Russia-Ukraine war: Frontline update as of October 20
Illustrative photo (Photo: Getty Images)
Ukrainian military launched attacks on Russian invaders on four fronts. On two others, the occupiers conducted unsuccessful attacks, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Russian attacks
During the day, 77 military clashes occurred. In total, the enemy launched five missile and 33 aerial strikes, conducted 32 shelling operations with multiple rocket launch systems on Ukrainian positions and populated areas. As a result of Russian terrorist attacks, there are casualties and injuries among the civilian population. Schools, private residences, apartment buildings, and other civilian infrastructure have suffered destruction and damage.
Frontline situation
The operational situation in eastern and southern Ukraine remains challenging.
On the Volyn and Polissia fronts, there have been no significant changes in the operational situation. There are no signs of the enemy forming offensive groups. Identified units of the Belarusian armed forces are carrying out tasks in border areas with Ukraine.
On the Siversk and Slobozhanske fronts, the enemy maintains a military presence in border areas, continues shelling populated areas from Russian territory, and increases the density of mines and explosive obstacles along the Ukrainian state border.
More than 10 populated areas, including Starikove in the Sumy region, and Gatyshche, Vovchansk, Ohirtseve, and Bologivka in the Kharkiv region, have been shelled by the enemy's artillery and mortars.
On the Kupiansk front, Ukrainian forces repelled around 20 enemy attacks near Synkivka and Ivanivka in the Kharkiv region and three more attacks in the Nadia area of the Luhansk region. More than 10 populated areas, including Dvorichna, Kucherivka, Synkivka, Ivanivka, and Kyslivka in the Kharkiv region, came under artillery and mortar fire.
On the Lyman front, Ukrainian defense forces repelled an enemy attack east of Nevske in the Luhansk region. The enemy conducted an airstrike near Bilohorivka in the Luhansk region. Meanwhile, nearly 20 populated areas, including Nevske, Makiivka, and Bilohorivka in the Luhansk region, and Verkhniokamiansk, Spirne, and Torske in the Donetsk region, suffered from artillery and mortar fire.
On the Bakhmut front, Ukrainian forces repelled over 10 enemy attacks in the areas near the populated localities of Bohdanivka, Khromove, and Klishchiivka in the Donetsk region. The enemy carried out aerial strikes near Klishchiivka, Kurdiumivka, and New York in the Donetsk region. More than 10 populated areas, including Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, and New York in the Donetsk region, were under artillery and mortar fire.
On the Avdiivka front, the enemy conducted unsuccessful storming actions supported by aviation in the areas of Avdiivka, Novokalynove, Stepove, and Pervomaiske in the Donetsk region. Ukrainian defense forces successfully repelled around 20 enemy attacks. The enemy also carried out aerial strikes near Keramika and Lastochkyne in the Donetsk region.
More than 15 populated areas came under artillery and mortar fire from the occupiers, including Oleksandrivka, Novokalynove, Avdiivka, Severne, Pervomaiske, and Nevelske in the Donetsk region.
On the Maryinka front, the enemy conducted unsuccessful storming actions supported by aviation in the areas of Maryinka and Novomykhailivka in the Donetsk region, where Ukrainian defense forces repelled over 15 enemy attacks. The enemy also conducted an airstrike in the area of Novomykhailivka in the Donetsk region.
Nearly 10 populated areas, including Krasnohorivka, Maryinka, Pobeda, and Novomykhailivka in the Donetsk region, suffered artillery and mortar fire.
On the Shakhtarsk front, Ukrainian forces repelled enemy attacks in the areas of Zolota Nyva, Staromaiorske, and Rivnopole in the Donetsk region. The enemy conducted aerial strikes near Staromaiorske and Urozhaine in the Donetsk region. Over 15 populated areas, including Vodiane, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, and Urozhaine in the Donetsk region, were subjected to artillery and mortar fire.
On the Zaporizhzhia front, the enemy conducted unsuccessful storming actions in the area of the populated locality of Poltavka in the Zaporizhzhia region. The enemy also attempted to regain lost ground in the area of Robotyne in the Zaporizhzhia region but was unsuccessful. More than 20 populated areas, including Huliapole, Huliapilsk, Charivne, Mala Tokmachka, Robotyne, and Piatykhatky in the Zaporizhzhia region, were shelled by enemy artillery and mortars.
On the Kherson front, the occupiers carried out aerial strikes in the areas of the populated localities of Zmiivka, Beryslav, Kozatske, and Novoberyslav in the Kherson region. Enemy artillery and mortar fire targeted Dudiantsi in the Kherson region and the city of Kherson.
Ukrainian offensive
Ukrainian defense forces continue their offensive operation on the Melitopol front, conduct storming actions on the Bakhmut front, and inflict casualties on the occupiers in personnel and equipment, wearing down the enemy along the entire front line.
Enemy losses
Throughout the day, the Ukrainian Defense Forces' aviation carried out seven strikes on areas with concentrations of enemy personnel, weaponry, and military equipment, and four more on the enemy's anti-aircraft missile systems.
Units of the Missile Forces hit the enemy's command post, ammunition depot, three areas with concentrations of enemy personnel, weaponry, and military equipment, as well as the enemy's electronic warfare station.
