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Russo-Ukraine War - 18 January 2024 - Day 694

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 the Central Bank of Russia has increased its interest rate by 1 per cent to a new base rate of 16 per cent. This is the fifth increase since the current cycle of rises began in July 2023, when the base rate was set at 6.5 per cent.

The rise has been lower than previous ones. Russian inflation continued to accelerate towards the end of 2023, rising to 7.5 per cent year-on-year in November, up from 6.7 per cent in October. Overall, inflation for 2023 is estimated to be 7.4 per cent by Russia's statistics service, nearly double the Central Bank's target.

Russia's continued invasion of Ukraine is highly likely to negatively impact the outlook for the Russian economy. Imports have risen faster than exports, likely contributing to the rouble depreciating since the start of the war - highly likely a driver of inflation. As Russia ramps up its defence spending at the cost of other areas, the risk of the Russian economy overheating remains likely.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of January 18, there were 114x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 1x missile and 48x air strikes, carried out 38x 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. The russian invaders launched air strikes in the vicinities of Mykolaivka and Vovchans'k (Kharkiv oblast). Around 20x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Klyusy (Chernihiv oblast), Radyans'ke (Sumy oblast), Stohnii, Udy, Starytsya, Vovchans'k, Bochkove, Nesterne (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 18x assaults in the vicinities of Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Tabaivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast), where Russian forces made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched air strikes near the settlements of Holubivka, Ivanivka, Kyslivka, Tabaivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Masyutivka, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 14x assaults near Terny, Yampolivka (Donetsk oblast), and 7x attacks in the areas of Serebryans'ke forestry, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast). In that area, Russian forces made failed attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched air strikes in the areas of Serebryans'ke forestry and Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Karmazynivka, Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Dibrova, Serebryanka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 2x attacks in the vicinity of Bohdanivka (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian occupiers, with air support, made unsuccessful attempts to improve their tactical situation. Around 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Vasyukivka, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, New York (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 22x Russian attacks near Novokalynove, Novobakhmutivka, Avdiivka, and 14x more attacks in the vicinities of Pervomais'ke and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). In that area, the Russian occupiers, with air support, made unsuccessful attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Novobakhmutivka, Berdychi, Stepove, Orlivka, Avdiivka, Sjeverne (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinities of Krasnohorivka, Mar'inka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). In that Russian forces, with air support, made 13x attempts to improve its tactical situation. Russian forces launched an air strike near the settlement of Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). The settlements of Krasnohorivka, Maksymil'yanivka, Heorhiivka, Novomykhailivka were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Shakhtars'ke axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 4x attacks west of Staromaiors'ke and south of Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast). 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, Vremivka, Staromaiors'ke, Rivnopil' (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 4x assaults west of Verbove and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 20x settlements, including Poltavka, Hulyaipole, Charivne, Novoandriivka, Shcherbaky, Stepnohirs'k (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 vicinities of the settlements of Zmiivka, Tyahynka, Ivanivka, Sadove, Antonivka Chornobaivka (Kherson 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 11x unsuccessful assaults.

During the day of January 18, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 5x concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment of the Russian occupiers.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x command post 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 aviation and artillery repelled six attacks launched by assault groups of AFU 32nd, 60th mechanised, 95th airborne brigades near Sinkovka (Kharkov region) and Terni (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy lost up to 155 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, three armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled three attacks launched by AFU 63rd mechanised, 25th airborne, and 5th National Guard brigades close to Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic), Yampolovka and Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses amounted more than 220 Ukrainian troops, six armoured fighting vehicles, including one Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, four motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M777 howitzer, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, one U.S.-made M119 howitzer, and one electronic warfare station.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces liberated Veseloye (Donetsk People's Republic). Air strikes, artillery and heavy flamethrower systems fire defeated manpower and hardware of AFU 22nd, 42nd, 93rd mechanised brigades close to Kleshcheyevka and Andreyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Up to 260 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two infantry fighting vehicles, and 17 motor vehicles have been neutralised. In the course of the counter-battery warfare, three U.S.-made M777 artillery systems, U.S.-made Paladin self-propelled artillery systems, Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems, as well as one D-30 howitzer were destroyed.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled one attack launched of the AFU 79th Air Assault Brigade's assault groups near Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, strikes were delivered at units of AFU 72nd mechanised, 128th Territorial Defence brigades close to Vodyanoye (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy losses amounted to more than 130 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, two UK-made FH-70 howitzers, and one Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery system.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces hit manpower and hardware of AFU 33rd mechanised, 82nd air assault, 128th mountain assault brigades near Rabotino, Malaya Tokmachka, and Zherebyanka (Zaporozhye region). The enemy losses amounted to up to 30 Ukrainian troops, one tank, three motor vehicles, one D-20 and one D-30 howitzers.

In Kherson direction, up to 65 Ukrainian troops, three tanks, and five motor vehicles have been neutralised by fire. In the course of the counter-battery warfare, the Russian troops hit one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, one Giatsint-B, one Msta-B, and one D-20 howitzers, as well as one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

Missile Troops and Artillery, as well as UAVs of the Russian Group of Forces have engaged two temporary deployment areas of foreign mercenaries, four missile and ammunition depots, 117 AFU artillery units at their fire positions, manpower, and military hardware in 133 areas during the day.

Russian air defence forces have intercepted two Tochka-U tactical missiles, one U.S.-made JDAM guided bomb, as well as 18 U.S.-made HIMARS and Czech-made Vampire MLRS projectiles during the day.

In addition, 91 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down close to Tavolzhanka, Kupyansk, Mirnoye (Kharkov region), Belogorovka,Svatovo,Lisichansk (Lugansk People's Republic), Verkhetoretskoye, Peski, Novaya Kakhovka, Chongar, and Chaplinka (Kherson region).

In total, 567 airplanes and 265 helicopters, 10,870 unmanned aerial vehicles, 450 air defence missile systems, 14,676 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,202 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,779 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 17,593 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.