Russian forces use kindergartens in occupied territories as military objects – General Staff

This was reported on May 16 by the AFU General Staff on Facebook. 

The Russian occupying forces have repurposed a kindergarten building in the village of Yuryivka, located in the Zaporizhzhia region, – it is now being utilized to accommodate their personnel. At the same time, civilians, who were forced to evacuate from nearby settlements along the contact line, are residing in the same kindergarten.

Ukrainian strikes against the Russian forces 

In the previous 24 hours, the Defense Forces' Air Force launched 14 airstrikes targeting areas with enemy personnel and military equipment. Additionally, they carried out 4 strikes on enemy anti-aircraft missile systems.

Over the course of the day, the Ukrainian military successfully neutralized 10 attack UAVs and 6 reconnaissance UAVs.

Missile and artillery units executed precise strikes on 6 personnel positions, 3 electronic warfare positions, 4 enemy ammunition depots, and a fuel and lubrication station used by the occupiers.

Attacks on the territory of Ukraine and the situation at the front

In the last 24 hours, on May 16, the Russian military carried out 31 missile strikes, including 2 S-300 missiles targeting civilian infrastructure in Kostyantynivka, Donetsk region, and 2 Kalibr missiles targeting civilian infrastructure in Mykolaiv.

Russian occupying forces launched 57 airstrikes and 96 MLRS attacks on positions of Ukrainian troops and residential areas. The enemy utilized 6 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles, 13 Kalibr cruise missiles (2 missiles exploded in mid-air), and 10 ground-based missiles (S-400, Iskander-M), with 25 of them being destroyed by our defenders.

The shelling of Dvorichna, Vovchansk, and Tyshenkivka in the Kharkiv region resulted in civilian casualties and the destruction of residential buildings, hospitals, and other civilian infrastructure.

The likelihood of further missile and air strikes on Ukraine remains high.

Situations in other Ukrainian regions is as follows: 

On the northern border with Belarus, the operational situation remained unchanged, with no signs of offensive groups forming. Russia continues to transfer its units from the territory of Belarus to the frontlines. 

On the northeastern border with Russia, the enemy fired mortar and artillery shells at 3 settlements in the Chernihiv region, 9 in the Sumy region, and 11 more in the Kharkiv region. 

In the Kupyansk direction, Russian troops attempted to improve the tactical situation during the day, launching attacks in 3 directions, but were unsuccessful. They launched artillery and mortar attacks at 12 settlements in the Kharkiv region and 1 more in the Luhansk region. Five areas were subjected to airstrikes.

In the Lyman direction, Russian forces shelled 6 settlements in Luhansk and Donetsk regions yesterday, and launched airstrikes on 4 areas, as well as an offensive near one area. 

In the Bakhmut direction, Russian troops are on the offensive. Fighting continues in the town of Bakhmut. In addition, over the past day, they launched unsuccessful attacks in the direction of Ivanivske, shelled 8 settlements in the Donetsk region, and launched airstrikes on 4 areas.

In the Avdiivka direction, Russian troops launched air strikes near 2 areas, shelled 7 more settlements in the Donetsk region.

In the Marinka direction, Ukrainian defense forces repelled numerous attacks near the town of Marinka. At the same time, 4 settlements in the Donetsk region came under Russian fire, and one suffered an airstrike. 

In the Shakhtarsk direction, Russian forces did not launch any assaults over the past day. However, they shelled 5 settlements and launched airstrikes in 2 areas. 

In Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, Russian troops are on the defensive. They launched an airstrike near 1 settlement in the Donetsk region, 2 in the Zaporizhzhia region, and another 3 in the Kherson region. At the same time, they shelled 13 settlements near the contact line in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Khersons regions.

• Bakhmut and Marinka, Donetsk region, remain at the epicenter of hostilities, and on May 15, Russian forces launched another massive missile attack on Ukraine.