17 October 2023, Tuesday, 11:20 413

AFU succeed near Verbove, prevent RF from encircling Avdiyivka – General Staff

Editor: Roman Vaniyan

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The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) continue to defend in the east and south of Ukraine and also advance on the Melitopol and Bakhmut Axes.

Over the past 24 hours, 72 combat clashes took place at the front, the General Staff of the AFU reported in the morning briefing on October 17.

In total, the enemy conducted ten missile and 68 airstrikes, carrying out 87 attacks using MLRSes on the positions of Ukrainian troops and populated areas.

In the zone of responsibility of the North Operational and Strategic Troops Group on the Volyn and Polisskyi Axes, the operational situation has not changed significantly.

On the Siverskyi and Slobozhanskyi Axes, the enemy maintains a military presence in the border areas, carries out active sabotage activities, and increases the density of mine and explosive barriers along the state border in the Belgorod Oblast.

In the area of responsibility of the Khortytsia Operational and Strategic Troops Group on the Kupiyansk Axis, the AFU repelled about 15 enemy attacks in the Synkivka and Ivanivka Districts of the Kharkiv Region and another five attacks near Stelmakhivka and Nadiya in the Luhansk Region.

The occupiers did not conduct offensive (assault) actions in the Lyman Axis.

On the Bakhmut Axis, the Defense Forces repelled three attacks by russians in the area of Andriyivka, Donetsk Region, and continue their assault south of Bakhmut, Donetsk Region, inflicting losses on the enemy in terms of manpower and equipment, and entrenching themselves at the achieved boundaries.

In the area of responsibility of the Tavria Operational and Strategic Troops Group on the Avdiyivka Axis, the enemy does not stop trying to surround Avdiyivka; during the day, Ukrainian soldiers repelled more than ten attacks.

On the Mariyinka and Shakhtarsk Axes, the AFU repelled over 15 enemy attacks in the area of Mariyinka, Donetsk Region, and another five attacks south of Zolota Nyva and south of Prechystivka, Donetsk Region.

On the Zaporizhzhia Axis, the Defense Forces did not allow the loss of positions southwest of Novodanylivka, Robotyne, and west of Verbove, Zaporizhzhia Region.

In the area of responsibility of the Odesa Operational and Strategic Troops Group on the Kherson Axis, the Ukrainian army is conducting a counter-battery fight, successfully hitting the enemy's warehouses and rears.

"The defense forces of Ukraine continue to conduct an offensive operation on the Melitopol Axis. They have partial success in the area west of Verbove, Zaporizhzhia Region. Ukrainian soldiers are inflicting losses in manpower and equipment on the occupying troops, exhausting the enemy along the entire front line," the General Staff emphasized.

During the day, Ukrainian aviation made four strikes on areas where the enemy's personnel, weapons, and military equipment were concentrated. Units of the missile forces hit two helicopters on landing sites, an ammunition depot, and an enemy artillery piece.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, according to the General Staff of the AFU, the invaders lost almost 900 soldiers and more than 120 units of equipment during the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military shot down another Su-25 Hrach attack aircraft of the russian occupation army on the front line in the Donetsk Region. This is already the third such plane in a week.