Russia is not ceasing its attempts to seize the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, transferring weapons and advancing - summary

SVETLANA KIZILOVA — WEDNESDAY, 20 APRIL 2022, 18:52

The Russian armed forces are trying to continue the offensive in the east of Ukraine in order to establish full control over the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Source: summary by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook

Details: It has been noted that Russian troops have stepped up the use of tactical aviation and air reconnaissance. The Russian Federation is inflicting systematic air strikes on military and civilian targets; in particular, it is using long-range aircraft.

The occupiers' units continue to replenish stocks of material and technical means from the territory of the Russian Federation.

Also, additional units of the invaders’ army are being transferred. So, at the "Kupiansk-Sortuvalnyi" railway station, an echelon was unloaded with weapons and military equipment and artillery units were being moved.

In the Donetsk and Tavria areas, the Russian forces are conducting reconnaissance on the routes for the advance and are preparing for further offensive operations towards the settlement of  Lyman and the exit to Sloviansk from the northeast.

The aggressors continue to build up troops in the direction mentioned. Units from the 90th Tank Division, the 41st Combined Arms Army and the 232nd Rocket Artillery Brigade of the Central Military District of the Russian Federation were moved from the territory of Russia.

The battalion tactical group from the Russian 150th Motor Rifle Division lost its combat capability and was withdrawn to the recovery area.

The Russian forces tried - but failed - to gain a foothold in the western and northwestern parts of Rubizhne. They carried out assaults on Novotoshkivske, but without success.

The Russian invaders are carrying out assault operations in the populated area of ​​Popasna.

Air strikes continue against the infrastructure of the city of Mariupol; the aggressors are carrying out assault operations in the area of ​​the seaport and the Azovstal [Azov Steel - ed.] plant.

In the Volyn and Polissya areas, the invaders did not engage in any actions. There is still a possibility of missile strikes by units of the air force of the armed forces of the Russian Federation against military and civilian infrastructure facilities on the territory of Ukraine, using the airfield network and airspace of the Republic of Belarus.

In the Siversk area, no signs were detected of the formation of an offensive grouping by the Russian forces. The protection of the border with Ukraine is being carried out by Russian units in an enhanced mode.

Around Slobozhansk, the invaders are reinforcing army aviation units near the national border of Ukraine. On the territory of the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation, the setting up of helicopter landing sites has been completed. More than 90 attack and multi-purpose helicopters are concentrated there.

The aggressors continue the partial blockade of Kharkiv, trying to inflict fire damage on units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and on critical infrastructure.

The Russians have regrouped troops around Izium. In the area of ​​​​the settlement of Dibrovne, they carried out offensive operations, with partial success. In the area of ​​​​the settlement of Stara Gnylytsia, the offensive was not successful, and as a result of fire damage, the enemy suffered losses and retreated.

In addition, the attempt to take control of the settlement of Dovhenke failed. The Russians retreated with losses. A detail worth noting is that the aggressors were seen wearing Ukrainian-type military uniforms.

In the Zaporizhzhia area, with the support of artillery fire, the aggressors resumed their offensive against the Temyrivka settlement.

In the Pivedennobuzk area, enemy artillery units fired at Ukrainian positions. In addition, Russian army units and operational-tactical aviation fired on individual targets.

The aggressors tried to continue conducting assault operations against the village of Oleksandrivka, but were not successful.

At the same time, no signs were detected of preparation of the armed formations of the so-called "Pridnestrovian-Moldavian Republic'' for participation in the armed aggression against Ukraine. However, it is possible that the law enforcement agencies of this pseudo-republic will be involved in sabotage and terrorist activities on the territory of Ukraine.