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Russo-Ukraine War - 28 January 2024 - Day 704

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 22 January 2024, Russian authorities reported there had been 220 attacks on military enlistment offices since the conflict began in February 2022. Other statistics from media outlet Mediazona reported 113 attacks on enlistment offices recorded since 26 July 2023. Taken together, these statistics indicate a doubling of arson attacks on enlistment offices over the last six months.

Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Director Sergey Naryshkin accuses those responsible for the arson attacks of acting at the behest of Western officials. However, the increase in attacks is highly likely due to a greater sense of disaffection with the war amongst the Russian population and especially those who would be mobilised should a second wave of mobilisation be announced. Some of those accused of perpetrating such attacks have been charged with terrorism and treason.

Further mobilisation would be a contradiction to Putin's promise at his 14 December 2023 annual news conference that there would be no further mobilisation — the attacks highly likely suggest a lack of confidence in this promise.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of January 28, there were 61x combat engagements. Russian forces launched 6x missile and 2 air strikes, carried out 51x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have resulted in civilian casualties and injuries. An educational establishment, residential private and apartment 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 in the vicinity of Chervonyi Khutir (Chernihiv oblast). Around 30x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Bleshnya, Karpovychi (Chernihiv oblast), Veselivka, Chuikivka, Vovkivka (Sumy oblast), Okip, Veterynarne, Vovchans'k, Luk'yantsi, Starytsya (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 1x assault east of Pishchane (Kharkiv oblast). In that area Russian forces made failed attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 6x assaults near Terny, Yampolivka (Donetsk oblast). In that area the adversary made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Makiivka, Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Tors'ke, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne, Fedorivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 2x attacks in the vicinity of Ivanivske (Donetsk oblast), where the occupiers made unsuccessful attempts to improve their tactical situation. More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Vasyukivka, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Dyliivka (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 16x attacks near Ocheretyne, Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Avdiivka, and 5x more attacks near Pervomais'ke and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars more than 15x settlements, including Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Avdiivka, Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back the invaders in the vicinities of Heorhiivka, Pobjeda and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). In that area, Russian forces made 18x failed attempts to improve its tactical situation. The settlements of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka, Paraskoviivka were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces conducted no offenses. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 1x assault south of Pryyutne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 15x settlements, including Poltavka, Chervone, Charivne, Bilohir'ya, Mala Tokmachka, 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. On top of that, the occupiers launched MLRS strikes at the vicinities of Novotyahynka, Ivanivka and Ponyativka (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 7x unsuccessful assault on positions of Ukrainian troops.

During the day of January 28, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 6x concentrations of Russian troops. Also, Ukrainian air defense forces shot down 1x Kh-59 air-launched guided missile.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x artillery system, 1x electronic warfare station 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 and heavy flamethrower systems, have improved the situation along the front line.

Six attacks by assault groups of 25th air assault, 32nd, 60th mechanised, and 95th air assault brigades of the AFU have been repelled close to Sinkovka (Kharkov region), Novosyolovskoye (Lugansk People's Republic), and Terny (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 150 troops, three motor vehicles, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces, supported by artillery and heavy flamethrower systems, have repelled three attacks by assault groups of the 13th Brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard and the 44th Separate Battalion of the AFU near Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic) and Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 120 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, as well as one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, and one D-20 howitzer.

In Donetsk direction, as a result of active actions by units of the Yug Group of Forces, in cooperation with artillery and heavy flamethrower systems, three attacks by assault groups of the 24th Mechanised Brigade and the 80th Air Assault Brigade of the AFU have been repelled near Shumy, Kirovo, and Georgievka (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, AFU 22nd, 28th, 42nd mechanised, and 17th tank brigades have been hit close to Krasnoye, Andreevka, Kleshcheevka, and Kurdyumovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 330 servicemen killed and wounded, one tank, two infantry fighting vehicles, four pickup trucks, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, as well as one electronic warfare station.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, supported by artillery, have repelled one attack by an assault group of the 128th Territorial Defence Brigade near Priyutnoye (Zaporozhye region), and defeated the AFU 79th Air Assault Brigade near Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 80 soldiers, two armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, and one Grad MLRS combat vehicle.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces, supported by artillery, have hit manpower of 65th, 118th mechanised, 128th mountain assault, 82nd air assault brigades of the AFU and the 3rd Brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard close to Rabotino, Verbovoye, Nesteryanka, and Kamenskoye (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy losses were up to 70 troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer.

In Kherson direction, as a result of fire attacks by units of the 35th Marine Brigade and the 121st Territorial Defence Brigade, the enemy losses were up to 55 Ukrainian servicemen, four motor vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer near Zolotaya Balka and Lvovo (Kherson region).

Missile Troops and Artillery, and unmanned aerial vehicles of the Russian Groups of Forces hit ammunition and fuel depots for AFU military hardware close to Dnepropetrovsk and Zaporozhye regions, as well as neutralised 118 AFU artillery units at firing positions, as well as engaged manpower and hardware in 137 areas during the day.

Air defence facilities have shot down three HIMARS and Uragan multiple-launch rocket system projectiles.

In addition, 28 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been destroyed close to Vodyanoye, Belogorovka, Maryinka, Yampolovka, Spornoye, Peski (Donetsk People's Republic), Privolye, Novoznamenka, Shipilovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Novaya Mayachka (Kherson region), Olshana, and Gorobyevka (Kharkov region).

In total, 568 airplanes and 265 helicopters, 11,311 unmanned aerial vehicles, 456 air defence missile systems, 14,814 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,211 combat vehicles equipped with MRLS, 7,887 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 17,990 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.