The 505th day of the Russia-Ukraine War: official operational information by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on 13.07.2023.
Russian offensive actions and impact on civilians
During the day, Russian troops launched a missile and air strike on the territory of Ukraine, using 2 Kalibr cruise missiles, 1 Iskander-M ballistic missile, and 20 Iranian strike UAVs Shahed-136/131. As a result of successful combat operations by anti-aircraft missile units, fighter aviation, mobile artillery groups of the Air Force, and air defense components of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, 2 Kalibr cruise missiles and 20 strike drones were destroyed.
In addition, the Russian army carried out 46 airstrikes and conducted approximately 40 shelling attacks from multiple rocket launchers on Ukrainian troops’ positions and civilian areas. Unfortunately, civilians, including children, were affected, and residential buildings and other civilian and administrative infrastructure suffered damage.
The probability of missile and air strikes across the entire territory of Ukraine remains high.
The Russian army continues to concentrate its main efforts in the directions of Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Marinka, with heavy fighting ongoing. Approximately 20 clashes occurred during the day.
Intensified frontline clashes and epicenters of conflict
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- The operational situation remains unchanged in the Volyn and Polissia directions. There are no significant signs of offensive formations being formed. Identified units of the Belarusian Armed Forces are performing tasks in the border areas with Ukraine.
- In the Siversk and Slobozhansk directions, the Russian army maintains a military presence. During the day, it conducted an airstrike in the Veterynarne area of the Kharkiv region. It also carried out mortar and artillery shelling on more than 15 settlements, including Kamin in the Chernihiv region, Pokrovka and Ryasne in the Sumy region, and Muravske, Oliynykove, Riznikove, and Bologivka in the Kharkiv region.
- In the Kupiansk direction, Ukrainian soldiers are holding the defense steadfastly. The Russian army conducted an airstrike in the Kyslivka area of the Kharkiv region. Russian artillery and mortar shelling affected Stroivka, Krasne Pershe, Novomlynsk, Dvorichna, Zapadne, and Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region.
- In the Lyman direction, Russian soldiers carried out unsuccessful offensive actions east of Nevske in the Luhansk region and east of Terniv in the Donetsk region. They conducted airstrikes in the areas of Nevske and Bilohorivka in the Luhansk region. More than 10 settlements, including Nevske and Bilohorivka in the Luhansk region, as well as Torske, Verkhniokamianske, Spirne, and Rozdolivka in the Donetsk region, were subjected to artillery shelling.
- In the Bakhmut direction, under intense Russian aviation and artillery fire, Ukrainian military successfully repelled all Russian attacks in the Berkhivka area. More than 15 settlements, including Vasiukivka, Chasiv Yar, Oleksandro-Shultine, Diliivka, and Pivnichne in the Donetsk region, were affected by Russian artillery shelling.
- In the Avdiivka direction, the Russian army conducted an airstrike in the Avdiivka area. At the same time, it carried out artillery shelling on more than 10 settlements, including Berdychiv, Stepove, and Avdiivka in the Donetsk region.
- In the Marinka direction, the Armed Forces of Ukraine continue to hold back the advance of Russian troops in the Marinka area of the Donetsk region. The Russian army shelled more than 10 settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Marinka, and Horlivka in the Donetsk region.
- In the Shakhtarsk direction, Russian troops carried out unsuccessful offensive actions in the Novomykhailivka area and conducted an airstrike near Makarivka in the Donetsk region. They shelled the settlements of Paraskoviivka, Novomykhailivka, Novoukrainka, Storozheve, Blahodatne, and Makarivka in the Donetsk region.
- In the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, the Russian army is concentrating its main efforts on preventing further advancement of Ukrainian troops. It conducted airstrikes in the areas of Pryiutne in the Zaporizhzhia region and Kozatske in the Kherson region. Russian soldiers also carried out artillery shelling on more than 20 settlements, including Novodarivka, Malynivka, Huliaipole, Zaliznychne, Bilohirya, and Orikhiv in the Zaporizhzhia region, as well as Zolota Balka, Mykhailivka, Antonivka, Chornobaivka, Kizomys, and the city of Kherson. At the same time, the Ukrainian Armed Forces continue their offensive operations in the Melitopol and Berdiansk directions, consolidating their positions and conducting counter-battery measures.
Russian troops continue to employ the practice of artificial resettlement and forced assimilation of Ukrainians in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. For instance, in the Henichesk district of the Kherson region, they have initiated the forced eviction of Ukrainian citizens who have not yet obtained or refused to obtain Russian citizenship, including families with children and elderly individuals. The vacated dwellings are typically populated by representatives of national minorities from economically disadvantaged segments of the Russian Federation’s population.
Ukrainian countermeasures
During the day, the Armed Forces’ aviation conducted 5 strikes on areas where Russian personnel are concentrated and 2 strikes on Russian air defense missile systems.
Units of the missile forces and artillery inflicted damage on Russian concentration areas of personnel, armaments, and military equipment, destroying 10 artillery systems in firing positions and a radar station for counter-battery operations.
Source: The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
See also: General Staff operational report July 12, 2023 on the Russian invasion of Ukraine
