Ukrainian Armed Forces continue counter-offensive at Melitopol and Berdiansk directions and hold defence in the east - General Staff

Ukraine's Armed Forces continue their counter-offensive in the Melitopol and Berdiansk sectors. Meanwhile, Russian occupants continue to focus their main efforts on the Kupyansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Maryinka directions.

Heavy fighting continues in these areas - about 20 combat engagements took place over the last day. This is stated in the evening report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of 14 July 2023.

The situation has not changed in the Volyn and Polissya directions, and there are no signs of the formation of offensive groups. Units of the Armed Forces of Belarus are performing tasks in the areas bordering Ukraine.

The occupants maintain military presence in the Siversky and Slobozhansky directions. During the day, the enemy conducted an air strike near Radkivka, Sumy region. The enemy also fired mortar and artillery shells at more than 15 localities, including Karpovychi and Kamen in Chernihiv region; Malushyne, Boyar-Lezhachi in Sumy region; and Kozacha Lopan, Neskuchne, Ternova in Kharkiv region.

In the Kupyansk sector, Ukrainian defenders are holding steadfastly. However, Dvorichna, Zakhidna, Kamianka, Kyslivka, Berestove, and Figolovka in Kharkiv region came under enemy artillery and mortar fire.

In the Lyman sector, the occupants tried unsuccessfully to advance west of Dibrova in Luhansk region and east of Novosadove in Donetsk region. More than 10 localities came under artillery fire, including Nevske and Bilohorivka in Luhansk region and Torske, Verkhnekamyane, Spirne and Rozdolivka in Donetsk region.

In the Bakhmut sector, under heavy fire from the invaders' aircraft and artillery, the Defence Forces successfully repelled all enemy attacks in the area of Berkhivka, Donetsk region. However, more than 10 localities suffered from enemy artillery shelling, including Vasyukivka, Chasiv Yar, Oleksandr-Shultine, Diliyivka and Pivnichne in Donetsk region.

In the Avdiivka sector, the invaders conducted unsuccessful offensive actions in Pervomaysk district. The enemy carried out air strikes in the areas of Avdiivka and Pervomayske in the Donetsk region. At the same time, the enemy fired artillery at more than 10 localities, including Berdychi, Lastochkine, and Avdiivka in Donetsk region.

In the Maryinka sector, Ukrainian defenders continue to hold back the Russian offensive in the vicinity of Maryinka. The enemy fired at more than 10 localities, including Krasnohorivka, Maryinka, Peremoha and Heorhiivka in the Donetsk region.

In the Shakhtarsk sector, the invaders tried to advance in the area of Novomykhailivka, Donetsk region. However, they were unsuccessful. The enemy fired on the settlements of Paraskoviivka, Novomykhailivka, Novoukrainka, Blahodatne and Bohoyavlenka.

At the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, the enemy is focusing its main efforts on preventing further advance of our troops. The occupiers carried out air strikes in the areas of Mala Tokmachka in Zaporizhzhia region and Grozove in Kherson region.

The enemy also fired artillery at more than 20 localities, including Vilne Pole, Mala Tokmachka, Gulyaypole, Zaliznychne, Bilohirya in Zaporizhzhia region; Antonivka, Tyahyntsi, Chornobaivka, Nikolske in Kherson region and Kherson.

At the same time, the Ukrainian Defence Forces continue to conduct offensive operations in the Melitopol and Berdiansk directions, consolidating their positions, inflicting artillery fire on the identified enemy targets, and conducting counter-battery operations.

In addition, the aviation of the Defence Forces carried out 13 strikes on the areas of concentration of personnel and 1 on the anti-aircraft missile system of the Russian occupiers over the day.

Missile and artillery units hit 9 artillery pieces at firing positions over the past day.

Earlier, the former commander of US forces in Europe, Ben Hodges, explained why the Ukrainian army's counter-offensive is slow. The American general stressed that the Ukrainian military is succeeding despite the fact that they are attacking without air superiority.

In addition, the occupiers have been replacing fields that are now difficult for the defenders to cross.

General Oleksandr Tarnavsky, commander of the Tavria Operational and Strategic Group, also mentioned minefields as one of the main problems facing Ukrainian troops.

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