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Russo-Ukraine War - 03 December 2023 - Day 648

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 efforts of both Russia and Ukraine to overcome their adversary's ground-based air defence systems continue to be one of the most important contests of the war. On the Russian side, the SA-15 Tor short-range surface-to-air missile system (SAM) is playing a critical and largely effective role.

With a maximum range of 15 km, the SA-15 is operated by the Russian army air defence units and is designed to protect the front line of ground troops. This is in contrast with other short-range systems, such as SA-22 Pantsir, which are operated by Russian Aerospace Forces and typically protects command nodes, longer range SAMs, and air bases.

Effectively acting as the front line of Russia's elaborate air defence network in Ukraine, the SA-15 is currently particularly utilised to counter Ukrainian uncrewed aerial vehicle operations. One of the key limitations of the system in the current war is likely the endurance of its crew. With an established allocation of only three personnel to each system, maintaining a high state of alert for extended periods is highly likely proving an extreme test of endurance.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of December 3, there were 56x combat engagements.

Russian forces launched a total of 1x missile strike, 31x air strikes, 24x 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.

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 20x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Volodymyrivka, Hasychivka (Chernihiv oblast), Kozache (Sumy oblast), Hraniv, Budarky, Chuhunivka (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces conducted assault operations in the vicinity of Syn'kivka (Kharkiv oblast). Ukrainian defenders repelled 7x attacks in the area. The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Fyholivka, Ivanivka, Kyslivka, Tabaivka, Krokhmal'ne, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: Russian forces made failed assaults with air support in the area of Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast), where Ukrainian defenders repelled 3x attacks. Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Spirne (Donetsk oblast). The Russian occupiers fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Makiivka, Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Yampolivka, Tors'ke, Dibrova (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: Russian forces conducted offensives with air support near Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast), where Ukrainian defenders repelled 16x attacks. Around 20x settlements, including Min'kivka, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, Ozarianivka (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Avdiivka axis: Russian forces made assaults with air support east of Novokalynove, east of Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Avdiivka, Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast), to no success. Ukrainian defenders repelled 14x attacks in the area. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Novokalynove, Berdychi, Avdiivka, Tonen'ke, Netailove, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: Russian forces made failed assaults with air support in the vicinities of Mar'inka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast), where Ukrainian defense forces repelled 5x attacks. The settlements of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Mar'inka, Pobjeda, Paraskoviivka, Katerynivka (Donetsk oblast) were under artillery and mortar fire of the Russian occupiers.
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensives in the vicinity of Staromaiors'ke (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 3x attempts to regain lost ground south of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast), to no success. Also, Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensives near Novopokrovka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Russian forces launched an air strike near Novodarivka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 25x settlements, including Charivne, Novodanylivka, Mali Shcherbaky, Stepove, Kam'yans'ke, Plavni (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Kherson axis: Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Krynky (Kherson oblast). Russian forces fired artillery at the settlements of Dudchany, Beryslav, Ivanivka, Sadove, Romashkove (Kherson oblast), as well as the cities of Kherson and Ochakiv (Mykolaiv 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 3, Ukrainian Air Force launched 2x strikes on air defense systems, 8x strikes on concentrations of Russian troops, weapons and military equipment, and 2x strikes on ammunition depots.

Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x heavy multiple rocket flamethrower system, and 1x Pantsir self-propelled anti-aircraft system of the Russian invaders.

Also, overnight Ukrainian air defense forces destroyed 10x of 12x Shahed-136/131 UAVs.

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 mechanised and 25th airborne brigades near Sinkovka and Berestovoye (Kharkov region).

One ammunition depot of the AFU 113th Territorial Defence Brigade was eliminated near Liptsy (Kharkov region).

The enemy lost up to 95 Ukrainian troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, two motor vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces and artillery repelled one attack launched by assault groups of the AFU 60th Mechanised Btigade near Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, strikes were delivered at clusters of manpower of AFU 63rd mechanised and 12th special forces brigades near Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and Serebryansky forestry.

The enemy lost up to 250 Ukrainian troops and two motor vehicles.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by artillery inflicted fire damage on AFU manpower and hardware near Kurdyumovka, Andreyevka, and Kleshcheyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses were up to 300 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, one infantry fighting vehicle, two motor vehicles, one D-20, one D-30 howitzers, as well as one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces and artillery inflicted fire damage on manpower of AFU 72nd mechanised and 79th air assault brigades near Novomikhailovka and Ugledar (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy's losses amounted to up to 85 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, one armoured fighting vehicle, two motor vehicles, one Akatsiya self propelled artillery system, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces, helicopters, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems repelled one attack launched by assault groups of the AFU 82nd Air Assault Brigade close to Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).

In addition, servicemen of the AFU 46th Airmobile Brigade were defeated close to Rabotino (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy's losses amounted to up to 20 Ukrainian troops and two motor vehicles.

In Kherson direction, the Russian Group of Forces' units inflicted fire damage on AFU manpower close to Matiyasovo and Novosyolovka (Nikolaev region), and Tyaginka (Kherson region).

The AFU lost up to 65 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, three Gvozdika self propelled artillery systems, and one Bukovel-AD electronic warfare station.

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 one command post of the air defence control and warning centre of the AFU Vostok Air Command near Dnepropetrovsk, fuel depots close to Mirgorod (Poltava region) and Khmelnitsky, one ammunition depot in Nikolaev region, as well as manpower and military hardware in 107 areas.

Russian air defence and electronic warfare systems have shot down eight UAVs near Podkuychansk (Lugansk People's Republic), Slavnoye, Belogorovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Peschanoye, Vinogradovka (Kherson region), Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region), as well as two S-200 anti-aircraft guided missiles converted to hit ground targets, and one HIMARS MLRS projectile.

In total, 545 airplanes and 256 helicopters, 9,361 unmanned aerial vehicles, 442 air defence missile systems, 13,759 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,187 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,224 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 15,876 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.