Russia-Ukraine war: Frontline update as of October 18
Ukrainian soldier (Getty Images)
Ukrainian troops continue to advance on the Melitopol and Bakhmut fronts. They repelled enemy attacks near Maryinka and destroyed the Russian Tor air defense missile system, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Russian shelling
The enemy continues to disregard the laws and customs of war, using terror tactics and shelling both military and civilian targets.
Over the day, Kremlin terrorist forces launched missile strikes on civilian facilities in the cities of Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and the settlement of Obukhivka in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
In total, 64 clashes took place throughout the day.
The enemy launched 11 missile and 46 aviation strikes, carrying out over 30 artillery shellings on the positions of Ukrainian troops and residential areas. Unfortunately, there have been casualties among the civilian population due to Russian terrorist attacks.
Residential buildings, a church, over 20 private houses, and other civilian infrastructure have suffered damage and destruction.
Frontline situation
The operational situation in eastern and southern Ukraine remains complex.
On the Volyn and Polissia fronts, the operational situation has seen no significant changes. There are no signs of enemy offensive formations. Designated units of the Belarusian Armed Forces continue to carry out tasks in border areas with Ukraine.
On the Siversk and Slobozhanske fronts, the enemy maintains a military presence in border areas, continues shelling of settlements from Russian territory, and increases the density of mines and explosive obstacles along the Ukrainian state border. Approximately 10 settlements have suffered artillery and mortar shelling.
On the Kupiansk front, Ukrainian soldiers repelled more than 10 enemy attacks in the areas of Synkivka, Ivanivka, and Kyslivka in the Kharkiv region and nearly 10 more near Nadiia in the Luhansk region. The enemy carried out an aviation strike in the area of Pishchane in the Kharkiv region. Approximately 10 settlements experienced artillery and mortar shelling.
On the Lyman front, the enemy conducted aerial strikes in the areas of Nevske, Novoliubivka, Bilohorivka in the Luhansk region, and Spirne in the Donetsk region. Ukrainian defense forces also repelled three enemy attacks in the area of Makiivka in the Luhansk region. Approximately 15 settlements were affected by artillery and mortar shelling.
On the Bakhmut front, Ukrainian soldiers successfully repelled enemy attacks in the area of Klishchiivka in the Donetsk region. Around 20 settlements came under artillery and mortar fire.
On the Avdiivka front, the enemy conducted unsuccessful assault operations with aviation support in the area of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region. The enemy also carried out aerial strikes near Kamianka in the Donetsk region. More than 10 settlements were subjected to artillery and mortar shelling.
On the Maryinka front, the enemy conducted unsuccessful assault operations with aviation support in the Maryinka and Novomykhailivka areas in the Donetsk region. Ukrainian defense forces repelled approximately 15 enemy attacks. Additionally, the enemy conducted aviation strikes near Novomykhailivka in the Donetsk region. Around 10 settlements were affected by artillery and mortar fire.
On the Shakhtarsk front, Ukrainian soldiers repelled enemy attacks in the Novomaiorske area in the Donetsk region. The occupiers carried out aviation strikes near Staromaiorske and Urozhaine in the Donetsk region. Over 20 settlements came under artillery and mortar shelling.
On the Zaporizhzhia front, Ukrainian soldiers successfully repelled all enemy attacks east of Mala Tokmachka in the Zaporizhzhia region. More than 15 settlements experienced artillery and mortar shelling.
On the Kherson front, the occupiers conducted aerial strikes near Novoberyslav, Kozatske, Olhivka, Prydniprovske, and Pishchanivka in the Kherson region. 6 settlements were subjected to enemy artillery and mortar fire.
Ukraine's advance
Ukrainian forces continue their offensive operations on the Melitopol front and assault actions on the Bakhmut front, causing losses to the occupying forces in personnel and equipment and exhausting the enemy along the entire front line.
Extraordinary events
Russian occupiers continue to cynically violate the norms of international humanitarian law, forcibly cohabiting with the civilian population in their buildings, using peaceful residents as human shields.
In the town of Tokmak in the Zaporizhzhia region, servicemen of the Russian occupation forces are resettling massively in multi-story buildings where local residents live.
Enemy losses
During the day, Ukrainian defense aviation conducted 15 strikes on the concentration areas of personnel, weaponry, and military equipment and 3 strikes on the enemy's anti-aircraft missile complexes. Ukrainian defenders also destroyed a Russian Su-25 aircraft and 4 tactical reconnaissance UAVs.
Missile troops units hit 2 command points, the enemy's anti-aircraft missile complex Tor, radar station Zoopark-1M, and 11 enemy artillery systems.
The total number of losses in the Russian army since the beginning of the invasion is 290,050 military personnel.
