Russian forces bombard Bakhmut with incendiary and phosphorus munitions, while in Vesele they close police department and destroy documents 

The AFU General Staff reported this in the morning briefing on May 8.

The so-called "evacuation" includes teachers, educators, children, representatives of the local authorities, and collaborators. Parents of children are being threatened that their child will not be enrolled in school if they refuse to participate. There are also long queues for fuel at gas stations, with drivers being informed that no new fuel deliveries are expected.

In addition, the local police department in Vesele has been shut down by the occupiers and is not operational. Recent reports indicate that the department's documentation was destroyed the previous day.

Russia attacks in 4 directions, where the AFU repulsed 55 attacks

Russia is attacking Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Marinka directions.

Heavy fighting continues for the cities of Bakhmut and Mariinka.

55 Russian attacks were repulsed over the past day in these areas.

Russia launched 16 missile attacks and 61 air strikes against Ukraine

On May 8, 2023, Ukraine was again targeted by the enemy, using Iranian Shahed attack UAVs. Ukrainian defenders successfully destroyed all 35 drones.

Russia continued its terror campaign on May 7, launching 16 missile strikes, targeting cities in the Kharkiv, Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Odesa regions.

In addition, 61 airstrikes and 52 MLRS attacks were recorded on Ukrainian troop positions and civilian areas, resulting in casualties among civilians and damage to high-rise buildings, private homes, and other civilian infrastructure.

The possibility of further Russian missile and air attacks on the entire territory of Ukraine remains high.

Situation in different directions

The situation in the northern and northwestern Ukrainian border did not change significantly.

In the northern and north-eastern part of Ukraine, the Russian troops carried out air strikes on 3 settlements in Chernihiv region and 1 in Sumy region. They also fired mortar and artillery shells at 8 settlements in the Chernihiv region, 7 in the Sumy region, and 8 in the Kharkiv region.

In the Kupyansk direction, 8 localities came under enemy artillery and mortar fire. Russians carried out air strikes on two areas, but did not conduct any offensive.

In the Lyman direction. Artillery attacks were delivered on 3 localities in the Luhansk region and 2 in Donetsk region. Air strikes were launched in two areas, as well as one unsuccessful offensive. 

The Russian occupation forces continued to attack in the Bakhmut direction with heavy fighting in the city of Bakhmut, the occupiers bombarded the city with incendiary and phosphorus ammunition. They unsuccessfully assaulted 4 localities. As a result, 10 localities in the Donetsk region suffered from hostile shelling, and 4 areas suffered from air strikes. 

In the Avdiivka direction, the Russian invaders conducted unsuccessful offensives in 2 areas. They fired at 11 localities in the Donetsk region.

In the Marinka direction, Ukrainian troops repelled attacks in the area of Marinka over the last day. Four other localities in the Donetsk region were also subjected to hostile attacks.

In the Shakhtarsk direction, the enemy did not conduct any offensive actions yesterday. They opened fire at 10 localities in the Donetsk region.

In the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, the Russian troops are on the defensive. They attacked over 50 localities and launched air strikes in 3 areas. 

Ukrainian forces hit 2 command posts, 3 ammunition warehouses, and Russian military positions 

During the past 24 hours, the Defense Forces' Air Force conducted eight strikes on areas where the enemy's personnel and military equipment were concentrated, including a strike on the enemy's anti-aircraft missile complex. Additionally, Ukrainian defenders successfully neutralized two attack and six reconnaissance UAVs operated by the enemy.

Furthermore, the missile forces and artillery units successfully hit two enemy control points, two areas where weapons and military equipment were concentrated, and three enemy ammunition warehouses.

• The Russian army launched Burya missiles targeting a food warehouse and a recreation area in Odesa.

• On the night of May 8, Ukrainian anti-aircraft fire shot down 35 Shahed drones over the Kyiv region, resulting in five people being injured.