Twenty six combat engagements take place on five front sections during one day. Bakhmut and Marinka are most intense — General Staff

This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the morning briefing on May 24.

Russian forces still focus on the Kupyansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Marinka directions. Twenty six military engagements took place in these areas yesterday. 

Bakhmut and Marinka remain the epicenter of hostilities.

Ukrainian forces destroy Russian Ka-52 helicopter, 4 attack UAVs, and 3 command posts 

In the past 24 hours, the Defense Forces' Air Force conducted 15 airstrikes targeting areas where enemy personnel and military equipment were concentrated. Among these strikes, three successfully hit anti-aircraft missile systems.

The Ukrainian military successfully destroyed a Russian attack and reconnaissance helicopter Ka-52, four Shahed attack UAVs, and one Zala reconnaissance drone. Units of the missile forces and artillery targeted three command centers, four areas where weapons and military equipment were concentrated, one ammunition depot, two artillery units in firing positions, and three other strategically significant enemy targets.

Russia launched 41 airstrikes and 53 MLRS attacks 

On May 23, the Russians conducted 41 airstrikes and 53 MLRS attacks.

These actions caused injuries to civilians and resulted in the destruction and damage of private residential buildings, as well as other civil and administrative infrastructure.

There is a significant likelihood of further missile and air strikes targeting the entire territory of Ukraine.

Situation by directions 

On the northern border with Belarus, the situation remained unchanged.

On the northeastern border with Russia, Russian troops maintain military presence in the areas bordering Ukraine.

Over the past day, they launched an airstrike near 1 settlement.

They also fired mortar and artillery shells at 26 settlements in Chernihiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions.

In the Kupyansk direction, Russians launched unsuccessful assaults near Masiutivka in the Kharkiv region. 

They also launched air strikes near 2 settlements and shelled 12 settlements in the Kharkiv and Luhansk regions.

In the Lyman direction, Russian troops launched unsuccessful assaults near Bilohorivka in the Luhansk region. They also launched air strikes in the same area.

In particular, 2 settlements in the Luhansk region and 2 more in the Donetsk region came under artillery fire.

In the Bakhmut direction, Russia is on the offensive. Fighting for the town of Bakhmut continues. 

Russian troops launched air strikes near 5 settlements and shelled 13 settlements in the Donetsk region.

In the Avdiivka direction, Russian forces launched unsuccessful assaults near 1 settlement.  

During the day, they launched air strikes near 2 areas, as well as artillery attacks near 10 more settlements in the Donetsk region.

In the Marinka direction, numerous attacks were repelled near the town of Marinka. Five nearby villages also came under Russian fire.

In the Shakhtarsk direction, Russian troops did not launch any assaults. They carried out air strikes near 1 settlement and shelled 6 more settlements.

In Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, Russian troops are on the defensive.

During this day, they launched air strikes near 3 settlements in the Zaporizhzhia region.

They shelled 19 settlements in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions.

• On May 23, it was reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed 4 enemy Shaheds and launched 14 airstrikes on Russian positions, hitting 3 Russian air defense systems.