Russia captures Loskutivka, Rai-Oleksandrivka, advances in   Lysychansk, Zolote area - Ukrainian General Staff 

The Ukrainian Armed Forces' General Staff shared its update on Facebook.

In the Slovyansk direction (Donetsk region - Ed.) Russian forces are focusing their efforts on improving their tactical situation and identifying weaknesses in the Ukrainian defense.

Russia is trying to create conditions to resume offensives in the Izyum-Barvinkove and Izyum-Slovyansk directions. To strengthen the grouping of troops in Izyum area, Russia relocated two tank units. Russian forces plan to use heavy flamethrower systems in the Slovyansk direction.

In the Donetsk direction, Russia is concentrating its main efforts on establishing full control over Severodonetsk, conducting offensive operations to encircle our troops in Lysychansk area, and blocking the main logistics routes.

In the Severodonetsk direction (Luhansk region - Ed.) Russian forces captured Loskutivka and Rai-Oleksandrivka settlements. They conduct assault operations to establish control over Syrotyne settlement. They carry out preparatory measures for the forcing of the Siversky Donets river.

In the Bakhmut direction (Donetsk region - Ed.), Russia are conducting offensive operations in the directions of Zolote and Vovchoyarivka settlements. They are trying to seize the dominant heights in the Berestove area in order to establish control over the Bakhmut-Lysychansk highway. To strengthen the group in this direction, in the area of ​​the settlement of Novotoshkivske, Russia transferred to one battalion tactical group from the Central Military District.

In the Kramatorsk, Avdiyivka, Kurakhiv, Novopavliv and Zaporizhzhya directions, Russia did not take active action. Russian forces carry out shelling to restrain the actions of Ukrainian units and prevent their transfer to other directions.

In the Southern Bug area (southwest Ukraine - Ed.), Russian forces are focusing their efforts on preventing Ukrainian counter-offensive operations in the Kherson and Mykolaiv regions. They carry out engineering equipment positions.

In the Mykolaiv direction, Russia deployed artillery units in certain areas. In the near future, Russia may attempt to carry out assault operations in the directions of Kiselivka-Posad-Pokrovske and Oleksandrivka-Luparevo to reach the administrative borders of Kherson region.

In the Kryvyi Rih direction (Dnipropetrovsk region - Ed.), Russia is carrying out engineering improvement of positions.

In the northern direction, Russian units continue to be located in the border areas of Bryansk and Kursk regions. Russia maintains up to three battalion tactical groups from the 1st Panzer Army of the Western Military District and airborne units.  Improves defensive positions in the area of ​​the settlement of Tiotkino, Kursk region. The aggressor continues to fire on Ukrainian units in the border areas of Sumy region.

In the Kharkiv direction, Russian main efforts are focused on preventing the Ukrainian defense forces from entering the rear of the group of occupying forces operating in the Slovyansk direction. Russia conducted air reconnaissance in the areas of the settlements of Bayrak and Rubizhne.

The General Staff notes that the ships of the Black Sea Fleet in the Black and Azov Seas continue to perform tasks to isolate the area of ​​hostilities and reconnaissance. Russia continues to block civilian shipping in the northwestern Black Sea.

"Five carriers of Caliber naval-based cruise missiles (total volley - up to 40 missiles) are ready to use missile weapons in the Black Sea," the statement said.

Ukrainian units continue to perform missile and artillery fire missions in certain areas. Ukrainian defenders inflict losses on the Russian forces in all areas where active hostilities continue.