Enemy advancing in four directions, fiercest battles for Bakhmut and Marinka ongoing

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said this in an evening update as of 18:00 on May 2, Ukrinform reports.

"The fiercest battles for Bakhmut and Marinka are going, our soldiers are steadfastly holding the defense,” the General Staff said.

Units of the Ukrainian missile forces and artillery struck four ammunition depots, one anti-aircraft defense system and another important enemy target. Aircraft of the Defense Forces of Ukraine, for their part, launched five strikes targeting enemy manpower clusters. Ukrainian defenders also shot down three more enemy drones of various types.

Throughout the day, the Russian invaders launched three missile attacks and 30 air strikes, as well as about eight MLRS attacks on the positions of the Defense Forces and populated areas.

As a result of regular enemy attacks, civilians were injured, private residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged.

The General Staff warns that the probability of further Russian missile attacks and air strikes across the entire territory of Ukraine remains high.

In the Volyn and Polissia directions, no signs of enemy offensive groups’ formation were detected.

In the Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna directions, the invaders maintain a military presence in the Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod regions bordering Ukraine.

In the Kupiansk direction, the enemy did not carry out offensive operations, instead, they launched artillery and mortar attacks on Krasne Pershe, Fyholivka, Novomlynsk, Lyman Pershe, Kupiansk, Kyslivka, Krokhmalne, and Berestove in Kharkiv region.

In the Lyman direction, Russian troops conducted unsuccessful offensives south of Dibrova, with artillery hitting Makiivka in Luhansk region, Bilohorivka, Verkhniokamianske and Spirne in Donetsk region.

In the Bakhmut direction, the enemy continues to conduct offensive operations. Heavy fighting continues for the city of Bakhmut. During the day, the invaders carried out unsuccessful offensive operations in the area of Ivanivske and Predtechyne. Vasiukivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Novomarkove, Hryhorivka, Khromove, Bakhmut, Ivanivske, Chasiv Yar, Kostyantynivka, Predtechyne, Dyliivka and Pivdenne in Donetsk region came under Russian strikes.

In the Avdiivka direction, the Russians conducted unsuccessful offensives in the area of Pervomaiske, shelling Novokalynove, Avdiivka, Sieverne, Tonenke, Karlivka, Netailove, and Pervomaiske in Donetsk region.

In the Marinka direction, the Defense Forces repelled numerous enemy attacks in the area of Marinka. Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Maryinka, Pobieda and Novomykhailivka in Donetsk region came under enemy fire.

In the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia directions, the Russian army continues to conduct defensive operations and shell populated areas bordering the contact line. More than 30 cities and villages came under enemy strikes.

As reported by Ukrinform, Russian troops resumed massive missile and aerial bombardment to destroy Western equipment and critical infrastructure facilities in Ukraine. According to the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the enemy fires almost 20 guided bombs every day.