The 501st day of the Russia-Ukraine War: official operational information by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on 09.07.2023.
Russian offensive actions and impact on civilians
During the day, the Russian army carried out 27 aviation strikes and conducted 37 artillery shelling from multiple launch rocket systems on the positions of Ukrainian troops and civilian settlements. Unfortunately, there have been casualties and injuries among the civilian population, and residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure have been damaged.
The probability of missile and aerial attacks throughout the territory of Ukraine remains high.
The Russian army is concentrating its main efforts on the directions of Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Marinka, where heavy fighting is ongoing. There have been 27 combat clashes during the day.
Intensified frontline clashes and epicenters of conflict
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- In the Volyn and Polissya directions, the operational situation remains unchanged. There are no significant signs of Russian offensive formations.
- In the Siversk and Slobozhansk directions, the Russian army conducted mortar and artillery shelling on approximately 10 populated areas throughout the day. These include Vyntorivka, Iskriskivshchyna, Yastrubine in the Sumy region, and Udy, Veterynarne, and Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region.
- In the Kupiansk direction, Ukrainian troops are holding their defense steadfastly. The Russian army carried out aviation strikes in the areas of Kolodyazne and Kyslivka in the Kharkiv region. Artillery and mortar shelling by the Russian army affected Krasne Pershe, Fiholivka, Dvorichne, Kupiansk, and Kyslivka.
- In the Lyman direction, the Russian army conducted assault actions throughout the day and attempted to dislodge Ukrainian soldiers from their positions west of Spirne in the Donetsk region but was unsuccessful. It carried out aviation strikes in the areas of Novosadove, Ivanivka, Serebrianske Forest, and Spirne in Donetsk Oblast. Over 10 populated areas, including Nevske, Bilohorivka in Luhansk Oblast, and Torske, Spirne, Berestove, and Vesele in Donetsk Oblast, were subjected to artillery shelling.
- In the Bakhmut direction, under intense Russian fire from aviation and artillery, Ukrainian troops successfully repelled attacks in the area of Dubovo-Vasylivka in Donetsk Oblast. The Russian army conducted aviation strikes in the areas of Oleksandro-Shultyne and Pivnichne. Over 10 populated areas, including Markeve, Bohdanivka, Khromove, and Ivanivske in Donetsk Oblast, were affected by Russian artillery shelling.
- In the Avdiivka direction, the Defense Forces continue to contain the Russian forces’ advance in the area of Avdiivka city. At the same time, the Russian army conducted artillery shelling on more than 10 populated areas, including Novokalynove, Lastochkyne, Avdiivka, Severne, Pervomaiske, and Nevelske in Donetsk Oblast.
- In the Marinka direction, under Russian artillery fire, Ukrainian troops repelled all Russian attacks in the area of Marinka city. The Russian army carried out an aviation strike in the area of Krasnohorivka and conducted shelling on over 10 populated areas, including Krasnohorivka, Marinka, Georgiivka, Maksymilianivka, Yelyzavetivka, and Katerinivka in Donetsk Oblast.
- In the Shakhtarsk direction, Russian soldiers conducted unsuccessful offensive actions in the area of Novomykhailivka in Donetsk Oblast. They conducted shelling on over 10 populated areas, including Novomykhailivka, Vuhledar, Novoukrainka, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Shakhtarske, and Velyka Novosilka in Donetsk Oblast.
- In the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, the Russian army is focusing its main efforts on preventing further advancement of Ukrainian troops. It carried out aviation strikes in the areas of Rivnopolia and Novodanilivka in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, as well as Kozatske in Kherson Oblast. Russian troops conducted artillery shelling on over 20 populated areas, including Temirivka, Novodarivka, Chervone, Huliaypole, Zaliznychne, Orikhiv in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Berislav, Vesele, Antonivka, Bilozirka in Kherson Oblast, and the city of Kherson.
Forced passportization of Ukrainian citizens in Luhansk Oblast is ongoing. In the city of Starobilsk, Russian soldiers issued cards to residents of the Russian Federation with a validity period of 3 months to all employees of the local multi-profile hospital who did not receive Russian passports. Ukrainian citizens are being threatened that if they do not receive Russian documents within this period, they will be deported from the temporarily occupied territory with confiscation of their homes.
Ukrainian countermeasures
At the same time, the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue their offensive operation in the Melitopol and Berdiansk directions, consolidating their positions and implementing counter-battery measures.
During the day, the Defense Forces conducted 1 strike on Russian personnel concentration area. Units of missile forces and artillery hit 2 areas of Russian personnel, equipment, and military vehicles, as well as 2 artillery positions and 2 radio-electronic warfare stations of the Russian soldiers.
Source: The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
See also: General Staff operational report July 8, 2023 on the Russian invasion of Ukraine