Ukhov cleared 2.38 meters — the best jump this year — after being locked on 2.34 with Baba of the Czech Republic and Aleksandr Shustov of Russia, who took bronze.
Avdeyeva set her winning mark of 18.70 meters with her second throw. Germany's Schwanitz threw 18.65 with her third to ensure a tight finish but failed to get past 18.50 on her next three attempts.
Yelena Arzhakova grabbed another gold on a good day for Russia by winning the women's 1,500 meters. Arzhakova beat Spain's Nuria Fernandez, with Russia's Yekaterina Martynova taking the bronze.
“I really wasn't expecting to win this race,” Arzhakova said.
Pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie of France got the crowd going as he cleared 6.03 meters, before setting the mark at 6.16 with an eye on Sergey Bubka's world record.
Bubka was watching in the crowd at Palais Omnisport, where Lavillenie was being roared on. But he did not get close to Bubka's long-standing record with any of his three attempts, although he did set a championship record.
“I knew that this competition would be my last chance to beat the record this winter,” Lavillenie said. “I didn't want to miss it, and I've done it with Sergey Bubka in the stadium.” Lavillenie won comfortably ahead of countryman Jerome Clavier (5.76) and Germany's Malte Mohr (5.71).
“I'm very happy, more than satisfied. Winning in (Paris), keeping my title, jumping more than six meters,” Lavillenie said. “The first time I did six meters was two years ago. Last season, I tried a lot but I missed. This time I succeeded at my first attempt, which gave me an amazing feeling.” Leslie Djhone of France easily won the men's 400 meters in 45.54, with Germany's Thomas Schneider nearly a second behind, overtaking Britain's Richard Buck in a sprint to the line.
French sprinter Christophe Lemaitre cruised into the men's 60 final with a personal best of 6.55 seconds. Britain's Dwain Chambers won his heat in 6.61 to set up an eagerly awaited final.
“Everything is going well,” said Lemaitre, the men's European athlete of the year. “I'm looking forward to tomorrow's final.” Lemaitre won gold medals in the 100 and 200 at the European Championships last year in Barcelona. He was excited about facing Chambers, the world and defending European champion in the 60.
“The final should be wide open, with Chambers and (Martial) Mbandjock,” Lemaitre said. “It's certainly going to be very fast. But I'm ready to go faster.” Ukhov declined the chance to try for 2.40 and instead went for a new European high jump record but failed with three attempts at 2.44.
“I know I'm in world record shape this season and I wanted to break it,” Ukhov said. “However, there were way too many attempts in the competition and I did not spare enough energy.” Avdeyeva was relieved when Schwanitz couldn't catch her.
“I really wanted a medal and, of course, I dreamed about gold,” Avdeyeva said. “The competition started with a fault for me, and in the second (attempt) I managed 18.70.
I was so happy that I almost could not concentrate for the other attempts.” Russia had to settle for silver in the women's 400, Olesya Krasnomovets narrowly losing to Denisa Rosolova of the Czech Republic despite leading into the final straight.
Rosolova timed 51.73. Kseniya Zadorina of Russia took the bronze.
Mo Farah successfully defended his 3,000 title after withstanding a late burst from Hayle Ibrahimov of Azerbaijan. The Briton clocked 7 minutes, 53 seconds, with Ibrahimov finishing in 7:53.32 and Turkey's Halil Akkas crossing in 7:54.19.
“It wasn't easy, I had to dig in deep and work hard but that's what the championships are about,” Farah said.
Josephine Terlecki gave Germany another medal by taking the bronze with a personal best of 18.09.
“Finally I've got a gold medal, and in such a beautiful way,” Djhone said. “I did control the race perfectly.” Also on Saturday, Sebastian Bayer of Germany defended his long jump title, with Frenchman Kafetien Gomis taking silver and Morten Jensen of Denmark getting bronze.
Simona La Mantia of Italy won the women's triple jump.
La Mantia twice managed 14.60 to beat Russia's Olesya Zabara and Slovakia's Dana Veldakova, who both had personal bests with 14.45 and 14.39 respectively.
