Ukrainian Armed Forces advance in Melitopol, Berdiansk directions - General Staff

The Ukrainian Armed Forces' General Staff reported this on July 16.

Ukrainian aviation launched 15 strikes on Russian military positions

One of the strikes hit the enemy's anti-aircraft missile system.

In turn, missile and artillery units struck the manpower concentration area, 9 artillery pieces at firing positions, as well as 2 enemy air defense systems.

Russia launched 6 missile strikes, 38 airstrikes against Ukraine during the day

Invading Russian forces also launched about 30 attacks with multiple launch rocket systems at the Ukrainian troops' positions and populated areas. As a result of the Russian attacks, civilians were injured, residential buildings, commercial and administrative buildings, as well as private vehicles were damaged.

The Russian troops are attacking in the Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka directions, and heavy fighting continues. There were 20 combat engagements over the last day.

Near the state Ukrainian 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 with mortars and artillery: over 20 settlements in the Chernihiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions were attacked. 

Shelling of Ukrainian regions

• In the Kupiansk direction, 6 settlements in the Kharkiv region came under artillery shelling. 

• In the Lyman direction, 7 settlements in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions came under Russian fire. 

• In the Bakhmut direction, over 10 localities in the Donetsk region were attacked by the invading Russian forces. 

• In the Avdiivka direction, over 10 settlements in the Donetsk region came under shelling. 

• In the Marinka direction, over 10 settlements in the Donetsk region were attacked. 

• In the Shakhtarsk direction, 10 localities in the Donetsk region came under enemy fire. 

• In the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, over 15 cities and villages were subjected to numerous attacks by the occupying Russian army. 

Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said that the situation in the east has escalated - the Russian troops have been actively advancing in the Kupiansk sector, Kharkiv region, for two days in a row.