Russia-Ukraine war: Frontline update as of February 20
Illustrative photo (Getty Images)
Ukrainian troops continue to hold positions on the left bank of the Dnipro, repelled attacks by Russian forces near Malaya Tokmachka (the Zaporizhzhia region), and destroyed 5 enemy anti-aircraft missile systems, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Russian shelling
The enemy continues its aggressive war. Despite significant losses, it does not abandon plans for the full occupation of Ukraine, ignores laws and customs of war, employs terror tactics, launches attacks, and shells both military and civilian objects.
The enemy actively employs aviation and FPV drones, and conducts assault actions with the support of armored vehicles. The operational situation in the east and south of Ukraine remains complex. Over the past day, there have been 50 combat clashes.
Overall, the enemy delivered 1 missile and 99 aviation strikes, carried out 82 shelling with rocket artillery on our troops' positions and populated areas. Unfortunately, due to Russian terrorist attacks, there are casualties among civilians. Multistory and private houses, as well as other infrastructure objects, have suffered destruction and damage.
Frontline situation
There have been no significant changes in the operational situation in the Volyn and Polissia directions. There are no signs of the formation of offensive groups. Identified units of the Armed Forces of Belarus are carrying out tasks in border areas with Ukraine.
In the Siversk and Slobozhanske directions,
the enemy maintains military presence in border areas, conducts sabotage-reconnaissance activities, shells populated areas from the territory of the Russian Federation, and increases the density of mine-explosive barriers along the state border of Ukraine.
The enemy conducted aviation strikes in the areas of the populated settlements of Hrachivka, Chuhunivka, Fedorivka, and Katerynivka in the Kharkiv region. Over 30 populated settlements experienced artillery and mortar shelling, including Khrinivka and Klyusy in Chernihiv region; Stara Huta, Kucherivka, Nova Sloboda, Volfyne, Myropillia, Stepok, and Popivka in Sumy region; Udy, Kozacha Lopan, Strilecha, Pletenivka, Budarky, Ambarne, and Stroyivka in Kharkiv region.
In the Kupiansk direction, the enemy did not conduct offensive actions. Approximately 10 populated areas, including Synkivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka in the Kharkiv region, came under artillery and mortar fire.
In the Lyman direction, our soldiers repelled 8 attacks near the populated areas of Terni, Yampolivka, and Torske in the Donetsk region, and Bilohorivka in the Luhansk region, where the enemy attempted to breach the defense of our troops. The adversary conducted airstrikes in the vicinity of populated areas Bilohorivka in the Luhansk region, Rozdolivka, and Terny in the Donetsk region.
Over 10 populated areas were affected by enemy artillery and mortar shelling, including Nevske, and Bilohorivka in the Luhansk region; Terny, Yampolivka, Torske in the Donetsk region.
In the Bakhmut direction, the Defense Forces repelled 2 attacks near Ivanivka, Donetsk region, where the enemy attempted to improve their tactical position.
Approximately 10 populated settlements, including Vasiukivka, Viroliubivka, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, Bila Hora, and New York in the Donetsk region, came under artillery and mortar fire.
In the Avdiivka direction, our defenders repelled 10 enemy attacks in the areas of Stepove, Lastochkine, Severne, and Nevelske, Donetsk region. The enemy conducted aviation strikes near the populated settlements of Oleksandrivka, Ocheretyne, Orlivka, Lastochkine, and Tonenke in the Donetsk region.
Around 15 populated settlements, including Ocheretyne, Novobakhmutivka, Tonenke, Karlivka, Netailove, Pervomaiske, and Nevelske in the Donetsk region, were subjected to artillery and mortar shelling.
In the Maryinka direction, the Defense Forces continue to hold back the enemy near Hеorhiivka, Pobieda, and Novomykhailivka, Donetsk region. Here, the occupiers, with the support of aviation, attempted 17 times to break through the defense of our troops.
Under artillery and mortar fire of the occupants, settlements such as Krasnohorivka, Kurakhove, Katerynivka, and Yelyzavetivka were affected.
In the Novopavlivka direction, the enemy made 6 unsuccessful attempts to improve their tactical position south of Prechystivka and Zolota Niva in the Donetsk region. The enemy conducted aviation strikes in the areas of the populated settlements of Vodyane and Staramaiorske in the Donetsk region.
Around 10 populated settlements, including Vodyane, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Blahodatne, Staramaiorske, and Rivnopil in the Donetsk region were shelled.
In the Zaporizhzhia direction, the Defense Forces repelled 2 enemy attacks near Mala Tokmachka and Robotine in the Zaporizhzhia region. The enemy carried out aviation strikes in the areas of the populated settlements of Mala Tokmachka and Robotine in the Zaporizhzhia region.
Over 20 populated settlements, including Levadne, Poltavka, Huliaipole, Zaliznychne, Novoandriivka, and Mali Shcherbaky in Zaporizhzhia region, were subjected to artillery and mortar shelling.
In the area of responsibility of the Odesa operational-strategic group in the Kherson direction, artillery and mortar shelling affected Kherson, Ponyativka, Bilozirka, Veletenske, and Stanislav in Kherson region, as well as Ochakiv in Mykolaiv region.
Ukrainian Armed Forces offensive
The occupiers are not giving up their intention to dislodge our units from the bridgeheads on the left bank of the Dnipro.
During the day, one attempt was made to storm the positions of our troops.
Enemy losses
Rocket troops units struck 9 areas of personnel concentration, armament, and military equipment, as well as 10 enemy artillery positions.
The total number of losses in the Russian army since the beginning of the invasion amounts to 404,950 military personnel.
