Situation update as of 6 a.m., May 21, 2023
During the day of May 20, the adversary launched 7x missile, 70x air strikes, and 48x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and in various settlements. The attacks caused civilian casualties, damage and destruction of private housing and other civilian infrastructure.
The likelihood of missile and air strikes across Ukraine remains high, as the enemy continues to use terror tactics.
The adversary continues to focus its main efforts on Kup’yans’k, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Mar’inka axes. These areas of the frontline saw a total of 53x combat engagements during the day of May 20, with Bakhmut and Mar’inka remaining at the epicenter of the fighting.
Volyn, and Polissya axes: no significant changes or signs of the formation of offensive groups were found.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: the adversary continues to maintain military presence in the areas of russia bordering Ukraine. During the day of May 20, the invaders launched an air strike near the settlement of Nesterne (Kharkiv oblast), fired mortars and artillery at the settlements of Halahanivka (Chernihiv oblast), Holyshivs’ke, Volfyne, Kindrativka, Yunakivka, Uhroyidy (Sumy oblast), Udy, Kozacha Lopan’, Ternova, Hatyshche, Vovchans’k, Pletenivka, Pokalyane, Nesterne, Budarky, Zemlyanky, Ustynivka, and Khatnje (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup’yans’k axis: the adversary keeps trying to improve its tactical situation. During the day of May 20, the enemy conducted unsuccessful offensive operations in the vicinity of Masyutivka. The invaders launched air strikes in the vicinities of settlements of Kyslivka and Kotlyarivka (Kherson oblast). Topoli, Fyholivka, Novomlyns’k, Dvorichna, Zapadne, Masyutivka, Kyslivka, Kotlyarivka, Tabaivka (Kharkiv oblast), and Stel’makhivka (Luhansk oblast) came under artillery and mortar fire of the adversary.
Lyman axis: the enemy did not conduct any offensive operations during the day of May 20. The adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of settlements of Bilohorivka, Dibrova, Yampil’, and Spirne. Makiivka, Nevs’ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors’ke, Verkhn’okam’yans’ke, and Spirne (Donetsk oblast) were shelled with artillery.
Bakhmut axis: the enemy continues its offensive operations. Fighting for the city of Bakhmut continues. Also, the adversary conducted unsuccessful offensive operations towards Bila Hora during the day of May 20. The invaders launched missile attacks in the vicinities of Slovyansk, Kramatorsk, Druzhkivka, and air strikes in the vicinities of Slovyansk, Druzhkivka, Bakhmut, Ivanivske, Bila Hora, Kurdyumivka, and Toretsk. Vasyukivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Hryhorivka, Bohdanivka, Bakhmut, Ivanivske, Chasiv Yar, Stupochky, Predtechyne, and Bila Hora (Donetsk oblast) came under enemy fire.
Avdiivka axis: the adversary conducted offensive operations towards Novokalynove, Avdiivka, and Sjeverne, to no success. During the day of May 20, the invaders launched an air strike in the vicinity of Avdiivka, fired artillery in the vicinities of settlements of Novokalynove, Berdychi, Stepove, Avdiivka, Tonen’ke, Pervomais’ke, Karlivka, and Nevels’ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar’inka axis: Ukrainian Defense Forces again repelled numerous enemy attacks in the vicinity of the city of Mar’inka. The enemy launched air strikes in the vicinities of settlements of Krasnohorivka and Mar’inka. At the same time, Hostre, Heorhiivka, Mar’inka, and Pobjeda (Donetsk oblast) were shelled by the enemy.
Shakhtars’ke axis: the adversary conducted unsuccessful offensives in the vicinity of Novomykhailivka. At the same time, the invaders launched air strikes in the vicinities of settlements of Vuhledar and Prechystivka. The russian occupant forces shelled the settlements of Paraskoviivka, Kostyantynivka, Novomykhailivka, Novoukrainka, Vuhledar, and Prechystivka.
Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: the adversary stays on the defensive. The invaders launched air strikes on the settlements of Poltavka (Zaporizhzhia oblast), Beryslav, and Kyndyika (Kherson oblast). At the same time, the occupiers shelled more than 40x settlements, including Vremivka, Novosilka, Zelene Pole, Novopil’ (Donetsk oblast), Ol’hivs’ke, Hulyaipole, Bilohir’ya, Mala Tokmachka, Kam’yans’ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast), Nikopol’ (Dnipropetrovsk oblast), Zolota Balka, Vesele, L’vove, Antonivka, Dniprovs’ke, Veletens’ke (Kherson oblast), and the city of Kherson.
The russian occupiers continue to repurpose educational institutions in the temporarily occupied settlements of Ukraine as military medical facilities. In particular, the invaders have turned a secondary school in the village of Azov (Zaporizhzhia oblast) and a pre-school in the village of Hladkivka (Kherson oblast) into field hospitals. About 50x occupants with injuries of varying severity are undergoing treatment there.
During the day of May 20, Ukrainian Air Force launched 10x air strikes on the concentrations of troops and military equipment of the adversary. Also, 4x combat and 7x reconnaissance UAVs of various types were intercepted.
The Ukrainian missile and artillery troops hit 4x concentrations of weapons and military equipment, 1x ammunition depot, 4x artillery units at their firing positions, 1x air defense asset, and 1x other important target of the enemy.
