20 Russian occupiers died from unknown substance poisoning near Melitopol - General Staff

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported this in a morning briefing on April 28.

The invading Russian forces keep suffering losses, including non-combat losses. 

Thus, in one of Russia's units located in the Melitopol district of Zaporizhzhia region, 20 soldiers died on April 24 as a result of poisoning due to the use of an unknown substance.

Russian troops attacked more than 65 times in 3 directions, the Armed Forces repelled all of them

Russian forces concentrate on offensive operations in the Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka directions. 

On April 27, they launched more than 65 attacks in these areas, but all of them were repulsed by Ukrainian defense forces.

Bakhmut and Marinka remain the areas of fiercest fighting, with Ukrainian troops holding the line.

Russia carried out 8 missile and 31 air strikes against Ukraine over the last day

The Russian aggressor keeps on trying to occupy Ukrainian territory and continues to use terror tactics. Ignoring the laws and customs of warfare, they strike at civilian objects.

Today, April 28, Russian terrorists launched another massive missile attack on Ukraine. Information on the consequences is currently being clarified.

Yesterday, the Russian troops launched 8 missile strikes and 31 air strikes, fired 56 times from multiple launch rocket systems at the positions of Ukrainian troops and populated areas. Civilians were injured, private houses and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged.

Situation in the following directions

The situation near the Belarus-Ukraine border did not change significantly. No signs of offensive groupings were detected.

In the north-eastern part of Ukraine, the Russian enemy launched air strikes on the settlements of Seredyna-Buda and Chernatske; carried out mortar and artillery attacks on the settlements of Hremiach in Chernihiv region; as well as 8 settlements in Sumy region and 11 in Kharkiv region.

In the Kupyansk direction, the invaders did not conduct any offensive actions, but actively used UAVs to adjust artillery fire. Artillery and mortar attacks by the Russian troops affected 9 settlements in the Kharkiv region and 1 in Luhansk region.

In the Lyman direction, the Russian army unsuccessfully shelled the area of Dibrova and Serebryanske forestry. Four localities in the Luhansk region and three in Donetsk region came under artillery fire.

In the Bakhmut direction, the invaders continue offensive actions. Fighting is ongoing in the town of Bakhmut. Over the past day, they conducted unsuccessful offensives in the direction of Bohdanivka. 13 towns in Donetsk region suffered from hostile fire.

In the Avdiivka direction, the Russian army launched unsuccessful offensives in the vicinity of 3 localities in Donetsk region. They stormed 8 localities in the Donetsk region.

In the Marinka direction, Ukrainian troops repelled enemy attacks in the vicinity of Krasnohorivka and Marinka over the past day. Five localities in the Donetsk region were subjected to hostile attacks.

In the Vuhledar direction, the adversary did not launch any offensives yesterday, but carried out air strikes on Vuhledar and Velyka Novosilka, fired at 5 localities in Donetsk region.

At the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, the Russian occupation forces are on the defensive. They shelled settlements near the frontline. Among them - 2 settlements in Donetsk region; 6 in Zaporizhzhya region; 2 in Kherson region. They also launched a missile attack on Mykolaiv at night.

Ukrainian Armed Forces hit 2 artillery units, an air defense system and an ammunition depot 

Over the past day, the aviation of the Defense Forces carried out 7 strikes on the areas of the occupiers' personnel and military equipment concentration, as well as a strike on the enemy's anti-aircraft missile system.

Ukrainian defenders also managed to shoot down 6 enemy UAVs of various types.

During the day, missile and artillery units hit 2 control points, an area of enemy manpower concentration, an air defense facility, an ammunition depot, and 2 artillery units.

• Earlier, the General Staff reported that about 500 Russians, who were recruited in prisons, are currently being trained in a field camp in Starobilsk district of Luhansk region.