The 452nd day of the Russia-Ukraine War: official operational information by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on 21.05.2023.
Russian offensive actions and impact on civilians
During the day, Russian troops carried out 4 missile strikes and 45 airstrikes, conducting more than 30 shelling attacks from multiple rocket launch systems. Private residential houses and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged. In order to launch missile strikes on the Ukrainian cities of Lyman, Sloviansk, and Kostiantynivka, the Russian army once again used the S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems, which are not highly accurate weapons, emphasizing the terror tactics employed by the Russian Federation.
The probability of missile and airstrikes being conducted throughout the territory of Ukraine remains high.
Concentration of Russian troops in key directions
The Russian army continues to concentrate its main efforts in the directions of Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Marinka. In total, there were 24 clashes in the specified areas of the front during the day. Bakhmut and Marinka remain at the epicenter of the hostilities.
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Operational situation in various directions
- On the Volyn and Polissya directions, the operational situation remains unchanged.
- On the Siversk and Slobozhansk directions, the Russian army continues to maintain military presence in border areas with Ukraine, and Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups operate in certain sections of the state border. During the day, Russian military conducted mortar and artillery shelling of settlements in the Progress Novhorod-Siverskyi district of Chernihiv region; Studenok and Mykhailivka in the Sumy region, as well as Udi, Hraniv, Zelene, Staritsa, Ohirtseve, Hatysche, Pletenivka, Vovchansk, Nesterne, Budarky in the Kharkiv region.
- On the Kupiansk direction, the Russian army continues its attempts to improve its tactical position. During the day, it carried out unsuccessful offensive actions in the area of Masyutivka. Artillery and mortar shelling by the Russian troops affected the settlements of Kamyanka, Kolodyazhne, Krasne Pershe, Petro-Ivanivka, Fiholivka, Novomlynsk, Zapadne, Monachynivka, Masyutivka, Tabaivka, Berestove in the Kharkiv region, and Stelmakhivka in the Luhansk region.
- On the Lyman direction, the Russian army carried out offensive actions towards Ivanivka during the day but did not succeed. It carried out airstrikes in the area of the settlement of Nevske. Artillery shelling affected settlements located near the line of contact. Specifically, Makiiivka, Nevske, Bilohorivka in the Luhansk region, and Torske, Verkhniokamianske, and Spirne in the Donetsk region.
- On the Bakhmut direction, the Russian army continues its offensive actions. The battle for the city of Bakhmut is ongoing. During the day, Russian soldiers unsuccessfully attempted to regain lost positions south of the settlement of Ivanivske. Moreover, they conducted offensive actions towards Hryhorivka but did not succeed. They carried out airstrikes in the areas of the settlements of Bakhmut and Ivanivske. Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Markeve, Bakhmut, Ivanivske, Bila Hora, and New York in the Donetsk region were affected by Russian shelling.
- On the Avdiivka direction, the Russian army conducted unsuccessful offensive actions towards Avdiivka and Pervomaiske and did not succeed. During the day, it carried out an airstrike in the area of Avdiivka and conducted artillery shelling in the areas of settlements such as Novokalynove, Berdychiv, Stepove, Avdiivka, Siverne, Pervomaiske, Karlivka, and Nevelske in the Donetsk region.
- On the Marinka direction, Ukrainian troops repelled numerous Russian attacks in the area of the city of Marinka. The Russian army carried out airstrikes near Marinka and Novomykhailivka. At the same time, Georgiivka, Pobeda, and Novomykhailivka in the Donetsk region were affected by Russian shelling.
- On the Shakhtarsk direction, the Russian army did not conduct any offensive actions. However, it carried out airstrikes in the areas of settlements such as Vodyane, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Niva, and Velyka Novosilka. Russian troops also shelled the settlements of Vodyane and Vuhledar.
- On the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, the Russian army continues to engage in defensive actions. At the same time, it continues to destroy the infrastructure of settlements located near the line of contact. During this day, Russian soldiers conducted airstrikes on the settlement of Stanislav in the Kherson region and shelled Vremivka, Burlatske, Novosilka, and Zelene Pole in the Donetsk region; Olhivske, Huliaypole, Zaliznychne, Bilohirya, Mali Tokmachka, Mali Shcherbaky, and Kamianske in the Zaporizhzhia region; and Tyahynka in the Kherson region, as well as the city of Kherson.
Ukrainian aviation and missile forces’ counteractions
Russian troops restrict civilian access to mobile communication in the settlements of the temporarily occupied territory of the Kherson region. They dismantle equipment at substations and relay towers. Additionally, they limit the movement of local residents to areas with stable cellular coverage.
Ukrainian Aviation conducted 12 strikes within the day on Russian personnel and military equipment concentration areas, as well as 4 strikes on anti-aircraft missile complexes.
During the day, 3 Russian reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles of various types were destroyed.
Units of missile forces and artillery targeted the area of armament and military equipment concentration, destroying 2 ammunition depots, 2 artillery units in firing positions, and another important Russian target.
Source: The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
See also: General Staff operational report May 20, 2023 on the Russian invasion of Ukraine
