The 498th day of the Russia-Ukraine War: official operational information by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on 07.07.2023.
Russian offensive actions and impact on civilians
Last night, Russian troops attacked Ukrainian territory with Iranian Shahed strike drones. 12 out of 18 combat UAVs were destroyed by units of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, fighter aircraft, and mobile artillery groups of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Furthermore, the Russian army launched a missile strike on the territory of one of the infrastructure facilities in Zaporizhzhia. It also carried out 42 aviation strikes and conducted approximately 30 shelling attacks from multiple rocket launch systems on the positions of Ukrainian soldiers and civilian settlements. Unfortunately, civilian infrastructure has been destroyed, and civilians have been affected.
The probability of missile and aviation strikes across the entire territory of Ukraine remains high.
The Russian army is concentrating its main efforts in the Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Marinka directions, where heavy fighting is ongoing. Approximately 20 combat engagements took place within the past 24 hours.
Intensified frontline clashes and epicenters of conflict
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- The operational situation in the Volyn and Polissya directions remains unchanged, with no significant changes observed in the formation of offensive groups. Identified units of the Belarusian Armed Forces are carrying out tasks in border areas adjacent to Ukraine.
- In the Siversk and Slobozhansk directions, the Russian army maintains a military presence. Within the past 24 hours, it conducted an aerial strike in the area of Vilshana, Kharkiv Oblast. It also carried out mortar and artillery shelling on over 15 settlements, including Popivka in Chernihiv Oblast, Krasnopillia in Sumy Oblast, and Okip, Neskuchne, Vovchansk, Budarky, and Rublene in Kharkiv Oblast.
- In the Kupiansk direction, Russian soldiers attempted to advance in the areas of Novoselivka and Stelmakhivka in Luhansk Oblast. Ukrainian troops steadfastly held their defense and repelled all Russian attacks. Artillery and mortar shelling by the Russian army affected Kolodyazne, Novomlynske, Dvorichna, Zapadne, Masyutivka, Kupiansk, and Kyslivka in Kharkiv Oblast.
- In the Lyman direction, the Russian army conducted assault operations and attempted to displace Ukrainian soldiers from their positions in the northwestern area of Berestove, Luhansk Oblast, but without success. It carried out aerial strikes in the areas of Bilohorivka in Luhansk Oblast and Spirne in Donetsk Oblast. Over 10 settlements, including Nevske, Bilohorivka in Luhansk Oblast, and Vesele and Rozdolivka in Donetsk Oblast, were subjected to artillery shelling.
- In the Bakhmut direction, Russian troops launched aerial strikes on the settlements of Bohdanivka, Oleksandro-Shultsine, Bila Hora, and Pivnichne. More than 15 settlements were affected by Russian artillery shelling, including Vasyukivka, Markove, Bohdanivka, Khromove, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, Oleksandro-Shultsine, and Pivdenne in Donetsk Oblast.
- In the Avdiivka direction, the Russian army, with the support of aviation, carried out unsuccessful offensive actions in the areas of Novokalynove, Avdiivka, and Nevelske in Donetsk Oblast. At the same time, it conducted artillery shelling on over 15 settlements, including Keramik, Zhelane, Avdiivka, Siverne, Karlivka, Pervomaiske, and Nevelske in Donetsk Oblast.
- In the Marinka direction, under Russian artillery fire, Ukrainian troops repelled all attacks in the area of the city of Marinka. The Russian army conducted an aerial strike near Krasnohorivka in Donetsk Oblast. It shelled the settlements of Krasnohorivka, Marinka, and Pobeda in Donetsk Oblast.
- In the Shakhtarsk direction, Russian troops conducted unsuccessful offensive actions in the area of Blahodatne in Donetsk Oblast. They carried out an aerial strike near Velyka Novosilka and shelled over 15 settlements, including Novomykhailivka, Yelyzavetivka, Bohoyavlenske, Vuhledar, Zolota Nyva, and Siverne in Donetsk Oblast.
- In the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, the Russian army is focusing its main efforts on preventing the further advancement of Ukrainian military. It conducted artillery shelling on over 20 settlements, including Novodarivka, Levadne, Malynivka, Huliaipole, Zaliznychne in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Lvove, Tokarivka, Antonivka, Velytenske, Kizomys in Kherson Oblast, and the city of Kherson. At the same time, the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue their offensive operation in the Melitopol and Berdiansk directions, consolidate their achieved positions, deliver fire strikes on detected Russian targets from artillery, and carry out counter-battery measures.
Against the backdrop of successful military operations by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and significant losses suffered by the Russian army in personnel, the number of refusals to participate in combat actions has increased among units of Russian troops. For instance, in the area near the settlement of Rozivka in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, approximately 20 Russian military personnel refused to carry out combat tasks on the front lines. Subsequently, they were placed under arrest and transferred to the building of the Rozivka District Court.
Ukrainian countermeasures
Over the course of the day, the aviation of the Ukrainian army conducted 6 strikes on Russian personnel concentration areas, 2 strikes on anti-aircraft missile systems, and 1 strike on Russian command post. Ukrainian troops also destroyed 2 tactical-level reconnaissance UAVs.
Units of the missile forces and artillery targeted Russian command post, 7 artillery positions, and a radio-electronic warfare station within the past 24 hours.
Source: The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
See also: General Staff operational report July 6, 2023 on the Russian invasion of Ukraine
