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Russo-Ukraine War - 28 November 2023 - Day 643

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 recent days, Russian forces have made further small advances on the northern axis of a pincer movement as part of their attempt to surround the Donbas town of Avdiivka.

Since the start of October 2023, Russian forces have moved the front line forwards up to 2km in this area. Although modest, this advance likely represents one of the greatest Russian gains since spring 2023. It has cost the units involved thousands of casualties.

This operation is gradually bringing Russian troops closer to the Avdiivka Coke and Chemical plant, where Ukrainian forces maintain one of their main defensive positions. Although Avdiivka has become a salient or bulge in the Ukrainian front line, Ukraine remains in control of a corridor of territory approximately 7km wide, through which it continues to supply the town.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of November 28, there were 56x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 11x missile strikes, 35x air strikes, 42x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Moreover, the Russian Federation launched another attack on Ukraine with 1x Shahed-136/131 attack UAV, which was shot down by Ukrainian defenders. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have resulted in civilian casualties and injuries. Private residential buildings 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. Around 15x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Yeline (Chernihiv oblast), Seredyna-Buda, Boyaro-Lezhachi, Basivka, Stepok, Hrabovs'ke, Popivka (Sumy oblast), Hraniv, Starytsya, Pletenivka, Zemlyanky (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful assault operations in the vicinities of Syn'kivka and Petropavlivka (Kharkiv oblast), where Ukrainian defenders repelled 4x attacks. Russian forces launched air strikes near Ivanivka and Stepova Novoselivka (Kharkiv oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: Russian forces made failed assaults in the vicinity of Terny (Donetsk oblast), where Ukrainian defenders repelled 3x attacks. Russian forces launched an air strike near Spirne (Donetsk oblast). The Russian occupiers fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Spirne, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Russian occupiers made assaults near Bohdanivka, Klishchiivka, Andriivka and Pivnichne (Donetsk oblast), where Ukrainian defenders repelled 16x attacks. The Russian invaders launched air strikes in the vicinities of Chasiv Yar, Toretsk (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements, including Markove, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, New York (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Avdiivka axis: Russian forces made assaults near Stepove, Avdiivka, south of Tonen'ke, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast), to no success. Ukrainian defenders repelled 15x attacks in the area. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Sukha Balka, Ocheretyne, Stepove, Avdiivka, Netailove, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 12x attacks in the vicinities of Krasnohorivka, Mar'inka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). 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: Russian forces conducted no offensives. Around 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Bohoyavlenka, Prechystivka, Blahodatne, Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Zaporizhzhia axis: Russian forces made 2x failed attempts to regain lost ground in the vicinity of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 20x settlements, including Poltavka, Hulyaipole, Charivne, Mala Tokmachka, Shcherbaky, Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Kherson axis: Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Beryslav and Kozats'ke (Kherson oblast). Russian forces fired artillery at the city of Kherson, the settlements of Dudchany, L'vove, Mykil's'ke (Kherson oblast), and Dmytrivka, Ochakiv (Mykolaiv oblast).

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

During the day of November 28, Ukrainian Air Force launched 13x strikes on concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment, and 3x strikes on air defense systems of the Russian occupiers.

Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x command post, 5x air defense systems, 9x artillery systems, and 1x electronic warfare station of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled four attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 57th Mechanised Brigade near Sinkovka (Kharkov region). The enemy losses amounted to up to 30 Ukrainian troops and one D-20 howitzer.

In Krasny Liman direction, helicopters and artillery of the Tsentr Group of Forces delivered strikes at AFU manpower and hardware near Torskoye and Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU losses amounted to up to 40 Ukrainian troops and two pickup trucks.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery took more advantageous lines and positions near Artyomovsk (Donetsk People's Republic). In addition, three AFU attacks were repelled and enemy manpower and hardware suffered losses near Chasov Yar, Kleshcheyevka, and Georgiyevka (Donetsk People's Republic). Up to 135 Ukrainian troops and three pickup trucks were neutralised in this direction during the day.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces supported by helicopters and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 58th Motorised Infantry Brigade, 72nd Mechanised Brigade, and 128th Territorial Defence Brigade near Novomikhailovka, Ugledar, and Urozhaynoye (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy lost up to 75 Ukrainian troops and two motor vehicles.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces repelled one attack launched by an AFU assault group close to Novopokrovka (Zaporozhye region). In addition, air strikes and artillery fire struck the personnel and hardware of the 65th and 118th mechanised brigades close to Rabotino and Malaya Tokmachka (Zaporozhye region). The enemy losses were up to 65 Ukrainian servicemen, two U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers.

In Kherson direction, as a result of artillery fire and air strikes, the AFU suffered losses of 40 troops killed and wounded, five motor vehicles, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

Operational-Tactical and Army Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Groups of Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation hit the following facilities: AFU UAV Training and Application Centre, an aviation fuel depot, three detection radars (two P-18 and one ST-68), as well as manpower and military hardware in 103 areas.

Russian air defence forces intercepted two HIMARS MLRS projectiles. Furthermore, during the day, six Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were intercepted over Fedoseyevka, Shipilovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Vladimirovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Komsomolskoye (Zaporozhye region), and Golaya Pristan (Kherson region).

In total, 542 airplanes and 255 helicopters, 9,263 unmanned aerial vehicles, 442 air defence missile systems, 13,659 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,185 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,194 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 15,698 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.