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Russo-Ukraine War - 09 January 2024 - Day 685

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 Ukraine's Defence Intelligence (HUR) stated the Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked Russian targets at Saky aerodrome and Sevastopol on 4 January 2024. These attacks highly likely degraded the awareness and coverage of Russian air defences over the Crimean region.

In response, Russia launched a number of missile attacks across Ukraine on 8 January 2024, targeting several cities including Kryvyi Rih and Zaporizhzhia city.

This once again demonstrates the ineffectiveness of Russian air defences in protecting key locations, despite their enhanced preparedness. The scale of tne Russian response is likely indicative of the level of success achieved by the Ukrainian armed forces' actions of 4 January 2024.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of January 9, there were 64x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 1x missile and 29x air strikes, carried out 17x 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.

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. Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Vesele (Kharkiv oblast). Around 25x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Karpovychi, Hrem'yach (Chernihiv oblast), Volfyne, Kindrativka, Stepok (Sumy oblast), Udy, Vovchans'k, Mala Vovcha (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 4x attacks in the vicinity 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, Tabaivka, Pishchane, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Syn'kivka, Tabaivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 4x assaults east of Terny and Vesele (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Nove (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Yampolivka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 3x attacks in the vicinities of Klishchiivka and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Hryhorivka, Bohdanivka, Klishchiivka, Andriivka (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 10x Russian attacks near Novobakhmutivka, Avdiivka, Sjeverne, and 11x more attacks in the vicinities of Pervomais'ke and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian occupiers, with air support, made unsuccessful attempts to improve their tactical situation. Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Oleksandropil' (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Novobakhmutivka, Berdychi, Stepove, Avdiivka, Sjeverne, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinities of Heorhiivka, Pobjeda and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). In that area, Russian forces made 14x failed attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. The settlements of Heorhiivka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka, Paraskoviivka were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Shakhtars'ke axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 1x Russian attack near Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast). The Russian adversary fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives. More than 15x settlements, including Poltavka, Chervone, Charivne, Mala Tokmachka, Robotyne, 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 Vesele, Kozats'ke, Ivanivka, Dniprovs'ke, Stanislav (Kherson oblast), as well as Solonchaky, Yaselka (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.

During the day of January 9, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 9x concentrations of Russian troops.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x concentration of troops, weapons, and military equipment, 2x artillery systems of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, as a result of coordinated actions by units of the Zapad Group of Forces, in cooperation with artillery and aviation, have inflicted a fire defeat on manpower and hardware concentration areas of the 57th Motorised Infantry Brigade and the 44th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU close to Sinkovka and Peschanoye (Kharkov region). The enemy losses were up to 30 Ukrainian servicemen, two motor vehicles, and two D-30 howitzers. One ammunition depot of the AFU 125th Territorial Defence Brigade has been destroyed near Vesyoloye (Kharkov region).

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces, supported by Ground-Attack, Army aviation and artillery, have defeated formations of the 63rd Mechanised Brigade of the AFU, the 125th Territorial Defence Brigade, and the 13th Brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard near Torskoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic), and Serebryansky forestry. The enemy losses were up to 190 AFU servicemen, three motor vehicles, and one Akatsiya self-propelled howitzer.

In Donetsk direction, as a result of active actions by units of the Yug Group of Forces, aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems, manpower and hardware concentration areas in the strongholds of 22nd, 72nd mechanised, 95th air assault brigades of the AFU and the 113th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Antonovka, Bogdanovka, and Kleshcheevka (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy losses were up to 240 troops killed and wounded, four pickup trucks, and one D-30 howitzer.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, supported by Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems, have repelled two attacks by assault groups of the 127th Territorial Defence Brigade near Priyutnoye (Zaporozhye region). The enemy losses were up to 80 AFU servicemen and two motor vehicles. In addition, in the course of counter-battery warfare, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system and one D-30 howitzers have been destroyed. One ammunition depot of the AFU 31st Mechanised Brigade has been destroyed near Krasnoarmeysk (Donetsk People's Republic).

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces have inflicted a comprehensive fire attack on manpower and hardware concentration areas of 65th, 118th mechanised brigades of the AFU, and the 15th Brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard near Verbovoye and Rabotino (Zaporozhye region). The enemy losses were up to 30 soldiers and two infantry fighting vehicles. In the course of counter-battery warfare, one D-20 howitzer and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system have been destroyed.

In Kherson direction, the enemy losses were up to 25 AFU servicemen, two motor vehicles, and two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems.

Missile Troops and Artillery, attack unmanned aerial vehicles of the Group of Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation destroyed one P-18 air radar station, 109 AFU artillery units at firing positions, as well as engaged manpower and hardware in 126 areas during the day.

Air defence facilities have destroyed 10 Czech-manufactured Vampire MLRS projectiles. In addition, six unmanned aerial vehicles have been intercepted close to Krivosheevka, Volcheyarovka (Lugansk People's Republic), and Maryinka (Donetsk People's Republic).

In total, 567 airplanes and 265 helicopters, 10,546 unmanned aerial vehicles, 447 air defence missile systems, 14,538 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,201 combat vehicles equipped with MRLS, 7,676 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 17,223 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.