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Russo-Ukraine War - 12 December 2023 - Day 657

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 Russian forces highly likely continue to struggle when fighting at night. Numerous reports from combatants have highlighted this trend since the start of the war. in late November 2023, a social media user claiming to be a Russian soldier serving in Kherson highlighted the shortage of night vision goggles (NVGs) and low-light cameras for uncrewed aerial vehicles.

NVGs have frequently featured high in the lists of equipment Russian units request from their families and supporters. Ukrainian forces have often been equipped with night vision devices from international partners.

There is also likely a cultural element to Russia's problem: Russian military training has rarely emphasised night exercises, instead typically building towards set-piece, daylight events to impress visiting senior officers. In contrast, the Russian soldier claimed Ukrainian forces "move mostly at night."

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Russian forces launched a total of 1x missile strike, 3x air strikes and 38x 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 Popivka (Chernihiv oblast), Seredyna-Buda, Veselivka (Sumy oblast), Chervona Zorya, Kozacha Lopan', Luk'yantsi, Zelene (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 8x Russian attacks in the vicinities of Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast). The invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Kup'yans'k, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: Ukrainian defense forces repelled 2x attacks in the vicinity of Makiivka (Donetsk oblast). The occupiers fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka, Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 4x attacks near Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements, including Vasyukivka, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, New York (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Avdiivka axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 37x attacks in the area east of Novokalynove, east of Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Avdiivka, south of Sjeverne, south of Tonen'ke, Pervomais'ke and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast), where Russia was making unsuccessful attempts to breach Ukrainian defenses. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Sukha Balka, Keramik, Stepove, Avdiivka, Pervomais'ke, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: Ukrainian defense forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinity of Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces launched 10x failed attacks on positions of Ukrainian defenders. The settlements of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Mar'inka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka, Paraskoviivka (Donetsk oblast) were under artillery and mortar fire of the Russian occupiers.
Shakhtars'ke axis: the Russian adversary conducted no offensives. Around 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Zaporizhzhia axis: Ukrainian defense forces repelled 4x Russian attacks north of Pryyutne and west of Verbove (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 20x settlements, including Novodanylivka, Orikhiv, Novoandriivka, Mali Shcherbaky, P'yatykhatky, Plavni (Zaporizhzhia oblast) came under artillery and mortar fire.
Kherson axis: Russian forces fired artillery at the settlements of Ivanivka, Vysoke, Antonivka, Veletens'ke (Kherson oblast), 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 Russian forces.

During the day of December 12, Ukrainian Air Force launched 1x strike on a concentration of troops, weapons and military equipment of the Russian invaders.

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

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that during active actions in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces supported by artillery inflicted fire damage on the AFU 57th Mechanised Brigade's units close to Sinkovka (Kharkov region).

The enemy lost up to 105 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces supported by artillery repelled five attacks launched by assault groups of AFU 24th, 63rd, 116th mechanised brigades near Kirovo (Donetsk People's Republic), Petrovskoye, and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic).

Up to 185 Ukrainian troops and three motor vehicles have been neutralised.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled two attacks of the AFU 79th Air Assault Brigade's assault groups near Maryinka (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, AFU 24th, 93rd mechanised brigades' manpower and hardware suffered losses near Kurdyumovka and Kleshcheyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses amounted to up to 240 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, two armoured personnel carrier, and four motor vehicles.

In the course of the counter-battery warfare, two Msta-B howitzers, two D-20 howitzers, as well as two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, aviation, and artillery repelled one attack and inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the AFU 79th Air Assault Brigade near Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 70 Ukrainian troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, as well as two D-20 howitzers.

?In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces repelled one attack of the 80th Air Assault Brigade close to Novosyolovka (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy losses up to 70 troops and three motor vehicles.

In Kherson direction, as a result of artillery fire at the 123rd Territorial Defence Brigade units' concentration areas near Kamishany (Kherson region), the AFU lost up to 35 Ukrainian troops and two motor vehicles.

In the course of the counter-battery warfare, two D-20 howitzers, and two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system were destroyed.

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 114 areas during the day.

Air defence systems intercepted two HIMARS MLRS projectiles, as well as one Tochka-U tactical missile.

Moreover, 23 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down close to Belogorovka, Staromikhailovka, Maryinka (Donetsk People's Republic), Novosyolovskoye (Lugansk People's Republic), Alyoshki (Kherson region), Tokmak and Pology (Zaporozhye region).

In total, 550 airplanes and 257 helicopters, 9,655 unmanned aerial vehicles, 442 air defence missile systems, 13,999 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,188 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,311 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 16,222 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.