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Russo-Ukraine War - 05 February 2024 - Day 712

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 it is unlikely that Russia's planned revenue target for 2024 will be met as laid out in the budget plan. It is likely the government will need to consider other policy measures to fund its planned expenditure.

The Russian government has ambitious plans to increase expenditure by 26 per cent in 2024. This is reliant on optimistic expectations of revenues rising by 22 per cent, with oil and gas revenues expected to increase by almost 25 per cent. It is likely that the government will need to reduce its contributions to the National Wealth Fund and increase domestic taxes and debt to fund its planned expenditure.

These policies will almost certainly have adverse effects on the economy in the medium to long term by maintaining inflationary pressures or constraining future economic growth. The National Wealth Fund is ostensibly for the long-term economic welfare of the Russian people but is increasingly being used to fund its invasion of Ukraine, with the value of its assets falling 10 per cent in 2023.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of February 5, there were 105x combat engagements. Russian forces launched 7x missile and 25x air strikes, carried out 52x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have resulted in civilian injuries. 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. More than 25x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Khrinivka, Arkhypivka, Hrem'yach (Chernihiv oblast), Seredyna-Buda, Tovstodubove, Vovkivka, Volfyne, Mohrytsya, Hrabovs'ke, Ponomarenky (Sumy oblast), Veterynarne, Nesterne, Komisarove (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 8x attacks in the vicinity of Syn'kivka (Kharkiv oblast). In that area the Russian occupiers made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched an air strike near the settlement of Stepova Novoselivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 15x assaults in the vicinities of Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Yampolivka, Terny, Tors'ke, Hryhorivka (Donetsk oblast). In that area Russian forces, with air support, made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 8x attacks in the vicinities of Bohdanivka, Ivanivske and Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces made unsuccessful attempts to improve their tactical situation. More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Vasyukivka, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 24x attacks near Novobakhmutivka, Avdiivka and 14x more attacks near Pervomais'ke, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). In that area, the Russian occupiers, with air support, made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched an air strike near Lastochkyne (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars more than 15x settlements, including Oleksandropil', Novobakhmutivka, Ocheretyne, Avdiivka, Pervomais'ke, Netailove (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 24x unsuccessful attempts to improve its tactical situation. The settlements of Krasnohorivka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka, Katerynivka were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives. The Russian occupiers launched an air strike in the vicinity of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Blahodatne (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 2x attacks near Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). In that area, Russian forces made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense, to no success. 20x settlements, including Charivne, Mali Shcherbaky, Stepove, Lobkove, P'yatykhatky, Stepnohirs'k, Plavni (Zaporizhzhia oblast) were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: 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 2x unsuccessful assaults on positions of Ukrainian troops. Russian forces fired artillery at the city of Kherson, and the city of Ochakiv (Mykolaiv oblast).

During the day of February 5, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 1x concentration of Russian troops, 2x command posts and 2x ammunition depots.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces repelled seven attacks of assault groups of the AFU 30th Mechanised, 25th Air Assault brigades and 13th National Guards Brigade close to Terny (Donetsk People's Republic) and Sinkovka (Kharkov region). The AFU lost up to 130 troops and two pick-up trucks.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces improved their position along the front line and with support of the artillery repelled two attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 60th Mechanised Brigade near Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy suffered losses of up to 260 troops and five motor vehicles.

In Donetsk direction, the Yug Group of Forces' units took more advantageous lines and positions and inflicted fire defeat on AFU manpower and hardware of the 22nd, 28th, 93rd mechanised brigades and 112th and 114th territorial defence brigades close to Kleshcheyevka, Kurdyumovka, and Andreyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Moreover, the Russian troops repelled two attacks of assault groups of the 5th Assault and 79th Air Assault Brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Kleshcheyevka and Krasnogorovka (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy lost up to 290 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, and four motor vehicles. During the counter-battery warfare, the Russian troops hit: one Grad MLRS vehicle, one D-20 howitzer, one D-30 gun, and one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-36 counter-battery radar.

In South Donetsk direction, the Vostok Group of Forces, in cooperation with aviation, repelled an attack of the assault detachments of the 128th territorial defence brigade close to Pryutnoye (Zaporozhye region). The enemy's losses amounted to more than 145 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles. In addition, one artillery ammunition field depot of the AFU was destroyed.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery inflicted losses on clusters of manpower and hardware of the 33rd Mechanised, 128th Mountain Assault brigades, and 3rd National Guards Brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Rabotino and Nesteryanka (Zaporozhye region). The AFU lost up to 35 troops killed and wounded, two pick-up trucks, and one D-30 howitzer.

In Kherson direction, units of the 35th Marine Brigade, 23rd National Guard Brigade, and 121st Territorial Defence Brigade were defeated close to Tokarevka and Zolotaya Balka (Kherson region). The enemy suffered losses of up to 25 troops and two motor vehicles.

Operational-Tactical aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged one aviation ammunition depot as well as AFU manpower and hardware in 107 areas.

Russia's air defence systems shot down 58 unmanned aerial vehicles close to Volchansk (Kharkov region), Peschanoye, Belogorovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Novomikhailovka, Mayorsk (Donetsk People's Republic), Novaya Mayachka (Kherson region), Tokmak and Novoye (Zaporozhye region).

In total, 568 airplanes and 265 helicopters, 11,833 unmanned aerial vehicles, 462 air defence missile systems, 14,908 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,217 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,966 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 18,248 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.