On Friday, May 16, Ukrainian positions were again subjected to large-scale strikes by Russian occupying forces
According to the Ukrainian General Staff, the enemy conducted hundreds of attacks in various directions, using a wide range of weapons, from missile volleys to airstrikes. Specifically, over the course of the day, they launched one missile and dropped more than 112 guided aerial bombs, as well as 135 rocket projectiles. In total, 112 repeated shellings utilizing multiple launch rocket systems were recorded, indicating a systematic and targeted tactic by the Russians. The General Staff reports that over the past day, more than 145 combat clashes and skirmishes took place. Military calculations show that the Ukrainian Armed Forces, in response, hit seven areas of concentration of personnel, weapons, and military equipment of the enemy. Additionally, one enemy air defense asset was destroyed, providing further evidence of the strategic losses inflicted on the occupiers. In Kharkiv region, the situation remains tense: the enemy, with six attempts, attacked Ukrainian positions in the areas of Vovchansk, Stroiivka, and Kam’yanka. The invaders exerted maximum effort to gain control over these territories, but Ukrainian defenders held the line, repelling each attack. In the Kupiansk direction, hostilities continued actively: enemy forces carried out four large-scale assault operations, attempting to break through Ukrainian positions in the areas of Kolisnykivka, Novoosynove, and near Zazhrychove. Ukrainian military units successfully maintained their defenses, repelling the enemy’s offensive actions. The Lyman direction remained another active combat zone: there, Russian forces conducted 17 attacks, aiming to advance near the settlements of Hrekivka, Tors’ke, Yampolivka, as well as in the directions of Shyikivka, Olhivka, and Novyi Mir. The enemy also attempted to seize territories near Zazhrychove, Ridkodub, and Zelenodolsk. On the Siversk direction, the enemy made four attempts to attack Ukrainian positions in the areas of Verkhnokamyanske and Bilohorivka, but the defenders held their line firmly. The Kramatorsk direction was characterized by activity—Ukrainian defenders recorded two engagements near Chasiv Yar and Kurdyumivka. In the Toretsk direction, Russian forces launched 19 offensive efforts in the areas of Toretsk, Kramatorsk, and towards strategically important settlements: Diliivka, Katerynivka, Pleshchiivka, and Novospaska. Ukrainian troops managed to repel these attacks and maintain control over the situation. On the Pokrovsk direction, Ukrainian defenders effectively halted significant assault and offensive actions by the enemy in the areas of NovaSergiivka, Malynivka, Yelyzavetivka, Lysivka, Udaichne, Novooleksandrivka, as well as in key zones of Zaporizhzhia, Troitske, Bohdanivka, and Andriivka. Moreover, the troops restrained the enemy’s advances towards several key points—Novoukrainka, Oleksiyivka, Poltavka, Yablunivka, Stara Mykolaivka, and Nova Poltavka. The next sector—the Novopavlivsk direction—suffered 18 attacks by Russian forces in the areas of Kostyantynivka, Shevchenkove, Novosilky, as well as in the Bakhmut and Zeleny Polye directions. At the same time, it is noted that no combat activity took place on the Huliaipole and Prydzillya sectors. Orikhiv direction saw localized activity: defenders repelled two enemy assaults near Shcherbaki and Maly Shcherbaki. This indicates a stabilization of the situation in this segment of the front. On the Kursk sector, the situation remained tense, with Russian troops conducting 13 hostilities, including 20 airstrikes and 37 guided bomb drops. According to the General Staff, the enemy employed nearly 250 multiple launch rocket systems, indicating increased combat activity in this sector. Regarding losses and munitions used, the enemy inflicted a significant number of strikes over the past day, including aerial and artillery attacks. Ukrainian defense forces remain alert and capable of countering these challenges, holding their positions and preventing further advances by the occupiers. Overall, the situation remains highly tense with active hostilities underway, demonstrating the sustained high intensity of Russian attacks and their ongoing attempts to gain control over key Ukrainian territories.