Similar operations were reported also to have damaged Russian forces in the central and southern sectors.
The reports indicated the German drive southeast of Gomel had nearly reach Konaton, 109 miles northeast of Kiev. while the Germans also had resumed their advance on the Mur-mensk front.
Comnetent quarters said the war's heaviest air raid on Leningrad was staged Friday morning in prepara. tion for advance of the German infantry.—United Press, The Soviet Information Bureau evening communique said that "On Saturday our troops fought the enemy stubbornly along the entire front.
"Fifty German planes were destroyed on Thursday in air combats and on every aerodrome," said the communique, "while our losses were 34 planes.
"On Saturday night our Air Force bombarded Bucharest and all planes returned safely to their bases. Fast boats from our North Fleet sank a German coastal ship and a big trans-Port"
Attacks on Briansk, Kiev Routed Front line despatches yesterday reported the Red Army had crushed an attack by 12 German divisions against Briansk and had smashed four more Nazi divisions attempting an assault on Kiev.
our German divisions were smashed during a two month battle for Kiev which still is continuing, according to Major General K. Dobroserdov in an article in the "Izvestia."
Gen. Dobroserdov said the battle reached its peak between August 8 und 14 when the Germans sent the the 7ist and 290th divisions to reinforce the 44th and 95th divisions which had been bled white.
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