Sumy Oblast
The ninth stage of prisoner exchange took place, a group of wounded and sick defenders was released. Some of the soldiers who defended Mariupol spent over 3 years in captivity.
In the Shostka district of Sumy region, 30-year-old senior sapper-operator Oleh Petrenko died during humanitarian demining. An enemy FPV drone detonated, causing fatal injuries to the sapper, who is survived by his wife and two-year-old son.
As of July 21, Russian aggression has resulted in damage to 1,528 cultural heritage sites and 2,359 cultural infrastructure objects in Ukraine. The most significant destruction occurred to monuments in the Kharkiv, Kherson, and Odesa regions.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported over 80,000 Russian military personnel killed or wounded during the Kursk offensive operation. He also noted Russia's use of fiber-optic drones and the appearance of North Korean military units in this direction.
Ukrzaliznytsia's energy infrastructure in Sumy and Poltava regions was attacked by drones. Power supply has been restored in most sections, train traffic is on schedule.
Due to the enemy attack on critical infrastructure in Sumy Oblast, part of the consumers, including one water pumping station, have been de-energized. For residents of certain districts of Sumy, water will be supplied according to a schedule with reduced pressure.
Russia attacked Ukraine overnight with 71 Shahed-type attack UAVs. 27 drones were shot down or suppressed, another 18 did not reach their targets, but 26 drones hit 14 locations.
In Sumy, Sumy and Romny districts of Sumy region, electricity has been partially cut off. This happened as a result of the attack by Russian troops, there is a victim.
On July 23, rains with thunderstorms are expected in Ukraine, especially in Chernihiv, Sumy, Poltava, Kharkiv, and Luhansk regions. Air temperature will range from +23°C to +35°C depending on the region.
As a result of Russia's night attack on Ukraine, two people were killed and 15 were injured, including a 12-year-old boy. Damage was recorded in Kyiv, Kharkiv region, Ivano-Frankivsk region, and other regions where air defense forces were operating.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported over 30 assaults in the Donetsk region, where the enemy tried to dislodge Ukrainian military personnel. In the Pokrovsk direction, 17 attempts by the occupiers to push back the Armed Forces of Ukraine were recorded, 14 of which were repelled.
Over 60 people, including 10 children, have been evacuated from the border communities of Sumy region during the week. Evacuation continues from 213 settlements in 18 communities that are constantly shelled.
In Sumy region, a 78-year-old woman died as a result of a Russian drone attack on a residential area. Three residential buildings and several outbuildings burned down, rescuers extinguished the fire despite a repeated strike.
On the night of July 20, the Russian Federation attacked Ukraine with 57 Shahed-type attack UAVs and imitators. The defense forces shot down 18 Shaheds and 7 UAVs lost location/were suppressed by electronic warfare.
Over the past day, July 19, 154 combat engagements took place. The Defense Forces hit seven concentrations of enemy personnel and equipment, a UAV control point, and an occupiers' artillery system.
In Izium, as a result of a night shelling by four Russian drones, residential and private buildings were damaged. Two civilians were injured, and a fire broke out.
DeepState analysts reported partial success of Russian troops in Donetsk Oblast. The enemy advanced near Kotliarivka, Novomykolaivka, Piddubne, Verkhnokamyanske, and Fedorivka.
Due to worsening weather conditions, particularly gusts of wind and rain, 183 settlements in 8 regions of Ukraine were left without electricity. Oblenergo brigades are working to restore power.
In the morning, Russian troops repeatedly attacked Shostka with six guided aerial bombs, causing a fire. The consequences of the attack are being clarified; there are no preliminary reports of casualties or injuries.
President Zelenskyy reported on Russia's night attack with over 300 drones and 30 missiles on Ukraine. 10 regions were affected, there is one dead and injured, infrastructure was damaged.
The Shostka community in Sumy Oblast endured an almost four-hour night attack by Russian strike UAVs. As a result of the strike, civilian infrastructure facilities were destroyed and the residential sector was damaged; there were no casualties.
During July 18, 177 combat engagements took place at the front, 47 of which were assault actions stopped in the Pokrovsk direction. The invaders launched two missile and 71 air strikes, used 3843 kamikaze drones, and carried out 5825 shellings.
In Kherson, two men, aged 28 and 34, were injured as a result of a Russian drone attack on a private house. They were hospitalized with blast and craniocerebral injuries; one was diagnosed with a shrapnel wound to the shin.
On July 19, thunderstorms are expected in Ukraine, mainly in the west and north. Forecasters have declared a Level I danger due to heavy rains, thunderstorms, hail, and squalls in a number of regions.
The analytical project DeepState reported on the occupation of Yablunivka in Sumy region and the advance of Russian troops near Yunakivka, Khatne, Romanivka and Toretsk.
Russian strikes on railway infrastructure are aimed exclusively at civilian trains, mostly those transporting coal, and at destroying locomotives. This was confirmed by Oleksandr Pertsovskyi, Chairman of the Board of JSC "Ukrzaliznytsia", emphasizing the enemy's attempts to finish off the coal industry and hunt for railway transport.
President Zelenskyy reported on the difficult situation in Sumy and Kharkiv regions, as well as on Russian attacks in Kherson and Mykolaiv regions. Means for destroying the occupier and long-range strikes were discussed.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported 78 combat engagements at the front as of 4:00 PM on July 18. The highest activity is observed in the Pokrovsk, Pivnichno-Slobozhansky, and Kursk directions, where up to two-thirds of the battles took place.
Russian occupiers did not achieve the planned breakthrough in the East and Sumy region; the line of combat engagement has been stabilized. Claims of a "front collapse" are questionable, despite difficult battles and the enemy's advance in certain settlements.
After 7:00, the enemy launched a massive drone attack on Shostka district of Sumy region, hitting several communities. Residential buildings were damaged, fires broke out, and rescuers are eliminating the consequences.