13:33 05.04.2022

Russia strengthening positions in Kharkiv region, attacks in southern direction – AFU General Staff

4 min read
Russia strengthening positions in Kharkiv region, attacks in southern direction – AFU General Staff

Russian forces are regrouping and concentrating efforts on preparing an offensive operation in eastern Ukraine in order to establish full control over the territory of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

The enemy is trying to improve the position of units in the Tavriya and Pivdennobuzsky operational areas, General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) has said.

According to the information of the General Staff, published on Facebook on Tuesday morning, the movement of enemy units withdrawn from Polissia and the Siversky direction to new operational areas continues. Redeployment of the troops of the Central Military District from the territory of Ukraine has been completed. Certain units from the aforementioned, after the completion of the restoration of combat capability, will be moved to the area of the settlement of Valuyki and included in the offensive groupings of troops.

The movement of columns of weapons and military equipment across the territory of the republic in the direction of the Gomel, Yelsk and Mazyr railway stations for loading onto railway echelons is noted. A significant part of the aircraft and helicopters of the aerospace forces of the armed forces of the Russian Federation was relocated from the airfields of the Republic of Belarus to the territory of Russia.

With the help of individual units from the 6th and 20th Combined Arms Army, the 1st Tank Army, the Baltic and Northern Fleets, the enemy concentrated its main efforts on preparing for the resumption of offensive operations, as well as an attempt to encircle the Joint Forces grouping. The enemy is replenishing food supplies, fuels and lubricants and ammunition.

Russia-occupation forces continue to blockade Kharkiv with constant shelling and further destroy residential areas and infrastructure of the city.

In the direction of Sloviansk, the enemy is trying to resume offensive operations. In the direction of Barvenkove, it has partial success, advanced 7 kilometers, took control of the settlement of Brazhkivka. Also, with forces in the battalion tactical group of the 1st Tank Regiment, he advanced in the direction of the settlement of Sulyhivka, unsuccessfully.

To improve the movement of troops in the direction and ensure the crossing of the river, Siversky Donets is carrying out work to restore the bridge in Izium.

In the Donetsk and Luhansk directions, with a certain composition of forces, the occupiers are focusing their main efforts on taking control of the areas of the settlements of Popasna and Rubizhne, establishing full control over Mariupol, as well as preparing offensive operations in the area of the settlement of Zolota Nyva.

In the areas of the settlements of Borovske, Novoluhanske, Solodke, Maryinka, Zolota Nyva, the enemy continued shelling the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and civilian infrastructure.

Near the settlements of Novotoshkivske, Nyzhne, Popasna, Kalynove, Stepne, Rubizhne, Troitske, Novobakhmutivka, and Novoselivka Druha, the enemy carried out assault operations, but had no success.

The Russian invaders launched massive artillery and air strikes on the city of Mariupol.

In the Pivdennobuzsky direction, the occupying troops are carrying out assault operations with the support of artillery in order to take control of the settlement of Oleksandrivka, with partial success. In the area of the settlements of Liubyne, Myrne, and Kopani, the invaders fired at the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces from artillery.

Russian troops shelled Mykolaiv with cluster munitions prohibited by the Geneva Convention. Civilian quarters and medical institutions, including a children's hospital, fell under enemy fire. There are dead and wounded, including children.

"The occupying troops continue to suffer losses. There are big problems with the recruitment of combat units and support units. The enemy personnel are demoralized, which has led to an increase in the number of desertions and refusals of the military personnel of the armed forces of the Russian Federation to participate in the war on the territory of Ukraine," the General Staff said.

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