Russia deploys 20 battalion tactical groups for offensive in Sloviansk direction

That’s according to the latest war update by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Ukrinform reports.

“The enemy led the offensive in the directions of the settlements of Bakhmut, Soledar and Lysychansk. They are seeing no success, having retreated to previously held positions. They tried to take control of the left bank of the Siverskyi Donets River and create conditions for its crossing by the main forces of the group,” the report reads.

No signs of any offensive groups forming were spotted in the Volyn and Polissya directions. Belarus forces started an exercise at the Vyzhlovichi training ground in Brest region. The threat of missile strikes from Belarus remains in place.

In the Siverskyy direction, the enemy took no significant action and no signs of strike groups being formed were seen. In order to locate the positions of Ukrainian troops, enemy UAVs conducted reconnaissance missions in certain areas in Sumy and Chernihiv regions. They also fired a rocket at the settlement of Krasnopillya in Sumy region and mortared Mykhalchyna Sloboda in Chernihiv region.

In the Slobozhansky direction, the enemy is focusing its main efforts on restraining the advance of Ukrainian troops toward the border with Russia. The Russians fired with aircraft, artillery, multiple rocket launchers, mortars, and tanks. They are trying to find weak spots in Ukraine’s defenses and determine further areas of action. The efforts to maintain logistical support and strengthen the grouping continue.

In the Kharkiv direction, the Russians are in defensive action, while also destroying civilian targets in the city of Kharkiv. Their Mi-8 helicopters launched an air strike at the positions of Ukraine’s troops near Slatyne and Dementiyivka.

In the Slovyansk direction, the enemy is preparing to resume the offensive, having amassed a grouping of up to 20 battalion tactical groups. In order to improve the tactical situation, they tried to launch an offensive in the directions of Barvinkove and Sviatohirsk, but with no success.

In the Donetsk direction, the enemy focused its main efforts in the area of ​Siverodonetsk. Under atillery cover, they stormed residential areas in the eastern part of the city with partial success. Active hostilities continue.

In the Lyman direction, the occupiers used jet and barrel artillery in the areas of Shchurove and Brusivka.

The enemy waged no active hostilities in the Avdiyivka, Kurakhiv, Novopavliv, and Zaporizhia areas. Mortar, barrel,and jet artillery shelling was recorded in the areas of Pisky, Mykolaivka, Poltavka, and Pokrovske settlements.

In the South Buh direction, the enemy is defending, in some areas trying to regain lost ground. Their artillery was active, as well as air reconnaissance.

The situation in the Bessarabian direction has not changed significantly.

The main efforts of enemy naval groups in the Black Sea and Azov Maritime Zones focused on isolating hostility zones and blocking civilian shipping in the northwestern part of the Black Sea.

Forcible mobilization of civilians continues in the temporarily occupied territory of Donetsk region. Threatening criminal charges, the command of the occupying forces is trying to enroll as many conscripts as possible to make up for the losses their units have suffered on the battlefield.

According to available information, Russian commanders are working to intensify reconnaissance and sabotage efforts in Ukraine. To this end, they recruit and train mercenaries set to form sabotage and reconnaissance groups. Preferable candidates for the job are former and present residents of Donetsk and Luhansk regions who are fluent in Ukrainian.