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Russia’s war on Ukraine. 13.09.2023

Operational situation

In the operational zone of the Ukrainian Operational-Strategic Group of Forces (OSG) “Khortytsia” on the Kupyansk, Lyman, and Bakhmut directions, the enemy persists in attempting to break through the defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. 

In the operational zone of the Ukrainian Operational-Strategic Group of Forces (OSG) “Tavriya” on the Avdiivka, Maryinka, and Shakhtarsk directions, the Ukrainian Defense Forces maintain the initiative. They persist in applying pressure on the enemy and conducting assault operations.

In the operational zone of the “Odesa” OSG, the Ukrainian Defense Forces are conducting counter-battery operations, destroying the enemy’s logistics, deployment areas, and firing positions.

The enemy continues to maintain a troop presence covering the state border, actively engaging in sabotage activities in border areas to prevent Ukrainian Defense Forces from being redeployed to critical directions. They are also increasing the density of mine and explosive obstacles along the state border in the Belgorod region.

General conclusion: 

  • The overall intensity of combat has decreased in all operational zones.
  • Russian forces intensified efforts in Maryinka, Opytne and Spartak areas.
  • The enemy continues to concentrate their efforts on capturing Synkivka, attempting to maintain their positions around Novoyehorivka, containing the Ukrainian Defensive Forces in Serebryansk Forest, and holding the defense along the Bakhmut-Kurdyumivka line. They are also working to localize the breach by the “Khortytsia” OSG in the Opytne and Spartak areas.
  • Units of the “Khortytsia” OSG continue to push out the enemy from the Kurdyumivka-Ozaryanivka-Zelenopillia area.
  • Due to the constant disabling of 2s4 self-propelled mortars and 2s7 self-propelled guns, the Russian military is forced to compensate for their losses with 2s5, which affects the enemy’s counter-battery combat capabilities;
  • Units of the “Khortytsia” OSG continue to push out the enemy from the Kurdyumivka-Ozaryanivka-Zelenopillia area.

Change in the line of contact (LoC):  

  • 34 combat engagements took place in different directions.
  • On the Kupyansk direction, the OSG “Khortytsia” troops attacked in the direction of Berestove, south of Kuzmyne, near Torske and in the Serebryansk forest area. Combat engagements continue near Synkivka and in the direction of Petropavlivka and Kyslivka.
  • The enemy’s 15th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade advanced north of Serhiyivka; the 25th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade improved its tactical position near Synkivka; the 347th Motorized Rifle Regiment had success near Petropavlivka. Russian troops continued their offensive east of the Oskil River and achieved a slight advance. The 7th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 18th Motorized Rifle Division continued its attempts to break through the Ukrainian defenses near Novoselivske.
  • On the Bakhmut direction, the forces of the “Khortytsia” OSG made progress north of Kurdyumivka and southwest of Mayorske. They are operating in the center of Klishchiivka, where Chechen units of “Akhmat” were previously positioned. They have entered Andriivka, but the enemy’s 72nd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade continues to maintain positions in the village.
  • Russian forces repelled Ukrainian attacks near Mayorsk and to the west of Andriivka. 
  • Troops of the Russian 18th Motorized Rifle Division conducted several unsuccessful attacks near Orikhovo-Vasylivka, while the 51st Airborne Regiment of the 106th Airborne Division attacked near Kurdyumivka.
  • On the Avdiivka direction, the enemy’s 114th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, the 33rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division and the 10th Separate Tank Battalion of the 1st Army Corps attacked near Opytne and Spartak and recaptured part of their lost positions. Enemy’s attacks near Avdiivka, Maryinka, and Novomykhailivka were fruitless, although Russian forces made more than 20 attempts to dislodge Ukrainian units from their positions.
  • The OSG “Khortytsia” troops repulsed the 132nd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade attack near Novokalynove.
  • Berdyansk direction (Velyka Novosilka): the 40th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Russian Pacific Fleet repulsed the attack of the OSG “Tavria” units on the northwestern outskirts of Novomayorske; the 60th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade and the 11th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 1st Army Corps conducted a counterattack near Staromayorske; the 394th Motorized Rifle Regiment Attacked south of Novodarivka. Russian forces did not succeed in any of the directions. Russian attacks in the areas of Novomykhailivka and south of Novodarivka resulted in significant losses, both in manpower and equipment. 
  • The forces of the “Tavriya” OSG on the Berdyansk direction are transitioning to a defensive stance.
  • Tokmak direction (Robotyne): the OSG “Tavria” troops have achieved success and advanced 300-500 meters to the south and southeast of Robotyne; they have success in the Novodanylivka area.
  • Russian forces repulsed Ukrainian attacks near Robotyne, Verbove and Novoprokopivka.
  • In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, there were 11 Russian ships on combat duty; 1 in the Sea of Azov. There was 1 Russian ship on combat duty in the Mediterranean. 
  • As a result of a combined air-sea attack on the “Sevastopol” navy base, the large landing ship of Project 775 “Minsk” and the missile submarine of Project 636.3 “Rostov-on-Don” were damaged. Serious damage was inflicted on the dry dock and other production facilities at the Ordzhonikidze Ship Repair Plant, which services the Russian Black Sea Fleet’s ships. It is likely that the missile frigate “Admiral Makarov” has also sustained damage (this information is being verified).

Change in enemy’s disposition:  

  • In Russia, preparations are underway for a second wave of mobilization, hoping to conduct another wave in the autumn. It is planned to mobilize between 170,000 to 175,000 reservists. Additionally, there are plans to recruit an extra 130,000 servicemen on a contract basis.
  • The Russian illegal military formation “St. George Reconnaissance and Assault Brigade” is defending at the Klishchiivka – Kurdyumivka – Andriivka line.
  • Units of the enemy’s 137th Airborne Regiment of the 106th Airborne Division are defending near Rozdolivka.
  • Units of the 1st Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 1st Army Corps are holding the defense north of Opytne.

Possible operation situation developments: 

  • The Russian command will continue preparations for a counterattack in the Robotyne area. For this purpose, it is forming two tactical groups in the Kopani and Verbove areas.
  • The enemy’s command will attempt to reinforce its grouping on the Zaporizhzhia direction by redeploying combat-ready units and formations from the Kupyansk, Lyman, and Kherson directions, where they will be replaced by forces from the 25th Army (north) and the 18th Army (south).

Russian operational losses from 24.02.22 to 13.09.23 

Personnel – almost 270,350 people (+590);

Tanks – 4,584 (+16);

Armored combat vehicles – 8,792 (+14);

Artillery systems – 5,902 (+30);

Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 766 (+2);

Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 517 (+2);

Vehicles and fuel tanks –8,444 (+31);

Aircraft – 315 (0);

Helicopters – 316 (0);

UAV operational and tactical level – 4,650 (+5);

Intercepted cruise missiles – 1,455 (0);

Boats/ships – 19 (0).


Humanitarian + general:

  • According to information provided by the MOD’s Situation Center, over the past day, Russian forces shelled 9 regions of Ukraine. 128 towns and villages and 110 infrastructure objects were attacked with various types of weapons. 3 people are reported dead and 14 are reported injured in Kharkiv, Donetsk, Odesa and Kherson Oblasts;
  • On the night of September 13, several groups of attack drones, launched by the Russian military from the Black Sea region, attacked the south of Odesa Oblast. Seven civilians (truck drivers) were injured, two of them are in serious condition. Significant damage was inflicted upon a TIR parking area, administrative buildings, grain storage facilities, oil reservoirs, and vehicles within the ports of Reni and Izmail in Odesa Oblast.
  • Since July 18, when the “grain agreement” ceased to operate, 105 port infrastructure facilities in Ukraine have been damaged due to Russian attacks, the Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction – the Minister of Community Development, Territories and Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov said. 
  • Kubrakov also noted that the attacks on the ports of the Danube cluster and the blocking of sea ports resulted in a decrease of [Ukraine’s] grain exports to the countries of Asia, Africa and Europe by almost 3 million tons per month.
  • According to the Ground Forces of Ukraine, over the past year, Russia has launched more than 2,000 Shahed-type attack UAVs on Ukraine. Exactly one year ago, on September 13, 2022, the Armed Forces of Ukraine successfully intercepted and neutralized the first Iranian drone.
  • According to the Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, three more children, 2 girls and a boy (14-15 years old), have been successfully returned to Ukraine from Russia and temporarily occupied territories. 
  • Out of the 186 Crimean political prisoners, at least 30 individuals, including 25 Crimean Tatars, require urgent medical attention, stated Lubinets. He stressed that the consistent failure to administer adequate medical care to Ukrainian citizens unlawfully detained in Russian Federation prisons has taken on a systemic dimension and, as per the Geneva Convention, constitutes a form of torture.
  • Since its launch a year ago, the “I Want to Live” project, aimed at Russian military personnel, has received more than 25,000 surrender applications from Russian soldiers, stated Andriy Yusov, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.

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