Russian forces launched a series of attacks on Ukrainian cities on January 23. Photo: TASS.
“This morning, the Russian Armed Forces carried out a group attack using long-range, high-precision air and ground-launched weapons against Ukrainian defense facilities producing missiles, missile components and ammunition as well as explosives have been completed. All designated targets were attacked,” the Russian Defense Ministry said.
In the Kupyansk region, units of the West Wing Battle Group, including aircraft and artillery forces, repelled six attacks by the Ukrainian armed forces near Sinkovka and Tabayevka in the Kharkiv Region and Makeyevka in the People’s Republic Lugansk people. Ukraine lost up to 45 troops, two motor vehicles and a Gvozdika self-propelled gun.
In the Krasny Liman area, units of the Central Battle Group, supported by artillery, improved their front-line positions, repelling four attacks by assault groups of the No. 63 of the Ukrainian army and the 5th brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine.
In the Donetsk region, Ukrainian losses included more than 200 dead and wounded, one tank, two infantry fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles, one D-30 artillery gun and one Anklav-electronic warfare system. N.
Attacks also took place fiercely in many other regions of Ukraine. Ukraine has also confirmed that Russia attacked a series of cities in the country, which Kiev said killed at least 7 people.
Ukrainian officials said the Russian attack included more than 40 ballistic, cruise, air defense and guided missiles. Ukraine’s air force, whose defenses include Western-supplied systems, said it intercepted 21 missiles.
The attacks have kept Ukrainians in constant danger while the 1,500 km (930 mile) front line has barely budged. The inability of both sides to make major gains on the battlefield pushed the fighting into trench warfare and artillery. Analysts say Russia stockpiled missiles late last year to carry out a winter aerial bombardment campaign.
The United Nations said it appeared to be the heaviest bombardment since early January, causing casualties to rise, and was an “alarming reversal” from last year’s trend when civilian casualties fell.