The Russian army attacking the whole front line in the Donetsk region, "Bucha executioners" operate below Izyum [near Kharkiv] - General Staff report

VALENTYNA ROMANENKO — SATURDAY, 23 APRIL 2022, 07:07

On the Donetsk front, the Russian army is advancing along the entire front line. Units of the 64th Separate Motorised Rifle Brigade, which took an active part in crimes against civilians in Bucha, are operating in the Izyum area of Kharkiv region and have already suffered casualties.

Source: morning report of the General Staff

Quote: "Most enemy activity is observed on the Slobozhanskyi and Donetsk fronts. The occupying forces are regrouping.

The enemy continues to launch missile and bomb strikes on military and civilian infrastructure. "

Details: In the Volyn, Polissia and Siverskyi fronts, certain units of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus are performing tasks to strengthen the Ukrainian-Belarusian border in the Brest and Gomel regions. In order to clarify the position of Ukrainian troops on the Sumy front, the occupying forces have used UAVs based in ​​the settlement of Glushkovo.

The threat of missile and air strikes from these areas remains. In addition, it is possible that the Russian army will arrange provocations on the Ukrainian-Russian border, accusing the Ukrainian Defence Forces.

On the Tavriia and Pivdennyi Buh fronts there is a group of invaders’ troops, consisting of separate units of the 8th and the 49th Combined Arms armies, the 22nd army corps, the coastal troops of the Black Sea Fleet of the Southern Military District and airborne troops. The Russian army is focusing its main efforts on improving its tactical position and maintaining the occupied frontiers.

In order to create favourable conditions for advancing towards the city of Mykolaiv, the aggressors are shelling the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. To increase the air defence system near the city of Skadovsk, the Russian army has deployed a S-300VM missile system.

On the Slobozhanskyi front, a group of Russian troops continues to partially blockade Kharkiv and fire on it with artillery.

Separate units of the 1st Guards Tank Army and the 20th Guards Combined Arms Army of the Western Military District, the 35th Combined Arms Army and the 68th Army Corps of the Eastern Military District and Airborne Forces are conducting offensive and assault operations south of Izyum [near Kharkiv]. The Russian occupying forces are conducting air reconnaissance of positions and measures to organise fire support for the offensive and the organisation of logistical support of the group.

According to available information, units of the 64th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade, which took an active part in the mass killings, torture and rape of civilians in the Ukrainian city of Bucha, are operating in the area of ​​Izyum and have already suffered casualties.

On the Donetsk front, the Russian army is conducting offensive operations along the entire front line. The occupying forces are concentrating their main efforts on the offensive in the Sievierodonetsk direction, firing intensely on Ukrainian troops in order to displace them and create conditions for the development of the offensive on Sloviansk. The offensive in the direction of Novotoshkivske and assault operations in the areas of Rubizhne, Popasna and Marinka continue.

On the Mariupol front, the invaders continue to blockade our units in the area of ​​the "Azovstal" plant and launch air strikes on the city, including with the use of long-range aircraft. An engineering unit arrived in the occupied city in order to demine the port infrastructure of Mariupol,.

On the Zaporizhzhia front, the Russian occupying forces moved a battalion tactical group of the 19th Motorised Rifle Division of the 58th Combined Arms Army of the Southern Military District to strengthen their group. 

As part of the formation of additional reserves, the training of a unit of the private military group "Wagner" [This is described as a private military company, a network of mercenaries, or a de facto private army of Russian President Vladimir Putin] with about 200 people was completed. The advanced group of the unit was transferred to the Novobakhmutivka district to reconnoitre the area. The information is currently being clarified.

On the Pivdennyi Buh front, the Russian occupying forces are trying to improve their tactical position and gain a foothold on the administrative borders of the Kherson region. They are suffering significant losses in technology.

In the Black Sea and Azov operational zones, Russian naval groups in the Black and Azov Seas continue to carry out tasks to isolate the combat area and conduct reconnaissance.

In the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, eight Russian attacks have been repulsed in the past 24 hours. Nine tanks, eighteen armoured units and thirteen vehicles, a tanker and three artillery systems have been destroyed.