May 14, 2023
1. The UK is a direct participant in Ukrainian/NATO aggression against Russia
On 13 May 2023 Russian Defence Ministry reported that on 12 May at around 6.30PM Moscow time, AFU Air Force combat aircraft launched a missile attack on Polipak polymer products company and Milam meat processing plant in Lugansk, the Russian Federation.
“The strike was carried out using Storm Shadow missiles supplied to the Kiev regime by the UK, contrary to London's claims that these weapons would not be used on civilian targets.
As a result of the strike, a fire broke out on the territory of Lugansk food and chemical industries. Some nearby residential buildings are destructed. Civilians, including six children, were injured.”
The Russian Aerospace Forces fighter aircraft shot down AFU Su-24 aircraft that attacked Lugansk by Storm Shadow missiles and Mig-29 fighter that was protecting it.
Russian expert community suggested to respond to the UK delivery of Storm Shadows to Ukraine in several ways: to sink any large British combat ship, to disrupt a communication line between the USA and the UK or to sever diplomatic ties with London.
2. Other developments on the battlefield
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continued the Special Military Operation.
In Kupyansk direction, the attacks, launched by aviation, as well as artillery and heavy flamethrower systems of the Zapad Group of Forces, have resulted in the neutralisation of the enemy units close to Sinkovka, Kurilovka (Kharkov region), and Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People's Republic, the Russian Federation).
Two Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups have been thwarted near Berestovoye and Timkovka (Kharkov Region). The enemy losses were up to 170 Ukrainian servicemen, four motor vehicles, Gvozdika and Akatsiya self-propelled artillery systems.
The enemy losses were over 100 Ukrainian servicemen, five motor vehicles, one D-20 howitzer and one Rapira anti-tank gun.
In Krasny Liman direction, the attacks, launched by Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, as well as artillery of the Tsentr Group of Forces, have resulted in the neutralisation of AFU units near Terny, Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic, the Russian Federation), and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic, the Russian Federation). The enemy losses were up to 75 Ukrainian servicemen, two infantry fighting vehicles, one Akatsiya self-propelled howitzer and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system. Over 60 Ukrainian personnel, one armoured fighting vehicle, two motor vehicles, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system have been eliminated.
In Donetsk direction, the assault detachments have liberated a neighbourhood in the northwestern part of Artyomovsk (Bakhmut in Ukrainian). The Airborne Troops' units provided support to the assault units and restrained the enemy on the flanks.
Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, as well as artillery of the Yug Group of Forces inflicted a fire damage on the enemy units close to Grigorovka, Krasnoye and Chasov Yar (Donetsk People's Republic, the Russian Federation). Russian aviation have made 9 sorties in this area during the day. The Group's artillery have performed 98 firing missions.
The enemy losses were over 285 Ukrainian servicemen and mercenaries, two tanks, three infantry fighting vehicles, four armoured personnel carriers, four motor vehicles, two Akatsiya self-propelled howitzers, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one D-30 howitzer.
In addition, one AFU artillery-missile armament and munitions depot was destroyed near Kramatorsk (Donetsk People's Republic, the Russian Federation).
In Soledar-Artyomovsk direction, the assault units supported by the Airborne Troops units continued fighting for the western neighbourhoods of Artyomovsk. The enemy made massive attempts to break through Russian troops' defence to the north and south parts of Artyomovsk in the past 24 hour. All the attacks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) have been repelled. There has been no breakthrough in the defence of Russian forces. The servicemen of the 4th and 200th motorised rifle brigades and the 6th Motorised Rifle Division of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation showed courage and heroism in repulsing the enemy attacks.
The units of the 4th Motorised Rifle Brigade have repulsed the attacks by AFU battalion tactical group to the south of Krasnoye (Donetsk People's Republic), as a result of which the enemy losses In total, in Soledar-Artyomovsk section, the enemy losses were over 400 Ukrainian servicemen killed and wounded, 12 tanks, 18 infantry fighting vehicles, two armoured fighting vehicles, one U.S.-manufactured M777 artillery system as well as one D-20 howitzer.
In South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, the attacks, launched by aviation and artillery of the Vostok Group of Forces have resulted in the neutralisation of the enemy units close to Ugledar, Pavlovka, Novopol (Donetsk People's Republic, the Russian Federation), Malinovka, Malaya Tokmachka and Novodanilovka (Zaporozhye Region).The actions of a Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group have been disrupted close to Novomayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic, the Russian Federation).
In Kherson direction, the enemy losses were up to 20 Ukrainian servicemen, three motor vehicles, and one Giatsint-B gun. One AFU ammunition depot has been destroyed near Nikolayev. Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised 102 artillery units of the AFU at their firing positions, manpower and military hardware at 114 areas. One radar station of Ukrainian S-300 anti-aircraft missile system has been destroyed near Novodmitrovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
The 5th Assault Brigade's battalion command and observation post has been hit near Krasnoye (Donetsk People's Republic). One aircraft missiles and fuel depot for Ukrainian military equipment has been destroyed, close to Zaporozhye city. Fighter aviation of Russian Aerospace Forces has shot down one Mi-8 helicopter of Ukrainian Air Force near Kupyansk (Kharkov Region).
Air defence facilities have intercepted three HIMARS projectiles. In addition, 18 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been shot down close to Velikiy Vyselok, Dvurechnoye (Kharkov Region), Belogorovka, Kremennaya, Svatovo (Lugansk People's Republic), Veseloye (Donetsk People's Republic), Mirovoye, Pologi (Zaporozhye Region), Korsunka and Krynki (Kherson Region).
Since February 24, 2022 in total, 425 Ukrainian airplanes, 231 helicopters, 4,135 UAVs, 421 AAD systems; 9,159 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles; 1,100 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS; 4,813 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 10,193 special military vehicles have been destroyed
Written by Vladimir P. Kozin
