Russian troops force locals under occupation to take Russian passports, Ukrainian army repels over 7 attacks - General Staff

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

Russian troops continue their campaigns of looting, frequent harrassment of people who support Ukraine, and forcing Ukrainian locals to take Russian passports. “In particular, in Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia region, the occupiers are transporting illegally cut timber to the south. In the village of Kozachi Laheri, Kherson region, after a successful attack on an occupying Russian forces target, there has been an uptick in incidences of Russian troops searching local residents' cellphones and carrying out unauthorized searches on Ukrainian homes” the General Staff said.

The Ukrainian army also said that Russian troops in Kherson region continue to force local residents to take Russian passports.

In Henichesk and Strilkove, invading Russian troops use checkpoints to restrict the movement of Ukrainian citizens who do not hold Russian passports. During searches, people are told that they will be banned from leaving and entering after their fourth checkpoint crossing.

“Occupying Russian so-called 'authorities' are also actively faking ownership documents for residential premises and recreation centers by falsifying purchase and sale agreements and donation agreements in order to appropriate Ukrainian citizens' real estate,” the Ukrainian army added.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces repelled over 70 enemy attacks and destroyed Orlan-10 UAVs

The Russian Federation continues to focus its main efforts on conducting offensive actions on the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka directions.

Ukrainian defenders have repelled over 70 enemy attacks in these areas. The Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka directions see the most intense fighting. 

Yesterday, Ukrainian aviation launched 8 strikes on invading Russian forces' military positions. Ukrainian defenders also shot down an enemy Orlan-10 unmanned aerial vehicle.

Missile and artillery units destroyed 3 enemy manpower concentration areas, 2 munitions depots and one multiple rocket launcher system.

Russia launched 2 missile attacks and 30 air strikes against Ukraine.

On April 1, the Russian army launched 2 missile strikes, 30 airstrikes, as well as over 40 attacks with multiple launch rocket systems on the Ukrainian troops' positions and civilian infrastructure.

“Without the results they want on the battlefield, the enemy continues to cynically wage war against civilians. The Russian Federation has launched another missile attack on civilian infrastructure in Druzhkivka and Avdiivka, Donetsk region, using ballistic missiles. There are dead and wounded among the civilian population. The probability of missile and air strikes across the entire territory of Ukraine remains high,” the Ukrainian army emphasized.

Near Ukraine's state 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 Federation continued shelling the entire line of contact: 2 settlements in the Chernihiv region, 7 more in the Sumy region, as well as 6 villages in the Kharkiv region were attacked. 

Shelling of Ukrainian regions

In the Kupiansk direction, the enemy shelled 9 settlements in the Kharkiv region.

In the Lyman direction, the Russian enemy conducted unsuccessful offensives in the areas of 2 settlements over the last day, 8 localities came under artillery fire.

In the Bakhmut direction, Russian forces stormed the town of Bakhmut, trying to take it under full control, and the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled over 25 enemy attacks. 13 localities in the Donetsk region came under shelling.

In the Avdiivka and Marinka directions, the Russian enemy conducted unsuccessful offensives in the areas of 6 settlements. Over the past day, the Ukrainian Armed Forces repelled over 20 enemy attacks. 11 localities in the Donetsk region came under enemy fire. 

In the Shakhtarsk direction, the Russian enemy actively used UAVs to adjust artillery fire, firing at 5 settlements in the Donetsk region.

In the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, the Russian enemy did not conduct active operations, improving defensive lines and positions. Over 40 settlements near the contact line were attacked.