Russian troops prepare offensive on Sloviansk and Sievierodonetsk – General Staff

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

Russia continues to carry out a large-scale armed aggression against Ukraine and offensive operations within the East Operational Zone.

In particular, Russian troops in the direction of Popasna enhanced their ranks with one battalion tactical group deployed from Mariupol.

“In the Popasna direction, the enemy attempted to improve its tactical positions near Popasna. One battalion tactical group was deployed from the Mariupol direction to enhance Russian troops,” the report states.

In the Slobozhanskyi direction, Russian invaders continued to shell the city of Kharkiv and such settlements as Udy and Prudianka. In the Izium direction, the enemy conducted offensive operations in the Izium-Barvinnkove and Izium-Sloviansk directions. Russian troops were firing at Ukrainian positions.

In the Donetsk direction, Russian occupation forces were conducting offensive operations all over the contact line. In the Lyman direction, the enemy opened fire on the positions of Ukrainian forces on the Lyman-Siversk border to push them back and create conditions for the offensive on Sloviansk.

In the Sievierodonetsk direction, the enemy focused efforts to gain full control over Rubizhne and make preparations for the offensive on Sloviansk.

In order to increase the air-defense system, Russian troops deployed additional anti-aircraft missile systems within the temporarily captured and occupied areas of Luhansk Region and Zaporizhzhia Region.

In the Tavriiskyi and Southern Bug directions, the enemy attempted to improve its tactical positions and opened fire. In the Tavriiskyi direction, Russian troops are regrouping, accumulating fire damage systems, hardening positions, replenishing ammunition and fuel stocks.

In the Southern Bug direction, Russian invaders are attempting to reach the administrative borders of Kherson Region, seeking weak spots in the Ukrainian defense lines. In the direction of Mykolaiv, the enemy conducted air reconnaissance, using three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Russian troops launched artillery strikes on Ukrainian positions.

In the Volyn and Polissia directions, the separate units of the Belarusian Armed Forces continue to cover the Ukrainian-Belarusian state border in Brest Region and Gomel Region. The threat of missile strikes from the territory of Belarus is persisting.

In the Siverskyi direction, the enemy opened mortar fire on Ukrainian positions near Senkivky, Chernihiv Region.

The enhanced administrative-police and counter-intelligence regimes were introduced within the border areas in Russia’s Bryansk Region. Checkpoints were placed on roads and near settlements.

Over the past day, the Ukrainian anti-aircraft defense units have hit ten Orlan-10 UAVs. Ukrainian defenders repulsed 10 enemy attacks in Donetsk Region and Luhansk Region, having destroyed two Russian tanks, 17 artillery systems, 38 armored vehicles and 10 motor vehicles.

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