War update: Ukraine hits two Russian control points, eight air defense systems

That’s according to a morning update by the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, Ukrinform reports.

"In the past 24 hours, the enemy launched six missile and 52 air strikes and conducted 65 attacks involving MLR systems. Private residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure sustained damage and destruction. When striking the Ukrainian cities of Lyman, Sloviansk, and Kostiantynivka, the enemy again employed S-300 missiles, which are not considered high-precision weapons. This once again emphasizes the terror tactics pursued by the Russian Federation," the statement reads.

The General Staff warns that further Russian missile and air strikes are highly likely to target the entire territory of Ukraine.

The enemy continues to focus their main efforts on the Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Maryinka axes. Over the past 24 hours, 37 firefights unfolded in the specified areas of the front. Bakhmut and Maryinka remain at the epicenter of hostilities.

On the Volyn and Polissia axes, the operational situation has undergone no significant changes.

In the Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna directions, the enemy continues to maintain their presence in the areas bordering Ukraine, while sabotage and reconnaissance groups were active in certain areas of the state border. The invaders shelled the settlements of Mykolaivka, Chernihiv region, using mortars and artillery; Prohres, Studenok, Bilokopytove, Vovkivka, Volfine, Zapsilya, and Mykhailivka in Sumy region, as well as Udy, Hraniv, Zelene, Starytsia, Ohirtseve, Hatyshche, Pletenivka, Vovchansk, Nesterne, and Budarky in Kharkiv region were shelled as well.

In the Kupiansk direction, the enemy does not stop trying to improve their tactical position. During the day, they conducted unsuccessful offensive actions in the area of Masyutivka. Kamianka, Kolodiazne, Krasne Pershe, Petro-Ivanivka, Fiholivka, Novomlynsk, Zapadne, Monachynivka, Masiutivka, Tabaivka, and Berestovka in Kharkiv region, and Stelmakhivka in Luhansk region came under artillery and mortar fire.

In the Lyman direction, the enemy went on an offensive toward Ivano-Daryivka, without success. Airstrikes were reported in the Nevske district. Makiivka, Nevske, and Bilohorivka in Luhansk region, and Torske, Verkhnokamianske, and Spirne in Donetsk region were hit by artillery fire.

In the Bakhmut direction, the enemy continues their offensive. Battles for the town of Bakhmut are underway. Over the past day, the enemy tried to regain previously lost positions south of the settlement of Ivanivske – with no success. In addition, they launched an offensive in the direction of Hryhorivka, with no gains either. Airstrikes hit the Bakhmut and Ivanivske districts. Vasyukivka, Orihovo-Vasylivka, Markove, Ivanivske, Stupochky, Bila Hora, Toretsk, and New York of Donetsk region were affected by enemy shelling.

In the Avdiivka area, the enemy undertook unsuccessful offensive efforts toward Avdiivka and Pervomaiske. An airstrike hit the Avdiivka area. Novokalynove, Berdychi, Stepove, Avdiivka, Severne, Pervomaiske, Karlivka, and Nevelske in Donetsk region came under enemy artillery fire.

In the Maryinka direction, Ukraine’s defense forces continue to repulse enemy assaults. The Russian airstrikes hit the areas near Maryinka and Novomykhailivka. At the same time, Heorhiyivka, Pobieda, and Novomykhailivka in Donetsk region came under enemy fire.

The Russians ran no offensive operations in the Shakhtarske direction. At the same time, their aviation struck the areas near Vodianye, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, and Velyka Novosilka. Artillery shelling targeted Vodiane and Vuhledar.

The enemy is defending in the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions. They continue to pummel the infrastructure in front-line settlements. Over the past day, airstrikes hit Novodanilivka and Stepove in Zaporizhzhia region and Stanislav and Kizomys in Kherson region, while artillery shelling affected Vremivka, Burlatske, Novosilka, Zelene Pole, and Novopil in Donetsk region; Olhivske, Hulyaipole, Zaliznychne, Hulyaipilske, Bilohirya, Mala Tokmachka, Mali Shcherbaky, and Kamianske in Zaporizhzhia region and Kherson, Mykhailivka, Kozatske, Burhunka, Tyahinka, Molodizhne, and Kizomys in Kherson region.

Against the background of significant manpower losses, the Russian military leadership made a decision to reduce to 10 days the period of training for personnel from among the convicts, whose base camp was deployed in the Starobilsk district of Luhansk region. Earlier, about 1,000 reinforcements were brought to the said camp from Russian penal colonies. The initial training period was four weeks.

"Over the past 24 hours, the Air Force of carried out 14 strikes on enemy manpower and equipment clusters, as well as seven – on their air defense systems. Three enemy reconnaissance UAVs of various types, as well as five attack drones, were destroyed. Rocket and artillery troops struck five enemy clusters, two ammunition depots, three artillery installations at their firing positions, 2 command and control points, an electronic warfare station, an air defense system, and another important enemy target," General Staff concluded.

As reported earlier, since February 24, 2022, as of May 21, Ukraine’s Defense Forces eliminated 203,160 Russian invaders.