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Russo-Ukraine War - 17 January 2024 - Day 693

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 14 January 2024, a Russian A-50 MAINSTAY, an Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft, almost certainly explodedand subsequently crashed into the western Sea of Azov. Concurrently, a Russian IL-22M COOT B aircraft was reported
damaged but landed in a nearby Russian airfield. As of 15 January 2024, Ukrainian Commander in Chief, General Valery Zaluzhnyi claimed responsibility for the loss of the A-50 and damage to the COOTB.

The possible successful targeting of an A-5O MAINSTAY by Ukraine is significant. It is likely that Russia will now be forced to reconsider limiting the operational areas of its aircraft. The A-50is critical to the Russian air surveillance picture over the battlespace.

The Russian Air Force possesses eight A-5O airframes which can likely cover the immediate operational impact. However, theincreased stress on the remaining airframes coupled with the loss of the crew will likely constrain longer term mission sustainability.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of January 17, there were 71x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 6x missile and 69x air strikes, carried out 35x 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 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 air strikes in the vicinities of Fedorivka and Vovchans'k (Kharkiv oblast). Around 30x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Bleshnya, Karpovychi, Yeline (Chernihiv oblast), Seredyna-Buda, Romashkove, Sosnivka (Sumy oblast), Okip, Kozacha Lopan', Hatyshche, Pletenivka (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 6x assaults in the vicinity of Syn'kivka (Kharkiv oblast), where Russian forces made attempts to improve their tactical situation. The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Syn'kivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 10x assaults near Terny, Yampolivka (Donetsk oblast), and 8x attacks near Makiivka, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast). In that area, Russian forces, with air support, made failed attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched an air strike in the area of Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Makiivka, Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Yampolivka, Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 7x attacks in the vicinities of Hryhorivka, Ivanivske, Andriivka and Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Kalynivka, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 11x Russian attacks near Novokalynove, Novobakhmutivka, Avdiivka, and 13x more attacks in the vicinities of Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). In that area, the Russian occupiers, with air support, made unsuccessful attempts to improve their tactical situation. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Novokalynove, Novobakhmutivka, Berdychi, Avdiivka, Sjeverne (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinities of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Mar'inka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). In that area, Russian forces, with air support, made 9x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched an air strike near the settlement of Kostyantynivka (Donetsk oblast). The settlements of Krasnohorivka, Maksymil'yanivka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka, Katerynivka were under artillery and mortar fire of the Russian occupiers.
Shakhtars'ke axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 1x attack north of Novodonets'ke (Donetsk oblast), where the adversary failed to improve its tactical situation. Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Vodyane (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces 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. Russian forces launched an air strike near Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast), More than 20x settlements, including Malynivka, Charivne, Mala Tokmachka, Novodanylivka, Robotyne, P'yatykhatky (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 Antonivka (Kherson oblast) and Dmytrivka (Mykolaiv oblast). On top of that, Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Chervonyi Mayak, Zmiivka, Tyahynka (Kherson oblast).

Russian forces 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 6x unsuccessful assaults.

During the day of January 17, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 7x concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment, 1x command post, 5x air defense systems of the occupiers. Also, Ukrainian air defense troops shot down 1x Kh-59 air-launched guided missile.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x concentration of troops, 2x radar stations, 2x air defense systems, 2x artillery systems, 1x ammunition depot 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 artillery repelled one attack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 95th Air Assault Brigade near Terni (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 30 Ukrainian troops, two armoured personnel carriers, and three motor vehicles.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces supported by artillery repelled three attacks launched by assault detachments of the 5th Ukrainian National Guard Brigade, 25th Airborne Brigade, and 63rd Mechanised Brigade near Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic).

Enemy manpower was struck near Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and Serebryansky forestry.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 210 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by artillery repelled six attacks launched by units of the AFU 81st Airmobile Brigade, 22nd and 24th mechanised brigades near Belogorovka, Krasnoye, and Bogdanovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, manpower and hardware of the AFU 22nd, 28th, and 42nd mechanised brigades was struck near Kleschcheyevka, Kurdyumovka, and Andreyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 290 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two infantry fighting vehicles, five armoured fighting vehicles, 12 motor vehicles, two D-30 howitzers, and one Pion self-propelled artillery piece.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery inflicted losses on units of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade, 79th Air Assault Brigade, and 127th Territorial Defence Brigade near Novomikhailovka, Paraskoviyevka (Donetsk People's Republic) and Priyutnoye (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 75 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, one D-20 howitzer, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by artillery and aviation inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 65th Mechanised Brigade, 128th Mountain Assault Brigade, 82th Air Assault Brigade, and 15th Ukrainian National Guard Brigade near Verbovoye, Kamenskoye, Rabotino, and Mirnoye (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 25 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer.

In Kherson direction, as a result of strikes of the 35th and 37th marines brigades near Tyaginka and Ivanovka (Kherson region), the AFU losses amounted to up to 25 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, and two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems.

Missile Troops and Artillery, and unmanned aerial vehicles of the Groups of Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation wiped out one POL base for AFU hardware, three ammunition depots of the AFU 23rd Mechanised Brigade, P-18 and Nebo-SV radar stations for detecting and tracking air targets, one temporary deployment area of foreign mercenaries, 103 artillery units in firing positions, as well as engaged manpower and military hardware in 119 areas.

Air defence units intercepted 11 Olkha and Czech-made Vampire MLRS projectiles over the past 24 hours. Moreover, 21 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down near Zolotaryovka, Belogorovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Novonikolayevka, Gorlovka, and Peski (Donetsk People's Republic).

In total, 567 airplanes and 265 helicopters, 10,779 unmanned aerial vehicles, 450 air defence missile systems, 14,658 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,202 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,759 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 17,560 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.