Russian troops search for deserters in south, and crime situation in Crimea worsens because of Wagner’s criminals – General Staff

This is stated in the evening report for February 21.

It is noted that the situation has deteriorated since the beginning of 2023, especially in Sevastopol. According to the General Staff, in case of detention for crimes, ex-prisoners are not sent to correctional facilities, but back to the front line.

In addition, due to the high level of desertion from the ranks of the Russian troops, massive raids have been conducted in the Chaplynsky district of Kherson region since February 20 this year. Particular attention is paid to abandoned cottages and houses. 

Ukrainian Armed Forces aviation carried out 4 strikes on Russian troops’ concentration areas

"The aviation of the Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out 4 strikes on the areas of concentration of occupiers' personnel and military equipment over the day," the statement said.

During the day, Russian forces fired more than 30 times from multiple rocket launchers.

The strikes hit the Kherson civilian infrastructure.

The General Staff reports that the enemy is focusing its main efforts on conducting offensive operations at the Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Shakhtarsk directions.

No signs of enemy offensive groups were detected in the north Ukrainian regions. 

More than 20 districts in Sumy, Chernihiv and Kharkiv regions came under enemy fire. Among them are Strilecha, Morokhovets, Starytsia, and other 6 settlements. 

In other areas, the situation is as follows:

In the Kupiansk and Lyman directions, the enemy fired at Dvorichna, Hryanikivka, Kotlyarivka, Berestove in Kharkiv region; Stelmakhivka, Ivanivka, Nevske, and other 3 settlements in Luhansk region and Fedorivka in Donetsk region.

In the Bakhmut direction, 18 settlements came under Russian fire. 

In the Avdiivka and Shakhtarsk directions, the enemy fired artillery at the areas of Avdiivka, Vodiane, Nevelske and 10 other settlements.

In the Zaporizhzhia direction, Novosilka, Vremivka and Novopil in Donetsk region and Olhivske, Hulyaypole, Malynivka and 8 other settlements in Zaporizhzhia region were shelled.

In the Kherson direction, the suburbs and the Kherson city, as well as the districts of 14 settlements, including Mylove, Tomaryne, Shlyakhove, Beryslav, Mykolaivka, Vesele, Antonivka and Veletynske, were hit by enemy artillery fire.

Russian troops conducted about 20 strikes on Kherson city on the afternoon of February 21. Five local residents were killed and 16 wounded.