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Ukraine inflicts losses on Russia in east, south: officials

24.11.2023 08:00
Ukrainian troops are continuing their counteroffensive against Russia near the eastern city of Bakhmut and towards the southeastern port of Melitopol, eroding the invading army's manpower and military hardware, according to the General Staff in Kyiv.   
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Photo:PAP/Abaca/AA/ABACA

Ukraine's military command issued the latest update from the frontlines via social media on Friday morning. 

Ukrainian troops are continuing their counteroffensive south of Bakhmut, in the eastern Donetsk region, inflicting losses on Russian forces in manpower and equipment, and strengthening their new positions, the General Staff in Kyiv reported.

Ukrainian forces are also counterattacking towards Melitopol, a port on the Sea of Azov in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia province, Ukraine's military authorities said.

There, Ukrainian troops are depleting the Russian army's "manpower and equipment," and "exhausting the enemy all along the frontline," according to Ukraine's commanders.

On Thursday, Ukrainian and Russian troops clashed in a total of 64 combat engagements, the General Staff in Kyiv said.  

Russian strikes

Russia on Thursday carried out two missile attacks, 42 air strikes and over 50 rocket artillery barrages on the positions of Ukrainian troops and on civilian settlements, according to Ukraine's military command. 

Russia launched two Kh-59 guided missiles and three Shahed attack unmanned aerial vehicles against Ukraine overnight into Friday; all the drones were shot down by Ukraine's air defences, the General Staff in Kyiv said.

The Russian strikes resulted in casualties and injuries among Ukrainian civilians, as well as destruction and damage to civilian infrastructure.

A Russian artillery attack killed three civilians and injured five others in Chornobayivka, in the southern Kherson region, The New Voice of Ukraine reported.

Russian shelling also injured two children in the regional capital Kherson City, according to Ukraine's state news agency Ukrinform. 

Ukrainian attacks

Meanwhile, Ukraine on Thursday conducted 11 air strikes on concentrations of Russian troops, weapons and military equipment, the General Staff in Kyiv reported.

Ukraine also struck missiles into three clusters of Russian troops, weapons and military hardware, a Russian command post, an air defence system, and four pieces of artillery, according to Ukrainian military officials.  

As part of its latest counteroffensive against Russia, Ukraine is pushing through the Zaporizhzhia region in the southeast, in a bid to reach the port of Melitopol on the Sea of Azov, as well as aiming to retake the city of Bakhmut in the east, according to news outlets.

Friday is day 639 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.

(pm/gs)

Source: Ukrinform, The New Voice of Ukraine, The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Interfax-Ukraine