Ukrainian Armed Forces target Duna hotel in Berdiansk. Russian forces take soldiers’ bodies by truck

Espreso TV reports this with reference to the evening report of the General Staff on July 12.

The situation in the temporarily occupied territories

"In the temporarily occupied Berdiansk, Zaporizhzhia region, as a result of a direct hit on the Duna hotel, removal of the bodies of Russian servicemen by trucks to the local morgue was recorded during the night," the General Staff wrote.

In Mariupol, the Russian forces have stepped up counterintelligence activities. The occupiers are conducting massive raids on the homes and apartments of local residents. Russian invaders check personal documents and mobile devices. Terrorists are trying to intimidate the population and identify those who are members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Situation at the front and shelling of Ukrainian territory

Over the last day, Russian forces carried out 59 air strikes and fired 40 times from multiple launch rocket systems at Ukrainian troops' positions and localities. There are reports of dead and wounded civilians, including children. There is destruction of houses and other infrastructure.  

The Russian forces continue to attack in the Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka directions, and heavy fighting continues. There were 22 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

The situation in other Ukrainian regions:

At the same time, Russian forces continued shelling the border line with mortars and artillery: over 10 settlements in the Chernihiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions were attacked. 

• In the Kupiansk direction, Ukrainian troops are holding steadfastly. The Russian enemy launched an air strike near Kyslivka in the Kharkiv region. Artillery and mortar attacks by the enemy took place in 6 settlements in the Kharkiv region.
• In the Lyman direction, the Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensives in the area of Novoselivske in the Luhansk region over the course of the day; carried out air strikes on settlements in Luhansk and Donetsk regions. More than 10 localities came under artillery fire. 
• In the Bakhmut direction, the Russian enemy conducted air strikes in the areas of 3 settlements in the Donetsk region. More than 15 localities suffered from enemy artillery shelling.
• In the Avdiivka direction, being under heavy fire from enemy aircraft and artillery, Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled attacks by Russian troops near Avdiivka. The Russian enemy launched an air strike near Panteleymonivka, Donetsk region. At the same time, the enemy fired artillery at more than 15 localities. 
• In the Marinka direction, the Ukrainian Defence Forces continue to hold back the Russian offensive near Marinka. Russia launched an air strike in the area of Krasnohorivka; shelled more than 10 localities. 
• In the Shakhtarsk direction, the Russian enemy conducted air strikes in 3 areas; shelled 6 settlements in Donetsk region.
• In the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, the Russian enemy’s focused on preventing further advance of our troops. It shelled more than 20 localities. 

"The Ukrainian defence forces continue to conduct offensive operations in the Melitopol and Berdiansk directions, and are carrying out counter-battery measures," the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine emphasises.

Ukrainian strikes on Russian forces 

Ukrainian aviation carried out 6 strikes on areas where enemy personnel, weapons and military equipment were concentrated and 2 on the enemy's anti-aircraft missile systems.

Over the course of the day, missile and artillery units struck 1 command post, 16 artillery pieces at firing positions, 4 anti-aircraft missile systems and 2 enemy electronic warfare stations.

• On the night of  July 11-12, the Russian army launched attack UAVs across Ukrainian territory. Air defence forces destroyed 11 of the 15 drones, one of which hit in Cherkasy region, causing casualties.