Ukrainian forces come under heavy Russian fire, repel attacks near Avdiivka – General Staff

Ukrainian Armed Forces’ General Staff reported this in the nightly update on July 26. 

Situation in the main directions

Over the last day, 25 combat engagements took place at the frontline.

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 border line with mortars and artillery: over 20 settlements across the Chernihiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions were attacked. 

In the Kupiansk direction, Russian forces tried to advance south of Novoselivske in Luhansk region without success. Four settlements in the Kharkiv region came under enemy artillery and mortar fire.

In the Lyman direction, the Russian enemy also attacked without success in the area south of Dibrova, Luhansk region. Two settlements in Luhansk region and 3 settlements in Donetsk region came under shelling.

In the Bakhmut direction, Ukrainian defence forces successfully repelled Russian enemy attacks in the areas north of Khromove, east of Druzhba and north of Klishchiivka. The Russian forces launched an air strike near Klishchiiivka in the Donetsk region. Over 10 localities in the Donetsk region suffered from enemy shelling.

In the Avdiivka direction, coming under heavy fire from enemy aircraft and artillery, Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled attacks by Russian troops near Avdiivka. Instead, the Russian forces shelled more than 10 localities in the Donetsk region with artillery.

In the Marinka direction, the Ukrainian Defence Forces continue to hold back the Russian offensive near Marinka. Russian enemy attacked from the air near Krasnohorivka and shelled a number of settlements in this area of Donetsk region with artillery.

In the Shakhtarsk direction, Russian troops tried in vain to regain their lost positions near Staromaiorske in Donetsk region. The enemy attacked from the air in the area of Blahodatne, shelling more than 10 settlements.

In the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, the Russian focus are trying to prevent further advance of Ukrainian troops. Russian army attacked dozens of settlements in Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro, Kherson and Mykolaiv regions with aircraft and artillery.

At the same time, the Ukrainian Defence Forces continue their offensive operations in the Melitopol and Berdiansk directions, consolidating their positions and inflicting fire on the enemy. 

Ukrainian Defense Forces destroyed 9 Russian artillery pieces over the last day

Over the past day, Ukrainian aviation carried out 11 strikes on the areas where Russian troops, weapons and military equipment were concentrated. Another two were on Russian anti-aircraft missile systems. 

Rocket and artillery units hit 9 artillery pieces in firing positions and 2 control points of the occupying Russian forces over the past day.

Russian forces launched 3 missile and 28 air strikes, the threat of further missile strikes is very high

During the day, the Russian enemy launched 3 missile and 28 air strikes on the territory of Ukraine. In addition, Russian forces fired more than 10 times from multiple launch rocket systems at the positions of Ukrainian troops and civilian settlements. There were civilian casualties, and residential buildings were damaged.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stressed that the threat of missile and air strikes across Ukraine remains very high.