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Russo-Ukraine War - 09 December 2023 - Day 654

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 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of December 9, there were 45x combat engagements.

Russian forces launched a total of 1x missile strikes, 5x air strikes, 25x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. The Russian occupiers launched another attack on Ukraine, using 1x Kh-59 guided missiles, which was successfully destroyed by Ukrainian air defense forces. 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 25x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Plokhiv, Klyusy, Baranivka, Rozhkovychi, Fotovyzh, Starykove, Volfyne (Sumy oblast), Ternova, Starytsya, Bochkove (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 4x Russian attacks in the vicinities of Syn'kivka (Kharkiv oblast) and Novoselivs'ke (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Kup'yans'k (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives. The occupiers fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 12x attacks near Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements, including Vasyukivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Bohdanivka, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, New York (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Avdiivka axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 11x attacks in the area east of Novobakhmutivka, Avdiivka, Tonen'ke, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces, with air support, was making unsuccessful attempts to breach Ukrainian defenses. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Avdiivka, Sjeverne, Tonen'ke, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: Ukrainian defense forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinities of Mar'inka, Pobjeda and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces launched 8x failed attacks on positions of Ukrainian defenders. The settlements of Mar'inka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka. Paraskoviivka (Donetsk oblast) were under artillery and mortar fire of the Russian occupiers.
Shakhtars'ke axis: Ukrainian defense forces repelled 2x assaults of the Russian forces attempting to force Ukrainian units out of their positions in the vicinity of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Prechystivka (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Zaporizhzhia axis: Ukrainian defense forces repelled 3x Russian attacks near Novopokrovka and west of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 20x settlements, including Levadne, Novodanylivka, Novopavlivka, Lobkove, Stepove (Zaporizhzhia oblast), and Nikopol' (Dnipropetrovs'k oblast) came under artillery and mortar fire.
Kherson axis: Russian forces fired artillery at the settlement of Beryslav, Tyahynka, 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 9, Ukrainian missile troops hit 2x Russian fuel and lubricant depots.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the Russian Armed Forces delivered long-range air-launched precision-guided group strikes on AFU Olkha and Grad MLRS ammunition depots, as well as Grom operational-tactical missiles. The goal of the strikes have been achieved. All the assigned targets have been engaged.

In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces supported by helicopters and artillery inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the AFU 43rd Mechanised Brigade and 113th Territorial Defence brigade near Kurilovka and Petropavlovka (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 105 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, as well as one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces repelled one attack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 1st Ukrainian National Guard Brigade near Serebryansky forestry.

In addition, strikes were delivered at clusters of AFU manpower near Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses in this direction amounted to up to 155 Ukrainian troops, as well as two armoured fighting vehicles and three motor vehicles.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled five enemy attacks near Belogorovka, Krasnoye, and Shumy and inflicted fire damage on manpower of the AFU 22nd, 93rd mechanised brigades and 79th Air Assault Brigade close to Mariynka, Kurdyumovka, Andreyevka, and Kleshcheyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 200 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, two armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, one Msta-B howitzer, and one D-30 gun.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces supported by helicopters and artillery repelled one attack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 58th Motorised Rifle Brigade near Novodonetskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 80 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, as well as two motor vehicles.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the AFU 33rd, 117th, 118th mechanised brigades, and 128th Mountain Assault Brigade close to Stepnogorsk, Pyatikhatki, Verbovoye, and Rabotino (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 35 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, one D-30 howitzer, as well as one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

In Kherson direction, as a result of actions of the Russian Group of Forces supported by artillery and aviation, the AFU lost up to 50 Ukrainian troops and three motor vehicles.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces destroyed one ammunition depot of the AFU 120th Territorial Defence Brigade near Volchansk (Kharkov region), struck military infrastructure at Kulbakino airfield (Nikolayev region), and engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 118 areas during the day.

11 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were intercepted by Russian air defence units close to Topolevka, Shipilovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Opitnoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Skelevatoye and Vasilieyvka (Zaporozhye region).

In total, 550 airplanes and 257 helicopters, 9,588 unmanned aerial vehicles, 442 air defence missile systems, 13,924 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,188 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,284 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 16,096 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.