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Russo-Ukraine War - 20 November 2023 - Day 635

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 on 7 November 2023, wives of deployed Russian soldiers conducted what was probably the first public street protest in Moscow since the invasion of Ukraine. The protestors gathered in the central Teatralnya Square and unfurled banners demanding the rotation of their partners away from the frontline.

Since February 2022, social media has provided daily examples of Russian wives and mothers making online appeals protesting against the conditions of their loved ones' service. However, Russia's draconian legislation has so far prevented troops' relatives from coalescing into an influential lobbying force, as soldiers' mothers did during the Afghan-Soviet War of the 1980s

Police broke up the Teatralnya Square protest within minutes. However, the protestors' immediate demand is notable. The apparently indefinitely extended combat deployments of personnel without rotation is increasingly seen as unsustainable by both the troops themselves and by their relatives.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of November 20, there were 54x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 3x air strikes, 12x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Russian attacks have unfortunately resulted in deaths and 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. The Russian invaders launched air strikes in the vicinities of Kostobobriv (Chernihiv oblast) and Seredyna-Buda (Sumy oblast). Around 20x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Tymonovychi, Karpovychi, Hrem'yach (Chernihiv oblast), Veselivka, Kostyantynivka, Volfyne, Khodyne (Sumy oblast), Chervona Zorya, Pletenivka, Zemlyanky, Budarky (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces conducted assault operations in the vicinities of Syn'kivka, east of Petropavlivka (Kharkiv oblast), where Ukrainian defenders repelled 10x attacks. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Russian adversary conducted no offensives (assaults). The Russian occupiers fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Tors'ke, Rozdolivka, Spirne (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: Russian forces made failed assaults in the vicinities of Klishchiivka, Andriivka and east of Pivdenne (Donetsk oblast), where Ukrainian defenders repelled 19x attacks. More than 10x settlements, including Bohdanivka, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Avdiivka axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful assault operations east of Novobakhmutivka, Stepove and Avdiivka (Donetsk oblast), where the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 7x attacks. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 15x settlements, including Oleksandropil', Keramik, Avdiivka, Sjeverne, Tonen'ke, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: the Russian adversary made unsuccessful assaults in the vicinities of Mar'inka, Pobjeda and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast), where Ukrainian defenders repelled 10x attacks. Around 10x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Mar'inka, Novomykhailivka, Pobjeda (Donetsk oblast), were under artillery and mortar fire of the Russian occupiers.
Shakhtars'ke axis: the Russian invaders conducted assault operations west of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast), to no success. Ukrainian defenders repelled 2x assaults in the area. Around 10x settlements, including Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Blahodatne, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Zaporizhzhia axis: Russian forces made failed assaults in the vicinities of Robotyne and northwest of Verbove (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 20x settlements, including Poltavka, Charivne, Mala Tokmachka, Mali Shcherbaky, Robotyne, Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast), Nikopol' (Dnipropetrovsk oblast) came under artillery and mortar fire.
Kherson axis: the settlements of Sofiivka (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.

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 20, Ukrainian Air Force launched 2x air strikes on concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment 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, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems repelled three attacks launched by assault groups of the AFU 30th Mechanised Brigade close to Zagoruykovka (Kharkov region).

Clusters of manpower and hardware of the 14th, 41st mechanised and 57th motorised infantry brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Kurilovka, Podoly, Timkovka, and Sinkovka (Kharkov region) were hit by fire. APU losses amounted to 30 servicemen, three motor vehicles, as well as one 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

In Krasny Liman direction, the Tsentr Group of Forces in cooperation with helicopters and artillery repelled one attack launched by an assault group of the 50th National Guard Regiment near Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, the manpower and hardware of the 67th Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the 125th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Yampolovka and Serebryanka (Donetsk People's Republic) were neutralised. The enemy's losses amounted to 50 troops and two motor vehicles.

In Donetsk direction, the Yug Group of Forces supported by artillery and heavy flamethrowers repelled one attack launched by an assault group of the 67th Mechanised Brigade close to Kleshcheyevka (Donetsk People's Republic). Also, manpower and military hardware of the 28th and 30th mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were eliminated near Vasyukovka and Kurdyumovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy has lost up to 130 Ukrainian personnel killed and wounded, as well as two armoured fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles in this direction. During counter-battery warfare, two Msta-B howitzers, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one D-30 gun were hit.

In South Donetsk direction, the Vostok Group of Forces exploited results of artillery fire to defeat manpower and hardware of the 79th Air Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic). Up to 70 Ukrainian troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, and two motor vehicles were neutralised.

In Zaporozhye direction, the Russian Group of Forces, air strikes and artillery fire defeated clusters of manpower and hardware of the 82nd Air Assault and 71st Jaeger brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region). Up to 20 troops and two motor vehicles were neutralised.

In Kherson direction, as a result of complex fire damage, up to 40 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were eliminated, as well as three motor vehicles.

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 123 areas during the day.

Air defence systems shot down five unmanned aerial vehicles near Verkhnekamenka (Lugansk People's Republic), Peski (Donetsk People's Republic), and neutralised three HIMARS MLRS projectiles.

In total, 536 airplanes and 254 helicopters, 9,045 unmanned aerial vehicles, 441 air defence missile systems, 13,489 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,185 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,138 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 15,422 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.