General Staff: Russian invaders focus efforts to capture Mariupol

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

As of 06:00 p.m., April 7, 2022,  the enemy continued to prepare for the offensive in eastern Ukraine. Russian occupiers are regrouping troops in order to complete the formation of the offensive group.

“The enemy is taking measures to increase the aviation component and C2 system, continues to conduct reconnaissance. The enemy’s main efforts are focused on capturing the city of Mariupol, conducting an offensive near the city of Izium and trying to break through the defense lines in the Donetsk direction,” the report states.

In the Southern Bug direction, Russian invaders are attempting to prevent the Armed Forces of Ukraine from advancing and to improve the tactical position of enemy units in some areas.

In the Volyn direction, there is a possibility of Russian enemy missile strikes on military and civilian infrastructure from the territory Belarus.

In the Polissia direction, the enemy did not take active actions. Russian occupation forces deployed to the territory of Belarus are carrying out demonstration actions in order to prevent the transfer of Ukrainian units from this area to other directions.

The separate units of Russian invaders from the Eastern Military District and the airborne troops of the Russian Armed Forces, which are recovering and regrouping on the territory of Belarus after leaving Ukraine, are likely to be sent to strengthen enemy troops in the Slobozhanskyi direction.

In the Siverskyi direction, the enemy is finishing the regrouping and restoration of combat capability of the Central Military District units within certain areas of the Bryansk and Kursk regions. The possibility of further sending these units to other operational areas, including for combat operations in the Donetsk and Luhansk areas, is not ruled out.

In the Slobozhanskyi direction, Russian invaders are taking active steps to increase control and communication in the interests of the offensive group.

Near Kharkiv, up to five Russian battalion tactical groups continue to blockade the city and shell it with multiple rocket launchers, artillery and mortars.

Russian occupiers are also holding the city of Izium and trying to continue the offensive in the direction of Slоviansk and Barvinkove.

In the Donetsk and Tavriiskyi directions, the enemy continues to carry out fire and assault operations, launch missile and bomb strikes, open artillery fire on the civilian infrastructure of settlements. Berdiansk Port is used by Russian invaders to transfer weapons, military equipment and personnel.

The enemy also intensified efforts in the Sieverodonetsk direction. Russian invaders are attempting to continue the offensive near Donetsk, Novotoshkivske and Popasna.

The enemy also tried to launch an offensive near Marinka, Borivske and Solodke but failed.

Most likely, Russian invaders will soon try to break through the defense lines of the Ukrainian Army in the Sieverodonetsk, Avdiivka and Kurakhov districts.

In the Southern Bug direction, Russian invaders launched artillery strikes and used army aircrafts in some areas. The enemy is attempting to continue the offensive towards Oleksandrivka.

Russian naval groups in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov continue to carry out missile strikes on the territory of Ukraine, isolate the area of ​​hostilities and conduct reconnaissance.

“Russian occupation forces continues to restrict the rights of Ukrainian citizens within the temporarily occupied territories. In particular, in Zaporizhzhia Region, Russian occupiers banned men from leaving for the territory controlled by the Ukrainian authorities. There is also a growing shortage of basic necessities, especially food, which could further complicate the humanitarian situation in the region occupied by Russian invaders,” the General Staff noted.

The Ukrainian Defense Forces, inflicting losses, continue to push back the enemy and liberate the territories temporarily occupied by Russian invaders in some areas.

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