Update regarding russian invasion (September 21, 2023)

Day 575 of the russian full-scale military aggression against Ukraine has begun.

The russian occupiers continue to ignore the International Humanitarian Law, as they target and shell the positions of Ukrainian troops and civilian infrastructure alike, terrorizing civilians. Thus, during the day of September 20, the russian federation launched yet another air strike on Ukraine with Shahed-136/131 combat UAVs. As a result of combat operations, air defense intercepted 17x Shaheds en route within Sumy, Poltava, Kirovohrad, and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts. Unfortunately, the attacks have damaged an oil refinery in Poltava oblast. Residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed or damaged.

Since the early hours of September 21, the russian occupiers have launched a massive missile attack on the civilian infrastructure of a number of oblasts of our country. Information on the aftermath of this terrorist attack is currently being updated.

The Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to defend in the east and the south of Ukraine, conduct the offensive on Melitopol’ axis, and offensive operations on Bakhmut axis. As they destroy the enemy, they liberate the temporarily occupied territories and consolidate new positions.

During the day of September 20, there were 23x combat engagements. The enemy launched 2x missile, 80x air strikes, more than 49x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and civilian targets across Ukraine.

Leonivka (Chernihiv oblast), Nadiya, Nevs’ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Novosadove, Tors’ke, Spirne, Vesele, Klishchiivka, New York, Krasnohorivka, Vuhledar (Donetsk oblast), Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast), Kozats’ke, Odradokam’yanka, Ol’hivka, Tokarivka, and Tyahynka (Kherson oblast) were hit by air strikes.

About 90x settlements in Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts came under artillery fire.

Pivnich operational-strategic group, Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes.

Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: the adversary continues to maintain a group of troops safeguarding the state border. The enemy troops conduct active subversive activities in the border areas in order to prevent the deployment of Ukrainian troops to threatened axes. The adversary increases the density of minefields along the state border in Belgorod oblast (russia).

Khortytsia operational-strategic group, Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces successfully repelled enemy attacks in the area west of Zaytseve (Donetsk oblast). The adversary attempted to regain the lost position in the area northeast and east of Andriivka (Donetsk oblast), to no success. The Ukrainian Defense Forces continue assault operations in the area south of Bakhmut (Donetsk oblast), inflict losses in manpower and equipment on the enemy, and consolidate their new positions.

Tavria operational-strategic group, Mar’inka axes: the adversary conducted unsuccessful offensives in the vicinity of Mar’inka (Donetsk oblast). Here, the enemy made 13x unsuccessful attempts to force Ukrainian units out of their positions during the day of September 20. At the same time, on Avdiivka and Shakhtars’ke axes, the Ukrainian Defense Forces hold the line as they have the initiative and win back Ukrainian land.

Melitopol’ axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue their offensive operation, inflicting significant losses in manpower and equipment on the occupation forces, forcing the enemy to withdraw from their positions. Our defenders repelled the enemy’s attacks in the vicinity of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). The occupiers suffer significant losses in both manpower and equipment.

Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces conduct counter-battery fire, destroy the supply depots, and successfully strike behind the enemy lines.

During the day of September 20, Ukrainian Air Force launched 10x air strikes on the concentrations of troops, weapons, and military equipment, and 5x air strikes on the anti-aircraft missile systems of the adversary.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x concentration of personnel, weapons, and military equipment, 11x artillery systems, 1x Strela-10 air defense missile system, and 1x electronic warfare station of the adversary.