Saturday, July 15, 2023 – 18:59 (EEST) Section: General Staff of the Armed Forces, Latest news, Summaries
The 507th day of the Russia-Ukraine War: official operational information by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on 15.07.2023.
Russian offensive actions and impact on civilians
During the current day, the Russian Federation launched a missile and aviation strike on Ukraine using two Iranian strike UAVs of the Shahed type and two guided anti-aircraft missiles. As a result of successful combat operations by Ukraine’s air defense forces, two strike UAVs were destroyed.
Furthermore, the Russian army carried out 32 airstrikes and conducted 15 shelling attacks with multiple rocket launch systems. The probability of missile and aviation strikes across the entire territory of Ukraine remains high.
The Russian army is focusing its main efforts on the Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Marinka directions, with 28 armed clashes occurring during the day.
Intensified frontline clashes and epicenters of conflict
- In the Volyn and Polissya directions, the operational situation remains unchanged with no significant changes. There are no signs of Russia’s offensive group formations. The identified units of the Belarusian Armed Forces are carrying out tasks in the border areas with Ukraine.
- In the Siversk and Slobozhansk directions, the Russian army maintains a military presence. During the day, it conducted aviation strikes in the areas of Volfyne, Sumy region, and Ustynivka, Kharkiv region. It also carried out mortar and artillery shelling on over 20 settlements, including Zaliznyy Mist in the Chernihiv region, Bilotserkivka and Progres in the Sumy region, and Kozacha Lopan, Veterynarne, and Krasne in the Kharkiv region.
- In the Kupiansk direction, Ukrainian soldiers are steadfastly holding the defense. During the day, the Russian army carried out unsuccessful offensive actions south of Novoselivka in the Luhansk region. It also conducted an aviation strike in the same area. Russian artillery and mortar shelling targeted Dvorichna, Krasne Pershe, Kolodyazne, Novomyrhorod, and Berestove in the Kharkiv region.
- In the Lyman direction, Russian troops conducted unsuccessful offensive actions east of Vesele in the Donetsk region. They conducted aviation strikes in the areas of Nevske and Bilohorivka in the Luhansk region, as well as Ivanivka, Fedorivka, and Rozdolivka in the Donetsk region. Settlements such as Nevske, Bilohorivka in the Luhansk region, and Torske, Spirne, and Rozdolivka in the Donetsk region were subjected to artillery shelling.
- In the Bakhmut direction, Ukrainian soldiers successfully repelled all Russian attacks in the area southwest of Andriivka in the Donetsk region. The Russian army carried out an aviation strike in the area of Dyliivka in the Donetsk region. Over 10 settlements, including Marlove, Khromove, Dyliivka, and Vasyukivka in the Donetsk region, were affected by Russian artillery shelling.
- In the Avdiivka direction, Russian troops conducted unsuccessful offensive actions in the area of Pervomaiske and carried out an aviation strike near New York in the Donetsk region. At the same time, they conducted artillery shelling on more than 10 settlements, including Nevelske, Pervomaiske, Stepove, and Avdiivka in the Donetsk region.
- In the Marinka direction, the Armed Forces of Ukraine continue to restrain the Russian forces’ advance in the area of Marinka. The Russian army conducted an aviation strike there as well. It carried out shelling on more than 10 settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Marinka, Katerynivka, and Hryhorivka in the Donetsk region.
- In the Shakhtarsk direction, Russian soldiers conducted unsuccessful offensive actions in the area of Novomykhailivka and carried out an aviation strike in the area of Blahodatne in the Donetsk region. They conducted shelling on settlements such as Velyka Novosilka, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, and Blahodatne.
- In the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, the Russian army concentrates its main efforts on preventing further advancement of Ukrainian soldiers. It conducted an aviation strike in the area of Mykilske in the Kherson region. It also carried out artillery shelling on more than 15 settlements, including Levadne, Novodarivka, Huliaipole in the Zaporizhzhia region; Ivanivka, Kutsurub in the Mykolaiv region; Dniprovske, Zolota Balka, Romashkove, Kizomys in the Kherson region, and the city of Kherson.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Armed Forces continue their offensive operation in the Melitopol and Berdiansk directions. They consolidate their positions on the achieved frontlines, inflict artillery fire on identified Russian targets, and carry out counter-battery measures.
The Russian army continues to exploit civilian healthcare facilities in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine for their own purposes. Specifically, it has been determined that in the settlement of Pokazne in the Zaporizhzhia region, approximately 200 patients were evacuated from the building of the Mykhailivskyi psychoneurological boarding school to an unknown destination, and the supporting personnel were dismissed. In the future, there are plans to establish a military hospital on the premises to treat wounded Russian servicemen.
Ukrainian countermeasures
Over the course of the day, the aviation of Ukraine conducted nine strikes on Russian personnel concentration areas. Additionally, Ukrainian military destroyed six reconnaissance UAVs of the Russian army.
The units of missile troops and artillery inflicted damage on two ammunition depots, four artillery systems in firing positions, and two Russian air defense systems throughout the day.
Source: The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
See also: General Staff operational report July 14, 2023 on the Russian invasion of Ukraine