Fierce battles ongoing over three cities as Ukrainian forces repel over 50 russian attacks

Ukraine's defense forces repelled over 50 russian assaults on Saturday, 1 April, with the most fierce fighting still taking place in Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Marinka.

The enemy is focusing its main efforts on conducting offensive operations in the east of Ukraine, General Staff reports.

Over the course of the day, russian forces carried out 2 missile strikes and 25 airstrikes and deployed multiple-launch rocket launchers (MLRS) to conduct 6 further attacks.

Failing on the battlefield, russia continues to ruthlessly target civilians. On 1 April, russian forces carried out missile strikes on civilian facilities in Druzhkivka (Donetsk region) and other locations; ballistic missiles were deployed in these attacks. Several civilians sustained injuries. There is a high likelihood of further missile and air strikes across Ukraine.

Units of russian forces are continuing to train on belarusian military training grounds, but there is no evidence that russia is forming new offensive units. Over the course of the past day, Russian forces attacked regions of Chernihiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv.

On the Bakhmut front, russian forces are continuing to assault the city of Bakhmut, but Ukrainian forces are courageously holding the city. The russians also conducted unsuccessful offensive operations in Bohdanivka (Donetsk region) and shelled 10 neighboring towns.

On the Avdiivka and Marinka fronts, russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive operations in the vicinity of Avdiivka, Sieverne, Pervomaiske, and Marinka and shelled Avdiivka, Orlivka, Netailove, Krasnohorivka, Herohiivka, and Marinka.

russian forces did not undertake offensive operations on the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson fronts, but they continued to reinforce their defense lines and positions. They shelled a number of frontline settlements, including one in the Donetsk region, 8 in the Zaporizhzhia region, and 9 in the Kherson region. 

Ukraine's Air Force conducted eight airstrikes on clusters of russian forces. Ukraine's Rocket Forces and Artillery struck three clusters of russian military personnel, weapons and equipment, and two ammunition storage points.