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Russo-Ukraine War - 09 February 2024 - Day 716

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 7 February 2024, social media posts highlighted an explosion at a Russian missile factory close to Izhevsk, Udmurtia, in central Russia. This factory is used to produce a range of ballistic missiles including the Iskander, which is regularly used against Ukraine. Initial reports suggested the explosion was due to worker error, although later the Russian state TASS news agency reported it was due to 'planned tests' of rocket engines. It is unlikely that Ukrainian uncrewed aerial vehicles were involved in the explosion given the 1,200km distance from Ukraine. Furthermore, no such attacks were reported in the area.

This is at least the fifth unexplained military industrial factory explosion in four months. Previous explosions include the Kamensky chemical plant in Rostov on 15 January 2024; the Chelyabinsk tank factory on 26 November 2023 and gunpowder and ammunition factories in Kotovsk on 10 November 2023 and Solikamsk on 31 October 2023.

There is a realistic possibility that the explosion is due to negligent handling and storing of highly volatile, combustible, and explosive materials. Additionally, senior political pressure to increase military industrial output targets to support the war in Ukraine has likely led to round the clock production and staff fatigue. Increased demands on production will highly likely result in greater numbers of industrial accidents in the future.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of February 9, there were 91x combat engagements. The Russian occupiers launched 49x air strikes and carried out 52x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, Russian attacks resulted in wounded civilians. Residential private and apartment buildings, and other civilian infrastructure in 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 Leonivka (Chernihiv oblast), Yunakivka, Yablunivka, Kindrativka (Sumy oblast). Around 30x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Karpovychi, Lub'yane, Hrem'yach (Chernihiv oblast), Mohrytsya, Stepok, Uhroidy, Novodmytrivka (Sumy oblast), Udy, Strilecha, Chuhunivka, Vovchans'k (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 10x attacks near Syn'kivka, Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast). In that area, Russian forces made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense, to no success. The Russian occupiers launched air strikes near Stepova Novoselivka, Kotlyarivka, Pishchane (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 8x assaults in the vicinities of Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Yampolivka (Donetsk oblast). In that area Russian forces, with air support, made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched an air strike near Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka, Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 18x attacks in the vicinities of Bohdanivka, Ivanivske 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 Vasyukivka, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, New York (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 17x attacks near Novobakhmutivka, Avdiivka and 10x more attacks near Pervomais'ke, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). In that area, Russian forces made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 15x settlements, including Keramik, Novobakhmutivka, Lastochkyne, Avdiivka (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back the invaders in the vicinity of Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). In that area, the Russian adversary, with air support, made 12x attempts to improve its tactical situation. The settlements of Kurakhove, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka, Katerynivka, Paraskoviivka were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Shakhtars'ke axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 2x assaults south of Zolota Nyva (Donetsk oblast) and north of Pryyutne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Vuhledar (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 attack west of Novopokrovka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). In that area, Russian forces, with air support, made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense, to no success. Around 30x settlements, including Poltavka, Hulyaipole, Stepove, Mala Tokmachka, Novodanylivka, Stepnohirs'k (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 4x unsuccessful assaults on positions of Ukrainian troops. Russian forces fired artillery at the city of Ochakiv (Mykolaiv oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Chervonyi Mayak, Krynky, Beryslav (Kherson oblast). On top of that, Russian forces launched MLRS strikes in the vicinities of Tyahynka, Ivanivka, Krynky, Komyshany, Tokarivka (Kherson oblast).

During the day of February 9, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 5x concentrations of Russian troops, weapons and military equipment.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 2x concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment, 2x command posts, 2x ammunition depots of the Russian invaders.