At least three people have been killed in Russian drone and missile attacks in eastern Ukraine over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian officials said on February 18, adding that Ukrainian troops had repelled a Russian offensive on the southern front.
Two bodies were pulled from the rubble of a residential building in the city of Kramatorsk that was hit by a missile overnight, said Vadim Filashkin, the military governor of the Donetsk region. The search and rescue operation continued on the spot, he wrote on Telegram.
At least one person was killed and five were wounded in the attack on a two-story apartment building in the neighboring Kharkiv region, said Oleh Sinehubov, head of the provincial military administration.
In the last 24 hours, 82 combat engagements took place between the Russian army and Ukrainian troops, the Ukrainian army announced in its daily update.
Ukrainian forces "defeated yesterday's Russian offensive in the Zaporozhye sector," destroying 18 armored vehicles and forcing Russian troops to retreat "to their previous positions," the bulletin said.
During the past day, the Russian army carried out 13 missile and 104 air strikes, and carried out 169 attacks with missile salvo systems, targeting the positions of Ukrainian troops, as well as residential areas, it is stated.
Russia also launched 14 "Shahid" combat drones, 12 of which were destroyed before reaching their target. A missile was also intercepted, and a Russian fighter jet was shot down, the Ukrainian Air Force announced.
The attacks caused extensive damage to both private buildings and industrial facilities. A school is in ruins in the town of Slavjansk, and volunteers were searching for possible victims and trapped people, officials said.
There was no immediate comment from the Russian authorities.
Bonus video:
