Russo-Ukraine War - 20 December 2022 - Day 300

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A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

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The UK Ministry of Defence reported that on 16 December, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Joint Headquarters of the Special Military Operation.

Putin was filmed meeting with a number of senior military officers including Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov and Defence Minister Sergey Shoygu. He invited proposals for next steps of the Special Military Operation. Commander of the Russian Group of Forces in Ukraine, General Sergey Surovikin, was one of those who presented a report.

In this choreographed meeting Putin likely intended to demonstrate collective responsibility for the special military operation. This display likely aimed to deflect Putin's responsibility for military failure, high fatality rates and increasing public dissatisfaction from mobilisation. The televised footage was probably designed to also dispel social media rumours of General Gerasimov's dismissal.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Russian occupiers continue to conduct full-scale armed aggression against Ukraine, they do not stop striking critical infrastructure and civilian homes on the territory of Ukraine, violating the norms of International Humanitarian Law, the laws and customs of warfare. The volume of transfers of mobilized personnel, weapons and military equipment, fuel and lubricants and ammunition from the far eastern regions of the Russian Federation is increasing.

Russia is concentrating its efforts on conducting offensive actions in the Bakhmut and Avdiivka directions. It is trying to improve the tactical position in the Kupyansk and Lyman areas. In other directions, Russia defends previously occupied lines, concentrates efforts on restraining the actions of units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine, and at the same time continues to shell the positions of Ukrainian troops and civilian objects along the contact line.

During the day, Russian forces carried out 10 air and 4 missile strikes on civilian objects in Andriyivka, Vovchansk, Soledar, and also carried out about 20 MLRS attacks on the civilian infrastructure of the city of Kherson. The threat of Russian air and missile strikes on critical infrastructure objects remains throughout Ukraine.

In the Volyn and Polissya directions, the situation remains without significant changes, no signs of the formation of offensive groups of the Russian forces have been detected. Certain units of the armed forces of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation continue to be located in the border areas with Ukraine.
On the Siverskyi and Slobozhanskyi directions, Russian forces carried out mortar and artillery attacks on the positions of Ukrainian troops in the areas of 27 settlements, including: Karpovychi, Tymonovychi, Kostobobriv, Chernihiv oblast; Kindrativka, Vodolagi, Zapsilya, Yzdetske of the Sumy oblast; Guryiv, Alisivka, Krasne, Zelena, Vovchansk, Zybyne, Volohivka, Varvarivka, Zemlianka and Dvorichna of the Kharkiv oblast. The Russian occupiers used an unmanned aerial vehicle in the areas of Popivka, Chernihiv oblast, and Zybyne, Kharkiv oblast.
In the Kupyansk and Lyman directions, Russian forces shelled 15 settlements with tanks and the entire spectrum of artillery, in particular - Hryanikyvka, Kislivka, Kotlyarivka, Krokhmalne, Berestove of the Kharkiv oblast; Makiivka, Ploshchanka, Nevske, Chervonopopopivka and Dibrova of Luhansk oblast. The Russian occupiers struck the operational-tactical and army aviation forces in the areas of Novoselivske and Ploshanka settlements.
In the Bakhmut and Avdiivka directions, Russia continues to conduct offensive actions, fired from tanks and all types of artillery at the positions of our troops in the areas of 24 settlements. Among them - Andriivka, Bilohorivka, Luhansk oblast; Spirne, Soledar, Bakhmut, Stupochky, Vodyane, Nevelske, Maryinka and Novomykhailivka of the Donetsk oblast. Russian forces attacked with operational-tactical and army aviation in Andriivka, Bilohorivka, Spirne, Pivnichne, New York, Kamianka, Avdiivka, Nevelske districts.
In the direction of Novopavlivsk, Russian forces fired tanks, mortars, barrel and jet artillery at the positions of Ukrainian troops near the settlements of Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva and Velya Novosilka of the Donetsk oblast.
In the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, Russia continues to shell our positions and the civilian infrastructure of the settlements along the right bank of the Dnipro River. Fired tanks and the entire spectrum of artillery at 35 settlements. In particular, it is Vremivka of the Donetsk oblast; Zeleny Hai, Dorozhnyanka, Zaliznychne, Verbove, Bilohirya of the Zaporizhzhia region; Beryslav, Tokarivka, Antonivka, Berehove, Kherson oblast. It carried out airstrikes in the areas of Vremivka, Mali Shcherbaky, Novoandriivka, and Olhivske.

Russia continues to suffer losses. On December 18, it was confirmed that units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine fired at areas where Russia's manpower and equipment were concentrated in the temporarily occupied territory of the Zaporizhzhia region. In particular, in the areas of the settlements of Polohy, Vasylivka and Kamianka-Dniprovska. The losses of Russian forces enemy are more than 130 wounded occupiers, up to 10 units of weapons and military equipment of various types were destroyed. Information about the dead invaders is being clarified.

Russia continues to use the network of civilian health care facilities in the temporarily occupied territory to treat wounded Russian occupiers and mercenaries of private military campaigns. So, according to the available information, in Luhansk, the city's multidisciplinary hospital is equipped as a military hospital of the Russian occupying forces, which is already overloaded with wounded occupiers.

During the day, the aviation of the Defense Forces of Ukraine carried out 10 strikes on the areas of concentration of personnel, weapons and military equipment and 12 strikes on the positions of the Russian forces' anti-aircraft missile systems. Units of missile troops and artillery of the Defense Forces of Ukraine during the current day hit an ammunition warehouse, 3 control points and 8 areas of concentration of Russian manpower.

Statements of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

The Russian Ministry of Defense in a daily briefing reported that during the day strikes were carried out on accumulations of manpower and equipment of the Ukrainian army in the Kupyansky and Limansky directions. In addition, 3 sabotage and reconnaissance groups (DRGs) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were liquidated in the areas of the settlements of Chervonaya Dibrova and Stelmahovka (Luhansk People's Republic, LPR). Losses of Ukrainian troops amounted to 80 military personnel, 2 armored vehicles and 6 vehicles.

The units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Donetsk direction were hit, the points of temporary deployment of the 61st and 72nd mechanized brigades were destroyed in the Yuzhno-Donetsk direction. In addition, in the area of ​​the settlement of Novodonetskoye (Donetsk People's Republic, DPR), the Ukrainian DRG was liquidated. The total losses per day amounted to about 170 Ukrainian servicemen killed and wounded, 4 infantry fighting vehicles, 3 armored vehicles, 4 vehicles.

Operational-tactical aviation, missile forces and artillery hit the ammunition depot of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the LPR, 64 artillery units in firing positions, as well as manpower and military equipment in 143 districts. In addition, 2 radar stations (RLS) of Ukrainian S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems and a US-made AN / TPQ-36 counter-battery radar were destroyed in the DPR.

The Russian Aerospace Forces in the DPR shot down 2 MiG-29 aircraft and a Mi-8 helicopter of the Ukrainian Air Force. A Su-25 aircraft and a Mi-8 helicopter of the Ukrainian Air Force were shot down by means of air defense in the DPR. 5 unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed in the LPR, DPR and Kherson region.

Zaporozhye region

The Ukrainian special services are trying to put pressure on the mobilized in the Zaporozhye region, said Vladimir Rogov, a member of the main council of the regional administration. He stated that more than 20 cases were recorded when military families were called from Ukraine and reported that they allegedly died or were captured.

Acting Governor of the Zaporizhzhia region Yevgeny Balitsky was presented with the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, III degree. The award was presented personally by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Zaporozhye region has appointed a representative of the region in the Federation Council, it was the former head of the Crimean Development Corporation Dmitry Vorona.

Kherson region

Acting Governor of the Kherson region Vladimir Saldo was awarded the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" III degree in the Kremlin.

The authorities of the region have banned the sale and launch of fireworks during the New Year holidays.

The Kherson region has appointed adviser to the acting governor Konstantin Basyuk as a senator from the region in the Federation Council.

DNR

During the day, Donetsk and the settlements of Gorlovka, Makeevka, Mayorsk, Yasinovataya, Shirokaya Balka, Kashtanovoe, Zhovanka were shelled by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In the capital of the DPR, the office of the International Committee of the Red Cross was damaged as a result of strikes. In addition, eyewitnesses reported the collapse of 3 floors of the Kalinin hospital during a night attack by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In Gorlovka, outbuildings on the territory of the Michurin correctional colony were damaged.

Acting Head of the DPR Denis Pushilin was awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland of the highest degree in the Kremlin.

DPR delegated senators to the Federation Council. They were the former head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the republic Natalya Nikonorova and parliamentarian Alexander Ananchenko.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky visited Bakhmut on an unannounced visit. According to his press secretary Sergei Nikiforov, Zelensky met with servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, to whom he presented insignia.

Ukrainian media said that near Bakhmut, the Polish mercenary Daniel Stieber, who participated in the hostilities on the side of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, was liquidated.

LC

Acting Head of the LPR Leonid Pasechnik received the Order of Merit for the Fatherland of the highest degree from the hands of the President of the Russian Federation in the Kremlin.

In the LPR, senators from the region were appointed to the Federation Council. The head of the republic will be represented by Daria Lantratova, deputy secretary of the United Russia General Council, and Olga Bas from the parliament.