Russians preparing offensive in Bakhmut direction, heavy firefights ongoing in Siverodonetsk

This was reported on Facebook by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as seen by Ukrinform.

“Firefights continue in the Siverodonetsk direction, in the city of Siverodonetsk. The enemy fired tanks and artillery near Siverodonetsk, Lysychansk, Voronove, Myrna Dolyna, and Hirske. The Ukrainian soldiers competently repulsed the enemy's reconnaissance attempt in the directions of Metiolkine-Voronove and Metiolkine-Sirotyne. The enemy retreated. The occupiers are strengthening positions in the settlement of Ustynivka, conducting an offensive in the direction of Bila Hora, with partial success,, as hostilities continue. In the direction of Toshkivka - Pidlisne, the enemy captured the settlements of Pidlisne and Myrna Dolyna, consolidating forces on the occupied frontiers. They also have partial success in the area of ​​Hirske. The Ukrainian soldiers successfully repulsed the assault in the direction of Vysoke,” the General Staff said.

No significant changes were spotted in the activities performed by Belarusian armed forces in the Volyn and Polissya areas, while the threat of missile strikes from the Belarusian territory remains in place.

In the northern direction, the enemy continues fortifying the border zone and mining the area. Mortars and artillery were fired at the settlements of Seredyna-Buda, Myropillya, and Yunakivka in Sumy region, as well as Hremiach in Chernihiv region.

In the Kharkiv direction, the enemy conducted air reconnaissance in the areas of Ruska Lozova, Cherkaska Lozova, and Pitomnyk. Artillery shelling was recorded near Kharkiv, Peremohy, Verkhnyi Saltiv, Staryi Saltiv, Chepil, Rubizhne, and Stara Hnylytsia. In addition, enemy MLR systems were active in the districts of Korobochkine, Mospanove, and Kutuzivka.

In the Sloviansk direction, the enemy focuses its main efforts on holding previously occupied positions.

Artillery shelling was recorded in the areas of Bohorodychne, Velyka Komyshuvakha, Hrushuvakha, Dolyna, Petrivske, Zavgorodne, Protopopivka, Pryshib, Karnaukhivka, Vernopillya, Chervone, Dovhenke, and Krasnopillya. The occupiers launched an air strike near Dibrivne.

According to the press service, the enemy regrouped in the Donetsk direction in order to strengthen its grouping for further offensive in the Bakhmut direction. In addition, the formation of consolidated units was identified in the area. Thus, due to significant losses sustained, reorganization was noted of the two battalion tactical groups comprised of the 5th Combined Army units, which had lost their combat capability, into one consolidated BTGr. Also, according to available reports, the enemy brought units of the 1st Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 1st Army Corps to restore combat capability.

In the Kramatorsk direction, the enemy took no significant action, firing at the positions of our troops with mortars, barrel and jet artillery in the areas of Donetsk, Starodubivka, Mykolaivka, and Pryshib.

In the Bakhmut direction, the enemy fired on the areas of Berestove and Komyshuvakha, going for the offensive in the direction of Oleksandropil – Komyshuvakha, and retreating after achieving no success.

The enemy took no significant action in the Avdiyivka, Novopavlivska, and Zaporizhia areas. They fired on the territories near Krasnohorivka, Hostre, Novoandriyivka, Huliaipilske, and Novosilka.

In the South Buh direction, in order to exhaust Ukrainian forces and destroy fortifications, the enemy fired on the positions of Ukrainian troops and conducted air reconnaissance using UAVs.

As the General Staff reported earlier, the Ukrainian Armed Forces eliminated about 34,100 Russian soldiers between February 24 and June 21, including 300 in the past day alone.

Ukrainian defenders also destroyed 1,496 (+19) tanks, 3,606 (+18) armored fighting vehicles, 752 (+3) artillery systems, 239 (+1) multiple launch rocket systems, 98 (+0) anti-aircraft warfare systems, 216 (+0) warplanes, 181 (+0) helicopters, 611 (+10) operational and tactical level UAVs, 137 (+7) cruise missiles, 14 (+0) warships/boats, 2,537 (+10) other vehicles and tanker trucks, and 59 (+4) pieces of special equipment.