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Russo-Ukraine War - 21 January 2024 - Day 697

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 19 January 2024 the Ukrainian General Staff reported that there was a 27 per cent increase in Russian assaults onthe front line over the previous day with 81 air strikes and 45 multiple rocket attacks.

Additional data from the Ukrainian General Staff comparing the 14-18 January 2024 period with the previous five-day period supports this uptick in Russian assaults. Over these five-day periods the number of military vehicle losses by Russia increased by 88 percent and the number of Russian tank losses increased by 95 per cent. The number of Russian casualties overthe same period also increased by 15 per cent.

This data points towards a steady increase in the intensity of Russian offensive activity across the front over the past two weeks. A key enabler for this is highly likely the freezing ground conditions, which allows cross-country movement of armoured vehicles.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of January 21, there were 59x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 4x missile and 69x air strikes, carried out 50x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have resulted in civilian casualties and injuries. 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: Russian 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 near Hrafske, Vovchans'k, Mykolaivka (Kharkiv oblast). Around 25x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Klyusy (Chernihiv oblast), Marchykhyna Buda, Fotovyzh, Atyns'ke, Pavlivka, Kostyantynivka, Sadky (Sumy oblast), Udy, Kozacha Lopan', Ohirtseve, Vovchans'k, Budarky, Kolodyazne (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 7x assaults in the vicinity of Syn'kivka (Kharkiv oblast). In that area Russian forces made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. The Russian invaders launched air strikes in the vicinities of Ivanivka, Kyslivka, Tabaivka, Pishchane (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 15x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 4x assaults near Terny, Yampolivka (Donetsk oblast), and 6x attacks near Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), where Russian forces made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched air strikes in the area of Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast) and in the vicinities of Yampolivka, Hryhorivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x 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 5x attacks in the vicinities of Bohdanivka, Ivanivske and Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian occupiers made unsuccessful attempts to improve their tactical situation. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Min'kivka, Bohdanivka, Chasiv Yar, Kostyantynivka, Toretsk, New York (Donetsk oblast). 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 5x Russian attacks near Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Avdiivka, and 9x more attacks south of Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). In that area, Russian forces made unsuccessful attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched air strikes near the settlements of Lastochkyne and Avdiivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Novobakhmutivka, Berdychi, Avdiivka, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinities of Heorhiivka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). In that area, Russian forces made 3x failed attempts to improve its tactical situation. Russian forces launched air strikes near the settlements of Staromaiors'ke and Rivnopil' (Donetsk oblast). The settlements of Maksymil'yanivka, Heorhiivka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka were under artillery and mortar fire of the occupiers.
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Novomykhailivka and Kostyantynivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at the settlements of Bohoyavlenka, Staromaiors'ke, Zelene Pole (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 4x assaults west of Verbove and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast), where Russian forces made unsuccessful attempts to regain lost ground. More than 15x settlements, including Levadne, Hulyaipole, Charivne, Mala Tokmachka Novoandriivka, Lobkove (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: Russian forces fired artillery at the city of Kherson and vicinities of the settlements of Beryslav, Novotyahynka (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 6x unsuccessful assaults on positions of Ukrainian troops.

During the day of January 21, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 9x concentrations of Russian troops, weapons and military equipment.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x command post, 3x artillery systems and 1x air defense system of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, as a result of the successful actions of the Zapad Group of Forces units, Krakhmalnoye (Kharkov region) was liberated.

The Group's aviation and artillery repelled seven attacks launched by units of the AFU 25th, 32nd, 60th mechanised brigades, and 1st Ukrainian National Guard Brigade near Sinkovka (Kharkov region), Terni (Donetsk People's Republic), and Kolomyichikha (Lugansk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 55 Ukrainian troops and two 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 AFU 21st and 63rd mechanised brigades near Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 80 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, and one D-20 howitzer.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by artillery repelled two attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 47th Mechanised Brigade and 5th Assault Brigade near Kirovo and Kleshcheyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Moreover, manpower and hardware of the AFU 81st Airmobile Brigade, 22nd, 24th, 28th, and 93rd mechanised brigades were struck near Grigorovka, Belogorovka, Krasnoye, Andreyevka, and Kurdyumovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 310 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, seven motor vehicles, one D-20 howitzer, and one Grad MLRS combat vehicle.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled one attack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade near Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Manpower of the AFU 79th Air Assault Brigade was struck near Paraskoveyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 70 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 117th Mechanised Brigade, 128th Mountain Assault Brigade, and 3rd Ukrainian National Guard Brigade near Verbovoye, Rabotino, Pyatikhatki, and Nesteryanka (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 30 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, and one D-20 howitzer.

In Kherson direction, as a result of strikes at units of the AFU 35th Marines Brigade, 23rd Ukrainian National Guard Brigade, and 123rd Territorial Defence Brigade near Novotyaginka, Stanislav (Kherson region) and Solonchaki (Nikolaev region), up to 20 Ukrainian troops and four motor vehicles were wiped out.

Missile Troops and Artillery, attack unmanned aerial vehicles of the Groups of Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation obliterated one ammunition depot of the AFU 31st Mechanised Brigade, struck a temporary deployment area of foreign mercenaries near Konstantinovka (Donetsk People's Republic), neutralised 127 AFU artillery units at firing positions, as well as engaged manpower and hardware in 129 areas during the day.

Air defence units intercepted one Tochka-U tactical missile, two U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles over the past 24 hours.

Moreover, 43 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been shot down close to Velikiy Vyselok, Liman Perviy (Kharkov region), Verkhnekamenka, Belogorovka, Shipilovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Spornoye, Soledar (Donetsk People's Republic), Peschanovka, Podlesnoye, Podstepnoye (Kherson region), and Kamenka-Dneprovskaya (Zaporozhye region).

In total, 567 airplanes and 265 helicopters, 10,957 unmanned aerial vehicles, 450 air defence missile systems, 14,708 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,203 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,799 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 17,698 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.