Russians in Luhansk region take locals they suspect of supporting Ukraine to unknown location – General Staff

This is stated in the evening report of the General Staff for April 9.

"There are more cases of violent abduction of civilians by the Russian invaders in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. In Starobilsk, Luhansk region, the Russian occupying forces organize searches of locals suspected of supporting Ukraine and take people away in an unknown direction without return," the message says. 

AFU missile and artillery troops hit 4 air defense systems, 11 Russian positions, and 5 radio electronic warfare stations 

Units of missile troops and artillery hit 4 anti-aircraft missile systems, 11 personnel, weapons and military equipment positions, ammunition depots, and 5 radio electronic warfare stations of the enemy.

The AFU Air Force made 6 strikes on Russian personnel positions. 

Russia launches 10 MLRS attacks, as well as 23 air strikes and 4 missile strikes

Two Russian missiles fired from the S-300 air defense system hit the objects of Zaporizhzhia civil infrastructure, civilians were killed and wounded, and residential buildings were destroyed and damaged.

Russian troops fired 2 more missiles from the S-300 air defense system at the Kostyantynivka civilian infrastructure facility in Donetsk region.

Russian troops continue to focus their main efforts on conducting offensive actions in the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Marinka directions. During the day, the Defense Forces repelled more than 40 enemy attacks.

Situation by directions is as follows:

On the northern and northeastern border with Belarus and Russia, the operational situation remained unchanged, and no signs of enemy offensive groups were detected. During the day, Russian troops fired on 1 settlement in the Chernihiv region, 3 in the Sumy region and 8 others in the Kharkiv region.

In the Kupiansk direction, 4 settlements in the Kharkiv region came under Russian fire.

In the Lyman direction, Russian troops launched unsuccessful offensives near 1 settlement. They also launched artillery attacks on 4 settlements in the Luhansk region, and 5 more in the Donetsk region.

In the Bakhmut direction, Russian forces continue launching offensives, trying to take full control of the city of Bakhmut; fighting continues. During the day, they launched unsuccessful offensives near the town of Bohdanivka and Khromove. Ukrainian defense forces repelled about 20 Russian attacks in the area.

Russian troops shelled 11 settlements in the Donetsk region.

In Avdiivka and Marinka directions, Russian forces launched unsuccessful offensives near 5 settlements.

The fiercest fighting in this direction is taking place near Avdiivka and Marinka. Over 10 Russian attacks were repelled there. At the same time, 8 settlements in the Donetsk region came under Russian fire.

In the Shakhtarsk direction, Russian troops did not launch any offensives over the last day. They fired at 7 settlements in the Donetsk region.

In the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, Russian forces continue erecting defensive lines and fortifications. They fired at 13 settlements bordering the combat line in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. 

• On Sunday, April 9, Russian combat aircraft struck the road bridge across the Sudost River in the Chernihiv region allegedly to hinder Ukrainian saboteurs’ operations.