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Russo-Ukraine War - 08 December 2023 - Day 653

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 on 5 December 2023, a Russian Naval Aviation Su-24M FENCER D fighter bomber was highly likely shot down by to a Ukrainian surface-to-air Missile (SAM) over the north-western Black Sea in the vicinity of Ukraine's Snake Island.

Since summer 2023, Russia has continued to conduct high-risk, crewed strike missions against the island. This is likely mainly for messaging reasons because the island has become a symbol of Ukrainian resistance and Russia wants to demonstrate it can project force across the Black Sea.

The two-man crew was likely lost: the location and operational conditions would make a successful Russian search and rescue mission extremely challenging. Both sides still suffer regular combat aircraft losses. Overall, air defences continue to severely limit the effectiveness of tactical air operations.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Russian forces launched a total of 27x missile strikes, 49x air strikes, 27x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Since the beginning of the day, Russian occupiers have launched strikes on Ukraine, using 20x Kh-101/Kh-555 air-launched cruise missiles, 1x Iskander-M ballistic missile and 6x S-300 anti-aircraft guided missiles. The Ukrainian air defense forces destroyed 14x Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles. 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 15x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Loknya, Iskryskivshchyna, Hrabovs'ke, Seredyna-Buda (Sumy oblast), Hur'iv Kozachok, Veterynarne, Hraniv (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 9x Russian attacks in the vicinities of Syn'kivka and Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces launched an air strike near Petropavlivka and Podoly (Kharkiv oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: Ukrainian defense forces repelled an attack of the Russian forces who attempted to force Ukrainian units out of their positions in the vicinity of Spirne (Donetsk oblast). Moreover, Russian forces launched air strikes in the area of Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast) and Serebryanka (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 (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 10x attacks near Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Chasiv Yar (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements, including Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Avdiivka axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 32x attacks in the area east of Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Avdiivka, Tonen'ke, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces, with air support, was making unsuccessful attempts to breach Ukrainian defenses. Also, Russian forces launched an air strike near Lastochkyne (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Berdychi, Stepove, Avdiivka, Tonen'ke, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: Ukrainian defense forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinities of Krasnohorivka, Mar'inka, Pobjeda and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces launched 20x failed attacks on positions of Ukrainian defenders. The settlements of Hostre, Heorhiivka, Mar'inka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast) were under artillery and mortar fire of the occupiers.
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives. Around 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Zaporizhzhia axis: Ukrainian defense forces repelled 1x Russian attack west of Verbove (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 20x settlements, including Charivne, Hulyaipole, Huliaipilske, Mala Tokmachka, P'yatykhatky, Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Kherson axis: Russian forces fired artillery at the settlement of Ivanivka (Kherson oblast), and the city of Kherson.

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

During the day of December 8, Ukrainian Air Force launched 3x strikes on concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment, and 1x strike on an electronic warfare station of the Russian occupiers.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in the period of 3–8 December 2023, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation inflicted 30 group strikes with high-precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles on the military airfield infrastructure: arsenals, storage sites for artillery ammunition, military hardware, as well as enemy POL bases. In addition, the locations of the AFU units, nationalist formations, and foreign mercenaries were hit. All the assigned targets have been engaged.

In Kupyansk direction, units the Zapad Group of Forces have improved the situation along the front line in several sectors and repelled 19 AFU attacks. Aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrowers hit the manpower and hardware of the 25th Air Assault, 57th Motorised Infantry, 41st, 43rd, and 60th Mechanised Brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Sinkovka, Ivanovka, Berestovoye, Peschanoye (Kharkov region), and Nevskoye (Lugansk People's Republic).

The enemy losses amounted to more than 480 Ukrainian troops, three tanks, 13 armoured fighting vehicles, 12 motor vehicles, and seven field artillery guns.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces have improved the situation along the front line near Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and with support of aviation and artillery fire repelled 10 attacks launched by AFU assault groups. In addition, strikes were delivered at cluster of manpower of the 95th Air Assault, 63rd and 66th Mechanised, and 12th Special Forces brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Kirovsk, Torskoye, Yampol, and Serebryanka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were more than 1,445 troops, 11 armoured fighting vehicles, 17 motor vehicles, and five field artillery guns.

In Donetsk direction, the Yug Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on AFU manpower and hardware near Mariynka, Kurdyumovka, Bogdanovka, Andreyevka, and Kleshcheyevka (Donetsk People's Republic). Over the past week, 18 attacks launched by the Ukrainian Armed Forces have been repelled in this area.

The enemy losses were more than 1,560 troops, 12 armoured fighting vehicles, 17 motor vehicles, and 22 field artillery guns.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, aviation, and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the 58th Motorised Infantry, 79th Air Assault, 23rd and 72nd Mechanised, and 102nd territorial defence brigades near Novomikhailovka, Ugledar, Urozhaynoye (Donetsk People's Republic), and Levadnoye (Zaporozhye region).

Over the week, the enemy has suffered losses of more than 845 troops, three tanks, 13 armoured fighting vehicles, 17 motor vehicles, 12 field artillery guns, as well as one Grad MLRS vehicle.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian troops carried out intensive defence, during which they repelled five attacks launched by assault groups of the 82nd Air Assault, 117th and 118th Mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Verbovoye, Nesteryanka, and Uspenovka (Zaporozhye region).

Moreover, the Russian Armed Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of AFU's 46th Airmobile, 33rd and 65th Mechanised brigades near Dorozhnyanka, Malaya Tokmachka, and Rabotino (Zaporozhye region). The enemy losses amounted to up to 260 Ukrainian troops, six armoured fighting vehicles, 15 motor vehicles, and five field artillery guns.

?? In Kherson direction, the enemy's attempts to cross the Dnepr River to land on the left bank and islands were thwarted by complex fire strikes and preventive actions of the Russian Armed Forces. Moreover, aviation and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of AFU's 35th and 36th Marines, 124th Territorial Defence brigades near Tyaginka, Tokarevka, Nikolskoye, and Chernobayevka (Kherson region).

As a result of the combat actions, the enemy losses were up to 350 troops, 13 field artillery guns, 17 motor vehicles, and 21 boats.

Air defence systems shot down five Ukrainian aircraft: three MiG-29, two Su-25, and one Mi-8 of the Ukrainian Air Force. In addition, 11 HIMARS projectiles, two HARM anti-radiation missiles, two S-200 converted surface-to-surface missiles, one JDAM guided aerial bomb, as well as 224 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down.

Moreover, 12 Ukrainian servicemen have been taken prisoner during the week.

In total, 550 airplanes and 257 helicopters, 9,577 unmanned aerial vehicles, 442 air defence missile systems, 13,894 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,188 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,279 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 16,056 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.