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Russo-Ukraine War - 29 November 2023 - Day 644

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 through November 2023, the Russian air force has likely started to more frequently employ the RBK-500 500kg cluster munition bomb. Depending on the variant, each RBK-500 ejects between approximately 100 and 350 sub-munitions. In turn, each sub-munition typically detonates with either hundreds of high-velocity fragments, or a single, larger anti-tank charge.

RBK-500 are reported to have been deployed against Ukrainian forces on the Vuhledar axis and near Avdiivka, both in Donetsk Oblast. There is a realistic possibility that, as with other air-dropped bombs, Russia has likely recently integrated a UMPC guided stand-off glide kit with RBK-500. This allows the carrying aircraft to release the munition many kilometres away from the target.

Russia's glide bomb kits have generally achieved poor accuracy. However, with its large number of sub-munitions, a single RBK-500 can cause effects over an area of several hundred metres, increasing the chance of inflicting at least some damage on the intended target.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of November 29, there were 73x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 3x missile strikes, 13x air strikes, 8x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have resulted in civilian casualties and injuries. Private residential buildings as well as other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged.

Moreover, the Russian Federation launched another attack on Ukraine with 1x Kh-31 guided missile and 2x S-300 antiaircraft missiles. The strikes targeted civilian infrastructure.

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 10x settlements came under enemy artillery and mortar fire, including Znob-Trubchevs'ka, Klyusy (Sumy oblast), Veterynarne, Vovchans'k, Hatyshche, Mala Vovcha (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful assault operations in the vicinities of Syn'kivka, northeast of Petropavlivka (Kharkiv oblast), and Stel'makhivka (Luhansk oblast). Ukrainian defenders repelled 6x attacks on this axis. The Russian adversary launched air strikes near Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Kup'yans'k, Kurylivka (Kharkiv oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 15x Russian attacks in the vicinity of Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, east of Terny, 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, Spirne, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: Russian forces made unsuccessful assaults near Ivanivske and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements, including Chasiv Yar, Markove, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, New York (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Avdiivka axis: Russian forces made assaults with air support near Stepove, Novokalynove, east of Novobakhmutivka, Avdiivka, south of Tonen'ke, Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast), to no success. Ukrainian defenders repelled 20x attacks in the area. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Oleksandropil', Berdychi, Stepove, Avdiivka, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: Russian forces made failed assaults with air support in the vicinity of Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast), where Ukrainian defenders repelled 6x attacks. Around 10x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Mar'inka, Novomykhailivka, Pobjeda (Donetsk oblast) were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensives south of Prechystivka (Donetsk oblast), where Ukrainian defenders repelled 2x attacks. Russian forces launched an air strike near Novoukrainka (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements, including Vuhledar, Vodyane, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Zaporizhzhia axis: Russian forces made 5x attempts to regain lost ground in the vicinity of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast), to no success. Also, Ukrainian defenders repelled 5x attacks west of Verbove (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 20x settlements, including Levadne, Charivne, Mala Tokmachka, Robotyne, Mali Shcherbaky, Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Kherson axis: Russian forces fired artillery at the city of Kherson and the settlement of Tyahynka (Kherson oblast).

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

During the day of November 29, Ukrainian Air Force launched 2x strikes on concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment, and 2x strikes on air defense systems of the Russian occupiers.

Ukrainian missile troops hit 3x command posts, 2x ammunition depots, 1x concentration of troops, weapons and military equipment 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 one attack launched by assault detachments of the AFU 57th Motorised Infantry Brigade near Liman Perviy (Kharkov region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 20 Ukrainian troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, two U.S.-made HMMWV armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, and one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces supported by helicopters repelled two attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 21st Mechanised Brigade and 12th Special Operations Brigade near Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and Serebryansky forestry. The AFU losses amounted to up to 80 Ukrainian troops and two motor vehicles.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery improved the tactical situation at the forward lines and liberated Artyomovskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

Over the past 24 hours, three attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 24th Mechanised Brigade, 77th Airmobile Brigade, and 5th Assault Brigade were repelled near Shumy, Artyomovskoye, and Kleshcheyevka (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy lost up to 250 Ukrainian troops, five tanks, and 12 motor vehicles.

In the course of counterbattery warfare, one U.S.-made M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system and one M777 artillery system, two D-30 howitzers, one D-20 howitzer, one Grad MLRS combat vehicle, one Bukovel-AD electronic warfare system, and one MLRS ammunition depot were destroyed.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled one attack launched by assault detachments of the AFU 79th Airborne Brigade near Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Strikes were delivered at manpower of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade and 128th Territorial Defence Brigade near Ugledar, Antonovka, and Nikolskoye (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy losses amounted to up to 160 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, and one MLRS Grad combat vehicle.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery inflicted losses on manpower of the AFU 128th Mountain Assault Brigade, 33rd Mechanised Brigade, and 71st Infantry Brigade near Kamenskoye and Rabotino (Zaporozhye region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 55 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, three armoured fighting vehicles, seven motor vehicles, and one U.S.-made M777 artillery system.

In Kherson direction, as a result of the Russian Group of Forces actions, the AFU losses amounted to up to 55 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, two Msta-B howitzers, and two D-20 howitzers.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces eliminated one assembly workshop for production and repair of radar stations, one P-18 radar station, one S-300 anti-aircraft system, fuel and air-delivered ordnance depots, as well as manpower and hardware in 127 areas during the day.

The Russian Aerospace Forces Fighter Aviation intercepted one Ukrainian Air Forces MiG-29 aircraft near Mezhevoye (Donetsk People's Republic) and shot down one U.S.-made HARM anti-radiation missile.

Air defence units shot down one Ukrainian Air Force Su-25 aircraft near Novoolenovka (Donetsk People's Republic). 11 HIMARS and Uragan MLRS projectiles were intercepted during the past 24 hours

In addition, 38 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been destroyed near Novoolenovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Berestovoye (Kharkov region), Belogorovka, Novonikolskoye, Verkhnekamenka, Kremennaya (Lugansk People's Republic), Novaya Kakhovka (Kherson region), Ulyanovka and Romanovskoye (Zaporozhye region).

In total, 544 airplanes and 255 helicopters, 9,301 unmanned aerial vehicles, 442 air defence missile systems, 13,687 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,187 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,205 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 15,746 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.