and Bogdanovka (Donetsk People's Republic). The total enemy losses over the past day amounted to 205 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, as well as two UAV control points.

In South Donetsk direction, the Vostok Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery caused fire damage to the clusters of manpower of the 72nd mechanised and 79th air assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Nikolskoye and Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy's losses amounted to 100 troops, three pick-up trucks, as well as one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar station.

In Zaporozhye direction, one attack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 65th Mechanised Brigade near Rabotino (Zaporozhye region) was repelled by the Russian Group of Forces, air strikes, and artillery fire.

Also, a cluster of manpower and hardware of the 117th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU north of Novopokrovka (Zaporozhye region) was hit by fire. The enemy's losses included up to 40 servicemen and two motor vehicles.

In Kherson direction, the enemy suffered losses of up to 60 Ukrainian servicemen killed and wounded, two pick-up trucks, and two Msta-B howitzers as a result of complex fire damage.

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.

Ten Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down by anti-aircraft defence forces near Raigorodka, Sergeyevka (Lugansk People's Republic), Spornoye, Maryinka (Donetsk People's Republic), Novoye (Zaporozhye region), Novye Lageri(Kherson region).

In total, 534 airplanes and 254 helicopters, 8,881 unmanned aerial vehicles, 441 air defence missile systems, 13,383 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,183 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,073 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 15,237 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.