Ukrainian forces entrenching in regained positions on Berdiansk, Melitopol axes

That’s according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Ukrinform reports.

"Overnight, the Russian Federation carried out another missile and air strike on Ukraine. The reports on the consequences of this terrorist attack are currently being verified. Over the past day, the enemy launched 16 Kalibr sea-based cruise missiles, eight Kh-22 cruise missiles, six Onyx cruise missiles, a Kh-59 guided air missile, and 32 Shahed on-way attack UAVs,” the report reads.

Air defense forces downed 13 Kalibr cruise missiles, a Kh-59 guided air missile, and 23 Shaheds.

In addition, the enemy carried out 78 airstrikes and launched 69 attacks involving MLR systems on the positions of Ukrainian troops and at populated areas.

The likelihood of further Russian missile and air strikes on the entire territory of Ukraine remains high, warns the General Staff.

The enemy is focuing its main efforts in the Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Marinka directions where nearly 30 combat clashes took place in the past day.

In the Volyn and Polissia directions, the operational situation has undergone no significant changes.

On the Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes, an enemy airstrike hit the village of Hremyachka, Chernihiv region. Russian mortars and artillery shelled over 20 settlements, including Hirsk, Yeline, and Leonivka of Chernihiv region; Seredyna-Buda, Bachivsk, Myropyllya, and Pokrovka of Sumy region, and Uda, Kozacha Lopan, Strelecha, Vovchansk, Mala Vovcha, and Budarky of Kharkiv region.

In the Kupiansk direction, Ukrainian soldiers are firmly holding their defense. The enemy launched an air strike in the Kislivka area. Dvorichna, Zapadne, Sinkivka, Kislivka, and Berestove in Kharkiv region were subjected to Russian artillery and mortar shelling.

In the Lyman direction, enemy airstrikes targeted the areas of Nevske, Novoliubivka, and Bilohorivka of Luhansk region, and Yampil, Serebrianka, and Spirne of Donetsk region. The settlements of Nevske and Bilohorivka in Luhansk region and Torske, Verkhniokamianske, Berestove, and Rozdolivka in Donetsk region were hit by artillery fire.

In the direction of Bakhmut, Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled enemy attacks in the Bohdanivka area. The enemy launched an air strike near Diliivka. More than 10 settlements, including Vasiukivka, Markove, Bohdanivka, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, Stupochky, and Oleksandro-Shultine of Donetsk region, were affected by enemy artillery shelling.

In the Avdiivka direction, under heavy fire from Russian warplanes and artillery, Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled enemy attacks in the Nevelske area. The enemy launched missile and air strikes in the area of Avdiivka. At the same time, artillery bombarded more than 10 settlements, in particular, Lastochkine, Avdiivka, Karlivka, and Nevelske of Donetsk region.

In the Marinka direction, despite enemy airstrikes and artillery fire, Ukraine’s forces continue to hold back the advance of Russian troops in the areas of Marinka and Krasnohorivka. The enemy shelled more than 10 settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Marinka, Heorhiivka, and Pobieda of Donetsk region.

In the Shakhtarske direction, the enemy launched airstrikes in the Novomykhailivka and Blahodatne areas of Donetsk region. They shelled more than 10 settlements, including Paraskoviivka, Novomykhailivka, Vuhledar, and Blahodatne in Donetsk region.

On the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes, the enemy is concentrating its main efforts on preventing the further advance of Ukrainian troops. The Russians made unsuccessful attempts to restore lost positions in the area north of Priyutne, Zaporizhzhia region. More than 20 settlements, including Novodarivka, Olhivske, Malynivka, Gulyaipole, Zaliznychne, Bilohirya, and Lobkove of Zaporizhia region, as well as Dudchany, Kozatske, Lvove, Ivanivka, Antonivka, Berehove, Kizomys of Kherson region and the city of Kherson, were hit by Russian artillery fire.

At the same time, the Defense Forces of Ukraine continue to conduct an offensive operation in the Melitopol and Berdiansk directions, getting entrenched in the regained positions, and engaging in counter-battery fire.

"Over the past day, the Air Force carried out seven strikes on personnel clusters areas. Also, Ukraine’s defenders destroyed two operational-tactical level reconnaissance UAVs. Throughout the day, rocket and artillery units struck four manpower, weapons, and equipment clusters, an ammunition depot, 11 artillery guns in firing positions, two anti-aircraft defense systems, and an EW station," the General Staff concluded.

Photo: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine