Firefights, bombardments: enemy trying to advance in Ukraine's east

That's according to a war update, delivered by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Ukrinform reports.

That’s according to an operational update published by the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Facebook, Ukrinform reports.

As of 18:00 Kyiv time, Russian troops continue with their offensive operations in the Eastern Operational Zone. The enemy pursues missile strikes on military and civilian infrastructure facilities in Lviv, Chernihiv, and Sumy Regions.

In the Donetsk direction, Russian units persist with offensive operations along the entire line of contact, shelling settlements with artillery. In the areas near Bakhmut, Klynove, Soledar and Vovchoiarivka, the enemy fired missiles from Sukhoi Su-35 jet fighters. Moreover, the enemy also conducted air reconnaissance using Orlan-10 UAVs.

In order to prevent the redeployment of Ukrainian troops in the Siverskyi direction, the Command of the Russian Armed Forces continues to maintain units from the Eastern Military District at the border areas of Bryansk and Kursk oblasts. The enemy fires on the settlements in Sumy and Chernihiv Regions from the Russian territory.

In the Kharkiv direction, Russia's main efforts are focused on retaining their positions and preventing the advance of Ukrainian troops towards the state border of Ukraine. The enemy’s artillery units fired at our military personnel.

In the Sloviansk direction, Russian occupiers are regrouping, recruiting troops and restocking in preparation for the offensive on Sloviansk. The enemy tried to improve the tactical situation in the area of ​​Dovhenke, with no success.

In the Sieiverodonetsk direction, Russian occupiers are trying to launch an offensive in the direction of Borovenky and Sievierodonetsk with the help of artillery units.

In the Bakhmut direction, the enemy tried to break through the defenses of the Armed Forces, was unsuccessful, and withdrew.

In the Avdiivka direction, the enemy carried out assault operations in order to take control of the Novobahmutivka-Novoselivka Druha road, with no gains achieved.

In the Kurakhove direction, the enemy uses artillery and aircraft in the assault on Novomykhailivka, firefights continue.

Russian units made an unsuccessful attempt to attack in the direction of the village of Marinka.

In Mariupol, the enemy focused on blocking Ukrainian troops near the Azovstal plant.

In the Novopavlivsk and Zaporizhzhia directions, the enemy did not carry out active hostilities. In order to restrain the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Russians employ artillery and mortars. At the same time, the enemy is setting up the second line of defense.

The Russian army did not conduct active hostilities in the Pivdennyi Buh area. Mortar and artillery shelling of our units was recorded. The Russians continue engineering work to equip the second line of defense with reinforced concrete structures.

According to the General Staff, no significant changes in the position and condition of the enemy's troops have been recorded in Volyn, Polissia and Siverskyi directions.

Units of the Belarusian Armed Forces continue to carry out their mission at the Ukrainian-Belarusian border in Brest and Gomel regions.

The second stage of combat preparedness tests is underway in Belarus. As part of the activities, training in setting up a pontoon crossing and crossing a water obstacle took place at one of the training grounds.

Missile and bomb strikes from Belarus on infrastructure facilities in Ukraine are still possible.

The General Staff notes that the naval groups of the Russian army in the Black and Azov Seas are on a mission to isolate areas of hostilities and block civilian shipping.

In temporarily occupied Crimea, measures are being taken to restore the combat capability of Russian units that have suffered significant losses in Ukraine. Thus, according to available information, drills to improve combat coordination of the 126th Separate Coastal Guard Brigade and the 810th Separate Marine Brigade are planned to take place at a certain training ground on the peninsula.

"Ukraine's defense forces are inflicting losses on the enemy and are ready for any changes in the operational situation," the statement said.

As Ukrinform reported, from February 24 to May 17, the Armed Forces of Ukraine liquidated about 27,900 (+200) Russian servicemen.