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Russo-Ukraine War - 01 December 2023 - Day 646

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 the Russian defence industry is moving to close the capability gap with Ukraine in the development of one-way attack uncrewed surface vehicles (OWA USVs). On 27 November 2023, Mikhail Danilenko, head of Russian firm KMZ, announced their USVs would be trialled in the 'special military operation' with a view to establishing series production in 2024.

KMZ has previously manufactured a range of USVs, but in recent months they have started promoting their OWA capability; Danilenko said the boat could carry a munition of up to 600 kg.

Navies have employed USVs since the Second World War. However, with modern types resembling speedboats packed with explosives, in the hands of Ukrainian forces they have emerged as a key capability in maritime domain since Russia's full-scale invasion.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of December 1, there were 67x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 2x missile strike, 17x air strikes, 46x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Moreover, since the beginning of the day, Russian occupants have attacked Ukraine with 2x Kh-59 guided missiles and 12x attack UAVs of the Shahed-136/131 type. Ukrainian air defense forces shot down 1x Kh-59 guided missile and 8x attack UAVs. 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 Krasnyi Khutir (Chernihiv oblast), Prohres, Stepok (Sumy oblast), Udy, Ternova, Vovchans'k, Varvarivka (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces conducted assault operations in the vicinities of Syn'kivka (Kharkiv oblast), and Stel'makhivka (Luhansk oblast). Ukrainian defenders repelled 9x attacks in the area. 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), where Ukrainian defenders repelled 7x attacks. The Russian occupiers fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: Russian forces conducted offensives near Hryhorivka, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). Ukrainian defenders repelled 18x attacks in the area. More than 15x settlements, including Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Markove, Chasiv Yar, Klishchiivka, New York (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Avdiivka axis: Russian forces made assaults near south of Novokalynove, Stepove, Avdiivka, Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast), to no success. Ukrainian defenders repelled 16x attacks in the area. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Berdychi, Stepove, Avdiivka, Karlivka, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: Russian forces made failed assaults with air support in the vicinity of Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast), The settlements of Hostre, Mar'inka, Novomykhailivka, Pobjeda, Kostyantynivka (Donetsk oblast) were under artillery and mortar fire of the Russian occupiers.
Shakhtars'ke axis: the Russian adversary conducted no offensives. Around 10x settlements, including Vuhledar, Vodyane, Novoukrainka, Urozhaine, Makarivka, Rivnopil' (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Zaporizhzhia axis: Russian forces made 10x attempts to regain lost ground in the vicinity of Robotyne and west of Verbove (Zaporizhzhia oblast), to no success. More than 20x settlements, including Temyrivka, Malynivka, Charivne, Robotyne, Stepove, Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Kherson axis: Russian forces fired artillery at the city of Kherson and the settlements of Ivanivka, Novotyahynka, Ponyativka, Antonivka (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 December 1, Ukrainian missile troops hit 3x concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment, and 5x ammunition depots of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces, aviation, and artillery inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of AFU 14th, 30th mechanised, and 101st, 103rd, and 113th territorial defence brigades near Sinkovka, Petropavlovka, Peschanoye, Kislovka, and Kulagovka (Kharkov region).

The enemy lost up to 35 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, three pickups, as well as one Bukovel-AD electronic warfare station.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces, helicopters, and artillery repelled one attack launched by assault groups of the AFU 12th Azov Special Forces Brigade near Serebryansky forestry.

In addition, strikes were delivered at clusters of enemy manpower and hardware near Torskoye, Seversk, and Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy lost up to 65 Ukrainian troops and two motor vehicles.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled six enemy attacks and inflicted fire damage on AFU manpower and hardware near Konstantinovka, Dyleyevka, and Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses were up to 300 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, four pickups, one Akatsiya self-propeled artilllery system, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and two D-30 howitzers.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, helicopters, and artillery inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of AFU 58th mechanised infantry and 79th air assault brigades near Novomikhailovka and Ugledar (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy's losses amounted to up to 95 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, and one D-30 howitzer.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces repelled six attacks launched by AFU assault groups close to Rabotino and Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).

In addition, air strikes and artillery fire struck the personnel and hardware of AFU 33rd, 65th mechanised brigades close to Uspenovka and Malaya Tokmachka (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy's losses amounted to up to 30 Ukrainian troops, two pickups, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, and one D-20 howitzer.

In Kherson direction, as a result of the Russian Group of Forces' actions, aviation, and artillery the AFU lost up to 105 Ukrainian troops, seven motor vehicles, and one D-20 howitzer.

?? 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: one UAV Training and Application Centre in Zaporozhye region, one air-delivered ordnance depot in Kirovograd region, one P-18 radar station for detecting and tracking air targets near Lozovoye (Kherson region), as well as manpower and military hardware in 106 areas.

Russian air defence systems have shot down one Mi-8 helicopter of Ukrainian Air Force near Tyaginka (Kherson region).

One MiG-29 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force was shot down near Peresadovka (Nikolayev region).

In addition, two HARM anti-radiation missiles and eight HIMARS missiles have been intercepted over the past 24 hours.

Thirty eight Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were intercepted near Shipilovka, Nyrkovo, Belogorovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Gorlovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Novofyodorovka (Zaporozhye region), Skadovsk and Sofiyevka (Kherson region).

In total, 545 airplanes and 256 helicopters, 9,348 unmanned aerial vehicles, 442 air defence missile systems, 13,735 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,187 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,214 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 15,831 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.