Russo-Ukraine War - 18 September 2023 - Day 572

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 over the last two weeks, Russia has likely further reinforced the hard-pressed 58thCombined Arms Army with additional VDV airborne units on the Orikhiv axis in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

A total of at least five VDV regiments drawn from the 7th and 76th divisions are likely now concentrated within several kilometres of the frontline village of Robotyne. At full strength, such a force should constitute around 10,000 elite paratroopers. However, almost all units are highly likely dramatically under strength.

The current situation is likely to be seen as highly unsatisfactory by the VDV hierarchy. Throughout the war Russian commanders have attempted to regenerate the airborne forces as a highly mobile, striking force for offensive operations. Once again, they are being used as line infantry to augment over-stretched ground forces.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of September 18, there were 20x combat engagements. Also, last night the Russian Federation launched another strike against Ukraine with air-launched cruise missiles and Shahed-136/131 strike UAVs. As a result of combat operations, the Air Force along with the air defense of other units of the Defense Forces destroyed all 17 cruise missiles and 18 of the 24 Shaheds. In total, the Russian invaders launched 17x missile strikes, 33x air strikes and 26x MLRS strikes at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements.

Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes. There are no signs of offensive groups being formed. Certain units of the Belarusian armed forces are performing tasks in the areas bordering Ukraine.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia maintains its military presence in the border areas, continues shelling Ukrainian settlements from the territory of russia. More than 15x settlements suffered Russian artillery and mortars fire, including Bleshnya (Chernihiv oblast), Novovasylivka, Stara Huta, Hirky, Pavlivka, Vysoke, Popivka (Sumy oblast), Odnorobivka, Strilecha, Vovchans'k, Ozerne, Stroivka (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Russia launched air strikes in the vicinities of Berestove, Kopanky, Shyikivka (Kharkiv oblast). The settlements of Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Kyslivka (Kharkiv oblast) came under Russian artillery and mortars fire.
Lyman axis: the Russian adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast) and Novosadove (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements suffered Russian artillery and mortars fire, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Spirne, Rozdolivka, Mykolaivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Forces successfully repelled several Russian attacks in the vicinities of Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces tried to restore the lost position in the vicinity of Andriivka (Donetsk oblast) to no success. The Russian occupiers launched an air strike near Bakhmut (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortars fire, including Markove, Bakhmut, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, New York (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: The invaders launched an air strike near Avdiivka. The Russian adversary fired artillery and mortars at about 10x settlements, including Kalynove, Oleksandropil', Tonen'ke, Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke, Karlivka (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: during the day of September 18, the Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled as many as 10x Russian attacks in the vicinity of Mar'inka. The adversary launched an air strike near Krasnohorivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at the settlements of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Mar'inka, Novomykhailivka, Katerynivka (Donetsk oblast).
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces launched air strikes near the settlements of Vuhledar and Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast). Various settlements, including Vodyane, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Blahodatne, Urozhaine, Rivnopil' (Donetsk oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortars fire.
Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian Forces successfully repelled Russian attacks in the vicinity of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). The Russian occupiers launched air strikes near the settlements of Mala Tokmachka and Robotyne. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 15x settlements, including Malynivka, Hulyaipole, Charivne Novoandriivka, P'yatykhatky, Plavni (Zaporizhzhia oblast).
Kherson axis: Russian forces launched air strikes near the settlements of Vesele, Odradokam'yanka and Mykolaivka (Kherson oblast). The Russian occupiers fired artillery and mortars at about 10x settlements, including Zolota Balka, Respublikanets', Kozats'ke, Mykil's'ke and Tomyna Balka (Kherson oblast).
At the same time, the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to conduct the offensive operation on Melitopol' axis and offensives (assaults) on Bakhmut axis, destroying Russian forces and step by step liberating the occupied territories.

During the day of September 18, the Ukrainian Air Force launched 8x air strikes on the concentrations of troops, weapons, and military equipment of the Russian adversary.

Missile troops hit 2x concentrations of troops, weapons, and military equipment, 1x anti-aircraft missile system, 6x artillery systems, 1x command post of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the previous night, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out a group strike with long-range airborne precision weapons and strike drones against places where the Kiev regime is storing Storm Shadow cruise missiles and depleted uranium ammunition, as well as centres for radio-technical reconnaissance and the training of sabotage groups of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The goal of the strike has been achieved. All the targets have been engaged.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces in cooperation with aviation and artillery repelled six enemy attacks near Kleshcheyevka, Veseloye, Mayorsk, Maryinka, and Vodyanoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

Up to 255 Ukrainian personnel, three armoured fighting vehicles, and seven motor vehicles have been neutralised.

In counter-battery warfare, the Russian troops hit one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, one Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery system, and one D-30 howitzer.

Moreover, an ammunition depot of the 110th Mechanised Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has been obliterated close to Avdeevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

In Zaporozhye direction, coordinated efforts of the Russian Group in combination with air strikes, artillery fire, and heavy flame-throwing systems defeated a cluster of manpower and hardware of the 71st Jaeger Brigade near Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).

Up to 55 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three pick-up trucks, two

D-30 howitzers, one U.S.-made M119 gun, as well as one AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar station have been eliminated.

In Krasny Liman direction, two attacks launched by assault detachments of the 67th Mechanised Brigade and the 12th Special Forces Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces close to Chervonaya Dibrova and Serebryansky forestry were repelled by professional efforts of the Tsentr Group of Forces, helicopter strikes, and artillery fire.

The AFU losses amounted to more than 50 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, as well as one D-20 howitzer.

In South Donetsk direction, the Vostok Group of Forces, aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrowers inflicted a complex defeat on manpower and hardware of the 31st Mechanised Brigade and the 128th Territorial Defence Brigade near Staromayorskoye and Urozhaynoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 180 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, three armoured fighting vehicles, 11 motor vehicles, as well as one D-20 howitzer.

Also, an ammunition depot of the AFU's 38th Marine Brigade was destroyed near Prechistovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

In Kupyansk direction, air strikes and artillery fire of the Zapad Group of Forces hit manpower and hardware of the 14th, 30th, 92nd mechanised and 25th airborne brigades of the AFU, as well as the 103rd Territorial Defence Brigade near Sinkovka, Berestovoye (Kharkov region) and Novosyolovskoye and Artyomovka (Lugansk People's Republic).

Up to 20 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, and two Msta-B howitzers were destroyed.

In Kherson direction, over 80 Ukrainian troops, five motor vehicles, and two D-30 howitzers have been destroyed during the day.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Group of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 123 areas during the day.

Also, four command posts of the 67th and 110th mechanised brigades of the AFU and the 100th and 112th territorial defence brigades were hit near Torskoye, Serebryanka, and Avdeevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Russian air defence forces have intercepted five HIMARS MLRS shells during the day.

Moreover, 27 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were downed close to Spornoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Chervonopopovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Mirnoye, Proletarskoye, and Skelevatoye (Zaporozhye region), and Kokhany (Kherson region).

In total, 472 airplanes, 249 helicopters, 6,865 unmanned aerial vehicles, 437 air defence missile systems, 11,931 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,151 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 6,426 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 13,121special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation.