Ukrainian defenders repel 12 enemy attacks in JFO area

The Ukrainian military repulsed 12 enemy attacks in the area of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) on May 17, and fighting continues at four more locations.

According to Ukrinform, the JFO's press service said this on Facebook.

As of 21:00 on May 17, the Ukrainian Joint Forces continued to conduct a defensive operation in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

"Ukrainian men and women defenders from the Joint Forces repulsed 12 enemy attacks today. Fighting continues at four more locations," the statement reads.

Along the entire line of contact, the enemy uses combat aircraft, multiple rocket launchers, large-caliber artillery, tanks, mortars of various systems, launching missile and bomb strikes on civilian infrastructure and peaceful residential areas.

The Russian army shelled 45 settlements in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, destroyed and damaged 36 houses, six industrial enterprises and farms, a supermarket, a sports school, a dormitory and a pharmacy. As a result of these attacks, eight civilians were killed and four were injured, including an eight-year-old child.

In the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian Joint Forces destroyed three tanks, three artillery systems, including a multiple rocket launcher, six armored fighting vehicles and seven motor vehicles (including a truck with ammunition).

Ukrainian air defense units shot down nine Orlan-10 drones and a ZALA operational-tactical UAV in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

According to the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, in the eastern part of Ukraine, Russian forces are attempting to advance along the entire line of contact, with support of Su-35 fighter jets in the Donetsk region.