Occupiers Finishing Preparations for Attack on Donbas

The Russian army is finishing the creation of an offensive group in the Eastern Operational Zone. The enemy also is continuing to launch missile and bomb strikes on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure facilities, reads the operational report by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

In Volyn and Polissia directions, the enemy did not take active action. No signs of the formation of offensive groups were detected. Certain units of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus continue to carry out tasks to shield the Ukrainian-Belarusian border in the Brest and Gomel regions. In these areas, the enemy is conducting radio electronic reconnaissance. Russia’s damaged armoured vehicles are being transported from the territory of the Republic of Belarus.

In the direction of Siversky, the enemy exercises enhanced control over border areas. The positions in the areas of checkpoints and in the border areas of the Bryansk and Kursk regions of the Russian Federation continue to be equipped. The involvement of sabotage and reconnaissance groups and missile strikes from Russia’s territory is not ruled out.

In the direction of Slobozhansky, the Russian occupiers continue to partially block Kharkiv city and try to inflict fire damage to the units of our troops.

“In order to expand the bridgehead on the left bank of the Siversky Donets River and create conditions for the rapid deployment of troops, the enemy conducted combat reconnaissance near the localities of Zavody, Dmytrivka, and Dibrovne. The enemy failed, suffered losses, and retreated,” the General Staff stated.

In the direction of Donetsk and Tavriysky, the enemy is regaining combat capability and replenishing its stocks. The enemy is trying to improve the tactical position of units and intensify hostilities. The Russian occupiers are continuing to shell the localities of Siversk and Pokrovske.

The enemy focused its main efforts on the areas of the localities of Lyman, Kreminna, Popasna, and Rubizhne, and they tried to establish full control over Mariupol. The offensive operations were carried out in the direction of Sievierodonetsk, Popasna, and Zaporizhzhia.

“The enemy made futile attempts to gain a foothold near the localities of Kreminna and Rubizhne, carried out assault operations in the area of Novotoshkivske, Popasna, Avdiivka, and Marinka. Its attempts were unsuccessful,” reads the report.

In the Southern Buh direction, the enemy is focusing its main efforts on holding its positions and continues to fire on Ukrainian troops in the directions of Mykolayiv and Oleksandrivka. The enemy is expected to continue fighting to reach the administrative borders of the Kherson region. A total of 87 enemy battalion tactical groups are involved in combat missions in the territory of Ukraine.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine repulsed 12 enemy attacks in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions over the past 24 hours. Ten tanks, 15 armoured personnel vehicles, five vehicles, as well as five artillery systems of the enemy were destroyed.

The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine downed five air targets over the past day: one aircraft, three helicopters, and one UAV.

Natalia Tolub