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Russo-Ukraine War - 13 December 2023 - Day 658

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 on 12 December 2023, Russia launched at least 15 Shahed One Way Attack Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (OWA-UAV) from the Balaklava district of Crimea. This is a new OWA-UAV launch site to the south of Sevastopol.

On 5 December, Russian officials claimed to have intercepted 41 Ukrainian UAV attacks on Russian military infrastructure in Crimea including in the vicinity of Cape Chauda. Cape Chauda, south east Crimea, is a known Shahed launch site used by the Russians since early September 2023. Balaklava is now the fifth confirmed OWA UAV launch site being used in Russian operations against Ukraine alongside the sites at Cape Chauda, Yeysk, Primorsko, and Kursk.

Russia is highly likely dispersing its OWA UAV launch capabilities across several locations as both a force protection measure and to complicate Ukrainian air defence efforts. Russia will likely use additional launch sites in response to Ukrainian attacks, forcing Ukraine to adapt to new transit corridors of these systems.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of December 13, there were 89x combat engagements.

Russian forces launched a total of 10x missile strikes, 4x air strikes and 32x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have resulted in civilian 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 Bleshnya, Mkhy, Hrem'yach (Chernihiv oblast), Vyntorivka, Brusky, Holyshivs'ke, Kostyantynivka, Hrabovs'ke, Velyka Pysarivka (Sumy oblast), Veterynarne, Budarky (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 12x Russian attacks in the vicinity of Syn'kivka and 2x attacks east of Petropavlivka (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 defense forces repelled 2x attacks in the area of Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast) and east of Terny (Donetsk oblast). The Russian occupiers fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka, Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Spirne, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 6x attacks near Ivanivske and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Kostyantynivka (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements, including Vasyukivka, Bohdanivka, Chasiv Yar, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, New York (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Avdiivka axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 25x attacks in the area east of Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Avdiivka, and 20x attacks south of Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces were making unsuccessful attempts to breach Ukrainian defenses. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Berdychi, Stepove, Avdiivka, Pervomais'ke, Karlivka (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: Ukrainian defense forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinities of Novomykhailivka and Krasnohorivka (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces launched 11x failed attacks on positions of Ukrainian defenders. The Russian occupiers launched an air strike in the vicinity of Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). The settlements of Heorhiivka, Mar'inka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka, Paraskoviivka, Kostyantynivka (Donetsk oblast) were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Shakhtars'ke axis: the Russian adversary conducted no offensives. Around 10x settlements, including Prechystivka, Staromaiors'ke, Rivnopil' (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Zaporizhzhia axis: Ukrainian defense forces repelled 6x Russian attacks near Robotyne and west of Verbove (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 20x settlements, including Levadne, Poltavka, Hulyaipole, Novodanylivka, Novoandriivka, Mali Shcherbaky (Zaporizhzhia oblast) came under artillery and mortar fire.
Kherson axis: Russian forces fired artillery at the settlements of Ivanivka, Novodmytrivka, Oleksandrivka (Kherson oblast), 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 Russian forces.

During the day of December 13, Ukrainian Air Force launched 5x strikes on concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment of the Russian invaders.

Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x command post, 2x strikes on concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment of the Russian occupiers.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems repelled eight attacks of assault groups of AFU 14th, 43rd, 60th, 115th mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Sinkovka, Ivanovka, Yagodnoye (Kharkov region), and Lake Liman.

Clusters of AFU 115th mechanised, 57th mechanised infantry brigades' manpower suffered losses north-western Lake Liman and north of Sinkovka (Kharkov region).

The enemy losses were up to 55 troops, one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, and two armoured fighting vehicles.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces repelled one attack launched by the AFU 63rd Mechanised Brigade near Chervonaya Dibrova (Donetsk People's Republic).

Artillery inflicted fire damage on AFU manpower close to Serebryansky forestry.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 100 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, one tank, and two motor vehicles.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by artillery repelled four attacks of AFU 24th mechanised, 5th assault brigades near Kleshcheyevka and Shumy (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, strikes were delivered at enemy manpower and hardware near Krasnoye, Kleshcheyevka, Kurdyumovka, Kirovo, and Maryinka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses in this direction amounted to up to 250 Ukrainian military personnel, one U.S.-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, three armoured fighting vehicles, two Msta-B howitzers, one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, one D-20 and one D-30 howitzers.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces supported by artillery and heavy flamethrower systems inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of AFU 79th air assault, 58 mechanised infantry, and 128 territorial defence brigades near Novomikhailovka, Novodonetskoye, and Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

Up to 130 Ukrainian troops, two pickups, two Akatsiya self-propelled artillery systems, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system have been eliminated.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by artillery repelled one attack of the AFU 117th Mechanised Brigade's assault groups north of Novoprokopovka (Zaporozhye region), and inflicted fire damage on AFU 128th mountain assault, 33rd, 65th mechanised brigades' manpower and hardware close to Pyatikhatki, Rabotino, and Nesteryanka(Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 50 Ukrainian troops 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 30 Ukrainian troops.

In addition, three Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems and one unmanned aerial vehicle command post have been eliminated.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged assembly and repair workshops for unmanned aerial vehicles, three ammunition depots and one fuel depot, one Ukrainian 79K6 Pelican phased-array radar station, as well as AFU manpower and hardware in 118 areas during the day.

Russian air defence forces intercepted two HIMARS MLRS projectiles.

In addition, six Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down close to Kremennaya (Lugansk People's Republic), Belogorovka, Krinichnaya, and Maryinka (Donetsk People's Republic).

In total, 550 airplanes and 257 helicopters, 9,661 unmanned aerial vehicles, 442 air defence missile systems, 14,026 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,188 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,322 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 16,263 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.