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Russo-Ukraine War - 15 January 2024 - Day 691

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 11 January 2023, Russian Deputy Chair of the Security Council, Dmitri Medvedev, stated that 500,000 people had joined the Russian armed forces in 2023. It is highly likely that this figure has been substantially inflated.

In its efforts to meet recruitment targets, the Russian military has since April 2023 allowed school-leavers to sign contracts with the Russian army. Recent data published by Mediazona and the BBC Russian Service suggests that at least five Russians born in 2005 have died in the conflict.

It is highly likely that Russian military recruitment to sustain the war has disproportionately drawn from impoverished and rural regional communities of Russia.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of January 15, there were 86x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 1x missile and 31x air strikes, 51x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have 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 1x air strike in the vicinity of settlement of Vesele (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 30x settlements, including Leonivka, Hrem'yach (Chernihiv oblast), Atyns'ke, Basivka, Zapsillya, Stepok, Hrabovs'ke, Oleksandrivka (Sumy oblast), Hur'iv Kozachok, Kozacha Lopan', Ohirtseve, Vovchans'k, Bochkove, Okhrimivka (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 2x attacks near Syn'kivka (Kharkiv oblast). In that area, Russian forces made unsuccessful attempts to improve its tactical position. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, and Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 12x Russian attacks near Terny, Yampolivka, Tors'ke (Donetsk oblast), and 18x more attacks in the vicinities of Serebryans'ke forestry, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Hryhorivka, and Verkhn'okam'yans'ke (Donetsk oblast). The Russian occupiers used air support to attempt to break through the defense of Ukrainian troops in that area. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne, and Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 6x attacks of the adversary in the vicinities of Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched an air strike near Bohdanivka (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements, including Vasyukivka, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, and New York (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 16x Russian attacks in the vicinities of Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Avdiivka, and 15x 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. In addition, Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of settlement of Oleksandropil' (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Oleksandropil', Novokalynove, Semenivka, Lastochkyne, Karlivka, and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinities of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Pobjeda, and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). On this axis, Russian forces used air supports as it made 11x unsuccessful attempts to break through the defense of Ukrainian troops. Hostre, Kurakhove, Heorhiivka, Kostyantynivka, Katerynivka, and Yelyzavetivka were under artillery and mortar fire of the Russian occupiers.
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces did not conduct any offensive (assault) operations. Russian forces launched 1x air strike in the vicinity of settlement of Vodyane (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Vuhledar, Zolota Nyva, Blahodatne, Vremivka, and Rivnopil' (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 2x attacks west of Verbove and 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 Novodarivka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 20x settlements, including Novodarivka, Poltavka, Hulyaipole, Charivne, Mala Tokmachka, and Novoandriivka (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: Kherson and the vicinities of Beryslav, Tomaryne, Ivanivka, Mykil's'ke, Stanislav (Kherson oblast), as well as the vicinities of Dniprovs'ke and Solonchaky (Mykolaiv oblast) came under Russian artillery fire.

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 15, Russian forces attempted 1x unsuccessful assault at the positions of the Ukrainian troops.

During the day of January 15, Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 22x concentrations of Russian troops, weapons and military equipment, and 1x anti-aircraft missile system.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x concentration of troops, 3x artillery systems, and 2x radar stations of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces supported by helicopters and artillery repelled one attack of the AFU 60th Mechanised Brigade's assault group close to Sinkovka (Kharkov region).

In addition, the Zapad Group of Forces inflicted a fire damage on AFU manpower and hardware clusters close to Petropavlovka, Berestovoye (Kharkov region, Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People's Republic).

Up to 20 Ukrainian troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system have been eliminated.

In Krasny Liman direction, the Tsentr Group of Forces' units, aviation, and artillery repelled one attack of the AFU 63rd Mechanised Brigade's assault group close to Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic), and inflicted fire damage on strongholds of the 5th National Guard Brigade near Serebryansky forestry.

More than 160 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, and one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system have been eliminated.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery inflicted fire damage on AFU manpower and hardware near Vesyoloyeloye, Razdolovka, Kleshcheyevka, Andreyevka, and Kurdyumovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

More than 200 Ukrainian troops, one tank, three infantry fighting vehicles, one armoured personnel carrier, 13 motor vehicles, and two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems have been eliminated.

One artillery ordnance depot of the AFU 46th Airmobile Brigade was destroyed near Kurakhovo (Donetsk People's Republic).

?? In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery hit units of AFU 72nd, 79th air assault brigades near Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

More than 140 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system have been eliminated.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of AFU 65th mechanised, 3rd,14th National Guard brigades close to Verbovoye, Rabotino, and Novoprokopovka (Zaporozhye region).

Up to 20 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer were destroyed.

In Kherson direction, as a result of the systematic fire impact, the AFU suffered losses of 40 troops, eight motor vehicles, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Group of Forces have engaged one POL base and 109 AFU artillery units at their fire positions, manpower, and military hardware in 142 areas during the day.

Russia's Air Defence shot down 25 unmanned aerial vehicles close to Kremennaya, Belogorovka, Krivosheyevka, Nikolayevka, Verkhnekamenka (Lugansk People's Republic), Spornoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Pshenichnoye (Zaporozhye region), and three Tochka-U tactical missiles.

In total, 567 airplanes and 265 helicopters, 10,689 unmanned aerial vehicles, 450 air defence missile systems, 14,632 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,202 combat vehicles equipped with MRLS, 7,736 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 17,489 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.