General Staff: Russian troops go on the offensive on Lysychansk and Sievierodonetsk fronts

Friday, 20 May 2022, 07:00

Anastasiia Kalatur – Friday, 20 May 2022, 07:00

Russian troops have assumed the offensive on the Lysychansk and Sievierodonetsk fronts.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 06:00 on Friday, 20 May 2022

Details: On the Volyn and Polissia fronts, there are no significant changes in the position and actions of Belarusian Armed Forces near the Belarusian-Ukrainian border. The threat of missile and bomb strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure from the territory of Belarus remains.

On the Siversk front, Russian troops are fitting out their positions near the village of Zarovka in Bryansk region of the Russian Federation. They have shelled the villages and towns of Boyaro-Lezhachi, Brusky, and Stari Vyrky in Sumy Oblast and Hremiach in Chernihiv Oblast.

On the Kharkiv front, Russia’s main efforts are focused on maintaining its current positions. Russian troops are attempting to launch counter-offensive operations to reclaim previously held positions and are deploying UAVs to intensify aerial reconnaissance.

There were hostilities in the villages of Ternova and Vesele; Russian troops opened fire near the village of Ruski Tyshky.

On the Sloviansk front, the Russian forces shelled civilian infrastructure in and around the towns and villages of Dovhenke, Velyka Komyshuvakha, and Dolyna.

On the Donetsk front, Russian troops intensified offensive and assault actions in order to improve their positions. They deployed mortars, artillery, multiple rocket launchers, and aircraft to inflict fire damage on Ukrainian Armed Forces’ defence fortifications along the entire front line.

On the Lyman front, the Russian forces regularly opened fire on civilian infrastructure in and around the village of Dibrova and the town of Zakitne.

On the Sievierodonetsk front, Russian troops conducted an assault operation on the city of Sievierodonetsk, but were not successful: they suffered losses and were forced to retreat. They continued hostilities near the town of Toshkivka.

On the Bakhmut front, the Russian occupation forces conducted an artillery- and mortar-supported offensive operation on the village of Vyskryva. Russian troops attempted to improve the tactical position of their units near Volodymyrivka and Vasylivka. They suffered losses near Oleksandropillia.

On the Avdiivka front, Russian troops conducted an artillery-supported assault operation near the village of Vesele, but sustained losses and retreated.

On the Kurakhove front, the Russian occupation forces shelled civilian infrastructure from various types of artillery, including multiple rocket launchers. They unsuccessfully attempted to advance on Novomykhailivka and Oleksandrivka.

On the Novopavlivske and Zaporizhzhia fronts, Russian troops deployed different types of artillery, including mortars, to attack civilian infrastructure, residential houses and small farms, and conducted counter-battery warfare. In the area of Novovorovka village, the enemy suffered losses and withdrew to previously occupied positions. 

On the Pivdennyi Buh front, the invaders did not conduct any active combat operations. They shelled residential buildings using mortars and small arms artillery. They continued to engineer their positions and construct a second line of defence.

It is likely that hostilities might resume as Russian troops attempt to improve their tactical position and advance to the administrative border of Kherson Oblast.

There were no significant changes on the Besarabia front.

Russian military ships in the Black and Azov seas continue to hinder the passage of civilian shipping.


On the Donetsk and Luhansk fronts, Ukrainian Armed Forces repulsed 14 Russian attacks over the past 24 hours and destroyed 8 tanks, 14 armoured combat vehicles, and 6 motor vehicles. Air defence forces shot down 1 Orlan-10 UAV.