Ukrainian troops shoot down Russian Su-25 attack aircraft, Mi-24 helicopter, 7 drones overnight - AFU General Staff

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces shared the information in its report  on March 3.

The General Staff reported that Ukrainian defenders shot down a Russian Su-25 attack aircraft, a Mi-24 helicopter and 7 UAVs (1 Superkam, 2 Orlan and 4 Lancet).

Missile and artillery units hit 6 Russian personnel concentrations and an ammunition depot.

Russian troops launch 31 air, 3 missile strikes and 88 MLRS attacks at Ukraine 

According to the General Staff, Ukrainian troops repelled more than 85 Russian attacks in Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Vuhledar directions yesterday. Meanwhile, Russian forces launched 31 air and 3 missile strikes, in particular on civilian infrastructure in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. There were civilian casualties, and residential high-rise buildings and private homes were damaged. 

In addition, 88 MLRS attacks were recorded. The threat of Russian missile attacks remains significant throughout Ukraine.

Situation in the main defense directions

There are no significant changes on the northern and northeastern border with Belarus and Russia. Over the past day, Russian troops fired mortars and artillery at Chernihiv, Sumy and 18 settlements in the Kharkiv region. 

In Kupiansk and Lyman directions, Russian troops launched unsuccessful offensives near Bilohorivka, Luhansk region, and Spirne, Donetsk region. They fired artillery near 20 settlements in Kharkiv, Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

In the Bakhmut direction, Russian forces keep storming the town of Bakhmut. Ukrainian defenders repelled attacks near Bakhmut and 4 other settlements. At the same time, 13 settlements in the Donetsk region came under Russian fire.

Russian attacks in Avdiivka and Vuhledar directions were unsuccessful. Instead, Russian troops fired artillery and mortars at 18 settlements in the Donetsk region.

In Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, Russian forces shelled more than 45 settlements in both regions.

Russian forces evict about 200 civilians from Boikove village, Kherson region, because they have refused to give up their private land to the occupying forces

Russian occupying forces continue to rob the population of the temporarily occupied territories. Thus, since the beginning of February 2023, Russian mercenaries have been actively taking away cars from residents of Zaporizhzhia region who have not received Russian passports.

In addition, representatives of the so-called occupation authorities are putting pressure on local residents to appropriate their land plots. 

According to the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, most residents of the village of Boikove, Kherson region, refused to transfer their private plots to the balance of the local occupation administration. As of March 1, 2023, about 200 people from the village were taken by Russian forces to an unknown destination for so-called filtration measures, and Russian mercenaries are being housed in their homes.

• Ukrainian border guards repelled Russian attacks in Bakhmut, up to 10 Wagner mercenaries eliminated.