War update: 21 combat engagements recorded during the day

This is stated in the report by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of 18:00 on Friday, July 28, published on Facebook.

The Defense Forces of Ukraine continue to go on an offensive operation in Melitopol and Berdiansk directions, gain a foothold on the reached boundaries, fire artillery on identified enemy targets, and carry out counter-battery fight.

During the day, Ukraine’s aviation launched three strikes on enemy personnel clusters. Missile and artillery units hit eight enemy artillery pieces on firing positions, two EW systems, an ammunition depot, a fuel depot.

During the day, the enemy launched 10 airstrikes and 19 MLRS attacks on the positions of Ukrainian troops and populated settlements.

In Volyn and Polissia directions, the operational situation has not changed significantly. There were no signs of the formation of offensive groups.

In Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna directions, the enemy launched airstrikes in the areas of Halahanivka and Leonivka in Chernihiv region; Iskryskivshchyna and Volfyne in Sumy region. Mortars and artillery were fired at more than 15 settlements, in particular Ivashky, Huryiv Kozachok, Udy, Strilecha, Zelene, and Okhrimivka in Kharkiv region.

In Kupyansk direction, the enemy launched an air strike near Druzheliubivka in Kharkiv region. Kolodiazne, Dvorichna, Zapadne, Synkivka, Kyslivka in Kharkiv region came under enemy artillery and mortar attacks.

In Lyman direction, the enemy launched an airstrike in the area of Hryhorivka in Donetsk region. The settlements of Nevske, Bilohorivka in Luhansk region; Torske, Verkhniokamyanske, Spirne in Donetsk region were hit with artillery.

In Bakhmut direction, more than 15 settlements came under enemy artillery fire, including Minkivka, Bohdanivka, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, Predtechyne, and Bila Hora in Donetsk region.

In Avdiyivka direction, the enemy launched an air strike near Avdiyivka. More than 10 settlements, including Avdyiivka, Pervomayske, Karlivka in Donetsk region, were hit with artillery.

In Maryinka direction, the defense forces continue to hold back the advance of Russian troops in the area of Maryinka. The enemy shelled more than 10 settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Maryinka, Novomykhaylivka, Pobieda, and Heorhiyivka in Donetsk region.

In Shakhtarske direction, the occupiers shelled the settlements of Odradne, Blahodatne, Makarivka, Zelene Pole, Novodarivka in Donetsk region.

In Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, the enemy focuses its main efforts on preventing the further advance of Ukrainian troops. More than 25 settlements, including Chervone, Huliaypole, Charivne, Novoandriyivka, Stepove in Zaporizhzhia region; Zolota Balka, Mykhaylivka, Kozatske, Tiahynka, Ivanivka, Sadove in Kherson region were hit with artillery.

Against the background of the successful military operations of the Defense Forces of Ukraine and due to the significant manpower losses of the invaders, the number of refusals to participate in combat operations increased in the units of the Russian occupation forces. For example, in the area of Rozivka settlement in Zaporizhzhia region, about 60 Russian servicemen from the 247th Guards Air Assault Regiment of the 7th Guards Air Assault Division of the Russian Federation refused to perform combat missions near the village of Staromayorske in Donetsk region. At the same time, the occupiers partially disabled their vehicles.