Although there are no signs of the formation of an offensive group on the territory of Belarus, some units of the armed forces of the Republic of Belarus continue their missions in the areas bordering Ukraine, according to the daily update of the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces.
The Russian army continues to kill civilians in Ukraine, ignoring the laws and customs of war. Over the past 24 hours, Russia launched missile and kamikaze drone strikes and shelled military and civilian targets in different regions of Ukraine.
On 21 July, the Russian forces launched yet another massive missile attack on the territory of Ukraine, using three Kalibr sea-launched cruise missiles, four Iskander ground-launched cruise missiles, six Oniks cruise missiles, one Kh-59 cruise missile, and one S-300 anti-aircraft guided missile, according to Ukraine’s General Staff.
In addition, Russia launched 12 air strikes and 29 MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements, having killed and wounded civilians, including children. Russian shelling destroyed or damaged grain storage facilities in the south of Ukraine, the General Staff reported.
Russian air strikes and artillery shelling destroyed over 70 civilian residences and other infrastructure within the past 24 hours. Russian forces continue to focus their primary efforts on Kupiansk (Kharkiv Oblast), Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Mariinka (all in Donetsk Oblast) axes, where heavy fighting rages on.
On 21 July, there were 33 combat engagements between Ukrainian defenders and the Russian army, according to the General Staff. The Russian army continues to maintain its military presence in the northern and northeastern parts of Ukraine (Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes), the General Staff reported. Russian invaders fired mortars and artillery at more than 15 settlements in these regions, including Honcharivske (Chernihiv Oblast), Stukalivka, Bilovody, Stepne, Morozova Dolyna (Sumy Oblast), Veterynarne, Kozacha Lopan’, Hoptivka, Vysoka Yaruha, and Vovchansk (Kharkiv Oblast).
The Ukrainian troops are standing their ground in the Kupiansk sector (Kharkiv Oblast), where Russia deployed reinforcements, trying to conduct offensive operations. Krasne Pershe, Fyholivka, Novomlynsk, Kupiansk, and Novoosynove (Kharkiv Oblast) came under artillery and mortar fire from the Russian forces on 21 July.
The Russians conducted unsuccessful offensives in the Lyman sector (Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts), in the vicinities of the following settlements: Nadiya, Makiyivka, Nevske (Luhansk Oblast), Serebryanskyi forest, and Dibrova (Donetsk Oblast).
The Russian army launched air strikes in the vicinities of Serebryanskyi forest, Spirne, and Dibrova (Donetsk Oblast). The settlements of Nevske, Bilohorivka (Luhansk Oblast), Torske, Verkhniokamiyanske, Spirne, and Berestove (Donetsk Oblast) were shelled with artillery.
Bakhmut axis (Donetsk Oblast) was under heavy fire from Russian artillery on 20 and 21 of July. The Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled Russian attacks near Hryhorivka (Donetsk Oblast). More than ten settlements, including Vasyukivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Bohdanivka, Kostiantynivka, Markove, Ivanivske, Druzhba, and Pivnichne (Donetsk Oblast), suffered from the Russian indiscriminate artillery shelling.
Avdiivka axis (Donetsk Oblast) was under heavy fire from Russian aircraft and artillery, according to the General Staff. The Ukrainian army successfully repelled Russian troops’ attacks in the vicinities of Pervomaiske (Donetsk Oblast).
The Russian air force launched air strikes in the area of Avdiivka. At the same time, the Russians fired artillery at more than ten settlements, including Keramik, Krasnohorivka, Avdiivka, Vodiane, Pervomaiske, and Nevelske.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to hold back the Russian offensive in the vicinities of Krasnohorivka and Mariinka (Donetsk Oblast). Within 24 hours, the Russians shelled more than ten settlements in this sector, including Mariinka, Heorhiivka, Maksymiliyanivka, Hostre, and Pobieda.
In the Shakhtarskyi sector (Donetsk Oblast), the Russians shelled more than ten settlements, including Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Neskuchne, and Blahodatne.
In the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts, the Russian army focuses on preventing further advance of Ukrainian troops. Within the last 24 hours, the Russians fired artillery at more than 25 settlements, including Levadne, Hulyaipole, Huliaipilske, Bilohiriya, Kam’yans’ke (Zaporizhzhia Oblast), Zolota Balka, Mykhailivka, Novooleksandrivka, Beryslav, Lvove, Antonivka (Kherson Oblast), the city of Kherson, as well as Ochakiv (Mykolayiv Oblast).
At the same time, the Ukrainian Armed Forces continued to conduct the offensive operation on Melitopol and Berdiansk axes, consolidating their positions, firing artillery for effect on the identified enemy targets, and conducting counter-battery fire.
On 21 July, Ukrainian Air Force launched 13 air strikes on the concentrations of Russian troops, weapons, and military equipment, as well as three air strikes on the anti-aircraft missile systems of the Russian forces.
Within the last 24 hours, the Ukrainian missile and artillery troops hit a Russian concentration of manpower and military equipment, two artillery systems at their firing positions, and one electronic warfare station of the Russian forces. The Ukrainian counteroffensive operations continue.
Related:
- Six civilians killed, including two children, in Russian attacks on Ukraine’s oblasts
- Russia attacked Odesa’s agricultural infrastructure twice in last 24 hours
- Frontline report: Cluster munitions inflict heavy losses on Russian troops in Krasnohorivka
- Ukraine continues counteroffensive on at least three sectors on July 20 – ISW
