Russian forces unsuccessfully storm Ukrainian positions near Avdiivka – General Staff

The Ukrainian Armed Forces' General Staff reported this. 

Russian air assaults on Ukraine

At the beginning of the day, the invading Russian forces launched an airstrike against Ukraine with five Kh-59 guided missiles, one Iskander-M ballistic missile and 12 Shahed-136/131 strike UAVs. Air defense forces destroyed two Kh-59 missiles and 11 Shaheds.

Frontline situation

There were 53 combat engagements over the day. In total, Russia launched 6 missile strikes, 39 airstrikes, and 16 attacks with multiple launch rocket systems at the Ukrainian troops' positions and populated areas. Russian terrorist attacks have resulted in deaths and injuries among the civilian population. Private homes and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged.

The operational situation in eastern and southern Ukraine remains challenging.

Near the state Ukrainian border with Russia and Belarus, the situation hasn't changed significantly, and no enemy offensive groups have been detected. 

At the same time, the Russian army continued shelling the entire borderline with mortars and artillery: over 10 settlements across the Chernihiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions were attacked. 

Russian attacks in frontline Ukrainian regions

In the Kupyansk direction, 15 settlements of the Kharkiv region came under artillery shelling. 

In the Lyman direction, over 20 settlements in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions came under Russian fire. 

In the Bakhmut direction, over 15 localities in the Donetsk region were attacked by the invading Russian forces. 

In the Avdiivka direction, more than 15 settlements in the Donetsk region were attacked. 

In the Marinka direction, over 10 settlements in the Donetsk region came under shelling. 

In the Shakhtarsk direction, over 10 localities in the Donetsk region were shelled. 

In the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, about 25 towns and villages were subjected to numerous attacks by the occupying Russian army. 

Ukrainian Armed Forces launch 4 strikes against Russian military positions

The Ukrainian Defense Forces continue offensive operations in the Melitopol sector, offensive (assault) operations in the Bakhmut sector, inflicting losses in manpower and equipment on the occupation forces, and exhausting the enemy along the entire front line.

Over the day, Ukrainian' aviation launched 4 strikes on the Russian military positions, and the missile troops destroyed 1 enemy artillery unit.

• During the Russian night attack on Monday, October 16, the air defense destroyed 2 of 5 Kh-59 missiles and 11 of 12 enemy Shahed drones.