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Russo-Ukraine War - 21 November 2023 - Day 636

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 between the 18-19 November 2023 Russia launched around 50 Iranian-designed Shahed one way-attack uncrewed aerial vehicles, primarily towards Kyiv. These were launched in waves on two axes – from the Kursk to the east, and from Krasnodar to the south-east.

One of Russia's objectives was likely to degrade Ukraine's air defences, to shape the battlespace ahead of any concerted winter campaign of strikes against Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

Russia has now refrained from launching its premier air launched cruise missiles from its heavy bomber fleet for nearly two months, likely allowing it to build up a substantial stock of these weapons. Russia is highly likely to use these missiles if it repeats last year's effort to destroy Ukraine's critical national infrastructure.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of November 21, there were 33x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 4x missile strikes, 37x air strikes, 19x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Moreover, on the night of November 21, the Russian occupiers launched another strike on Ukraine, using 4x S-300 anti-aircraft guided missiles, 1x Iskander-K cruise missile and 10x Shahed-136/131 attack UAVs. Ukrainian air defense destroyed 1x Iskander-K cruise missile and 9x attack UAVs. On top of that, Russian forces attacked the port infrastructure in the city of Odesa and in Bilhorod-Dnistrovs'kyi district of Odesa oblast with Kh-31P missiles. Russian attacks have unfortunately resulted in deaths and injuries among civilians. Private residential buildings, the Central city hospital in the city of Selydove (Donetsk oblast), and the Kotlyarevska mine, as well as 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 an air strike in the vicinities of Leonivka and Popivka (Chernihiv oblast). Around 30x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Klyusy, Bleshnya, Leonivka, Buchky, Hrem'yach (Chernihiv oblast), Volfyne, Bilovody, Basivka, Mohrytsya (Sumy oblast), Veterynarne, 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 3x attacks. The invaders fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Kyslivka, Kotlyarivka, Tabaivka (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Russian adversary conducted assault actions near Sivers'k (Donetsk oblast), to no success. Russian forces launched an air strike in the area of Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast). The Russian occupiers fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Makiivka, Nevs'ke (Luhansk oblast), Yampolivka, Tors'ke, Dibrova, Spirne (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 5x Russian attacks in the vicinity of Klishchiivka and east of Pivdenne (Donetsk oblast). More than 20x settlements, including Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, Druzhba, Pivdenne (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Avdiivka axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful assault operations east of Novobakhmutivka, Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke and Avdiivka (Donetsk oblast), where the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 8x attacks. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 15x settlements, including Keramik, Berdychi, Orlivka, Avdiivka, Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: Russian forces made failed assaults in the vicinities of Mar'inka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast), where Ukrainian defenders repelled 15x attacks. The settlements of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Mar'inka, Novomykhailivka, Katerynivka (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 Vuhledar, Novoukrainka, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Zaporizhzhia axis: the Russian invaders made assaults in the vicinities of Robotyne and Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast), to no success. Russian forces launched an air strike near Urozhaine (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 25x settlements, including Luhivs'ke, Orikhiv, Novodanylivka, Robotyne, Kam'yans'ke, Prymors'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Kherson axis: Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Zmiivka, Novoberyslav, Kozats'ke. The settlements of Beryslav, Ivanivka, Ponyativka, Antonivka (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 enemy.

The Russian occupiers continue the forced passportization of population on the temporarily occupied territories of Luhansk oblast. Thus, in order to increase moral pressure on Ukrainian residents of Luhansk oblast and to force them to obtain Russian citizenship, the so-called Russian occupation government adopted decision that only those Ukrainian citizens who agreed to obtain a russian passport will be able to receive compensation for the purchase of coal and firewood for the heating season.

During the day of November 21, Ukrainian Air Force launched 1x strike on a command post, 6x strikes on concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment, and 2x strikes on air defense systems of the Russian occupiers.

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