Russia launches 12 Shahed drones at Ukraine, air defense destroy 8 of them - General Staff

The air force reports that the enemy attacked from the north (Bryansk region) with kamikaze attack drones, using up to 12 Shahed-136/131.

"The forces and means of air defense of the Center Air Command of the Air Force in cooperation with the air defense of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed eight "Shahed", the statement reads.

Earlier, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported in a morning report on April 21 that the enemy used about 10 Shahed-136 UAVs at night (information was being clarified), 8 of which were destroyed by our defenders.

Russia carried out 23 air strikes and fired 49 MLRS at Ukraine over the past day

On April 20, the Russian forces conducted 23 air strikes. Also, Russian aggressors launched 49 attacks from multiple launch rocket systems at the positions of Ukrainian troops and populated areas. 

There are killed and wounded among the civilian population, private houses and other civilian infrastructure are destroyed and damaged.

The most fierce battle is for Bakhmut , Ukrainian Armed Forces repel over 60 Russian attacks

Despite suffering heavy losses, the Russian army continues its offensive on Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka directions. 

Over 60 Russian attacks were repelled in the last day. 

The fiercest fighting is for the town of Bakhmut.

Situation in the following sectors

The operational situation on the Northern and Northeastern Ukrainian borders remains unchanged.

Over the past day, Russian troops fired at 3 settlements in Chernihiv region, 2 in Sumy region, and 4 in Kharkiv region.

In the Kupyansk direction, 5 localities in the Kharkiv region came under enemy fire over the past day.

In the Lyman direction, the invaders tried to improve the tactical situation and carried out unsuccessful offensives in the area of Serebryanske forestry.

Four localities in the Luhansk region and three in Donetsk region once again came under artillery fire.

The Russian army continues its offensive in the Bakhmut direction where heavy fighting takes place. 

14 localities in the Donetsk region suffered from enemy shelling.

In the Avdiivka direction, the Russian occupiers conducted unsuccessful offensives in areas of Donetsk region. In particular, 8 localities were fired upon.

In the Marinka direction, Ukrainian troops repulsed numerous enemy attacks in the areas of Marinka and Pobieda in Donetsk region. 

At the same time, 6 localities came under hostile fire.

In the Vuhledar direction, the Russian army attacked 5 localities in the Donetsk region over the past day.

In the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, Russian troops  are on the defensive. 

During the day, they stormed more than 40 settlements, including 5 in Zaporizhzhia region; 6 in Kherson region and the city of Kherson.

Ukraine’s Defense forces hit 5 control points and attacked places of invaders' concentration

Over the last day, the aviation of the Defense Forces carried out 6 strikes on the areas of the occupiers' concentration.

In turn, missile and artillery units hit 5 enemy control points.

• On the night of April 20-21, Russian kamikaze drones attacked Kyiv and the region. Ukrainian air defense shot down nearly 8 UAVs. Also that night, the Russian military attacked the Poltava region with drones, causing damage to civilian infrastructure.