Ukrainian Armed Forces hold positions on Dripro’s left bank in Kherson region - General Staff

The Ukrainian Armed Forces’ General Staff reported this. 

The Defense Forces’ aviation launched 2 strikes on the invading Russian troops’ military positions

In turn, Russia launched 3 airstrikes and 12 attacks with multiple launch rocket systems at the Ukrainian troops' positions and populated areas. Unfortunately, Russian terrorist attacks have resulted in civilian casualties and injuries. Private houses and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged.

Operational situation in eastern and southern Ukraine remains challenging

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 army continued shelling the entire borderline with mortars and artillery: over 20 settlements across the Chernihiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions were attacked. 

Russian attacks in frontline Ukrainian regions

In the Kupyansk direction, 10 settlements of the Kharkiv region came under artillery shelling. 

In the Lyman direction, over 10 settlements in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions came under Russian fire. 

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

In the Avdiivka direction, more than 15 settlements in the Donetsk region were attacked. 

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

In the Shakhtarsk direction, over 10 localities in the Donetsk region were shelled. 

In the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, about 25 towns and villages were subjected to numerous attacks by the occupying Russian army.

At the same time, the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to conduct offensive operations in the Melitopol sector and offensive (assault) operations in the Bakhmut sector, inflicting losses in manpower and equipment on the occupation forces, and exhausting the enemy along the entire front line.

• On February 20, the US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin arrived in the Ukrainian capital. He met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.