Ukraine’s defense forces strike 20 times at Russian personnel, destroy 2 UAVs, 2 air defense systems – AFU General Staff

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces shared the information in a morning report on May 18.

Russian forces are attacking in Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka directions. There were 36 combat engagements there.

Bakhmut and Marinka remain at the epicenter of the fighting.

Ukrainian Armed Forces strike at Russian troops

Over the past day, the aviation of the Ukrainian Defense Forces launched 20 strikes on concentrations of Russian personnel and military equipment, 8 of them - on anti-aircraft missile systems. The Ukrainian military also destroyed 2 reconnaissance UAVs of the Orlan-10 type.

Ukrainian missile and artillery units hit a command center, 6 manpower concentrations, 2 ammunition depots, 2 fuel and lubricant depots, an artillery unit at a firing position, 2 air defense facilities and 2 other important targets.

Shelling of Ukrainian territory and the situation at the frontline

Over the past day, May 17, Russian forces launched 15 missile attacks on the territory of Ukraine, in particular on the cities of Bakhmut, Kherson and Odesa. 

In addition, 42 Russian air strikes and 101 MLRS attacks were recorded. Civilians were injured, and private homes and other infrastructure were destroyed or damaged.

The threat of further missile and air strikes across Ukraine remains high. 

On the northern border with Belarus, the operational situation remained unchanged, with no signs of offensive enemy groups forming.

On the northeastern border with Russia, they maintain military presence in the areas bordering Ukraine. Russian troops fired mortar and artillery shells at 16 settlements in Chernihiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions.

In the Kupyansk direction, Russian troops launched unsuccessful attacks near 2 settlements.

Russian forces also launched air strikes near 3 more settlements. Eight settlements in the Kharkiv region and another in the Luhansk region came under artillery and mortar fire.

In the Lyman direction, Russian troops launched attacks near Nevske, Luhansk region, over the past day. They also launched air strikes near 4 more settlements. Seven settlements in Luhansk and Donetsk regions came under artillery fire.

In the Bakhmut direction, Russian forces are on the offensive. Heavy fighting continues for the city of Bakhmut. In addition, during the day Russian troops launched unsuccessful attacks in the direction of Ivanivske.

Five settlements in the Donetsk region suffered air strikes  and 13 more suffered from shelling.

In the Avdiivka direction, Russian troops did not launch any assaults. However, they launched air strikes near 4 settlements and fired at 4 more in the Donetsk region.

In the Marinka direction, Ukrainian defense forces repelled numerous attacks near the town of Marinka. Meanwhile, Russian forces launched an air strike on Krasnohorivka, fired on 3 more settlements in the Donetsk region.

In the Shakhtarsk direction, Russian troops did not launch any assaults over the past day. They launched an air strike near 1 settlement and fired at 3 more.

In Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, Russian troops are on the defensive. They launched air strikes on Novopil, Donetsk region, and Mala Tokmachka, Zaporizhzhia region, and shelled more than 20 settlements in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson regions and the city of Kherson.

• On May 18, the Russian army launched a massive missile attack on the capital. Air defense systems were operating in several regions. Explosions were heard in the Kyiv and Vinnytsia regions.