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Russo-Ukraine War - 13 January 2024 - Day 689

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 during the day of January 13, there were 49x combat engagements. During the day of January 13, Russian forces launched a total of 32x missile, 65x air strikes, and 42x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have killed and wounded civilians. Private residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed or 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 air strikes in the vicinities of settlements of Vovchans'k and Vesele (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 35x settlements, including Kostyantynivka, Khotin', Popivka, Volfyne (Sumy oblast), Hatyshche, Pletenivka, Vovchans'k, and Potykhonove (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 4x Russian attacks in the vicinity of Syn'kivka (Kharkiv oblast). In that area, Russian forces made unsuccessful attempts to break through the defense of Ukrainian troops. The Russian occupiers launched air strikes in the vicinities of settlements of Pishchane and Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, and Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 4x attacks in the vicinities of Makiivka (Luhansk oblast) and Terny (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces attempted to improve its tactical position in that area. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka, Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast), and Sivers'k (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Yampolivka, Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne, and Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 1x Russian attack in the vicinity of Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched 1x air strike in the vicinity of settlement of Bohdanivka (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 5x attacks near Novobakhmutivka, Avdiivka, and 10x more attacks in the vicinities of Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke, and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). With the air support, Russian forces made unsuccessful attempts to improve its tactical position in that area. Also, Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Ocheretyne (Donetsk oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Avdiivka, and Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinities of Krasnohorivka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). With the air support, Russian forces made 16x unsuccessful attempts to break through the defense of Ukrainian troops. The settlements of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka, and Paraskoviivka (Donetsk oblast) were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Shakhtars'ke axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 3x adversary attacks south of Prechystivka and west of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces made unsuccessful attempts to improve its tactical position in that area. Russian forces launched 1x air strike in the vicinity of settlement of Vodyane (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, and Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 2x attacks in the vicinity of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Russian forces made unsuccessful attempts to regain the lost ground in that area. Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of settlement of Novoandriivka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 20x settlements, including Poltavka, Malynivka, Charivne, Mala Tokmachka, and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: Kherson and the vicinities of Mykhailivka, Sadove, Dniprovske, and Veletens'ke (Kherson oblast) came under Russian artillery fire. Also, Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of settlements of Chervonyi Mayak and Zmiivka (Kherson oblast).

Russian forces do not abandon their intention to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their bridgeheads on the left bank of the Dnipro River. For instance, during the day of January 13, Russian forces attempted 4x unsuccessful assault operations, but the Ukrainian troops continue to hold their positions and inflict significant losses on the Russian adversary.

During the day of January 13, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 11x concentrations of Russian troops, weapons, and military equipment. Also, the Ukrainian Air Defense forces and means destroyed 7x Kh-101 / Kh-555 / Kh-55 guided missiles and 1x Kh-59 air-launched guided missile.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 3x concentrations of troops, weapons, and military equipment, 9x artillery systems, 4x air defense systems, 1x ammunition depot, and 1x electronic warfare station of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in the morning, the Russian Armed Forces delivered a group strike by high-precision long-range sea- and air-based weapons, including by Kinzhal hypersonic air-launched ballistic missiles, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles at Ukrainian military-industrial complex facilities producing 155, 152 and 125-mm shells, gunpowder, and unmanned aerial vehicles.

The goal of the strike has been achieved. All the assigned targets have been engaged.

In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces supported by artillery and aviation repelled three attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 30th and 60th mechanised brigades near Sinkovka (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 35 Ukrainian troops, one tank, five motor vehicles, one Krab self-propelled artillery system, and one U.S.-made M777 artillery system.

In addition, one ammunition depot of the AFU 27th Missile Troops Brigade was wiped out near Volchansk (Kharkov region).

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces supported by ground-attack aircraft, helicopters, and artillery repelled two attacks launched by assault detachments of the 5th and 13th Ukrainian national guard brigades near Chevonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic) and Serebryansky forestry.

The AFU losses amounted to more than 280 Ukrainian troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, nine motor vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 28th Mechanised Brigade, 46th Airmobile Brigade, 95th Air Assault Brigade, 112th and 122nd territorial defence brigades near Georgiyevka, Kleshcheyevka, and Kurdyumovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 320 Ukrainian troops, four tanks, two infantry fighting vehicles, eight pickup trucks, one Strela-10 air defence system, one Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer, and two D-30 howitzers.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery inflicted losses on units of the AFU 58th Mechanised Brigade and 79th Air Assault Brigade near Novodonetskoye and Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 110 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, and one D-20 howitzer.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces delivered integrated strikes at manpower and hardware of the AFU 65th Mechanised Brigade and 128th Mountain Assault Brigade near Rabotino and Zherebyanki (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 50 Ukrainian troops, four motor vehicles, one D-30 howitzer, and one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar station.

In Kherson direction, as a result of systematic strikes, the AFU losses amounted to up to 40 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, and two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems.

Missile Troops and Artillery, attack unmanned aerial vehicles of the Groups of Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation neutralised 107 AFU artillery units at firing positions, as well as engaged enemy manpower and hardware in 131 areas.

Air defence units shot down 21 unmanned aerial vehicles close to Veliky Vyselok, Olshana (Kharkov region), Lisichansk (Lugansk People's Republic), Berestovoye, Georgiyevka, Gorlovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Tokmak, Mirnoye (Zaporozhye region), as well as intercepted eight HIMARS MLRS shells.

In total, 567 airplanes and 265 helicopters, 10,641 unmanned aerial vehicles, 448 air defence missile systems, 14,588 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,202 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,704 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 17,376 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.