Russian forces are aggressively targeting Ukrainian regions with heavy civilian numbers overnight.

According to Emine Dzheppar, Crimean Tatar-Ukrainian journalist and First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Russia has continued to target Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, and Mykolaiv.

Nikopol Mayor Yevhen Yevtushenko confirmed that they had been shelled overnight. In the Nikopol region, they fired 60 rockets from BM-21 Grad self-propelled 122 mm multiple rocket launcher, damaging about 50 civilian houses.

Gov. Dmytro Zhyvytsky said three towns were shelled by Russian forces who launched 55 missiles in the region. Out of those, eight hit residential areas in Krasnopilska.

According to reports, Russian forces are still pushing to gain traction after the devasting defeat in Kherson. Ukraine intelligence reported that Russia’s creating a counterstrike group in the Kryvyi Rih direction. This allows Russian forces to redirect their attention to cities and towns that have fewer Ukrainian Ground Forces.

According to UKInform, the Operational Command South confirms this counteroffensive strategy of Russia. Moreover, they are expecting the attack to be particularly jarring because Kryvyi Rih is just some 31 miles from President Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown.

“The enemy continues to wage hostilities along the occupied defense line. They started to set up a strike grouping in the Kryvyi Rih direction. It is quite likely that the enemy is preparing a counteroffensive with further plans to advance to the administrative border of Kherson region,” the report says.

In Sukhy Stavok, Biloghirka border, Russian forces conducted reconnaissance by attacking Ukrainian forces with two tanks. However, they were not successful and retreated after suffering losses.

Throughout the day, Russians continued to launch air strikes targeting Ukrainian Armed Forces. In addition, Russia positioned its weaponry and aircraft (helicopters and Smerch MLR systems) from a small region they were able to defend in Kherson and Mykolaiv.

As of writing, Russian forces are focused on pushing forward East Ukraine. However, as noted by British Intelligence, Russia “almost certainly” installed radar reflectors in the water near Antonivskiy Bridge to damage Ukrainian rockets (as well as HIMARS donated by the US).

The latest count states there were four civilians killed by Russian shelling and ten more civilians wounded in the town of Toretsk. Three children were among them, according to a Telegram update by Gov. Pavlov Kyrylenko.

Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak calls out Russia because of their intentional attacks on residential regions, saying this is “another terrorist act.” Ukraine continues to call for other nations to declare Russia as a “state sponsor of terror.”

In Kherson, the majority of civilians have been evacuated. And even though Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, and Dnipro are larger than Kherson, more civilians still reside in this region. Additionally, smaller towns like Toretsk, roughly 24 square miles, were targeted during the shelling. These regions should supposedly be “out of reach” in the war, but Russia’s desperate aggression still extended to these areas.

According to preliminary information, artillery was fired. Hit a public transport stop, where there was a crowd of people at the time.
In addition, the Russians damaged the church and injured the priest there, damaging the surrounding multi-story.
Every day Russian occupiers beat civilians – every day, we have killed and wounded. Anyone who still remains in the Donetsk region puts themselves in deadly danger!
Addressing all residents of the region: don’t turn yourself into a Russian target! Evacuate in a timely manner!
#StopRussia
#RussiaKillsCivilians

— Gov. Pavlov (Павло Кириленко )

Ukraine Strikes Back

Ukrainian forces continue to retaliate by sending missile attacks targeting Russian military “strongholds, personnel, clusters, logistical support bases and ammunition depots which will highly likely impact Russian military logistical resupply and put pressure on Russian military combat support elements,” according to British Intelligence.

Reports say these attacks are the oppressor’s way to react from all of the highly advanced weaponry supplied by the west.

“This highlights the threat Russia feels from the increased range and precision of Western-supplied systems,” the bulletin said.

Presidential Adviser Oleksiy Arestovych said Russia’s offensive is a diversion to reroute Ukrainian forces from their most vulnerable region, Zaporizhzhya.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said they are ready to support Ukraine to its fullest capacity and make sure Russia doesn’t win.

“It’s in our interest that this type of aggressive policy does not succeed,” Stoltenberg said in a speech in his native Norway.

“If President (Vladimir) Putin even thinks of doing something similar to a NATO country as he has done to Georgia, Moldova or Ukraine, then all of NATO will be involved immediately,” he continued.