War update: 30 clashes in five hottest areas in eastern Ukraine

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

"The enemy is focusing its main efforts on the Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Marinka directions, where heavy battles are ongoing. About 30 combat clashes took place during the day," reads the report posted on Facebook.

As noted, the operational situation on the Volyn and Polissia directions has undergone no significant change as no signs of enemy offensive groups being formed were observed.

Certain units of the Belarus armed forces perform routine tasks in the areas bordering Ukraine.

The enemy maintains a military presence in the Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna directions. A Russian airstrike hit the area of Veterynarne in Kharkiv region. Mortar and artillery fire shelling of more than 15 settlements, in particular, Tymonovichi, Chernihiv region; Seredyna-Buda, Uhroidy, and Riasne in Sumy region, and Kozacha Lopan, Strelecha, Ternova, and Budarka of Kharkiv region.

In the Kupiansk direction, Ukrainian soldiers are firmly holding their defense. Kamianka, Novomlynsk, Dvorichna, Zapadne, Kupiansk and Kislivka of Kharkiv region were subjected to enemy artillery and mortar attacks.

In the Lyman direction, the enemy ran unsuccessful offensive missions in the districts of Nadiia in Luhansk region and Torske, Hryhorivka in Donetsk region. Russian airstrikes hit the Serebryansky Forest and Spirne districts of Donetsk region. The settlements of Nevske, Bilohorivka in Luhansk region and Torske, Verkhnokamianske, Spirne, and Rozdolivka in Donetsk region came under Russian artillery fire.

In addition, in the Bakhmut direction, under heavy enemy artillery fire, Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled enemy attacks in the Bohdanivka and Ivanivka districts of Donetsk region. More than 10 settlements, including Vasiukivka, Markove, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Stupochky, Kostiantynivka, Druzhba and New York of Donetsk region, were affected by enemy artillery shelling.

In the Avdiivka direction, under heavy fire from the enemy's aircraft and artillery, Ukraine’s defenders successfully repelled attacks by Russian troops in the Avdiivka area. The enemy carried out an airstrike in the Sieverne area of Donetsk region. At the same time, Russian artillery fired at more than 10 settlements, including Avdiivka, Pervomaiske, and Nevelske.

In the Marinka direction, Ukraine’s Defense Forces continue to hold back the advance of Russian troops in the Krasnohorivka and Marinka districts of Donetsk region. In the area of Krasnohorivka, the enemy carried out an airstrike and shelled more than 10 settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Maksymilianivka, Heorhiivka, Marinka, and Pobieda in Donetsk region.

In the Shakhtarske direction, the Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive operations in the Novomykhailivka area of Donetsk region, launched an airstrike near Blahodatne in Donetsk region, and shelled over 10 settlements, including Paraskoviivka, Novomykhailivka, Vuhledar, and Blahodatne in Donetsk region.

According to the press service, in the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, the enemy is focusing its main efforts on preventing further advance of Ukraine’s troops. The Russians made unsuccessful attempts to restore the lost position in the area south of Novodarivka, Zaporizhzhia region. Airstrikes hit the districts of Hulyaipilske, Mala Tokmachka, Novodanilivka, and Pyatikhatky of Zaporizhzhia region. Over 25 settlements were affected by artillery fire, including Novodarivka, Hulyaipole, Hulyaipilske, Novoandriivka, Stepove, Kamianske of Zaporizhzhia region; Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk region; Zolota Balka, Dudchany, Beryslav, Antonivka, Bilozerka, Veletenske of Kherson region, and the city of Kherson. At the same time, Ukraine’s Defense Forces continue their offensive operation in the Melitopol and Berdiansk directions, entrenching at the gained positions and inflicting fire damage involving artillery on pre-identified enemy targets, and engaging in counter-battery combat.

The General Staff also reported that during the day, the Russian occupiers struck another blow on the territory of Ukraine, deploying Shahed attack drones. As a result of successful combat operations by the air defense forces, all five attack UAVs were intercepted. In addition, the enemy carried out four missile strikes and 36 airstrikes, as well as 23 attacks involving multiple-launch rocket systems, on the positions of Ukrainian troops and populated areas. Unfortunately, there are victims among the civilian population. Residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure objects were destroyed.

The likelihood of Russia launching more missile and air strikes on the entire territory of Ukraine remains high.

In turn, Ukraine’s air force throughout the day delivered eight strikes on Russian manpower, weapons, and military equipment clusters. Also, Ukraine’s defenders downed four reconnaissance UAVs of operational-tactical level.

Rocket and artillery units hit 7 enemy artillery systems in firing positions.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, from February 24, 2022 to July 22, 2023, the Defense Forces of Ukraine eliminated 241,330 Russian invaders, including 640 in the past day. Also, they destroyed 4,140 enemy tanks (+7 in the past day), 8,096 (+16) armored fighting vehicles, 4,629 (+19) artillery systems, 693 (+1) multiple-launch rocket systems, 448 (+8) air defense systems, 315 (+0) warplanes, 310 (+0) helicopters, 3,944 (+11) operational and tactical-level UAVs, 1,298 (+0) cruise missiles, 18 (+0) warships/cutters, 7,159 (+14) trucks and tankers, and 691 (+5) units of specialized equipment.