War update: Ukrainian forces down two Russian warplanes in past day
The Ukrainian Air Force made 15 sorties engaging enemy clusters, while two enemy aircraft – Su-24M and Su-25 – were downed on Monday.
That’s according to the latest war update the General Staff of the Armed Forces posted on Facebook, Ukrinform reports.
"Over the past day, the enemy launched two missile strikes and 32 air strikes, and fired 55 volleys employing MLR systems. The threat of Russian strikes remains high throughout the territory of Ukraine. At the same time, our air defense system is constantly being strengthened," the report reads.
The enemy continues to focus their main efforts on conducting offensive operations in the Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Novopavlivka directions, while suffering significant losses.
As noted, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are taking additional measures to strengthen their defenses.
Over the past day, Ukrainian defenders repelled enemy attacks in the areas of Hryanivikka of Kharkiv region; Nevske, Kreminna, Kuzmine, Shipylivka, and Bilohorivka of Luhansk region, and Fedorivka, Paraskoviivka, Bakhmut, Vodiane, Maryinka, and Pobieda of Donetsk region.
No signs of any offensive groups being formed were detected in the Volyn, Polissia, Sivershchyna, and Slobozhanshchyna areas. Russian troops continue their combat exercises at Belarusian training grounds. Subjected to enemy shelling was the area of Yanzhulivka, Chernihiv region; Tovstodubove, Vovkivka, Bilokopytove, Volfine, and Basivka of Sumy region; and Veterynarne, Krasne, Vovchansk, and Dvorichanske of Kharkiv region.
In the Kupiansk and Lyman directions, the enemy fired tanks, mortars, and artillery at the areas of Novomlynsk, Dvorichna, Masyutivka, Synkivka, Kupiansk, Stepova, Kislivka, Tabaivka, Krokhmalne, Berestov, Pishchane, Vyshneve, and Cherneshchyna of Kharkiv region; Stelmakhivka, Makiivka, Ploshanka, Nevske, Dibrova and Bilohorivka of Luhansk region; and Ivanivka, Spirne, and Rozdolivka in Donetsk region.
In the Bakhmut direction, the areas of Bilogorivka, Vesele, Vasyukivka, Zaliznianske, Bakhmut, Oleksandro-Shultine, Ozaryanivka, Diliivka, and Maiorsk of Donetsk region were hit by mortar and artillery fire.
Near Avdiivka and Novopavlivka, some populated areas close to the contact line came under tank, mortar, and artillery shelling. Among them are Avdiivka, Severne, Pervomaiske, Nevelske, Krasnohorivka, Maryinka, Pobieda, Bohoyavlenka, Novoukrainka, Prechystivka, and Zolota Nyva of Donetsk region.
In the Zaporizhia direction, Vremivka and Novopil of Donetsk region came under fire; as well as Olhivske, Hulyaipole, Staroukrainka, Hulyaipilske, Charivne, Mala Tokmachka, Novodanilivka, Novoandriivka, Stepove, and Kamianske of Zaporizhzhia region; and Illinka and Nikopol of Dnipropetrovsk region.
In the Kherson direction, the enemy repeatedly fired mortars, barrel and jet artillery at civilian objects in Kherson, as well as at Antonivka, Kherson region.
Due to the lack of metal tokens with a personal ID number, which can be used to identify the bodies, servicemen with Russia’s 20th army operating in Luhansk region were ordered to carry in their breast pocket a bullet casing with a piece of paper in it where all ID information would be noted.
According to the General Staff, in order to motivate soldiers to go on the offensive, Russian propaganda is spreading information about daily bonuses for participating in assault operations. An additional payment was announced for each kilometer of Ukrainian land gained.
It is also noted that campaign to mobilize researchers has kicked off in Moscow. In particular, at the Polyus Research Center working with laser technology, government officials addressed staffers, promoting military service.
"Over the past day, the Ukrainian aviation has carried out 15 strikes on enemy clusters. Also, our defenders shot down two enemy aircraft – a Su-24M and a Su-25. At the same time, missile and artillery units hit an enemy control post, seven manpower clusters, two e-warfare stations, as well as an ammunition depot," the General Staff concluded.
As reported, since Feb 24, 2022, Ukraine’s Defense Forces of Ukraine have eliminated nearly 138,340 Russian invaders as of Feb 13, 2023
Photo: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine