Russia’s war on Ukraine. 23.05.2024

In the operational zone of the Ukrainian Operational Group of Forces (OG) “Kharkiv” on the Kharkiv direction, 8 enemy attacks were repelled in the areas of the Lyptsi and Starytsya. Combat operations continue on the Pletnivka-Vovchansk direction. The situation is under control by the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

In the “Khortytsia” Operational-Strategic Group of Forces (OSG) operational zone on the Kupyansk direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 22 enemy attacks, combat engagements are ongoing in the areas of Berestove and Makiivka. On the Lyman direction, 6 enemy attacks were repelled with no success for the enemy. On the Siversk direction, the enemy attacked near Vyimka. 8 attempts by the enemy to advance towards Bilohorivka and Verkhnyokamianske failed. On the Kramatorsk direction, the number of engagements increased to 10. The Ukrainian Defense Forces held their positions.

In the “Tavriya” OSG operational zone, on the Pokrovsk direction, the number of attacks has increased to 25. The enemy is using assault groups to penetrate the combat formations of the Ukrainian Defense Forces. The situation remains tense. On the Kurakhove direction, fighting continues in the area of Heorhiivka. The enemy has launched 18 attacks against the Ukrainian Defense Forces in the areas of Novomykhailivka, Krasnohorivka, Kostyantynivka, and Paraskoviivka.

General conclusion: 

• The enemy is attempting to penetrate the defenses of the “Kharkiv” OG on the Kharkiv direction and simultaneously expand the front line, forcing the command of the Ukrainian Defense Forces to deploy reserves.
• The enemy’s strike groups on the Kharkiv direction have lost their momentum. Reinforcing the enemy’s “Sever” Operational Grouping with troops from the Kupyansk direction has reduced the intensity of combat there.
• The 98th Airborne Division in the Chasiv Yar area is gradually losing combat effectiveness, with part of its units expected to be withdrawn for recovery soon.
• The most intense fighting continues on the Pokrovsk direction.
• The enemy’s maneuvers on the Kurakhove direction are shaping operations intended to further encircle Vuhledar.

Change in the line of contact (LoC):

• There were 121 combat engagements on various fronts.
• On the Kharkiv direction, Russian forces have made slight advances near Lyptsi, Zelenyi, and Starytsya, and within Vovchansk, where fighting continues both in and around the town. They are advancing towards Tykhe, conducting reconnaissance in the areas of Volokhivka, Chaikivka, Okhrimivka, and Mala Vovcha, and launching assaults near Buhruvatka.
• Units of the “Kharkiv” OG have pushed Russian forces back from several buildings and made slight gains within northeastern Vovchansk, now controlling most of the town.
• On the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces continued offensive operations in the areas of Synkivka, Berestove, Stelmakhivka, Ivanivka, Serhiivka, Druzhelyubivka, Hrekivka, Novoyehorivka, and Makiivka.
• On the Lyman direction, Russian forces continued offensive actions near Nevske, Torske, Hryhorivka, and Bilohorivka.
• On the Kramatorsk direction, “Khortytsia” OSG units recaptured several buildings and regained control over territory on the eastern outskirts of Chasiv Yar.
• Russian forces advanced in the Klishchiivka area and attacked near Ivanivske and Andriivka.
• On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian forces have advanced to the eastern outskirts of Novooleksandrivka, pushed 400 meters deep along the railway track towards Sokil, and are entrenching themselves west of Netaylove. They have also advanced in the areas of Novooleksandrivka, Prohres, Solovyove, Kalynove, Yevhenivka, Arkhanhelske, Novopokrovske, Ocheretyne, Umanske, Yasnobrodivka, Novoselivka Persha, and Pivnichne.
• The Ukrainian Defense Forces are withdrawing from positions near Karlivka.
• On the Kurakhove direction, Russian forces have slightly advanced to the southwest of Novomykhailivka, further into Paraskoviivka, and continued their offensive actions in the areas of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Novomykhailivka, Pobeda, Paraskoviivka, Kostyantynivka, and Volodymyrivka.
• On the Vremivka direction, Russian forces have advanced to the southern outskirts of Staromayorske and continued their offensive actions in the vicinity of Urozhaine.
• On the Prydniprovskiy direction, units of the Air Assault Regiment of the 7th Air Assault Division advanced towards Mala Tokmachka. Russian forces have advanced near Robotyne, and fighting continues near Verbove.
• In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, the enemy naval group on combat duty consists of:
  • Azov Sea: 2 ships.
  • Mediterranean Sea: 1 ship, including 1 “Kalibr” sea launched cruise missile carrier. The total salvo is 16 cruise missiles.

Escalation indicators:

• The missile forces of the Southern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces continue the first stage of exercises with forces and means that use non-strategic (tactical) nuclear weapons.

Changes in the enemy disposition:

• The 200th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 14th Army Corps is attacking near Kalynivka.
• The 291st Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 42nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 58th Combined Arms Army, along with the 10th BARS Detachment, are engaged in combat near Robotyne. The “Tsarskie Volki” Volunteer Assault Brigade is attacking near Vasylivka. This brigade includes the 1st, 3rd, 10th, and 11th BARS Detachments (or, according to other sources, the 1st Sabotage and Reconnaissance Assault Cossack Brigade “Volki”).

Possible operation situation developments:

• On the Sumy direction, the enemy grouping is stationed in concentration areas. The 128th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 44th Army Corps is concentrating in the Graivoron area (information is being verified). Sudzha – Sumy and Graivoron – Velyka Pysarivka could be the likely directions of its actions.
• The enemy will continue their attempts to penetrate the urban area of Vovchansk and advance west of the city along both banks of the Siversky Donets River, particularly in the Buhruvatka area.
• The redeployment of enemy troops from the areas of Novaya Tavolzhanka and Arkhangelskoye (territory of the Russian Federation) to Ohirtseve and Buhruvatka will indicate the beginning of the crossing of the Siversky Donets River towards Prylipka and further towards Synelnykove and Tsehelne, with the aim of bypassing the tactical group of the Ukrainian Defense Forces defending Vovchansk.
• The “Center” Operational Grouping command is focused on executing the following operational plan: to establish conditions for the blockade and encirclement of the Kurakhove area or to create advantageous circumstances for launching an offensive operation to encircle “Tavriya” OSG’s defense in Toretsk area from the south.
• The enemy’s “Vostok” Operational Grouping is gearing up for active operations on the southern flank of the Kurakhove-Vuhledar bulge of the Ukrainian Defense Forces in coordination with the left flank of the “Yug” Operational Grouping, which is currently attempting to break through towards Kurakhove through Hryhorivka and Paraskoviivka-Kostyantynivka along the Vovcha and Sukhi Yaly Rivers.

Russian operational losses from 24.02.22 to 23.05.24  

Personnel – almost 497,700 (+1330); 

Tanks 7,622 (+11); 

Armored combat vehicles – 14,748 (+27); 

Artillery systems – 12,860 (+40);

Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,077 (0);

Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 813 (+1);

Vehicles and fuel tanks – 17,513 (+71);

Aircraft – 355 (+1);

Helicopters – 326 (0);

UAV operational and tactical level – 10,391 (+45);

Intercepted cruise missiles – 2,209 (+1);

Boats/ships – 28 (0).

Humanitarian+general:

• According to information provided by the Situation Center of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Russian forces shelled 8 regions of Ukraine over the past day. A total of 103 towns and villages and 71 infrastructure objects were attacked with various types of weapons. The number of casualties is being updated/clarified.
• On May 23, Russian military forces launched approximately 15 missile strikes with S-300 or S-400 missiles targeting civilian infrastructure in Kharkiv and the surrounding region. In Kharkiv they targeted the printing house of the local publisher Vivat. According to the latest information, seven employees of the printing house were killed, and sixteen were injured.
• On May 23, at around 10:10, occupiers conducted an airstrike on the village of Zolochiv in Bohodukhiv district, Kharkiv Oblast, resulting in injuries to two women aged 72 and 73.
• Due to shelling of railway infrastructure in Kharkiv Oblast on May 23, 6 railway workers were injured, and railway facilities were damaged. However, trains continue to operate according to schedule.
• In the afternoon of May 23, Russian forces launched two glide bomb strikes on Kharkiv and Derhachi in Kharkiv Oblast. As a result of the enemy’s strike on Derhachi, 13 people were injured. Four of the injured have been hospitalized, according to preliminary information.
• During the past day, Russian forces carried out 30 shelling attacks in Sumy Oblast, attacked with FPV drones, and deployed mines. A total of 139 explosions were recorded.

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