War update: Ukraine pursues offensive toward Melitopol, Berdiansk
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported this in an evening update on battlefield developments, as seen by Ukrinform.
"During the day, the enemy launched 30 missile and 48 air strikes, and carried out 32 attacks involving MLR systems on the positions of our troops and populated areas. As a result of Russia’s terrorist attacks, unfortunately, there are civilian deaths and casualties, and destruction to residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure. The likelihood of Russia launching further missile and air strikes throughout the territory of Ukraine remains high," the General Staff noted.
About 30 combat clashes have taken place throughout the day.
On the Volyn and Polissia axes, the operational situation has undergone no significant changes.
In the Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna directions, Russian forces shelled more than 30 settlements, including Buchky and Hremiach in Chernihiv region; Bobylivka, Vyshenki, Svarkove, Timofiivka, and Pavlivka in Sumy region, and Odnorobivka, Kozacha Lopan, Ohirtseve, Varvarivka, and Khatne in Kharkiv region.
In the Kupiansk direction, Ukrainian soldiers are firmly holding their defense lines, successfully repulsing enemy attacks in the area east of Petropavlivka, Kharkiv region. Russian airstrikes targeted the Petropavlivka and Podoly areas in Kharkiv region. More than 10 settlements, including Kamianka, Novomlynsk, Zapadne, Petropavlivka, and Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi in Kharkiv region, were hit by enemy artillery and mortar fire.
On the Lyman axis, Russian airstrikes hit the areas of Bilohorivka, Luhansk region, and Spirne and Rozdolivka, Donetsk region. The settlements of Kuzmine and Bilohorivka in Luhansk region and Torske, Verkhniokamianske, and Rozdolivka in Donetsk region were hit by artillery fire.
In the direction of Bakhmut, Ukraine’s defense forces are restraining the enemy in the area northeast of Diliivka. More than 10 settlements, including Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Markove, Chasiv Yar, Predtechyne, Bila Hora, and New York in Donetsk region, were affected by enemy artillery shelling.
In the Avdiivka direction, under heavy fire from aviation and artillery, Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled attacks by Russian troops. Avdiivka and Pervomaiske were hit by Russian artillery.
In the Marinka direction, Ukraine’s defense forces continue to hold back the advance of Russian troops in the areas of Marinka and Krasnohorivka. The enemy launched an airstrike in the Krasnohorivka district of Donetsk region. Krasnohorivka, Hostre, Heorhiivka, Marinka, and Novomykhailivka in Donetsk region came under Russian artillery fire.
On the Shakhtarske axis, the enemy launched an airstrike in the Staromayorske area. Also, Vodiane, Vuhledar, Blahodatne and Staromaoorske in Donetsk region were hit by artillery fire.
In the Zaporizhzhia direction, the enemy ran unsuccessful offensive operations in the Robotyne district. The Russian airstrikes hit the areas near Malaya Tokmachka, Robotyne, and Orikhiv. Artillery shelling was observed in over 10 settlements, including Novodarivka, Malynivka, Hulyaipole, Vesele, Mali Shcherbaky, and Pyatykhatky in Zaporizhzhia region, as well as Nikopol in nipropetrovsk region.
On the Kherson axis, the aggressor launched an airstrike in the Olhivka district, Kherson region. More than 15 settlements, including Zolota Balka, Novooleksandrivka, Dudchany, Zmiivka, Tokarivka, Kherson and Kizomys in Kherson region, were hit by enemy artillery.
At the same time, the Defense Forces of Ukraine continue to conduct an offensive operation in the Melitopol and Berdiansk directions, getting entrenched at the regained positions and engaging in counter-battery fire.
Over the past 24 hours, Ukraine’s Air Force has carried out 10 strikes on enemy manpower and equipment clusters, and two - on the occupiers' anti-aircraft missile systems.
Throughout the day, Ukraine’s missile and artillery hit two command and control points, two manpower clusters, two artillery systems in firing positions, and an e-warfare system.
As Ukrinform reported earlier, the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed the attack on two Russian-controlled bridges the invaders had used as military logistics routes from occupied Crimea to captured parts of mainland Ukraine’s Kherson region.
