The 509th day of the Russia-Ukraine War: official operational information by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on 17.07.2023.
Russian offensive actions and impact on civilians
During the day, the Russian Federation launched 5 missile strikes using the S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems. In addition, the Russian army carried out 34 airstrikes and conducted over 40 artillery shelling attacks using multiple launch rocket systems on the positions of Ukrainian troops and civilian settlements. Unfortunately, as a result of these Russian terrorist attacks, there are casualties and injuries among both children and adults. Residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure have been destroyed.
The likelihood of missile and airstrikes being carried out across the entire territory of Ukraine remains high.
The Russian army is concentrating its main efforts on the Kupyansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Marinka directions, and heavy fighting is ongoing. There have been 29 combat clashes during the day.
Intensified frontline clashes and epicenters of conflict
- In the Volyn and Polissya directions, the operational situation remains unchanged.
- In the Siversk and Slobodzhansk directions, the Russian army maintains a military presence. It carried out an airstrike in the area of Bilopillia, Sumy Oblast. It conducted mortar and artillery shelling on more than 25 populated areas, including Chuykivka, Boyaro-Lezhachi, Iskryskivshchyna, Pavlivka in Sumy Oblast, and Ivashky, Kozacha Lopan, Hoptivka, and Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast.
- In the Kupyansk direction, Ukrainian soldiers are holding their defense steadfastly. Novomyrhorod, Dvorichna, Zakhidne, Kupyansk, and Kyslivka in Kharkiv Oblast were subjected to Russian artillery and mortar shelling.
- In the Lyman direction, Russian troops carried out unsuccessful offensive actions west of Dibrova in Luhansk Oblast during the day. Populated areas such as Nevske, Bilotserkivka in Luhansk Oblast, and Verkhniokamyanske, Spirne, Berestove, Rozdolivka in Donetsk Oblast were subjected to artillery shelling.
- In the Bakhmut direction, under intense fire from aviation and artillery, Ukrainian troops successfully repelled Russian attacks in the areas of Bohdanivka and Vesele in Donetsk Oblast. Over 10 populated areas, including Kramatorsk, Kostiantynivka, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Chasiv Yar, Pleshchiiivka, and Stupochky in Donetsk Oblast, suffered from Russian artillery shelling.
- In the Avdiivka direction, under Russian aviation fire, Ukrainian military repelled all Russian attacks in the area of Avdiivka city. At the same time, the Russian army conducted artillery shelling on more than 10 populated areas, including Avdiivka, Vodyane, Pervomaiske, Netaylove, and Karlivka in Donetsk Oblast.
- In the Marinka direction, the Armed Forces of Ukraine continue to successfully hold back the Russian troops’ advance in the area of Marinka city and near Krasnohorivka in Donetsk Oblast. The Russian army carried out shelling on more than 10 populated areas, including Krasnohorivka, Marinka, Hostre, Pobeda, and Horlivka in Donetsk Oblast.
- In the Shakhtarsk direction, Russian troops conducted airstrikes in the areas of Makarivka, Blahodatne, Novodarivka, and Komarivka, and shelled populated areas such as Blahodatne, Vuhledar, Zolota Nyva, Velyka Novosilka, Blahodatne, and Zelene Pole in Donetsk Oblast.
- In the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, the Russian army focuses its main efforts on preventing further advancement of Ukrainian troops. It carried out an airstrike in the area of Orikhiv in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. It conducted artillery shelling on more than 20 populated areas, including Vilne Pole, Vremivka in Donetsk Oblast; Huliaipole, Zaliznychne, Verkhnia Tersa, Preobrazhenka in Zaporizhzhia Oblast; Dudchany, Vesele, Lvove, Sadove in Kherson Oblast, and the city of Kherson. Ochakiv in Mykolaiv Oblast also came under fire.
At the same time, the Ukrainian Armed Forces continue their offensive operation in the Melitopol and Berdiansk directions, consolidating their positions at the achieved frontlines. They inflict artillery fire on detected Russian targets, and conduct counter-battery measures.
In the city of Nova Kakhovka in Kherson Oblast, the ruthless Russian troops are forcibly evicting all local residents living along the Dnipro River, including children, from their homes onto the streets. The homes of peaceful Ukrainian citizens are being occupied by Russian military units. Preliminarily, in Nova Kakhovka and Kakhovka, Russian troops have shut down mobile communication and wired cable internet connections, attempting to prevent the documentation and disclosure of Russian military crimes.
Ukrainian countermeasures
During the day, the aviation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine carried out 5 strikes on Russian personnel, weapons, and military equipment concentration areas. Ukrainian troops destroyed 3 Russian attack UAVs of the Shahed-136 type.
Units of missile forces and artillery struck one Russian personnel, weapons, and military equipment concentration area during the day, as well as 2 heavy flamethrower systems TOS-1A Solntsepek, 22 artillery systems in firing positions, 1 ammunition depot, and a Russian electronic warfare station.
Source: The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
See also: General Staff operational report July 16, 2023 on the Russian invasion of Ukraine
