Russian forces begin assault on two eastern Ukraine cities

Both cities of Bakhmut and Avdiivka have been considered key targets of Russia’s ongoing offensive across Ukraine’s east, with analysts saying Moscow needs to take Bakhmut if it is to advance on the regional hubs of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.

“In the Donetsk area, the enemy is conducting an offensive operation, concentrating its main efforts on Bakhmut and Avdiivka. It uses ground attack and army aviation,” the Ukrainian General Staff said on Facebook.

The last Russian strike on Sloviansk was July 30, but Ukrainian forces are fortifying their positions around the city in expectation of new fighting.

“I think it won’t be calm for long. Eventually, there will be an assault,” Col. Yurii Bereza, head of the volunteer national guard regiment, told The Associated Press.

Russian shelling killed five civilians and injured 14 others in the Donetsk region in the last day, Donetsk governor Pavlo Kyrylenko wrote Saturday on Telegram, saying two people were killed in Poprosny, and one each in Avdiivka, Soledar and Pervomaiskiy.

From 'Ukrinform' | Ukraine repulses Russian attacks in three operational areas:

Ukraine’s Armed Forces have stood their ground against the enemy offensive toward Sloviansk and Bakhmut, while in the Avdiivka area the Russians were forced to retreat, having suffered significant losses, according to the latest update delivered by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Ukrinform reports.

The situation has not changed in the Volyn and Polissya areas. The threat of the enemy missile and air strikes from the territory and airspace of the neighboring Belarus remains in place.

In the Siversky area, enemy artillery opened fire near the townships of Yanzhulivka, Mykolayivka, and Zalizny Mist in the Chernihiv region, as well as near Nova Huta in Sumy region.

The enemy ran no offensive operations in the Kharkiv area, resorting to barrel and jet artillery fire targeting surrounding townships. 

Airstrikes were reported near Verkhniy Saltiv, Lebyazhe, and Husarivka.

In the Sloviansk area, enemy artillery and MLR systems nflicted fire damage.

Separate Russian units attempted to advance toward the western outskirts of Bohorodychne, with no success, being forced to retreat.

The occupiers tried to improve the tactical position in the Stryapivka district but the enemy was resolutely repulsed by Ukrainian troops, who forced the invaders to retreat.

In the Avdiivka area, Russian barrel and jet artillery shelled multiple targets.

In an offensive effort, the Russian invaders tried to penetrate Ukraine’s defenses toward Spartak. Ukrainian soldiers inflicted significant losses on the enemy forces, pushing them back.