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Russo-Ukraine War - 20 January 2024 - Day 696

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 maintains a presence on the left bank of the Dnipro River and has continued to repel Russian attacks despite logistical concerns. On 16 January 2024, a spokesperson for Ukraine's Southern Defence Forces remarked that logistical supply on the left bank of the Dnipro had faced difficulties.

Russia's Dnipr Grouping of Forces has been unsuccessful in all its attempts to dislodge the Ukrainian defenders, despite almost certainly having a significant advantage in the balance of forces on this axis. It is highly likely that the poor training and coordination of Russian forces in the area is limiting their offensive capabilities.

Forcing Ukraine to withdraw its forces from the left bank of the Dnipro remains a priority operational objective for Russia. It is highly likely Russia will persist with attacks in the Krynky area in the coming weeks despite growing personnel losses.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of January 20, there were 72x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 3x missile (with S-300 anti-aircraft guided missiles at the civilian infrastructure of Novohradivka, Donetsk oblast) and 4x air strikes, carried out 25x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have resulted in civilian casualties and injuries. Over 35x private residential 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 near Chernats'ke (Sumy oblast). Around 40x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Hrem'yach (Chernihiv oblast), Seredyna-Buda, Pavlivka, Volodymyrivka, Basivka (Sumy oblast), Udy, Okhrimivka, Zemlyanky, Khatnje (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 21x assaults in the vicinities of Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka (Kharkiv oblast) and Stel'makhivka (Luhansk oblast). In that area Russian forces made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at more than 15x settlements, including Dvorichna, Masyutivka, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 6x assaults near Terny, Yampolivka (Donetsk oblast), and 7x attacks in the areas of Serebryans'ke forestry, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Karmazynivka, Nevs'ke, Dibrova (Luhansk oblast), Ivanivka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 8x attacks in the vicinities of Bohdanivka, Andriivka and Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian occupiers made unsuccessful attempts to improve their tactical situation. Around 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, Kurdyumivka, New York (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 6x Russian attacks near Avdiivka, and 11x more attacks south of Sjeverne, Vodyane, Pervomais'ke and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). In that area, the Russian occupiers made unsuccessful attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 15x settlements, including Novobakhmutivka, Avdiivka, Tonen'ke, Pervomais'ke, Netailove, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinities of Mar'inka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). In that area, the Russian adversary made 4x failed attempts to improve its tactical situation. The settlements of Krasnohorivka, Mar'inka, Heorhiivka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka, Paraskoviivka were under artillery and mortar fire of the Russian occupiers.
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 1x assaults west of Verbove (Zaporizhzhia oblast), where Russian forces made attempts to regain lost ground. More than 15x settlements, including Poltavka, Hulyaipole, Novoandriivka, Shcherbaky, 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, as well as the settlements of Dmytrivka, Ochakiv (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 6x unsuccessful assaults on positions of Ukrainian troops.

During the day of January 20, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 6x concentrations of Russian troops, weapons and military equipment, 1x air defense system, 1x ammunition depot, 1x signal post.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 3x concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment, 1x command post, 1x electronic warfare station of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, as a result of active actions by artillery and units of the Zapad Group of Forces, ten attacks by assault groups of 30th, 32nd, and 60th mechanised, 57th motorised infantry brigades and the 103rd Territorial Defence Brigade of the AFU have been repelled close to Sinkovka, Krakhmalnoye (Kharkov region) and Terny (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 150 Ukrainian servicemen and two motor vehicles.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces, supported by artillery, have repelled four attacks by assault groups of the 63rd Mechanised Brigade, the 12th Special Forces Brigade, and the 5th Brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard near Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 280 soldiers, two armoured fighting vehicles, seven motor vehicles, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery crew.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces, supported by artillery, have repelled four attacks by assault groups of 24th mechanised and 81st airmobile brigades of the AFU near Shumy and Belogorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
Artillery have defeated manpower and hardware of 22nd, 28th, and 93rd mechanised brigades of the AFU close to Kleshcheevka, Kurdyumovka, and Chasov Yar (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 320 servicemen killed and wounded, six pickup trucks, one Msta-B howitzer, as well as one D-20 cannon.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, in cooperation with artillery and heavy flamethrower systems, have repelled two attacks by assault groups of the 127th Air Defence Brigade near Rovnopol (Donetsk People's Republic), and also have inflicted fire damage on manpower of the 79th Air Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Konstantinovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 95 troops, three motor vehicles, as well as two Akatsiya self-propelled artillery systems.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces, supported by aviation and artillery, have defeated manpower and hardware of 65th, 117th mechanised, 82nd air assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Nesteryanka, Rabotino, and Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy losses were up to 30 servicemen killed and wounded, two armoured fighting vehicles, as well as one D-30 cannon.

In Kherson direction, as a result of coordinated actions by Russian troops and artillery, the enemy losses were up to 35 servicemen, two motor vehicles, as well as one U.S.-manufactured M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised one German-manufactured IRIS-T radar station, as well as have engaged manpower and hardware in 118 areas.

Air defence facilities have shot down 20 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as one HIMARS projectile close to Lisichansk (Lugansk People's Republic), Bogdanovka, Belogorovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Kazachyi Lagerya, Golaya Pristan (Kherson region).

In total, 567 airplanes and 265 helicopters, 10,914 unmanned aerial vehicles, 450 air defence missile systems, 14,705 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,202 combat vehicles equipped with MRLS, 7,795 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 17,641 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.