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Russo-Ukraine War - 11 December 2023 - Day 656

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 over the last week, the Donetsk Oblast town of Avdiivka has continued to be the scene of the most intense combat on the front. As reflected in official Ukrainian public-release data, on some days approaching 40 per cent of all combat engagements have likely taken place in this small sector.

The Russian offensives have continued to be characterised by largely dismounted infantry assaults, often by Shtorm-Z penal units.

Ukrainian units have likely conducted successful local counterattacks, denying Russian forces full control of the village of Stepove. It is here that Russia is attempting one part of a pincer movement to envelop Avdiivka and its heavily defended industrial zone.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of December 11, there were 73x combat engagements.

Russian forces launched a total of 10x missile strikes and 46x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. 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 Klyusy (Chernihiv oblast), Znob-Novhorods'ke, Popivka, Porokhon', (Sumy oblast), Okhrimivka, Vovchans'k, Budarky, Pletenivka (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 2x Russian attacks in the vicinity of Syn'kivka (Kharkiv oblast). The Russian invaders 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 vicinities of Spirne and Vesele (Donetsk oblast). The Russian occupiers fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 13x attacks near Bohdanivka, Klishchiivka, Andriivka and Pivnichne (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements, including Markove, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, New York (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Avdiivka axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 36x attacks in the area east of Novobakhmutivka, Avdiivka, south of Sjeverne, south of Tonen'ke, Pervomais'ke and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces were making unsuccessful attempts to breach Ukrainian defenses. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Stepove, Avdiivka, Karlivka, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: Ukrainian defense forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinities of Mar'inka, Krasnohorivka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces launched 12x failed attacks on positions of Ukrainian defenders. The settlements of Heorhiivka, Kostyantynivka, Mar'inka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast) were under artillery and mortar fire of the Russian occupiers.
Shakhtars'ke axis: the adversary conducted no offensives. Around 10x settlements, including Vuhledar, Zolota Nyva, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Zaporizhzhia axis: Ukrainian defense forces repelled 3x Russian attacks north of Pryyutne and west of Novopokrovka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 20x settlements, including Levadne, Malynivka, Hulyaipole, Charivne, Mala Tokmachka, Robotyne, Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast), and Nikopol' (Dnipropetrovs'k oblast) came under artillery and mortar fire.
Kherson axis: Russian forces fired artillery at the settlement of Antonivka (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 the Russian enemy.

During the day of December 11, Ukrainian Air Force launched 2x strikes on concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment of the Russian invaders.

Ukrainian missile troops hit 2x strikes on concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment, 1x ammunition depot, 1x command post, and 1x artillery system of the Russian occupiers.

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 four attacks of assault groups of AFU 14th, 21st mechanised, 57th mechanised infantry brigades close to Petropavlovka, Sinkovka, Terny (Kharkov region).

The Zapad Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on clusters of AFU manpower and hardware close to Berestovoye, Ivanovka (Kharkov region), Novoegorovka (Lugansk People's Republic). The enemy lost up to 30 Ukrainian troops and two motor vehicles.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces supported repelled one attack launched by the AFU 63rd Mechanised Brigade near Chervonaya Dibrova (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, air strikes and artillery fire struck the personnel and hardware of the 67th Mechanised Brigade close to Serebryansky forestry. ?? Up to 175 Ukrainian troops, one tank, one infantry fighting vehicle, and two motor vehicles have been neutralised.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled 18 enemy attacks and inflicted fire damage on AFU manpower and hardware near Kleshcheyevka, Kurdyumovka, and Georgiyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses amounted to up to 200 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, two armoured fighting vehicles, and two D-30 howitzers.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, helicopters, and artillery inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of AFU 58th mechanised infantry and 79th air assault brigades near Novomikhailovka and Ugledar (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 80 Ukrainian troops and three motor vehicles. ?? In the course of the counter-battery warfare, one Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery system and one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counterbattery warfare radar were eliminated.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces repelled four attacks of the 117th, 118th mechanised brigades near Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).

In addition, air strikes and artillery fire struck AFU personnel and hardware close to Rabotino and Uspenovka (Zaporozhye region). ?? The enemy lost up to 45 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, one D-30 howitzer, and one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar station.

In Kherson direction, as a result of actions of the Russian Group of Forces supported by artillery and aviation, the AFU lost up to 40 Ukrainian troops and four motor vehicles.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged two ammunition depots close to Chernobayevka (Kherson region), as well as manpower and hardware in 107 areas during the day.

24 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were intercepted by Russian air defence units close to Svatovo, Lisichansk (Lugansk People's Republic), Shevchenko (Donetsk People's Republic), Nesteryanka, Rovnoye (Zaporozhye region), Alyoshki, Korsunka (Kherson region).

In total, 550 airplanes and 257 helicopters, 9,632 unmanned aerial vehicles, 442 air defence missile systems, 13,979 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,188 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,297 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 16,192 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.