(KYIV) – Intense fighting continues near the settlement of Hryshyne northwest of Pokrovsk as Russian forces attempt to push deeper into the area, Ukrainian military officials said on Saturday.
Ukraine’s Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Russian troops are attempting to move into the centre of Hryshyne in small assault groups while trying to establish positions inside the settlement.
According to the 7th Rapid Response Corps of Ukraine’s Air Assault Forces, Russian units are attempting to advance from the eastern part of the settlement towards the central area.
Military officials said the attackers are using destroyed buildings as cover while trying to gain a foothold inside the built up parts of the village.
“The enemy continues attempts at infiltration in small groups and is trying to advance from the eastern part of the settlement to the central part,” the Air Assault Forces said.
Despite the deteriorating security situation and widespread destruction, civilians remain inside the settlement close to the front line.
Soldiers from the 155th Separate Mechanised Brigade, operating in the area of responsibility of the Air Assault Forces’ 7th Rapid Response Corps, released video footage showing the current condition of the settlement.
Large parts of Hryshyne have been destroyed during the fighting.
Ukrainian forces said Russian troops are hiding among the ruins of buildings in some areas and using the damaged structures as cover while continuing attempts to advance through the settlement.
At the same time, civilians are still living in parts of the settlement located close to active combat zones.
Separately, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that fighting across the front line remains intense.
According to the military update, 113 combat engagements were recorded across the battlefield during the day.
The heaviest fighting continues in the Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka directions where Russian forces have launched the largest number of attacks against Ukrainian positions.
The Ukrainian military reported that Russian forces carried out one missile strike using 29 missiles and launched 58 air strikes during the day.
Russian aircraft also dropped 170 guided aerial bombs.
The report added that Russian forces deployed 6,562 kamikaze drones and carried out 2,471 artillery strikes against Ukrainian positions and settlements.
In the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, Russian forces carried out 115 shelling attacks on Ukrainian positions and settlements, including three using multiple launch rocket systems. Three air strikes using eight guided bombs were also reported.
In the Southern Slobozhansky direction, Russian troops carried out four assaults near Hrafske, Vilcha, Zybyne and Pishchane. Two clashes were continuing at the time of the report.
In the Kupiansk direction, Russian forces attacked four times near Pishchane, Kurylivka, Kivsharivka and Novoosinove. One battle remained ongoing.
In the Lyman direction, Ukrainian troops repelled four Russian assaults near Serednie, Novyi Myr and Drobycheve. One assault action continued.
In the Sloviansk direction, Russian forces attempted 12 advances toward Platonivka, Rai Oleksandrivka, Kalenyky, Dronivka, Zakitne, Riznykivka and Pazeno. Three attempts were continuing.
In the Kramatorsk direction, Russian troops launched one attack near Minkivka.
In the Kostiantynivka direction, Russian forces carried out 15 assaults near Kostiantynivka, Pleshchiivka, Shcherbynivka, Illinivka, Rusyno Yar, Sofiivka and Novopavlivka. One assault remained ongoing.
In the Pokrovsk direction, Russian forces launched 19 attacks near Novyi Donbas, Rodynske, Novooleksandrivka, Kotlyne, Udachne, Novomykolaivka, Novopidhorodne, Nykanorivka, Shevchenko, Pokrovsk and Hryshyne.
In the Oleksandrivka direction, Russian troops attempted three assaults near Verbove and Novohryhorivka.
In the Huliaipole direction, Ukrainian forces reported 11 Russian attacks near Dobropillia, Zaliznychne, Varvarivka, Myrny and Zelene. Two battles were still continuing.
No Russian assaults were reported in the Orikhiv direction, and no enemy attack activity was recorded in the Prydniprovskyi direction.
The Ukrainian military said the overall situation on other sections of the front line remained largely unchanged.
Earlier on Saturday, the General Staff said Ukrainian forces eliminated another 1,010 Russian troops during the previous day.
According to Ukrainian estimates, total Russian personnel losses since the start of the full scale invasion have reached approximately 1,272,360 troops.
