Enemy continues to accumulate forces along Ukraine-Belarus border – General Staff

Russian and Belarusian military vehicles are actively moving within the territory of Belarus and accumulating along the border with Ukraine.

The relevant statement was made by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Meanwhile, within the territory of Belarus, the representatives of opposition forces and concerned citizens, who are condemning the current illegitimate government’s assistance to the Russian Federation in the war against Ukraine, have partially disrupted railway services between Belarus and Ukraine. The information is yet to be updated.

As of 06:00 a.m., March 23, 2022, the Ukrainian defense forces continued to conduct a defense operation in the Eastern, South-Eastern and North-Eastern directions.

In the Eastern direction, the operational groups of troops are active in such operational districts as Donetsk, Slobozhanskyi and Tavriiskyi. They do not allow the enemy to resume an offense operation towards. They are restraining the enemy’s advance towards Zaporizhzhia.

The combined forces are holding back Russian invaders in the direction of Popasna and Kurakhove. They are also carrying out the circular defense of Mariupol.

In the North-Eastern direction, the defense operation continues in a designated operational zone. The main efforts are focused on covering the state border, holding back the enemy’s offence near Malyn.

In the Siverskyi area, the Ukrainian Army is keeping the defense of Chernihiv and holding back the enemy’s advance towards Kyiv.

In the South-Eastern direction, the defense operation is underway, as well as the support of ground operations and individual units, the defense of bases and seaports within the Black Sea operational zone. The defense of the city of Mykolaiv and Mykolaiv Region continues.

Ukrainian defenders continue to hold back the enemy in the direction of Kryviy Rih and Novovorontsovka, conducting a stabilization operation and carrying out territorial defense tasks.

Over the past day, the enemy’s aviation has been actively involved in hostilities, launching missile strikes.

The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is repelling concentrated missile and air strikes of the enemy, covering Ukraine’s important objects and grounding troops from the air. Over the past day, more than 17 enemy air targets have been hit (six aircrafts, five UAVs, one helicopter and five cruise missiles). Additionally, the Ukrainian Air Forces dealt devastating blows to the groups of enemy military vehicles and manpower, as well as enemy cruise missiles.

According to the General Staff, concealed mobilization is underway within the Russian Federation to replenish the personnel losses.

In certain areas, the enemy has been demoralized. In particular, in one of the special forces units involved in active hostilities near Mariupol, less than 10% of the personnel are ready to continue the war. The rest of the personnel are either killed, wounded, ill or demoralized.

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