War update: More than 80 combat engagements in five directions in past day

Over the past 24 hours, more than 80 combat engagements between the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Russian invaders took place in Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiyivka, Maryinka, and Shakhtarske directions.

This is stated in the report by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of 06:00, May 20, published on Facebook.

"Last night, Russian terrorists carried out another airstrike with Shahed drones on Ukraine. Information about the consequences of this terrorist attack is currently being clarified. Over the past day, the enemy launched six missile strikes, 62 airstrikes, and 65 MLRS attacks on the positions of our troops and populated settlements. Civilian infrastructure was destroyed. In particular, as a result of the shelling of Kryvyi Rih in Dnipropetrovsk region, Stepnohirsk in Zaporizhzhia region, and Beryslav and Zelenivka in Kherson region, civilians were killed and injured, a child was killed, private houses, healthcare institutions, and other civilian facilities were destroyed," the report reads.

The enemy continues to focus its main efforts on Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiyivka, Maryinka, and Shakhtarske directions. Over the past 24 hours, more than 80 combat engagements took place on the specified areas of the front, the hottest battles were fought for Bakhmut, Maryinka, and in the areas of Avdiyivka, Stepove, and Novomykhaylivka.

In Volyn and Polissia directions, the operational situation has not changed significantly, and no signs of the formation of enemy offensive groups have been detected.

In Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna directions, the enemy continues to maintain its military presence in the areas bordering Ukraine. Over the past day, airstrikes were launched on the areas of Hlyboke, Pletenivka, Zemlianka settlements in Kharkiv region. The invaders fired mortars and artillery at Bleshnia, Karpovychi in Chernihiv region; Malushyne, Shpyl, Volfyne, Oleksiyivka, Sadky, Motrytsia, Turya, Slavhorod, Verkhnia Pozhnia, and Pozhnia in Sumy region; Udy, Hatyshche, Pletenivka, Pokaliane, Budarky, Zemlianka, and Topoli in Kharkiv region.

In Kupyansk direction, the enemy conducted unsuccessful offensive operations in the area of Bilohorivka, Luhansk region. Airstrikes were launched near Hryhorivka, Vilshana, Kyslivka in Kharkiv region. Fyholivka, Novomlynsk, Petropavlivka, Dvorichna, Zapadne, Masiutivka, Lyman Pershyi, Kyslivka, Kotliarivka, Tabayivka, Berestovka in Kharkiv region; Stelmakhivka in Luhansk region came under enemy artillery and mortar fire.

In Lyman direction, the enemy did not conduct offensive operations over the past day. Airstrikes were launched on the areas of Novoliubivka and Dibrova in Luhansk region. Studenok in Kharkiv region; Makiyivka, Nevske, Bilohorivka in Luhansk region; Verkhniokamyanske and Spirne in Donetsk region came under artillery fire.

In Bakhmut direction, the enemy continues to go on the offensive. Heavy fighting continues for the city of Bakhmut. In addition, over the past day, the enemy conducted unsuccessful offensive operations near the settlements of Ivanivske and Bila Hora.

The Russians carried out airstrikes on the areas of Fedorivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Bakhmut, Khromove, Ivanivske, Stupochky, and Bila Hora. Vasiukivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Hryhorivka, Bohdanivka, Bakhmut, Ivanivske, Chasiv Yar, Predtechyne, Bila Hora, Dyliyivka, Druzhba, and Pivnichne in Donetsk region were struck.

In Avdiyivka direction, the enemy carried out offensive operations in the direction of Novokalynove, Stepove, Avdiyivka and Pervomaiske, had no success. Over the past day, an airstrike near Avdiyivka was launched. Novokalynove, Berdychi, Avdiyivka, Tonenke, Pervomayske, Karlivka, and Nevelske in Donetsk region came under artillery fire.

In Maryinka direction, the Ukrainian troops repelled more than 20 enemy attacks in the area of Maryinka town. At the same time, Krasnohorivka, Heorhiyivka, Maryinka, Kurakhove, and Katerynivka in Donetsk region came under enemy fire.

In Shakhtarske direction, over the past day, the enemy carried out more than 10 unsuccessful offensive operations in the area of Novomykhaylivka. At the same time, airstrikes were launched on the area of Vuhledar, Prechystivka and Zolota Nyva. Novomykhaylivka, Vuhledar, Bohoyavlenka, Maksymivka, Zolota Nyva, and Velyka Novosilka were hit.

In Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, the enemy continues to hold the defense. The invaders launched an airstrike on Kizomys settlement and shelled the settlements near the contact line, in particular Huliaypole, Novodanylivka, Mali Shcherbaky, Stepove, Kamyanske, Plavni in Zaporizhzhia region; Zolota Balka, Beryslav, Zelenivka, Stepanivka, Kizomys, Kherson in Kherson region.

According to the General Staff data, the Russian occupiers continue the forced passportization of the population in Kakhovka, a temporarily occupied territory in Kherson region. To speed up this process, the invaders conduct demonstrative raids aimed at intimidating the local population with possible mobilization and alienation of property. In particular, the occupiers come to people’s homes, conduct a population census and exert psychological pressure, forcing them to take passports. Also, the enemy threatens Ukrainian citizens who refused a Russian passport with forced eviction from their homes and disconnection of electricity supply.

"Over the past day, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine launched 13 strikes on the enemy's personnel and military equipment clusters and eight strikes on the enemy's anti-aircraft missile systems. Also, our soldiers destroyed three Kalibr cruise missiles, 18 Iranian-made Shahed UAVs, four Lancet loitering munitions, and 10 reconnaissance UAVs of various types. Ukrainian missile and artillery units hit a command post, seven weapons and military equipment clusters, two artillery units on a firing position, six electronic warfare stations, an ammunition depot, and a radar station of S-300 missile system," the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine summed up.