Enemy advancing in four directions, fierce battles for Bakhmut, Maryinka ongoing

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said this in its evening update posted on Facebook, Ukrinform reports.

Throughout this day, the enemy launched 11 missile strikes, 59 airstrikes and carried out 76 attacks using multiple launch rocket systems. Civilians were affected, private residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged. The probability of further missile attacks and airstrikes across the entire territory of Ukraine remains high.

"In the Bakhmut direction, the enemy continues to conduct offensive operations. Battles for the city of Bakhmut are taking place. Throughout the day, the enemy conducted unsuccessful offensive operations in the areas of Ivanivske and Chasiv Yar. They launched airstrikes on the areas of Bohdanivka, Bakhmut, and Predtechyne. Vasiukivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Novomarkove, Bakhmut, Ivanivske, Chasiv Yar, Stupochky, Predtechyne, Oleksandro-Shultyne, Dyliyivka, Druzhba, Zalizne and New York in Donetsk region came under enemy attacks," the report says.

In the Lyman direction, according to the General Staff, Russian forces are trying to find weak points of Ukrainian defense: "They conducted offensive operations in the areas of Bilohorivka, but had no success. They launched airstrikes on the settlements of Nevske and Bilohorivka in Luhansk region and Verkhniokamianske and Spirne in Donetsk region. Makiyivka, Bilohorivka in Luhansk region and Yampolivka and Spirne in Donetsk region came under artillery shelling.

In the Avdiivka direction, the enemy carried out offensive operations in Avdiivka and Pervomaisk districts, but had no success. Russian forces shelled Novokalynove, Berdychi, Lastochkyne, Avdiivka, Sieverne, Vodiane, Pervomaiske and Netailove in Donetsk region.

In the Maryinka direction, Russian forces continue to attack positions of the Defense Forces. Battles for Maryinka are ongoing. Heorhiivka and Pobieda in Donetsk region came under enemy fire.

In the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia direction, the enemy continues to conduct defensive operations. At the same time, Russian forces shelled more than 20 settlements near the contact line throughout the day, including Vremivka, Novosilka, Zelene Pole, Novopil in Donetsk region; Olhivske, Huliaipole, Zaliznychne, Huliaipilske, Bilohirya, Mala Tokmachka and Kamianske in Zaporizhzhia region; Zolota Balka, Kachkarivka, Zmiivka, Tiahynka, Antonivka, Dniprovske, Kizomys, Stanislav in Kherson region and the city of Kherson.

In the Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna directions, the enemy maintains a military presence in the districts bordering Ukraine. During the day, Russian forces carried out mortar and artillery attacks on the settlements of Berylivka, Moshchenka, Halahanivka, Leonivka, Oleksandrivka, Buda-Vorobyivska, Hremyach in Chernihiv region; Znob-Novhorodske, Stara Huta in Sumy region, as well as Hoptivka, Krasne, Zelene, Starytsia, Ohirtseve, Vovchanski Khutory, Karayichne, Mala Vovcha, Mykolaivka and Nesterne in Kharkiv region.

In the Kupiansk direction, the enemy did not conduct offensive operations. The invaders launched airstrikes on Zapadne and Masiutivka settlements. The settlements of Kamianka, Topoli, Petro-Ivanivka, Fyholivka, Novomlynsk, Zapadne, Liman Pershyi, Vilshana, Buhaivka in Kharkiv region and Novoselivske and Stelmakhivka in Luhansk region came under enemy artillery and mortar attacks.

In the Volyn and Polissia directions, no signs of enemy offensive groups’ formation were recorded.

As reported, from February 24, 2022 to May 8, 2023, the Defense Forces of Ukraine eliminated about 194, 970 Russian aggressors, including 540 soldiers in the past day alone.

 Photo: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine