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Russo-Ukraine War - 19 November 2023 - Day 634

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 Russia is likely considering bringing the Soviet-era M-55 MYSTIC B high altitude reconnaissance aircraft back into service. With an operating ceiling of over 70,000 feet, the aircraft has been recently employed as an earth-sciences research platform. However, it has been observed carrying a military reconnaissance pod, developed for employment on Russian fighter aircraft.

A critical flaw in Russian procurement strategy has been its failure to establish an adequate Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) capability. This is critical for the timely and accurate prosecution of targets by air, sea, and ground forces.

There is a realistic possibility that the M-55 will return to frontline service to bolster Russia's limited ISTAR capabilities over Ukraine. Operating at high altitudes enables the sensors to work at considerable stand-off range. It is almost certain that the aircraft will conduct missions against Ukraine from the relative safety of Russian airspace.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of November 19, there were 45x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 16x air strikes, 41x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Moreover, Russian forces conducted air strikes on critical infrastructure facilities in Ukraine using Shahed-136/131 attack UAVs. Ukrainian air defense shot down 15x of the 20x attack UAVs. Russian attacks have unfortunately resulted in injuries among civilians. Private residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged.

The operational situation in eastern and southern 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 20x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Yanzhulivka, Mykhal'chyna Sloboda, Leonivka (Chernihiv oblast), Khodyne, Holyshivs'ke, Basivka, Myropil's'ke, Novodmytrivka (Sumy oblast), Kozacha Lopan', Vovchans'k, Bochkove, Budarky (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces conducted failed assault operations in the vicinities of Syn'kivka, east of Petropavlivka and Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast), where Ukrainian defenders repelled 7x attacks. The Russian occupiers launched an air strike near Petropavlivka (Kharkiv oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives (assaults). The Russian invaders launched air strikes near Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast) and Yampolivka (Donetsk oblast). The Russian occupiers fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Serebryanka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Tors'ke, Rozdolivka, Spirne (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: Russian forces made assaults in the vicinities of Klishchiivka and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast), where Ukrainian defenders repelled 11x attacks. More than 10x settlements, including Markove, Bohdanivka, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, New York (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Avdiivka axis: Russian forces conducted failed assault operations east of Novokalynove, east of Novobakhmutivka, Sjeverne and Avdiivka (Donetsk oblast), where the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 9x attacks. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 15x settlements, including Sukha Balka, Keramik, Tonen'ke, Yasnobrodivka, Netailove, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: the Russian adversary made unsuccessful assaults in the vicinities of Mar'inka and Pobjeda (Donetsk oblast), where Ukrainian defenders repelled 13x attacks. The settlements of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Mar'inka, Novomykhailivka, Pobjeda (Donetsk oblast) were under artillery and mortar fire of the occupiers.
Shakhtars'ke axis: the Russian invaders conducted assault operations west of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast), to no success. Around 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Bohoyavlenka, Prechystivka, Blahodatne, Staromaiors'ke, Rivnopil' (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Zaporizhzhia axis: Russian forces did not make any assaults. More than 20x settlements, including Levadne, Malynivka, Charivne, Orikhiv, Novoandriivka, Stepove (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Kherson axis: the settlements of Tyahynka, Ivanivka, Tokarivka (Kherson oblast), the city of Kherson and the city of Ochakiv (Mykolaiv oblast) 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.

Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold their ground on the left bank of the Dnipro River (Kherson oblast) and continue to inflict fire on the Russian forces .

During the day of November 19, Ukrainian Air Force launched 2x air strikes on concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment of the Russian occupiers.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x concentration of troops, weapons and military equipment, and 3x ammunition depots of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces, in the course of active operations together with Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, have struck at manpower and hardware of 14th, 41st, 43rd, 44th mechanised and 25th airborne brigades of the AFU close to Petropavlovka, Sinkovka, Ivanovka, Berestovoye (Kharkov region) and Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were more than 70 troops and two motor vehicles.

In Krasny Liman direction, as a result of competent actions by units of the Tsentr Group of Forces, in cooperation with helicopters and artillery, one attack by assault groups of the 12th Azov Special Purpose Brigade has been repelled south of Kuzmino (Lugansk People's Republic).

Aviation has eliminated manpower and hardware of the 117th Territorial Defence Brigade, the 67th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU, and the 31st Operational Brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard near Yampolovka, north of Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic), and Serebryansky forestry.

The enemy losses were up to 30 servicemen, one armoured fighting vehicle, and two motor vehicles.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces, supported by artillery and heavy flamethrower systems, have repelled six attacks by assault groups of 24th Mechanised, 5th Assault and 95th Air Assault Brigades of the AFU near Klescheevka, Shumy, and Maryinka (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, manpower and hardware of 112th, 114th, and 241st territorial defence brigades, as well as 28th and 30th mechanised brigades of the AFU have been hit close to Andreevka, Vasyukovka, Razdolovka, Bogdanovka, Artyomovsk, Krasnoye, Kurdyumovka, and Kleshcheevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were over 240 servicemen killed and wounded, one tank, one infantry fighting vehicle, two motor vehicles, and one Msta-B howitzer.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, in cooperation with Ground-Attack, Army aviation and artillery, have struck at manpower and hardware of 72nd mechanised, 79th air assault, 58th motorised infantry brigades of the AFU, and the 127th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Novomikhailovka, Nikolskoye, Shevchenko, Konstantinovka, Novodonetskoye, and Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 145 troops, two motor vehicles, and one Polish-manufactured Krab self-propelled artillery system.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces, aviation and artillery have inflicted a fire damage on manpower of 33rd, 65th, 117th, and 118th mechanised brigades of the AFU near Rabotino, Kirovo, and north-west of Kopan (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy losses were over 100 servicemen, three armoured fighting vehicles, 11 motor vehicles, as well as one D-30 howitzer.

In Kherson direction, as a result of artillery and aviation strikes, the enemy losses were up to 20 servicemen, two motor vehicles, one Msta-B howitzer, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised manpower and military hardware in 111 areas.

In addition, fuel storage facilities for AFU aircraft have been destroyed at Kanatovo airfield (Kirovograd region).

Ammunition depots of the AFU have been hit near Kirovograd and Olshanitsa (Kiev region).

Air defence facilities have intercepted two HIMARS and Olkha projectiles.

In addition, 31 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been shot down close to Peski, Yakovlevka, Spornoye, Olginka, Dolomitnoye, Verkhnetoretskoye, Maryinka (Donetsk People's Republic), Zolotaryovka, Belogorovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Novaya Kakhovka, Proletarka (Kherson region), and Kamenka-Dneprovskaya (Zaporozhye region).

In total, 536 airplanes and 254 helicopters, 9,040 unmanned aerial vehicles, 441 air defence missile systems, 13,486 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,185 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,133 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 15,407 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation.