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Russo-Ukraine War - 30 November 2023 - Day 645

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's airborne forces, the VDV, has likely started deploying the newly formed 104th Guards Airborne Division (104 GAD) in Ukraine for the first time. The division is probably assembling in Kherson Oblast.

In August 2023, Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu announced plans to re-establish 104 GAD, which was previously downsized to a smaller, brigade-sized formation in 1998. Its subordinate units likely include the 337th regiment, an additional manoeuvre regiment, and the 52nd Artillery Brigade.

With the addition of the 104 GAD, the number of divisions in the VDV's order of battle will increase to five. The division will likely be poorly trained and is unlikely to meet the erstwhile elite standards of the VDV. It will almost certainly receive close scrutiny from the Russian General responsible for Kherson, General Colonel Mikhail Teplinsky; his routine role is overall commander of the VDV.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of November 30, there were 73x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 1x missile strike, 43x air strikes, 34x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Moreover, since the beginning of the day, Russian occupants have attacked Ukraine with 7x attack UAVs of the Shahed-136/131 type, 5 of which were shot down by air defense forces. 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 Hrem'yach, (Chernihiv oblast), Popivka, Atyns'ke, Loknya (Sumy oblast), Nesterne (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces conducted assault operations with air support in the vicinities of Syn'kivka, northeast of Petropavlivka (Kharkiv oblast), and Stel'makhivka (Luhansk oblast). Ukrainian defenders repelled 7x attacks in the area. Russian forces launched an air strike near Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: Russian forces made assaults in the area of Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast), and Tors'ke (Donetsk oblast), where Ukrainian defenders repelled 4x attacks. The Russian occupiers fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 21x attacks near Bohdanivka, Klishchiivka and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). More than 20x settlements, including Min'kivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Avdiivka axis: Russian forces made assaults with air support near Stepove, Avdiivka, Tonen'ke, Sjeverne, 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 Novokalynove, Orlivka, Avdiivka, Sjeverne, Nevel's'ke 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 9x attacks. Around 10x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Mar'inka, Novomykhailivka, Pobjeda, Kostyantynivka, Katerynivka (Donetsk oblast) were under artillery and mortar fire of the Russian occupiers.
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives. Around 10x settlements, including Vuhledar, Vodyane, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Bohoyavlenka, Novoukrainka (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Zaporizhzhia axis: Russian forces made 11x attempts to regain lost ground in the vicinity of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast), to no success. Also, Ukrainian defenders repelled 3x attacks west of Verbove (Zaporizhzhia oblast). The Russian forces launched air strikes near Kam'yanka and Novoandriivka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 20x settlements, including Zaliznychne, Bilohir'ya, Novodanylivka, Lobkove, Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Kherson axis: Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Tyahynka and Krynky (Kherson oblast). Russian forces fired artillery at the city of Kherson and the settlements of Beryslav, Ivanivka, Sadove (Kherson oblast), as well as the city of Ochakiv (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 30, Ukrainian Air Force launched 10x strikes on concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment, and 1x strike on an air defense system of the Russian occupiers.

Ukrainian missile troops hit 3x air defense systems, 1x radar station, 1x electronic warfare station, and 2x 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 two attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 14th and 30th mechanised brigades near Sinkovka (Kharkov region). The enemy lost up to 45 Ukrainian troops and two motor vehicles.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces supported by helicopters repelled one attack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 60th Mechanised Brigade near Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 250 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, and four motor vehicles.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled two attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 79th Assault Brigade near Maryinka (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware clusters of the AFU 93rd Mechanised Brigade near Andreyevka (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy lost up to 270 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, and three pickup trucks.

One U.S.-made AN/TPQ-37 counterbattery radar station was destroyed near Zhelannoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery inflicted losses on manpower of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade, 79th Airborne Brigade, and 58th Motorised Infantry Brigade near Novomikhailovka, Konstantinovka, and Novoukrainka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Up to 100 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles were neutralised.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled three attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 82nd Airborne Brigade and 71st Jaeger Brigade close to Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).

In addition, strikes were delivered at manpower of the AFU 118th Mechanised Brigade, 46th Air Mobile Brigade, and 15th National Guard Brigade near Rabotino and north of Novopokrovka (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 30 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded and three motor vehicles.

In Kherson direction, as a result of actions of the Russian Group of Forces supported by artillery and aviation, the AFU lost up to 55 Ukrainian troops and two motor vehicles.

Operational-tactical and Army Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops and artillery of the Group of Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation wiped out a rear command post of the AFU 53rd Mechanised Brigade, an artillery battalion command and observation post of the AFU 31st Mechanised Brigade near Krasnoarmeysk and Novogrodovka (Donetsk People's Republic), two CT-68UM and P-18 radar stations for detecting and tracking air targets, as well as manpower and military hardware in 118 areas.

Air defence units intercepted nine Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Tokarevka (Kharkov region), Lipovoye and Maryinka (Donetsk People's Republic), Pshenichnoye (Zaporozhye region), and Chaplinka (Kherson region).

In total, 544 airplanes and 255 helicopters, 9,310 unmanned aerial vehicles, 442 air defence missile systems, 13,712 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,187 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,205 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 15,781 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.