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Russo-Ukraine War - 16 May 2024 - Day 813

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 Ukraine's economy remains resilient after two years of Russia's invasion. Despite attacks by Russia on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, it is likely that Ukraine will see real economic growth of around 3 per cent in 2024. This continues the trend of wartime recovery after Ukraine's economy contracted by around 29 per cent in 2022, followed by real economic growth of 5 per cent in 2023, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) improved the annual inflation forecast to 8.2 per cent for 2024, down from 8.6 per cent previously forecasted. Inflation in Ukraine fell to 3.2 per cent on an annualised basis in March 2024, reinforcing the trend of falling inflation levels from the peak of over 26 per cent in 2022. However, inflation is likely to rise in the second half of 2024. The NBU projects fading effects from last year's strong harvest, a continued recovery in consumption, and rising costs for businesses during the war.

Continued improvements in the economic conditions of Ukraine have almost certainly allowed the NBU to progressively lower its base interest rate. The NBU lowered the base interest rate to 13.5 per cent at the end of April 2024, down from 14.5 per cent set in March 2024, and below the wartime peak of 25 per cent.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that since the beginning of the day, there have been 114 combat clashes, five of which are still ongoing.

The Russian occupiers fired four missiles, using seven missiles, and 70 air strikes, used 431 kamikaze drones, carried out almost 2800 shelling of the positions of Ukrainian troops.

In the Kharkiv direction, there were 10 combat clashes. Ukrainian soldiers repelled eight attacks in the areas of the settlements of Liptsi, Staritsa and Vovchansk of the Kharkiv region. Russia continues attempts to break through the defenses of Ukrainian units in the Shebekino-Vovchansk direction.
The situation in the settlement of vovchansk is controlled.
As of now from the beginning of the current day of the Russian loss in the Kharkiv direction were 160 occupants from the number of personnel and 21 units of arms and military equipment.
In the Kupâns ниkomu direction the Defense Forces successfully repelled six attacks of the opponent. In some areas, Ukrainian troops carry out tactical improvement measures.
Another combat clash is going on in the direction of krohmal Щеne-brestove. The situation is under control.
In the Limans нуkomu direction, the enemy eight times unsuccessfully tried to break through the defenses of Ukrainian troops.
Four Russian attacks were repelled in the northern direction. The fight is ongoing in the direction of Brestove - Vyimka. In the course of the defense, the loss of positions is not allowed, the situation is controlled.
In the kramators .komu direction, 13 attempts to break through the defense of Ukrainian troops.
Two Russian attacks Ukrainian defenders fight off in the directions of Bakhmut - Klí Дiivka, Opitne - Andriyivka. The situation is under control.
In the pokrovs сьkomu direction, there were 35 Russian attacks. In some areas, in the course of fighting as a result of intense fire influence and assault actions of the Russian enemy, the Defense Forces regrouped.
The fighting is ongoing in the area of the Novooleksandrivka settlement.
In the Kurakhívs обоkomu direction, Russian forces made 12 attempts to break through the defense of Ukrainian troops. In the course of fighting, the loss of positions is not allowed.
In the Time Direction, Russian forces made nine unsuccessful attempts to improve his tactical position in the areas of the settlements South Mine No. 1, Urozhayne and Staromayorske. The situation is under control.
In the direction of the defense forces repelled nine attacks of the opponent in the direction of oleškívs сьkí sand - krinki. In the course of fighting, Russia was not successful, the loss of positions was not allowed.

In general, the situation on the frontline is controlled by the Defense Forces, there have been no significant changes in the environment.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that units of the Sever Group of Forces advanced to the depth of the enemy's defences and inflicted losses on units of the Kraken nationalist formation and the International Legion, as well as manpower and hardware of the AFU 125th Territorial Defence Brigade and 15th Border Guard Detachment near Dergachi, Liptsy, and Volchansk (Kharkov region).

Two enemy counter-attacks were repelled near Staritsa and Glubokoye (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 205 Ukrainian troops, three tanks, two armoured fighting vehicles, eight motor vehicles, one Polish-made 155-mm Krab self-propelled artillery system, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, and one 122-mm BM-21 Grad MLRS combat vehicle.

Units of the Zapad Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front lines and inflicted losses on formations of the AFU 21st Mechanised Brigade near Krasny Liman (Donetsk People's Republic).

Two counter-attacks launched by units of the AFU 44th Mechanised Brigade and 1st National Guard Brigade were repelled near Berestovoye (Kharkov region) and Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 40 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, and two 152-mm D-20 howitzers.

Units of the Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 5th Assault Brigade and 116th Mechanised Brigade near Chasov Yar and Antonovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 520 Ukrainian troops, four armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, and one 152-mm Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system.

Units of the Tsentr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation and inflicted losses on formations of the AFU 47th and 100th mechanised brigades near Novoaleksandrovka and Yevgenovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Eight counter-attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 71st Jaeger Brigade, 92nd Assault Brigade, 23rd, 24th mechanised brigades, and 142nd Infantry Brigade were repelled near Arkhangelskoye, Solovyovo, Umanskoye, Netaylovo, and Novoselovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 390 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, three infantry fighting vehicles, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, one U.S.-made 155-mm M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, and one 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

Units of the Vostok Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 58th Motorised Infantry Brigade and 128th Territorial Defence Brigade near Velikaya Novosyolka and Urozhaynoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 125 Ukrainian troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, one Polish-made 155-mm Krab self-propelled artillery system, and one 152-mm Giatsint-B howitzer.

Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 65th Mechanised Brigade and 128th Mountain Assault Brigade near Nesteryanka and Pyatikhatki (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 40 Ukrainian troops and four motor vehicles.

?Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces wiped out one uncrewed surface vehicle depot.

In addition, strikes were delivered at one temporary deployment area of the Sonechko nationalist formation of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of the Defence of Ukraine and foreign mercenaries, as well as the enemy's manpower and hardware clusters were engaged in 113 areas.

Air defence units shot down three MiG-29 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force.

Moreover, 25 unmanned aerial vehicles, seven U.S.-made ATACMS and Tochka-U operational-tactical missiles, five U.S.-made HIMARS and Olkha MLRS projectiles, five French-made Hammer guided aerial bombs, and four U.S.-made HARM anti-radiation missiles were destroyed.

In total, 600 airplanes and 274 helicopters, 24,111 unmanned aerial vehicles, 521 air defence missile systems, 16,053 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,300 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 9,607 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 21,753 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.