Russian troops fail to take control of Popasna and Rubizhne

Russian troops continue their offensive in the Eastern Operational Zone, attempting to establish full control of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and create a land corridor between them and Crimea.

According to Ukrinform, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said this on Facebook.

"In the Donetsk area, the enemy attempted to capture Popasna, take full control of the city of Rubizhne and provide favorable conditions for their continued offensive towards the cities of Lyman and Sievierodonetsk. Those attempts were unsuccessful," the statement said.

The enemy is also provoking tensions in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova and in the territory of the Republic of Belarus, in particular, regrouping, taking measures to replenish ammunition and fuel and trying to improve the tactical position of its troops.

The enemy continues to launch missile strikes on transport infrastructure in Ukraine in order to obstruct the movement of humanitarian cargo and military-technical assistance.

Russian forces continue to use mortars and artillery along almost the entire line of contact.

In the Volyn and Polissia areas, Russian troops were not active. The Belarusian armed forces put certain units on a higher level of combat readiness.

In the Slobozhanshchyna area, Russian troops tried to regain control of positions they lost near Kharkiv and made an unsuccessful attempt to launch an offensive near the village of Staryi Saltiv.

The Russian side continues to accuse the Ukrainian government of creating a humanitarian catastrophe in the territory controlled by Russian troops.

According to the General Staff, the invaders are imitating humanitarian activities through the demonstrative distribution of food parcels and medicines to local residents.

From February 24 to May 5, Ukrainian defenders killed about 24,700 Russian soldiers.