Ukrainian troops advance 1.5 km in Melitopol direction

The Ukrainian troops have advanced 1.5 km deep into the territories occupied by the Russians in Melitopol direction.

"As a result of systemic pressure, the defense forces in Tavria direction are successful and have advanced 1.5 km deep into the territories occupied by the enemy in Melitopol direction. The defense forces gain a foothold on the lines gained," Valeriy Shershen, the spokesman for the joint press center of the defense forces of Tavria direction, said during the United News telethon, Ukrinform reports.

According to the spokesman, the military continues to destroy the enemy while advancing forward. Over the past day, the invaders attacked Ukrainian positions 18 times and launched 450 artillery strikes. In Avdiyivka direction, the enemy launched an air strike and fired artillery at the surrounding settlements.

"Practically all the assaults of the Russian occupying forces in Tavria direction over the past day were concentrated in Maryinka direction. Here, the enemy carried out 14 assaults, had no success. They also launched an airstrike in the area of Krasnohorivka and shelled the nearby settlements of Hostre and Heorhiyivka with artillery," Shershen said.

He also spoke about the situation in Zaporizhzhia direction where the occupiers concentrated their efforts on preventing the advance of Ukrainian troops, unsuccessfully trying to restore the lost positions in the area of Novodarivka. The enemy lost 146 soldiers killed, 229 wounded, and four taken captive. Fifteen units of weapons and military equipment were destroyed.

Shershen also explained that the news about the liberation of Rivnopil was delayed for certain tactical reasons. In general, as a result of concerted actions and a clear implementation of the plan, the strike units of the defense forces in Tavria direction took control of this settlement on the border of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions – exactly where the Ukrainian military conducts counteroffensive operations in Berdiansk direction.

"There was not a single civilian here, since, by and large, the settlement was almost completely destroyed. The big problem is that it was surrounded on all sides by minefields of a very complex nature. Our engineering troops carved the corridors and, in fact, in this way, we managed to de-occupy the village, now stabilization measures are carried out there," Shershen said.

As reported, 17 engagements took place in Bakhmut direction during the day, more than 350 invaders were killed and wounded. In Lyman–Kupyansk direction, the defense forces repelled 12 enemy attacks and eliminated almost 100 Russian invaders.

Photo: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine