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Russo-Ukraine War - 31 January 2024 - Day 707

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 according to an investigation by the BBC Russian Service, the Russian military ceased recruiting prisoners on short-term contracts from September 2023. Prisoners are now offered standardised (longer term) military service contracts, which entail agreeing to service in the military at least until the termination of the September 2022 partial mobilisation order.

Short-term convict contracts had prompted some public controversy in Russia, particularly over returnees re-offending and the short tours of prisoners in comparison to indefinitely mobilised reservists.

It is highly likely that short-term prisoner recruitment was a response to immediate military recruitment pressures earlier in the conflict. In 2023, the Russian state highly likely turned to regularised contract recruitment as the primary source of new military personnel.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of January 31, there were 52x combat engagements. Russian forces launched 7x missile and 65x air strikes, carried out 59x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have resulted in civilian injuries. 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 air strikes in the vicinities of Ulytsya, Seredyna-Buda (Sumy oblast). More than 40x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Hrem'yach, Klyusy (Chernihiv oblast), Velyka Pysarivka, Basivka, Seredyna-Buda, Popivka (Sumy oblast), Okip, Luk'yantsi, Hatyshche, Vovchans'k (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 7x assaults near Syn'kivka (Kharkiv oblast). In that area the occupies, with air support, made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. The Russian occupiers launched air strikes near Kyslivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Syn'kivka, Ivanivka, Kyslivka, Kotlyarivka, Pishchane (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 9x assaults in the vicinities of Terny, Yampolivka and Tors'ke (Donetsk oblast). In that area the adversary, with air support, made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense, to no success. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Bilohorivka, Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Makiivka, Nevs'ke (Luhansk oblast), Yampolivka, Terny, Zarichne (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 4x attacks in the vicinities of Ivanivske, Klishchiivka and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces made unsuccessful attempts to improve their tactical situation. Russian forces launched an air strike near New York (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Bohdanivka, Kalynivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 8x attacks near Avdiivka and 6x more attacks near Pervomais'ke and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). In that area, the Russian occupiers, with air support, made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense, to no success. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Oleksandropil' and Ocheretyne (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars more than 15x settlements, including Novobakhmutivka, Berdychi, Stepove, Avdiivka, Lastochkyne, Sjeverne (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinity of Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). In that area, the Russian adversary, with air support, made 6x unsuccessful attempts to improve its tactical situation. The settlements of Heorhiivka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka, Kostyantynivka were under artillery and mortar fire of the occupiers.
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives. The occupiers launched air strikes in the vicinities of Vodyane, Urozhaine, Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Urozhaine, Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 4x attacks north of Pryyutne and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Russian forces launched air strike near Bilohir'ya and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 20x settlements, including Malynivka, Chervone, Bilohir'ya, Robotyne, Mala Tokmachka, P'yatykhatky (Zaporizhzhia oblast).
Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: Russian forces fired artillery at the cities of Kherson and Ochakiv (Mykolaiv oblast). The invaders launched air strikes in the vicinities of Krynky, Beryslav, Novoberyslav, Shlyakhove, Chervonyi Mayak (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 3x unsuccessful assaults on positions of Ukrainian troops.

During the day of January 31, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 14x concentrations of Russian troops, weapons and military equipment, 1x air defense system. Also, Ukrainian air defense forces shot down 1x Kh-59 air-launched guided missile.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 5x Russian artillery systems, 4x air defense systems.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, as a result of active actions by units of the Zapad Group of Forces, aviation and artillery, six attacks by assault groups of 30th, 32nd, 44th mechanised, 57th motorised infantry, and 25th air assault brigades of the AFU have been repelled close to Sinkovka, Tabaevka (Kharkov region), and Terny (Donetsk People's Republic)

The enemy losses were up to 80 troops, one tank, three motor vehicles, one UK-manufactured AS-90 self-propelled artillery system, and one U.S.-manufactured M777 howitzer.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces have taken more advantageous lines and positions and inflicted a fire defeat on AFU manpower near Grigorovka and Dzerzhinskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).
In addition, three attacks by assault groups of the 60th Mechanised Brigade and the 12th Special Forces Brigade have been repelled near Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and Kuzmino (Lugansk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 280 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, and seven motor vehicles.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces have improved the situation along the front line and defeated manpower and hardware of 28th, 54th mechanised brigades of the AFU, 112th and 114th brigades of the Territorial Defence of Ukraine near Verkhnekamenskoye, Artyomovskoye, Krasnoye, Kleshcheevka, Kurdyumovka, and Leninskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 310 troops, one tank, three armoured fighting vehicles, ten motor vehicles, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, in cooperation with aviation and artillery, have repelled one attack by assault groups of the AFU 79th Air Assault Brigade near Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic), as well as inflicted one fire attack on manpower and hardware of units of the 128th Territorial Defence Brigade near Urozhainoye and Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 115 servicemen, two armoured fighting vehicles, and two motor vehicles.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces, supported by artillery, have struck AFU 33rd, 65th, 118th mechanised and 128th mountain assault brigades close to Rabotino, Orekhov, Malaya Tokmachka, and Shcherbaki (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy losses were up to 80 troops, one tank, three armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer.

In Kherson direction, as a result of active actions by units of the Russian Group of Forces and the comprehensive fire defeat of the enemy, the enemy losses were up to 30 servicemen, five motor vehicles, and one ammunition depot of rocket-artillery weapons.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised one IRIS-T anti-aircraft missile system German-manufactured, one Pelikan airborne target detection radar station, and defeated manpower and hardware of the 3rd Assault Brigade of the AFU, one fuel depot, as well as manpower and military hardware in 136 areas.

Air defence facilities have shot down nine U.S.-manufactured HIMARS projectiles.

In addition, 81 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been intercepted close to Petrovskoye, Tokarevka (Kharkov region), Zhitlovka, Kremennaya (Lugansk People's Republic), Khartsyzsk (Donetsk People's Republic), Zhovtnyovoye, Orlyanskoye (Zaporozhye region), and Novaya Kakhovka (Kherson region).

In total, 568 airplanes and 265 helicopters, 11,512 unmanned aerial vehicles, 457 air defence missile systems, 14,860 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,211 combat vehicles equipped with MRLS, 7,906 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 18,103 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.