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Russo-Ukraine War - 08 January 2024 - Day 684

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 in late 2023, Russian politicians claimed that the Soviet counter- intelligence (Cl) organisation 'SMERSH' was being re-established. In early January 2024, an open-source image showed operatives apparently wearing SMERSH uniform patches.

An abbreviation of the Russian phrase for 'death to spies', Joseph Stalin established the original organisation which existed from 1941-1946. In the West, it became known via its fictionalised portrayal in lan Fleming's James Bond books.

It is unclear whether the new name indicates any substantive new capabilities or role for Russia's Cl function, or whether it is merely a re-badging. However, it provides another example of how the Russian authorities consciously couch the Russia-Ukraine conflict in the spirit of the Second World War, and their strong focus on the supposed infiltration of external threats into the country.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that on the night of January 8, 2024, the Russian occupiers launched a massive strike on Ukraine, using cruise, air-launched, ballistic, anti-aircraft guided missiles and attack UAVs. A total of 59x Russian means of air attack were recorded: 8x Shahed-136/131 attack UAVs, 7x S-300/S-400 anti-aircraft guided missiles, 4x Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic ballistic missiles, 24x Kh-101/Kh-555/Kh-55 cruise missiles, 8x Kh-22 cruise missiles, 2x Kh-31P guided missiles. Critical and civilian infrastructure, industrial and military facilities were attacked. This time, Russian forces attacked different regions of Ukraine. In particular, Russian forces launched ballistic missiles at Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia and Khmelnytskyi oblasts. Air defense destroyed 8x Shahed-136/131 attack UAVs and 18x Kh-101/Kh-555/Kh-55 cruise missiles.

During the day of January 8, there were 55x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 55x missile and 16x air strikes, carried out 16x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have resulted in civilian casualties and injuries. Private residential and apartment buildings, and 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 30x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Zarichchya, Muraveinyk, Hrem'yach (Chernihiv oblast), Fotovyzh, Tovstodubove, Zapsillya, (Sumy oblast), Vesele, Bochkove, Budarky (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 5x attacks in the vicinities of Syn'kivka (Kharkiv oblast), where the Russian occupiers made unsuccessful attempts to improve their tactical situation. Russian forces launched air strikes near Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Kyslivka, Tabaivka, Pishchane, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 1x assault east of Terny (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Novoselivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne, (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 2x attacks in the vicinity of Klishchiivka and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Vasyukivka, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, New York (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 3x Russian attacks near Avdiivka, Sjeverne, Tonen'ke and 14x more attacks in the vicinities of Pervomais'ke and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Novokalynove, Berdychi, Avdiivka, Vodyane, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back the invaders in the vicinities of Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). In that area, the adversary made 7x failed attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. The settlements of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Maksymil'yanivka, Mar'inka, Novomykhailivka, Kostyantynivka were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives. The adversary fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Urozhaine, Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 6x assaults north of Chervone, west of Verbove and north of Novoprokopivka (Zaporizhzhia oblast), where the Russian occupiers made attempts to improve their tactical situation. More than 15x settlements, including Levadne, Malynivka, Hulyaipole, P'yatykhatky, Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: Russian forces fired artillery at the city of Kherson, the settlements of Zmiivka, Krynky, Tyahynka, Ivanivka (Kherson oblast), as well as Ochakiv (Mykolaiv oblast).

The Russian occupiers do not abandon their intention to drive Ukrainian units out of their footholds on the left bank of the Dnipro. Thus, during the day, Russian forces made 9x unsuccessful assaults. The Ukrainian troops are holding the line and keep inflicting significant losses on the Russian enemy.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 2x ammunition depots of the russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in the morning, the Russian Armed Forces launched group strikes by high-precision long-range sea- and air-based weapons, including by Kinzhal hypersonic air-launched ballistic missiles, at Ukrainian military-industrial complex facilities.

In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled nine attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 32nd, 43rd, 115th mechanised brigades, 25th Airborne Brigade, and 95th Air Assault Brigade near Sinkovka, Ivanovka (Kharkov region) and Terni (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 110 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, two infantry fighting vehicles, two armoured personnel carriers, three motor vehicles, two D-20 howitzers, and two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware clusters near Torskoye, Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 230 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, three armoured fighting vehicles, eight motor vehicles, and two Akatsiya self-propelled artillery systems.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by artillery, operational-tactical and army aviation inflicted losses on manpower and hardware clusters of the AFU 24th, 28th, 42nd, 93rd mechanised brigades, 92nd Assault Brigade, and 112th Territorial Defence Brigade near Toretsk, Andreyevka, Kleshcheyevka, and Krasnoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses in this direction amounted to more than 250 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, two tanks, two armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, and two D-30 howitzers.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled three attacks launched by the AFU 127th Territorial Defence Brigade north of Priyutnoye (Zaporozhye region).

In addition, losses were inflicted on manpower of the AFU 79th Air Assault Brigade near Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 130 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, two infantry fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by operational-tactical aviation and artillery inflicted losses on manpower clusters of the AFU 118th Mechanised Brigade and 3rd Ukrainian National Guard Brigade near Rabotino and Novoprokopovka (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 40 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two infantry fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, and one D-20 howitzer.

In Kherson direction, units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 35th, 38th marines brigades, and 121st Territorial Defence Brigade on the right bank of the Dnepr River near Mikhailovka, Ivanovka, Sablukovka, and Kachkarovka (Kherson region).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 60 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, and three motor vehicles. In addition, one AFU unmanned aerial vehicle control post and one field ammunition depot were wiped out.

Missile Troops and Artillery, attack unmanned aerial vehicles of the Group of Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation destroyed a point of the meeting of unit commanders of the 101st Territorial Defence Brigade, 113 AFU artillery units at firing positions, as well as engaged manpower and hardware in 108 areas during the day.

Air defence units intercepted five HIMARS MLRS projectiles over the past 24 hours.

Moreover, 14 unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down near Verkhnekamenka (Lugansk People's Republic), Peski, Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Kamenka-Dneprovskaya, Novoye (Zaporozhye region), Radensk, and Golaya Pristan (Kherson region region).

In total, 567 airplanes and 265 helicopters, 10,540 unmanned aerial vehicles, 447 air defence missile systems, 14,536 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,201 combat vehicles equipped with MRLS, 7,666 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 17,210 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.