The 515th day of the Russia-Ukraine War: official operational information by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on 23.07.2023.
Russian offensive actions and impact on civilians
The Russian Federation continues to kill the civilian population of Ukraine, persistently ignoring the laws and customs of war, employing terror tactics, and launching attacks on both military and civilian targets.
Within a 24-hour period, Russian troops launched a missile strike on Ukrainian territory, using 17 cruise missiles and 2 ballistic missiles. Thanks to the efforts of the Air Force’s anti-aircraft defense, 9 cruise missiles were successfully destroyed. Additionally, the Russian army conducted 26 airstrikes and carried out 35 shelling attacks with multiple rocket launchers on the positions of Ukrainian troops and populated areas. Unfortunately, there were civilian casualties, and residential buildings, religious structures, and other civilian infrastructure suffered damage.
The likelihood of further missile and aviation strikes across the entire territory of Ukraine remains high.
The Russian army continues to concentrate its main efforts on the directions of Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Marinka, where heavy fighting persists. During the past 24 hours, there have been 27 combat clashes.
Intensified frontline clashes and epicenters of conflict
All maps provided by War Mapper
- In the Volyn and Polissia directions, the operational situation remains relatively unchanged, with no significant signs of forming offensive groups. Belarusian military units identified in border areas with Ukraine are carrying out their tasks.
- In the Siversk and Slobozhansk directions, the Russian army maintains its military presence. It launched an aviation strike in the Pavlivka area of Sumy Oblast and conducted mortar and artillery shelling on more than 15 populated areas, including Tymonovychi in Chernihiv Oblast, Seredyna-Buda, Uhroidy, and Yunakivka in Sumy Oblast, as well as Kozacha Lopan, Budarky, and Veterynarne in Kharkiv Oblast.
- In the Kupiansk direction, Ukrainian troops are holding the defense firmly. Russian soldiers launched an aviation strike in the Kucherivka area of Kharkiv Oblast, and Fygolivka, Novomlynsk, Dvorichna, and Kyslivka in Kharkiv Oblast experienced artillery and mortar shelling.
- In the Lyman direction, Russian attempts at offensive actions in the Torsk area of Donetsk Oblast were unsuccessful. Russian troops carried out an aviation strike in the Serebrianskyy Lis area in Donetsk Oblast and subjected the populated areas of Nevske, Bilohorivka in Luhansk Oblast, and Torske, Verkhniokamianske, Spirne, and Rozdolivka in Donetsk Oblast to artillery shelling.
- In the Bakhmut direction, under the dense Russian artillery fire, Ukrainian military successfully repelled attacks in the areas of Bohdanivka, Klishchiivka, and northeast of Orikhove-Vasylivka in Donetsk Oblast. Over 10 populated areas were affected by Russian artillery shelling, including Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Druzhba, and New York in Donetsk Oblast.
- In the Avdiivka direction, under intense Russian aviation and artillery fire, Ukrainian troops successfully repelled attacks by Russian soldiers in the areas of Avdiivka and Nevelske. At the same time, Russian military conducted artillery shelling on more than 10 populated areas, including Avdiivka, Karlivka, and Nevelske in Donetsk Oblast.
- In the Marinka direction, the Armed Forces of Ukraine continue to hold back the Russian troops’ advance in the areas of Krasnohorivka and Marinka. The Russian army also shelled more than 10 populated areas, including Krasnohorivka, Katerynivka, Marinka, and Pobieda in Donetsk Oblast.
- In the Shakhtarsk direction, Russian attempts at offensive actions in the Novomykhailivka area were unsuccessful, and Russian troops also conducted an aviation strike near Blahodatne in Donetsk Oblast. They shelled over 15 populated areas, including Zolota Nyva, Prechystivka, Vuhledar, and Blahodatne in Donetsk Oblast.
- In the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, the Russian army concentrates its main efforts on preventing further advancement of Ukrainian troops. It made unsuccessful attempts to regain lost positions in the Pryiutne area of Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Russian troops also launched aviation strikes in the areas of Mala Tokmachka and Novodanylivka in Zaporizhzhia Oblast and Antonivka in Kherson Oblast. Over 25 populated areas, including Novodariivka, Huliaipole, Huliaipilske, Novoandriivka, and Stepove in Zaporizhzhia Oblast; Illinka and Kamianske in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast; Antonivka, Havrylivka, Novoberyslav, Respublikanets in Kherson Oblast, the city of Kherson, and Yaselka in Mykolaiv Oblast, experienced artillery shelling.
At the same time, the Ukrainian Armed Forces continue their offensive operations In the Melitopol and Berdiansk directions, consolidating their positions, delivering fire strikes with artillery on identified Russian targets, and conducting counter-battery measures.
Russian troops continue to plunder the civilian population, appropriating the grain harvest of peaceful Ukrainian citizens. For example, in the settlement of Pryshyb in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Russian troops are using diesel locomotives to transport a large number of freight cars with various types of grain crops from the territory of an agricultural enterprise.
Ukrainian countermeasures
During the day, the aviation of the Ukrainian army conducted 3 strikes on areas where Russian personnel, armaments, and military equipment were concentrated. Additionally, Ukrainian military destroyed 4 tactical-level reconnaissance UAVs.
The missile forces and artillery units during the day targeted 1 area where Russian personnel, armaments, and military equipment were concentrated, as well as 5 artillery systems at their firing positions, 1 command post, 1 anti-aircraft defense system, and 1 Russian electronic warfare station.
Source: The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
See also: General Staff operational report July 22, 2023 on the Russian invasion of Ukraine
