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Russo-Ukraine War - 04 December 2023 - Day 649

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]

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that between 24 February 2022 and November 2023, official Russian MoD forces likely suffered between 180,000 and 240,000 personnel wounded and approximately 50,000 killed. Wagner Group mercenaries likely suffered approximately 40,000 wounded and 20,000 killed.

Therefore, overall, the Russian side has likely suffered around 220,000-280,000 wounded and approximately 70,000 killed. This gives an estimated range of between 290,000 and 350,000 total Russian combatant casualties. The median of the estimate range is 320,000 total Russian combatant casualties.

Even amongst Russian officials there is likely a low level of understanding about total casualty figures because of a long-established culture of dishonest reporting within the military.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of December 4, there were 61x combat engagements.

Russian forces launched a total of 5x missile strikes, 44x air strikes, 37x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. The Russian occupiers launched another attack on Ukraine with 1x Kh-59 guided missile and 10x Shahed-136/131 UAVs. 6x Russian drones and 1x Kh-59 guided missile were shot down. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have resulted in civilian casualties and injuries. Private residential buildings as well as other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged.

Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes. No signs of formation of an offensive group. Certain units of the armed forces of Belarus continue their missions in the areas bordering Ukraine.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia maintains its military presence in the areas of russia bordering Ukraine. Russia continues its sabotage and reconnaissance activities, shelling Ukrainian settlements from the territory of Russia and increases the density of minefields along the state border of Ukraine. Around 20x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Klyusy, Prohres, Serhiivs'ke (Chernihiv oblast), Atyns'ke, Myropil's'ke, Hrabovs'ke, Porozok, Popivka (Sumy oblast), Chervona Zorya, Pletenivka, Krasne Pershe (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 10x Russian attacks in the vicinities of Syn'kivka and Petropavlivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes near Petropavlivka, Pishchane (Kharkiv oblast) and Novojehorivka (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: Ukrainian defense forces repelled 8x attacks in the area of Serebryans'ke forestry, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), and Terny (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces with air support attempted to force Ukrainian units out of their positions. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Spirne and Vyimka (Donetsk oblast). The Russian occupiers fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Yampolivka, Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 9x attacks near Bohdanivka, Klishchiivka and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Chasiv Yar (Donetsk oblast). Around 15x settlements, including Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Markove, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, New York (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Avdiivka axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 15x attacks in the area east of Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Avdiivka, Sjeverne (Donetsk oblast), where Russia was making unsuccessful attempts to breach Ukrainian defenses. Also, the Russian invaders launched an air strike in the vicinity of Oleksandropil' (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Ocheretyne, Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Karlivka, Netailove, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: Ukrainian defense forces continue to hold back Russian forces, who, with air support, launched 14x unsuccessful attacks on positions of Ukrainian defenders in the vicinities of Mar'inka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). The settlements of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Mar'inka, Pobjeda, Paraskoviivka, Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast) were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces conducted no assaults. The occupiers launched air strikes in the vicinities of Urozhaine, Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Urozhaine, Staromaiors'ke, Rivnopil' (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Zaporizhzhia axis: Ukrainian defense forces repelled all Russian attacks near Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast), where Russian forces made attempts to regain lost ground. Russian forces launched air strikes near Novodarivka, Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 20x settlements, including Levadne, Malynivka, Zaliznychne, Robotyne, P'yatykhatky, Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Kherson axis: Russian forces fired artillery at the settlements of Inzhenerne, Antonivka, Dniprovs'ke, Novodmytrivka (Kherson oblast), as well as the cities of Kherson and Ochakiv (Mykolaiv oblast).

Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold their ground on the left bank of the Dnipro River (Kherson oblast) and inflict fire on the Russian enemy.

During the day of December 4, Ukrainian Air Force launched 10x strikes on concentrations of Russian troops, weapons and military equipment, and 2x strikes on air defense systems.

Ukrainian missile troops hit 3x concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment, 2x air defense systems, and 7x artillery systems of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces supported by helicopters and artillery repelled one attack of assault groups of the AFU 57th Mechanised Brigades close to Sinkovka (Kharkov region).

Up to 35 Ukrainian troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system have been eliminated.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces, helicopters, and artillery repelled five attacks of assault groups of the AFU 63rd and 67th mechanised brigades close to Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic).

The enemy losses amounted to up to 280 troops, five Kozak armoured fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 24th, 93rd mechanised brigades near Kurdyumovka and Kleshcheyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy lost up to 300 Ukrainian troops, two armoured personnel carriers, and three motor vehicles.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces supported by helicopters and artillery inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the AFU 102nd Territorial Defence Brigade close to Priyutnoye (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy losses amounted to up to 100 Ukrainian troops, four armoured fighting vehicles, and two motor vehicles.

In Zaporozhye direction, one attack launched by assault groups of the AFU 118th Mechanised Brigade near Nesteryanka (Zaporozhye region) was repelled by the Russian Group of Forces, air strikes, and artillery fire.

The enemy lost up to 40 Ukrainian troops, two armoured personnel carriers, and three motor vehicles.

In Kherson direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery inflicted losses on clusters of manpower and hardware of the AFU 36th, 37th marines brigades near Tyaginka (Kherson region).

Up to 50 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, as well as one Giatsint howitzer have been neutralised by fire.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 107 areas during the day.

Air defence units shot down 30 unmanned aerial vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Novovodyanoye, Lisichansk (Lugansk People's Republic), Peski, Spornoye, and Aleksandrovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Novaya Zburyevka, (Kherson region) and Tokmak (Zaporozhye region), as well as one HIMARS MLRS projectile.

In total, 545 airplanes and 256 helicopters, 9,391 unmanned aerial vehicles, 442 air defence missile systems, 13,775 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,187 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,227 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 15,894 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.