Russo-Ukraine War - 31 May 2023 - Day 462

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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]

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The UK Ministry of Defence reported that since the start of May 2023, Russia has increasingly ceded the initiative in the conflict and is reacting to Ukrainian action rather than actively progressing towards its own war aims.

During May 2023, Russia has launched 20 nights of one-way-attack uncrewed aerial vehicle and cruise missile attacks deep inside Ukraine. Russia has had little success in its likely aims of neutralising Ukraine's improved air defences and destroying Ukrainian counter-attack forces. On the ground, it has redeployed security forces to react to partisan attacks inside western Russia.

Operationally, Russian commanders are likely attempting to generate reserve forces and position them where they believe a Ukrainian counter-attack will occur. However, this has probably been undermined by uncommitted forces instead being sent to fill gaps in the front line around Bakhmut.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of May 31st, Russians carried out 2x missile and 22x air strikes, launched about 20 MLRS attacks on Ukrainian settlements and Ukrainian Defense Forces.

The threat of missile and air strikes remains high across Ukraine.

Russia continues to focus its main efforts on attempts to completely occupy the Luhansk and Donetsk Oblasts. During the day, Ukrainian Armed Forces repelled 16x Russian attacks.
Volyn' and Polissya axes: the operational situation remains stable, there are no signs of the formation of offensive groupings.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: the Russian forces continue to maintain an enhanced military presence on the border of Ukraine. They carried out mortar and artillery strikes on the Galaganivka in the Chernihiv Oblast, Seredyna-Buda, Fotovizh, Hirky, Atynske in the Sumy Oblast, as well as Udy, Hoptivka, Liptsi, Strelecha, Zelene, Ternova, Staritsa, Hatyshche, Vovchans'k, Pletenivka, Vovchans'ki Khutory, Ohirtseve, Mala Vovcha, Varvarivka, Chugunivka, Ambarne, Hryhorivka in Kharkiv Oblast.
Kup'yans'k axis: the Russian forces carried out unsuccessful offensives west of Masyutivka in the Kharkiv Oblast and on Novoselyvskyi and Stelmakhivka axes in the Luhansk Oblast. Russian airstrikes recorded in Kislivka and Kotlyarivka districts of Kharkiv Oblast. Krasne Pershe, Figolivka, Novomlyns'k, Zapadne, Masyutivka, Kislivka, Berestov in the Kharkiv Oblast and Novoselivs'ke in the Luhansk Oblast were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Lyman axis: the Russian occupiers carried out unsuccessful offensive operations in the Bilogorivka area. They carried out airstrikes in Terni and Sivers'k districts of Donetsk Oblast. Nevs'ke, Belogorivka of the Luhansk Oblast and Novosadove, Tors'ke, Spirne of the Donetsk Oblast were shelled by artillery.
Bakhmut axis: the Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive near the Orihovo-Vasylivka and Bila Gora. Kramatorsk, Vasyukivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Novomarkove, Hryhorivka, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivs'ke, Predtechine, Bila Hora, Diliivka, Zalizne and New York of the Donetsk Oblast suffered from Russian artillery shelling.
Avdiivka axis: the Russian forces did not conduct offensive. They carried out an airstrike in the Avdiivka area of the Donetsk Oblast. russians also shelled Novokalynove, Orlivka, Avdiivka, Tonenka, Severne, Netaylove, Karlivka, Pervomais'ke, Nevels'ke of the Donetsk Oblast.
Mar'inka axis: our defenders repelled all Russian attacks in the vicinities of Mar'inka. The Russian forces launched an air strike, while Kurakhove, Maksimilyanivka, Heorgiivka, Mar'inka, Pobyeda, Elizavetivka, Katerynivka, Kostyantynivka and Novomykhailivka of the Donetsk Oblast were shelled by artillery.
Shakhtars'k axis: the Russian forces launched airstrikes in the area of Vugledar, Prechistivka. They shelled Bogoyavlenka, Vugledar, Novoukrainka, Prechistivka, Zolota Niva, Shakhtars'ke, and Velyka Novosilka.
Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: Russian forces are on the defensive. Shelled settlements bordering the contact line, including: Vremivka, Vilne Pole, Novosilka, Zelene Pole, Novopil', Temyrivka of the Donetsk Oblast; Olgivske, Malynivka, Hulyaipole, Zaliznychne, Hulyaipils'ke, Mala Tokmachka, Novodanilivka, Novoandriivka and Stepove Kam'ians'ke, Zaporizhzhia Oblast; Beryslav, Kozatske, Ivanivka, Antonivka, Komysany, Dniprovs'ke, Kizomys, Shiroka Balka of the Kherson Oblast and the city of Kherson.

Ukrainian Air Force conducted 9x strikes on manpower and military equipment concentration areas.

Ukrainian Defense Forces shot down 2x Russian reconnaissance UAVs.

Ukrainian missile and artillery units hit 1ч control post, 1ч artillery unit at a firing position, 2x ammunition depots and 2x electronic warfare stations.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that on May 29, as a result of a high-precision strike launched by the Russian Aerospace Forces against a military berth in the port of Odessa, the last of the Ukrainian warships, Yuri Olefirenko was destroyed.

In Kupyansk direction, assault detachments, Operational-Tactical aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems of the Zapad Group of Forces have inflicted fire damage on troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) close to Tabayevka, Molchanovo, Novomlynsk, Berestovoye (Kharkov region), and Novoselovskoye and Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People's Republic).

Three sabotage and reconnaissance groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been disabled close to Timkovka, Sinkovka, and Kotlyarovka. Up to 70 Ukrainian personnel, two armoured vehicles, and four pick-up trucks were neutralised.

Moreover, ammunition depots of the 60th Mechanised Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was destroyed close to Liptsy and Sinelnikovo (Kharkov region).

In Krasny Liman direction, aviation and artillery of the Tsentr Group of Forces engaged the units of the enemy close to Makeevka, Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic), Torskoye, Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and the Serevryansky forestry.

Over 50 Ukrainian personnel, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, two D-20 howitzers, one D-30 howitzer, and one Grad MLRS system the enemy has lost in this direction.

In the Donetsk direction, the fiercest hostilities are taking place near Avdeevka.

In the course of active operations by assault detachments of the 1st Army Corps supported by aviation, artillery fire, and heavy flamethrower systems of the Yug Group of Forces, the enemy was dislodged from occupied positions in a number of areas near the settlements of Krasnogorovka and Yasinovataya ( Donetsk People's Republic).

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation launched strikes to engage AFU units near Avdeevka and Khimik. In addition, a warehouse of rocket and artillery weapons of the 110th Mechanised Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has been obliterated.

The 5th Motorised Rifle Brigade and the Akhmat Special Forces Detachment are carrying out successful offensives in Maryinka direction.

In this direction, the enemy has suffered losses of over 200 Ukrainian troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, 12 motor vehicles, one D-30 howitzer, and two Grad MLRS vehicles during the day.

In South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, aviation and artillery of the Vostok Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on the AFU units close to Velikaya Novosyolka, Pavlovka, Vladimirovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and Malinovka (Zaporozhye region).

Up to 185 Ukrainian servicemen, two armoured fighting vehicles, and four motor vehicles have been eliminated in this direction during the day. ?? Moreover, ammunition depots of the 65th Mechanised Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were wiped out close to Preobrazhenka and Chervonaya Krinitsa (Zaporozhye region).

In Kherson direction, up to 30 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, and two motor vehicles have been destroyed.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Group of Forces have engaged 103 AFU artillery units, manpower and hardware in 149 areas during the day.

Moreover, a command post of the 33rd Mechanised Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was destroyed close to Trudovoye (Zaporozhye region).

A command and observation post of the 'Skala' assault battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was eliminated close to Avdeevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Air defence forces have intercepted 12 HIMARS MLRS projectiles and one Storm Shadow long-range cruise missile during the day.

Moreover, 11 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down close to Verkhnekamenka, Zaliman (Lugansk People's Republic), and Pokrovskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

In total, 429 airplanes and 235 helicopters, 4,390 unmanned aerial vehicles, 424 air defence missile systems, 9,345 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,103 combat vehicles equipped with MRLS, 4,946 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 10,574 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.