War update: Fierce battles raging in five directions with 35 combat clashes reported in past day

This is stated in the morning update by the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Ukrinform reports.

"During the past day, Ukraine’s Air Force struck seven enemy manpower and weapons clusters. Also, our defenders destroyed four reconnaissance operational and tactical-level UAVs. In the past day, missile and artillery forces struck an enemy cluster, six artillery systems in firing positions, a command and control post, an anti-aircraft defense system, and an e-warfare station," the military reports.

At the same time, Ukraine’s Defense Forces continue to conduct an offensive operation in the Melitopol and Berdiansk directions, getting entrenched at the regained positions, inflicting fire damage on identified enemy targets and engaging in counter-battery combat.

Over the past day, the Russian occupiers launched a missile attack on the territory of Ukraine, deploying 17 cruise missiles and two ballistic missiles. Nine cruise missiles were destroyed by Ukraine’s air defenses. In addition, the enemy carried out 39 airstrikes and launched 49 attacks using multiple launch rocket systems on the positions of Ukrainian troops and populated areas.

Further missile and air strikes on the entire territory of Ukraine remain highly likely.

On the Volyn and Polissia axes, the operational situation has undergone no significant changes. No signs of enemy offensive groups being formed were recorded. Certain units of the Belarusian armed forces perform routine tasks in the areas bordering Ukraine.

The enemy maintains their military presence in the Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna directions. Airstrikes were reported in Pavlivka and Stepne districts of Sumy region. Russian mortars and artillery hit over 20 settlements, in particular Tymonovyche, Chernihiv region; Seredyna-Buda, Pokrovka, Uhroidy, and Yunakivka of Sumy region; and Uda, Kozacha Lopan, Budarky, Hatishche, and Veterynarne of Kharkiv region.

In the Kupiansk direction, Ukrainian soldiers are firmly holding their defense. The enemy launched an airstrike in the Kucherivka area of Kharkiv region. Fiholivka, Berestove, Novomlynsk, Dvorichna, and Kislivka of Kharkiv region were hit by artillery and mortar attacks.

In the Lyman direction, the enemy carried out unsuccessful offensive operations in the Torske district of the Donetsk region. Their airstrike hit the Serebriansky Forest area in Donetsk region. The settlements of Nevske and Bilohorivka in Luhansk region and Torske, Verkhnokamianske, Spirne, and Rozdolivka in Donetsk region were hit by artillery fire.

In the direction of Bakhmut, under heavy enemy artillery fire, Ukraine’s defenders successfully repelled attacks in the Bohdanivka, Klishchiivka and northeastern Orihovo-Vasylivka districts of Donetsk region. More than 10 settlements, including Bila Hora, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, 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 the attacks of Russian troops in the Avdiivka and Nevelske areas. At the same time, the enemy fired artillery at over 10 settlements, including Avdiivka, Karlivka, Severne, and Nevelske in Donetsk region.

In the Marinka direction, Ukraine’s Defense Forces continue to hold back the advance of Russian troops in the areas of Krasnohorivka and Marinka. The enemy shelled more than 15 settlements, among them Krasnohorivka, Oleksandropil, Katerynivka, Marinka, and Pobieda in Donetsk region.

In the Shakhtarske direction, the enemy ran unsuccessful offensive efforts in the Novomykhailivka area and carried out airstrikes near Blahodatne and Makarivka in Donetsk region. More than 15 settlements, including Zolota Nyva, Prechystivka, Vodiane, Vuhledar, and Blahodatne in Donetsk region came under Russian shelling.

On the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes, the enemy is concentrating its main efforts on preventing the further advance of Ukrainian troops. They made unsuccessful attempts to restore lost positions in the Priyutne district in Zaporizhzhia region. Russian airstrikes hit the areas of Mala Tokmachka, Orikhiv, and Novodanilivka in Zaporizhzhia region and Antonivka in Kherson Region.

More than 30 settlements, including Novodariivka, Huliaipole, Hulyaipilske, Novoandriivka, and Stepove of Zaporizhia region, were hit by artillery fire; Illinka, Kamianske, Nikopol of Dnipropetrovsk region; Antonivka, Havrylivka, Novoberyslav, Respublikanets, and Kizomys of Kherson region, the city of Kherson; as well as Yaselka and Ochakiv, Mykolaiv region.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, Ukraine’s Defense Forces eliminated 241,960 Russian invaders from February 24, 2022 to July 23, 2023.