Defense forces destroy 16 out of 21 Shahed drones attacking Ukraine at night

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said this in its morning update published on Facebook, Ukrinform reports.

"The Russian Federation continues its armed aggression against Ukraine, does not abandon its intentions to fully occupy Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The enemy is conducting offensive operations in the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Marinka, and Shakhtarsk directions, and is holding the defense in other directions. Over the past day, units of the Defense Forces repelled 114 enemy attacks in the eastern section of the front," the report says.

Over the past day, the occupiers launched 10 missile attacks and 32 airstrikes, as well as carried out 90 attacks using multiple launch rocket systems, in particular, on civilian objects.

The General Staff stresses that the threat of further strikes throughout the territory of Ukraine remains high.

On the night of March 22, the enemy launched another massive attack using Shakhed-136 UAVs. According to preliminary information, Ukrainian defenders shot down 16 out of 21 enemy drones.

In the Volyn, Polissia, Siversk and Slobozhanshchyna directions, the operational situation has not changed significantly. No signs of formation of enemy offensive groups have been recorded. The top leadership of the Republic of Belarus continues to support the Russian armed aggression, provides its infrastructure for the training of enemy units. The enemy maintains a military presence near the state border with Ukraine. Over the past day, Russian forces shelled the areas of Khrinivka and Mykhalchyna Sloboda settlements in Chernihiv region; Atynske, Iskryskivshchyna, Volfyne, Pavlivka, Basivka, Yunakivka and Popivka in Sumy region; Basove, Kozacha Lopan, Strelecha, Hlyboke, Vovchansk and Velykyi Burluk in Kharkiv region.

In the Kupiansk and Lyman directions, the enemy continues its attempts to break through the Ukrainian defense. Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive operations in the areas of Kreminna, Dibrova, Bilohorivka and Vesele settlements. They carried out artillery shelling of Krasne Pershe, Dvorichna, Masiutivka, Kupiansk, Krokhmalne and Berestove settlements in Kharkiv region; Novoselivske, Nevske and Bilohorivka in Luhansk region; Torske, Spirne and Fedorivka in Donetsk region.

In the Bakhmut direction, the enemy continues to conduct offensive operations, suffering significant losses in manpower, weapons and military equipment. Ukrainian defenders repelled numerous enemy attacks in the areas of Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Hryhorivka, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Bakhmut, Klishchiivka and Mayorsk. In particular, Vasiukivka, Zaliznianske, Minkivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Hryhorivka, Bakhmut, Ivanivske, Stupochky, Predtechyne, Chasiv Yar, Kurdiumivka, Ozarianivka and Pivnichne of Donetsk region came under enemy fire.

In the Avdiivka, Marinka and Shakhtarsk directions, the enemy carried out unsuccessful offensive actions in the areas of Novobakhmutivka, Novokalynove, Krasnohorivka, Stepove, Berdychi, Avdiivka, Severne, Vodiane, Pervomaiske, Maryinka, and Pobieda. Almost 20 unsuccessful offensive attempts were also recorded in the area of Marinka. Lastochkyno, Berdychi, Orlivka, Avdiivka, Tonenke, Heorhiivka, Nevelske, Krasnohorivka, Maryinka and Vuhledar in Donetsk region came under enemy fire.

In the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, the enemy is holding the defense. Russian forces shelled the areas of Novopil in Donetsk region; Olhivske, Malynivka, Chervone, Charivne, Huliaipole, Mala Tokmachka, Novodanylivka, Novoandriivka, Kamianske in Zaporizhzhia region; Kherson, Beryslav, Poniativka, Darivka and Antonivka.

"Over the past 24 hours, aircraft of the Defense Forces of Ukraine launched six strikes on the occupiers’ clusters. Our defenders also shot down 15 enemy UAVs of various types, as well as 2 Kh-59 guided air missiles. Units of the rocket troops and artillery hit an ammunition depot, 2 anti-aircraft missile systems, a radar station and one more important enemy object," the General Staff said.

As reported, since February 24, 2022, the Defense Forces of Ukraine have eliminated nearly 166,570 Russian invaders.