The 544th day of the Russia-Ukraine War: official operational information by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on 21.08.2023.
Russia’s attacks on the civilian infrastructure in Ukraine
During the day, the Russian army carried out 2 missile strikes and over 30 aviation strikes, conducting 35 shelling attacks with rocket systems on the positions of Ukrainian troops and civilian areas. Unfortunately, due to the Russian terrorist attacks, there are casualties and injuries among the civilian population. Residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure have suffered damage.
The likelihood of missile and aviation strikes across the entire territory of Ukraine remains high. Over 20 clashes took place within the day.
Where Russia has recently attacked Ukrainian territory
Map provided by the Institute for the Study of War
- In the Volyn and Polissya directions, the operational situation remains relatively unchanged.
- In the Siversk and Slobozhansk directions, the Russian army conducted mortar and artillery shelling on more than 20 populated areas. These include Klyusy and Karpovychi in the Chernihiv region; Sydorivka, Volfyne, and Hrabovske in the Sumy region; and Chervona Zorya, Veterynarne, Kozacha Lopan, and Strilecha in the Kharkiv region.
- In the Kupyansk direction, the populated areas of Dvorichna, Synkivka, Kyslivka, and Berestove in the Kharkiv region were subjected to Russian artillery and mortar shelling.
- In the Lyman direction, the Russian army carried out aviation strikes in the areas of Tverdokhlibove, Bilohorivka, and Serebrianske Lisnytstvo in the Luhansk region. Around 15 populated areas experienced Russian artillery shelling, including Karmazynivka, Nevske, Kreminna, and Bilohorivka in the Luhansk region, as well as Rozdolivka and Spirne in the Donetsk region.
- In the Bakhmut direction, Russian troops conducted unsuccessful offensive actions in the Klischiivka area of the Donetsk region. An aviation strike was carried out in the area of Vesele in the Donetsk region. Over 20 populated areas were affected by Russian artillery shelling, including Pryvillia, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Markove, Bohdanivka, Chasiv Yar, and Klischiivka in the Donetsk region.
- In the Avdiivka direction, the populated areas of Oleksandropil, Stepove, Avdiivka, Siverske, Pervomaiske, and Nevelske in the Donetsk region were subjected to Russian artillery shelling.
- In the Marinka direction, the Armed Forces of Ukraine continue to hold back the advance of Russian troops in the areas of Marinka and Novomykhailivka in the Donetsk region. The Russian army carried out aviation strikes in the areas of Marinka and Novomykhailivka. Populated areas such as Zhelanne Druhe, Krasnohorivka, Marinka, Pobeda, Yelyzavetivka, and Novomykhailivka in the Donetsk region experienced artillery shelling.
- In the Shakhtarsk direction, Russian soldiers carried out an aviation strike in the area of Staromykhailivka in the Donetsk region. Populated areas including Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Novoukrainka, Velyka Novosilka, Blahodatne, and Urozhaine in the Donetsk region were subjected to artillery shelling.
- In the Zaporizhzhia direction, the Russian army conducted aviation strikes in the areas of Mala Tokmachka and Robotyne in the Zaporizhzhia region. Over 30 populated areas, including Hulyaypilske, Charivne, Yehorivka, Stepove, Lobkove, and Pyatyhatky in the Zaporizhzhia region, suffered from Russian artillery shelling.
- In the Kherson direction, the Russian army carried out aviation strikes in the areas of Dacha and Zymivnyk in the Kherson region. Over 20 populated areas, including Ponyativka, Kherson, Stanislav in the Kherson region, and Ochakiv and Solonchaky in the Mykolaiv region, were affected by Russian artillery shelling.
Russian occupying troops persist in engaging in looting and mistreating the civilian population. For instance, a unit from the Republic of Buryatia of the Russian Federation has arrived in the settlement of Tokmak in the Zaporizhzhia region. The personnel of this unit systematically check local residents for documents verifying their right to reside in their homes. In case of a lack of registration documents, they seize all property and housing under the pretext of “confiscation” and physically abuse dissatisfied local inhabitants.
Ukrainian countermeasures
At the same time, the Ukrainian Armed Forces continue their offensive operation in the Melitopol direction, consolidating their positions at achieved lines, and conducting counter-battery measures.
The aviation of the Armed Forces conducted 6 strikes on the areas of Russian personnel concentration over the course of the day.
Units of missile troops and artillery struck 4 command points, 1 area of Russian personnel concentration, armaments, and military equipment, as well as 3 artillery positions during the day.
Source: The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
See also: General Staff operational report August 20, 2023 on the Russian invasion of Ukraine
