Signs of the beginning of an offensive operation of the Russian army are recorded in the east of Ukraine, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports on Facebook.

In particular, the occupiers intensified offensive and assault operations in certain directions in the Slobozhansky and Donetsk operational regions..

The report also notes that the Russians have focused their main efforts on establishing full control over the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as holding the previously occupied territory..

To strengthen its offensive capabilities, the enemy continues to form additional units in the Rostov region and in the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

The Russians plan to use them to support the fighting of the main forces in the second echelon, to protect administrative buildings and infrastructure in the occupied territories.. According to the General Staff, the formation is planned to be completed by April 24.

In addition, the Armed Forces of Ukraine do not exclude that the Russian Federation may resort to provocations and use aviation in the regions of Russia bordering Ukraine.. Including to strike at civilian targets.

In particular, on the territory of the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation, in the area in the immediate vicinity of the border with Ukraine, the occupiers are deploying helipads.

The General Staff also reported on the actions of enemy troops in the regions of Ukraine.

There are no significant changes in the Volyn, Polessky and Seversk directions.

In the Slobozhansky direction, the Russians partially block Kharkov and destroy residential areas of the city with artillery fire.

In the Izyum direction, another attempt is expected to attack in the directions of Izyum - Slavyansk and Izyum - Barvenkovo.

In the Donetsk and Tauride directions, the invaders continue to focus their main efforts on capturing the settlements of Liman, Kremennaya, Popasnaya and Rubizhnoye, as well as establishing full control over the city of Mariupol, where they carry out assault operations in the seaport area. Also, the Russian military stepped up offensive operations in the Severodonetsk, Popasnyansky, Kurakhovsky and Zaporozhye directions, continuing to concentrate additional tank and artillery units to build up forces.

In the Yuzhnobuzh direction, individual units of the Russians continue to concentrate their main efforts in order to hold their lines and fire at Ukrainian positions.. The enemy also does not stop trying to establish full control over the territory of the Kherson region; conducts hostilities in the Aleksandrovka area, but has no success.

In the waters of the Black and Azov seas, ship groups of invaders continue to isolate the sea coast of Ukraine and conduct reconnaissance.