Russia-Ukraine war: Frontline update as of August 20
Photo: the situation on the frontline remains difficult and tense (Getty Images)
From the beginning of the day, 153 combat engagements have occurred on the front line. The Russian forces are actively assaulting positions in the Pokrovsk, Toretsk, and Lyman directions in the Donetsk region, according to the evening update from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Enemy shelling
Today, Russia has launched six missile strikes using ten rockets, and 73 airstrikes, dropping 95 guided aerial bombs. Additionally, the Russian troops deployed 595 kamikaze drones and conducted over 3,300 shellings on our troops' positions and populated areas using various types of weapons.
Frontline situation
In the Kharkiv direction, the Russian troops have assaulted our units' positions nine times around Vovchansk and Lyptsi. Fighting continues in two locations.
Today, Ukrainian defenders in the Kharkiv direction have killed and wounded over one hundred Russian troops and destroyed an artillery system, 36 UAVs, two vehicles, and five units of specialized equipment. Three artillery systems, 11 vehicles, and one piece of special equipment belonging to the enemy have also been damaged.
In the Kupiansk direction, the enemy attacked the Ukrainian Defense Forces' positions 12 times. Near the settlements of Petropavlivka, Berestove, Stelmakhivka, Synkivka, and Stepova Novoselivka, Defense Forces units repelled ten offensive actions. The situation is tense, with two engagements ongoing.
In the Lyman direction, Russian troops, supported by aviation, attacked Ukrainian defenders 18 times in the areas of Makiivka, Novosadove, Hrekivka, and Dibrova. The enemy's advance has been halted.
In the Siversk direction, the enemy made five attempts to push our defenders out of positions around Vyimka and Pereizne. All attacks have been repelled.
In the Kramatorsk direction, Ukrainian forces have thwarted six attempts by the Russian troops to advance near Chasiv Yar, Klishchiivka, and Ivanivske. One engagement is ongoing. The situation remains under control.
In the Toretsk direction, the occupiers, supported by aviation, attacked our positions 23 times near New York, Nelipivka, Toretsk, and Zalizne. Twenty-two engagements have concluded. Fighting continues near Nelipivka.
In the Pokrovsk direction, throughout the day, the Russian troops attacked 62 times in the areas of Vozdvyzhenka, Mykhailivka, Kalynivka, Novohrodivka, Hrodivka, Mykolaivka, Ptyche, Skuchne, and Zelene Pole. Ukrainian defenders have repelled 49 attacks, with 13 engagements still ongoing.
Preliminary estimates indicate that today the occupiers have lost more than 280 personnel killed or wounded and four vehicles destroyed. Additionally, Ukrainian defenders have damaged four of the enemy’s artillery systems.
In the Kurakhove direction, our defenders have repelled nine enemy attempts to attack our positions. The Russian troops tried to advance near Kostiantynivka, Krasnohorivka, and Karlivka. The situation remains under control.
In the Vremivka direction, today the Russian troops made two attempts to storm the front line towards Vodiane. Ukrainian troops halted the enemy’s attack, and fighting continued.
In the Orikhiv directions, enemy units unsuccessfully attempted to advance twice towards Novodanylivka and near Mala Tokmachka.
In the Dnipro direction, five enemy assaults have failed. No positional losses have been incurred.
During the day on Tuesday, August 20, Russian troops shelled a café in the village of Malokaterynivka in the Zaporizhzhia region. The attack injured several children.
Late in the evening, the Russian troops shelled the settlement again. The impact caused a fire that spread to residential buildings.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon is discussing with Ukrainian military leadership the possibility of conducting long-term operations in the Kursk region.
