Victory Chronicles
-DAY 359

Above:  “BATTLE OF KYIV”.   As we approach the one-year anniversary of Russia’s unprovoked invasion, the General Staff shared an interview with Commander of Ground Forces General Sirsky on his recollection of the opening of the war (excerpt):  

“According to high-level American analysts, they believed we would not be able to hold Kyiv for more than three or four days. We knew about it. I spoke with both the Commander of the United States Ground Forces in Europe General Cavoli, and the Commander of the NATO Ground Forces General Cloutier. They wrote: ‘We are praying for you, we are proud of you, we are impressed by your resilience and we believe in you.’ It was difficult times when they wrote that, but then, when the situation radically changed in our favor, they began to understand a lot about Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.” Commander of Ground Forces General Sirsky

Above:  As anticipation grows regarding an acceleration of the enemy’s missile campaign of terror, Ukraine is set to get several Patriot Air Defense Systems with the capability to bring down cruise missiles, short-range ballistic missiles and aircraft at a significantly higher ceiling than previously provided systems. Seventy Ukrainian service people are training in Germany on their use.  Trainers have been astounded by how fast the Ukrainians are learning. (Ukrainian Air Force)

Above:  Russia is intensifying its campaign to abduct and “re-educate Ukrainian children as part of its cultural genocide program.  The head of Moscow’s program for abducting Ukraine children met with Putin to get her orders.  They expressed satisfaction with demand by Russian families for Ukrainian children (and the stipends) as well as the collaboration of regional authorities including a Kadyrovite program for straightening out difficult teenagers. (RFERL)

In occupied territories, occupation officials are erasing Ukrainian history in classrooms in a wider plan to  erase Ukrainian identity among children. Mariupol Mayoral Advisor Petro Andryushchenko posted curricula for schools in Mariupol that present a fabricated history that paints Russia as the only legitimate eastern Slavic ethnicity, champion inheritor of the Kyiv-Rus Empire and stalwart defender against Western aggression and depravity. Ukrainian children are taught that Russia heroically defends itself against Ukrainian tyranny. .

• Russia is amassing fixed-wing and rotary aircraft near the Russo-Ukrainian border likely to support an offensive on the ground. Eighty percent of Russia’s airpower remains intact. Russian forces have been attempting to disable Ukrainian air defenses in preparation for a large strike campaign. Russian sortie rates have increased over the past week although Russian forces have not increased air presence in Ukraine.  US Secretary of Defense Austin stated that current Ukrainian air defense capabilities are not sufficient to combat a renewed wave of air attacks but that the US doesn’t see evidence of an imminent massive Russian aerial attack. Russian forces would likely suffer unsustainable aircraft losses if they committed aircraft to extended combat operations, especially if Western states provide Ukraine with adequate air defense capabilities.
• The Samara Oblast military prosecutor’s office arrested two mobilized personnel from the 1444th regiment for posting a video in which they complained about a lack of proper documentation, payments, and instructions. Their regiment suffered significant casualties in a Ukrainian strike on a Russian base in Makiivka, Donetsk Oblast on December 31, 2022.
• The head of the enemy western military district finance department fell out of a window and died on February 16, perhaps related to an 2022 report that 70 percent of the funds allocated for the modernization of air and missile defense near St. Petersburg had been stolen.

General Staff’s Daily Video Digest with English subtitles

Above: Defense Express

Ukrainian General Staff of the Armed Forces estimated enemy losses since February 24, 2022 (with daily additions)

• Liquidated personnel, 141,260 (+800)
• Tanks, 3,298 (+2)
• Armored personnel vehicles, 6,520 (+3)
• Artillery systems/MLRS, 2,322/467 (+16/1)
• Anti-aircraft warfare systems, 241 (+2)
• Aircraft/helicopters, 298/287 (0)
• UAV operational-tactical level, 2,013 (+1)
• Cruise missiles, 871 (+14)
• Warships/boats, 18 (0)
• Vehicles and fuel tanks, 5,187 (+20)
• Special equipment, 221 (+2)

Above:  Police remove the casing of a missile fired at a residential area in Kharkiv. (Glasnost Gone)

Glory to Ukraine! The three hundred and fifty-ninth day of the Russian large-scale invasion has begun.

• Over the past day, the enemy fired 41 missiles of various types on the territory of our country, 5 of them, modified S-300 anti-aircraft missiles, at Kharkiv. 16 rockets were shot down by our defenders. In addition, the occupiers carried out 24 airstrikes and launched more than 50 attacks from rocket salvo systems. There are wounded and dead among the civilian population.
• The threat of strikes by the Russian Federation remains high throughout the territory of Ukraine.
• Last day, units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine repelled attacks by Russian invaders in the areas of Hryanikyvka and Synkivka settlements of Kharkiv region; Stelmakhivka, Kreminna, Dibrova and Bilogorivka – Luhansk and Rozdolivka, Fedorivka, Paraskoviivka, Bakhmut, Ivanovske, Severnye, Vodyane, Maryinka, Novomykhailivka and Vugledar in Donetsk
• The enemy does not stop mortar and artillery shelling of the positions of our units, as well as settlements along the state border of Ukraine. During the past day, areas of Popivka, Bachivsk and Partizanske settlements of Sumy region, as well as Veterinarne, Graniv, Svitlychne, Strilecha and Vovchansk in Kharkiv region, were subjected to enemy shelling.
• On the Kupyansk and Lymansk directions, the enemy shelled the settlements of Novomlynsk, Dvorichna, Hryanikyvka, and Kucherivka of the Kharkiv region; Stelmakhivka, Nevske and Chervonopivka in the Luhansk region and Berestov in the Donetsk
• In the Bakhmut direction, Spirne, Vyimka, Bilogorivka, Vesele, Rozdolivka, Fedorivka, Vasyukivka, Paraskoviivka, Bakhmut, Ivanovske, Stupochki, Predtechine, Oleksandro-Shultyne, Kurdyumivka and Ozaryanivka were affected by fire.
• In the Avdiiv and Shakhtar directions, the enemy carried out artillery shelling of the settlements of Vesele, Avdiivka, Vodyane, Pervomaiske, Nevelske, Krasnohorivka, Georgiivka, Maryinka, Pobieda, Novomykhailivka, Vugledar, Bogoyavlenka, Prechistivka, Velyka Novosilka, Vremivka, and Neskuchne of the Donetsk
• In the Zaporizhzhia direction, the areas of Zelene Pole and Novopil settlements in Donetsk region and Malynivka, Gulyaipole, Zaliznychne, Biloghirya, Mala Tokmachka, Novodanilivka, Orihiv, Novoandriivka and Kamianske in Zaporizhzhia were damaged by fire.
• On the Kherson direction, Zmiivka, Tokarivka, Antonivka and Kherson suffered from enemy artillery fire. Peaceful people suffered.

Believe in the Armed Forces! Together we will win! Glory to Ukraine!

Above:   (Armed Forces of Ukraine)

• Russian forces continued to conduct ground attacks near Svatove on February 16. Ukrainian forces may have repelled a Russian 138th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade attack near Hryanykivka (53km northwest of Svatove). Russian forces may have entered Lyman Pershyi, advanced to the Synkivka area, and attacked Masyutivka, Kharkiv Oblast (all 50–54km northwest of Svatove).
• Russian forces continued to conduct ground attacks near Kreminna on February 16. Ukrainian forces repelled Russian ground attacks near Bilohorivka and in the Serebrianska forest area, both south of Kreminna. Russian 3rd Motorized Rifle Division forces may have pushed Ukrainian forces back 500–1,000 meters near Kreminna.

Above: On Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Verashchuk called for Bakhmut civilians to evacuate as soon as possible, imploring, “If you are rational, law-abiding and patriotic citizens, you should evacuate immediately.”  Ms Verashchuk estimated that about 6000 people remain in Bakhmut, reduced from 73,000 before this invasion. On the day of her appeal, enemy shelling killed five people in Bakhmut.  She asked for people to think not only of themselves, but their loved ones, especially, “the children that are forced to stay with you.” Finally, she emphasized that the Armed Forces should be fighting the enemy, not having to protect citizens. (DW)

Video: People stay in war zones for a variety of reasons, be it health, stubbornness or a sense of duty.  A few are even waiting for Russian World occupation.  Residents of Bakhmut have long lived without public utilities or businesses like grocery stores and pharmacies. They depend on an army of volunteers to bring essentials like water, food, medicine and generators.

https://www.dw.com/en/volunteers-take-aid-to-bakhmut-despite-intense-fighting/video-64466490

• Ukrainian forces are anticipating an enemy surge in an attempt to take Bakhmut by February 24 – to give their leader something to brag about on the war’s anniversary next week. War analysts generally don’t see potential improvements in current invader operations, however, an escalation of missile attacks on civilian infrastructure is probable.
• Russian forces continued ground attacks around Bakhmut on February 16. Ukrainian troops repelled Russian attacks on Bakhmut itself and near Fedorivka (15km northeast of Bakhmut) and Dyliivka (13km southwest of Bakhmut). Geolocated footage shows special forces elements of the Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) striking Russian positions in Paraskoviivka, indicating that Russian forces have made marginal advances just northeast of Bakhmut.
• Russian forces continued ground attacks in the Avdiivka–Donetsk City area on February 16. Ukrainian troops repelled Russian attacks near Avdiivka and along the western outskirts of Donetsk City near Vodiane and Pervomaiske (on the northwestern outskirts) and Marinka and Novomykhailivka (on the southwestern outskirts).
• Russian forces conducted ground attacks in western Donetsk Oblast on February 16. Russian troops attacked near Vuhledar (30km southwest of Donetsk City), Prechystivka (35km southwest of Donetsk City), and Novosilka (65km southwest of Donetsk City).

Video: Bakhmut update from Kiyanyn.

Bakhmut update from Kiyanyn 16-02-23. pic.twitter.com/rXWuQPMWJ5

— International Observers Ukraine (@INTobservers) February 16, 2023

Above:  Enemy shelled Kherson yesterday, hitting heating facilities, residential buildings, stores, a bus station and a pier.  There are dead and wounded. (Kherson Online)