(MENAFN- UkrinForm) Ukraine's Defense Forces continue the offensive operation in the Melitopol and Berdiansk directions, gaining a foothold within the re-captured frontiers, and carrying out counterbattery measures. The relevant statement was made by the General Staff of the armed forces of Ukraine (AFU) on facebook , an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
In the past 24 hours, Ukraine's Air Force has launched nine strikes on Russian personnel, ammunition and military equipment clusters. Ukrainian defenders destroyed two enemy Shahed-136 loitering munitions. Ukraine's missile and artillery units hit nine Russian artillery systems in firing position and two personnel, ammunition and military equipment clusters.
Meanwhile, Russian invaders launched one missile strike and 50 air strikes, and opened fire with multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) 86 times. Following Russian terrorist attacks, casualties among civilians were reported, as well as the damage caused to residential houses and other civil infrastructure.
The threat of Russian missile and air strikes is persisting all over Ukraine, according to the General Staff.
In the Volyn and Polissia directions, the operational situation remained rather unchanged.
In the Siverskyi and Slobozhanskyi directions, Russian troops launched air strikes near the Sumy region's Volfyne and Kostiantynivka. Over 25 settlements were affected by Russian mortar and artillery strikes in the Chernihiv, Sumy and Kharkiv regions.
In the Kupiansk direction, Russians launched air strikes near the Kharkiv region's Shyikivka. Over 10 settlements were affected by enemy artillery and mortar strikes.
In the Lyman direction, Russian occupiers launched air strikes near the Donetsk region's Hryhorivka and Serebrianka. Over 10 settlements were affected by enemy artillery strikes.
In the Bakhmut direction, Ukraine's Defense Forces are holding the enemy back near Klishchiivka and Kurdiumivka. Over 15 settlements were affected by Russian artillery strikes.
In the Avdiivka direction, under extensive artillery fire and air strikes, Ukrainian warriors successfully repelled Russian attacks near the Donetsk region's Avdiivka. Over 15 settlements were affected by enemy artillery strikes.
In the Marinka direction, Ukrainian forces continue holding back Russia's onslaught near Marinka, Staromykhailivka and Krasnohorivka. Over 10 settlements were affected by Russian shelling.
In the Shakhtarske direction, Russian troops made unsuccessful attempts to regain their lost positions near Blahodatne. Russian artillery strikes affected the Donetsk region's Blahodatne, Vuhledar, Bohoiavlenka, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Velyka Novosilka, and the Zaporizhzhia region's Staromaiorske and Levadne.
In the Zaporizhzhia direction, Russian occupiers conducted unsuccessful offensive actions near Novopokrovka. The enemy launched air strikes near the Zaporizhzhia region's Mala Tokmachka, Orikhiv and Novodanylivka. Russian invaders are focusing efforts to prevent Ukrainian forces from advancing. Over 15 settlements were affected by enemy artillery strikes.
In the Kherson direction, Russians launched air strikes near Odradokamianka and Dachi. Over 25 settlements were affected by enemy artillery strikes.
Russian troops continue using civilian educational institutions in the temporarily occupied areas. In the Zaporizhzhia region's Mykhailivka, about 100 Russian soldiers were deployed in a local secondary school.