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Russo-Ukraine War - 02 January 2024 - Day 678

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 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that on the night of 2 January 2024, Russian forces repeated its massive attack with various types of air strikes, as it had done a few days earlier – on December 29, 2023. The Russian Federation continues to attack civilian, critical infrastructure and industrial, historical and cultural heritage sites, presenting them as strikes on military targets. The main target has been the capital of Ukraine. Kharkiv was also hit hard.

According to updated information, Russia launched 135x air strikes during the day: missiles of various types and attack UAVs. The Ukrainian air defense destroyed 107x aerial targets: 35x out of 35x Shahed-136/131 attack UAVs, 10x out of 10x Kh-47M2 Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missiles, 59x out of 70x Kh-101/Kh-555/Kh-55 cruise missiles, 3x out of 3x Kalibr cruise missiles.

During the day of January 2, there were 56x combat engagements. Also, Russian forces launched a total of 66x air strikes, including strikes with Shahed-136/131 attack UAVs, carried out 2x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have killed civilians, with more than 100x affected and wounded, including children. More than 100x private residential and apartment buildings, other civil and industrial infrastructure in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Odesa oblasts were destroyed or 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. More than 10x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Klyusy (Chernihiv oblast), Kostyantynivka, Volodymyrivka, Kyyanytsya, Stepok, Novodmytrivka (Sumy oblast), Okhrymivka, Bolohivka, and Dvorichans'ke (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 5x attacks near Syn'kivka and east of Petropavlivka (Kharkiv oblast). In that area, Russian forces made unsuccessful attempts to break through the defenses of Ukrainian troops. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, and Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Russian occupiers did not conduct any offensive (assault) operations. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Bilohorivka and Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Spirne, and Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 5x attacks near Bohdanivka, Klishchiivka, and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces made unsuccessful attempts to improve its tactical position in that area. More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Kalynivka, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, and Stupochky (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 4x Russian attacks near Novobakhmutivka, Berdychi, Avdiivka, and 14x more attacks in the vicinities of Pervomais'ke and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). With the air support, the Russian occupiers made unsuccessful attempts to improve its tactical position in that area. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Keramik, Stepove, Avdiivka, Tonen'ke, Pervomais'ke, and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: Russian forces did not conduct any offensive (assault) operations. The Russian invaders launched air strikes in the vicinities of Heorhiivka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). Krasnohorivka, Mar'inka, Kurakhove, Pobjeda, Yelyzavetivka, and Katerynivka were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces did not conduct any offensive (assault) operations. Around 10x settlements, including Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, and Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 1x Russian attack near Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). The attack was as an unsuccessful attempt to regain the lost ground in that area. Air strikes hit Novodanylivka and Orikhove (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 15x settlements, including Zaliznychne, Robotyne, Novoandriivka, Mali Shcherbaky, and Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast), suffered from Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: Russian forces launched 1x air strike in the vicinity of Chervonyi Mayak (Kherson oblast). Russian forces fired artillery at Beryslav, Tyahynka, Kherson, and Bilozerka (Kherson oblast).

Russia does not abandon its intention to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their bridgehead on the left bank of the Dnipro River. For instance, during the day of January 2, Russian forces attempted 8x unsuccessful assault operations, but the Ukrainian troops continue to hold their positions and inflict significant losses on the Russian adversary.

During day of January 2, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 12x concentrations of Russian troops.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 2x anti-aircraft missile systems, 1x artillery system, and 1x fuel and lubricant depot of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation delivered a group strike with high-precision long-range weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles on enterprises of the military-industrial complex of Ukraine that carried out orders for the production of missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and repair of weapons and military hardware in Kiev and its suburbs, as well as storage sites for missiles, ammunition, and aircraft weapons supplied to the Kiev regime by Western countries. The purpose of the strike has been achieved. All the targets have been engaged.

In Kupyansk direction, the Zapad Group of Forces, ground-attack aircraft, helicopters, and artillery repelled six attacks launched by the assault groups of the 21st, 60th, 115th mechanised, and 95th air assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Sinkovka and Terny (Kharkov region).

The units of the 4th tank, 14th, 44th mechanised brigades and the 103rd Territorial Defence Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were hit close to Petropavlovka, Vishnyovoye, and Peschanoye (Kharkov region).

As a result, over 115 troops, three tanks, nine motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system,and one D-30 howitzer were neutralised.

In Krasny Liman direction, the Tsentr Group of Forces supported by artillery and aviation inflicted fire damage on clusters of manpower and military hardware of the 63rd Mechanised Brigade, 5th National Guard Brigade, 100th and 125th Territorial Defenсe Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic), Torskoye (Donetsk People's Republic), as well as Serebryansky forestry.

The enemy's losses amounted to 90 troops, one tank, one infantry fighting vehicle, 12 motor vehicles, as well as one D-30 howitzer.

In Donetsk direction, the coordinated actions of the Yug Group of Forces, strikes of Operational-Tactical Aviation, and artillery fire repelled the enemy's attack close to Artyomovskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

Units of the 42nd mechanised, 46th airmobile, 80th air assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the 112th Territorial Defence Brigade were hit close to Andreyevka, Bogdanovka, Georgiyevka, Kurdyumovka, and Kleshcheyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The total enemy losses amounted to 300 troops killed and wounded, three tanks, one infantry fighting vehicle, three pick-up trucks, and 19 motor vehicles.

In addition, during the counter-battery warfare, the Russian troops struck one U.S.-made M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery gun, one Akatsiya self-propelled howitzer, two Giatsint-B howitzers, one D-20 gun, one D-30 howitzer, one U.S.-made M119 towed howitzer, and one Rapira ATGM system.

Ammunition depots of the 27th rocket artillery and 47th mechanised brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were obliterated close to Lysovka and Zhelannoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

In South-Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, supported by air strikes and artillery fire, struck the manpower and military hardware of the 79th Air Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the 128th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Novomikhailovka and Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The daily losses of the enemy in this direction amounted to 140 troops, three motor vehicles.

During the counter-battery warfare, the Russian troops hit two U.S.-made M777 artillery systems, three self-propelled artillery systems (two U.S.-made M109 Paladin, and one Polish-made Krab), one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, and one D-20 gun.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces repelled one attack launched by assault groups of the 117th Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine north of Novoprokopovka (Zaporozhye region), and also inflicted fire damage on the 33rd, 65th Mechanised, 82nd Air Assault, and 128th Mountain Assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Verbovoye and Rabotino (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy's losses amounted to more than 50 troops, two armored fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, two D-30 howitzers, and one D-20 howitzer.

In Kherson direction, as a result of coordinated actions of the Dnepr Group of Forces and systematic fire exposure, up to 20 troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, three motor vehicles, as well as one D-30 howitzer were neutralised during the day.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have hit 112 AFU artillery units at their firing positions, enemy manpower and hardware in 137 areas.

Russia's air defence systems have intercepted 11 HIMARS and Olkha MLRS projectiles during the day.

Moreover, 34 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down close to Pologi, Gulyai Pole, Basan (Zaporozhye region), Lisichansk, Kremennaya, Svatovo (Lugansk People's Republic), Vodyanoye and Panteleymonovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

In total, 565 airplanes and 263 helicopters, 10,352 unmanned aerial vehicles, 445 air defence missile systems, 14,434 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,194 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,611 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 16,976 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.