Armed Forces of Ukraine continue their offensive in Melitopol, Berdiansk directions

This is stated in the report by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of 18:00 on July 31, published on Facebook.

The General Staff informs that the enemy launched nine missile strikes, 39 airstrikes, and 35 MLRS attacks on the positions of Ukrainian troops and populated settlements during the day. Unfortunately, civilians were killed and injured, residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure objects were destroyed.

“Nearly 30 combat engagements took place during the day,” reads the report.

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

In Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna directions, the aggressor launched an airstrike near Stepne in Sumy region; Udy in Kharkiv region. The enemy fired mortars and artillery at more than 30 settlements, in particular, Senkivka, Turya, Bleshnia, Buchky in Chernihiv region; Mefodiyivka, Sytne, Starykove, Mohrytsia, Stepok, Riasne in Sumy region; Udy, Veterynarne, Starytsia, Vovchansk, Nesterne, Budarky in Kharkiv region.

In Kupyansk direction, Ukrainian soldiers hold the defense firmly, successfully repelled enemy attacks east of Berestove in Kharkiv region and near Novoselivske in Luhansk region. The enemy launched an airstrike near Druzheliubivka in Donetsk region. Artillery and mortars were fired at more than 10 settlements, including Odradne, Kolodiazne, Kamyanka, Fyholivka, Novomlynsk, and Zapadne in Kharkiv region.

In Lyman direction, the enemy launched airstrikes north of Serebrianka and near Spirne in Donetsk region. Nevske and Bilohorivka in Luhansk region; Torske, Verkhniokamyanske, Spirne in Donetsk region were hit with artillery.

In Bakhmut direction, more than 10 settlements, including Rozdolivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Hryhorivka, Ivanivske, Predtechyne, Bila Hora in Donetsk region, came under enemy artillery fire.

In Avdiyivka direction, the enemy launched airstrikes near New York and Avdiyivka. The settlements, including Berdychi, Avdiyivka, Pervomayske, Karlivka in Donetsk region, were struck.

In Maryinka direction, the aggressor launched an airstrike near Krasnohorivka. The defense forces continue to hold back the advance of Russian troops in the areas of Maryinka and Pobieda. The enemy shelled several settlements, including Maryinka, Pobieda, Heorhiyivka, and Hostre in Donetsk region, with artillery.

In Shakhtarske direction, the enemy launched airstrikes in the areas of Vuhledar, Blahodatne, and Staromayorske. In the area of the latter, the enemy made unsuccessful attempts to restore the lost position. The invaders keep shelling Vodiane, Vuhledar, and Blahodatne settlements in Donetsk region.

In Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, the invaders focus their main efforts on preventing the further advance of Ukrainian troops. The Russians launched airstrikes in the areas of Malynivka and Mala Tokmachka settlements in Zaporizhzhia region. More than 35 settlements, including Levadne, Huliaypole, Zaliznychne, Orikhiv, Stepove, Kamyanske in Zaporizhzhia region; Dmytrivka, Ochakiv in Mykolayiv region; Mykhaylivka, Dudchany, Beryslav, Lvove, Kherson, Dniprovske in Kherson region were hit with artillery.

At the same time, the defense forces of Ukraine continue to conduct an offensive operation in Melitopol and Berdiansk directions, gain a foothold on the achieved boundaries, fire artillery at detected enemy targets, carry out counter-battery fight.

It is noted that the Russian invaders continue to use civilian infrastructure in the territory of temporarily occupied settlements.

"During the day, the Air Force of the defense forces launched seven strikes on enemy personnel, weapons, and military equipment clusters, and three more on enemy anti-aircraft missile systems," the General Staff informs.

Missile and artillery units hit two enemy anti-aircraft missile systems, a TOS-1A Solntsepyok heavy flamethrower system, an artillery system on a firing position, and four enemy personnel clusters.