Russo-Ukraine War - 16 December 2023 - Day 661
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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 12 December 2023, Kyivstar, Ukraine's largest mobile network operator, suffered a cyber attack. Effects continued for at least 48 hours, impacting the company's mobile and data services. Kyivstar supplies over half of Ukraine's population with mobile and home internet services. The cyber attack reportedly left users without mobile signal or the ability to use the internet. Kyivstar reported that no personal data was compromised during the attack.
The cyber attack also reportedly disrupted air raid sirens, some banks, ATMs, and point-of-sale terminals. At the same time, the Ukrainian bank Monobank, was targeted with a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack, disrupting access to the bank's website.
With Ukraine's government resources and emergency services affected, this incident is likely one of the highest-impact disruptive cyber attacks on Ukrainian networks since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of December 16, there were 71x combat engagements.
Russian forces launched a total of 3x missile strikes, 47x 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.
The operational situation in eastern and southern Ukraine remains difficult.
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. Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Bolohivka settlement (Kharkiv oblast). More than 20x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Zaliznyi Mist, Hrem'yachka (Chernihiv oblast), Novovasylivka, Khliborob, Baranivka, Volfyne, Hrabovs'ke, Popivka (Sumy oblast), Udy, Kozacha Lopan', Starytsya, Vovchans'k, Topoli (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 11x Russian attacks in the vicinity of Syn'kivka (Kharkiv oblast), where the Russian occupiers, with air support, made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Ivanivka, Pishchane and Berestove (Kharkiv oblast). The invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Kovalivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: Russian forces, with air support, made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Ukrainian defense forces repelled 3x attacks east of Terny, (Donetsk oblast). The Russian invaders launched an air strike in the area of Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast). The Russian occupiers fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 8x attacks near Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). The Russian occupiers launched air strikes in the vicinities of Min'kivka, Druzhba, New York (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements, including Vasyukivka, Markove, Bohdanivka, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, Andriivka (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Avdiivka axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 17x attacks in the area east of Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Avdiivka, and 10x attacks in the vicinities of Nevel's'ke and Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast). The Russian adversary launched an air strike near Ocheretyne settlement (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Berdychi, Stepove, Lastochkyne, Avdiivka, Pervomais'ke, Karlivka (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). Russian forces, with air support, launched 9x failed attacks on positions of Ukrainian defenders in the area. The settlements of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Mar'inka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast) were under artillery and mortar fire of the Russian occupiers.
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives. Around 10x settlements, including Prechystivka, Urozhaine, Staromaiors'ke, Rivnopil' (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Zaporizhzhia axis: Ukrainian defense forces repelled 10x Russian attacks west of Novopokrovka and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 15x settlements, including Levadne, Malynivka, Hulyaipole, Charivne, Mala Tokmachka, Novoandriivka (Zaporizhzhia oblast) came under artillery and mortar fire.
Kherson axis: Russian forces fired artillery at the settlements of Ivanivka, Antonivka, Oleksandrivka (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 forces.
During the day of December 16, Ukrainian Air Force launched 21x strikes on concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment of the Russian invaders.
Ukrainian missile troops hit 7x concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment, 2x air defense systems, 1x command post, 12x artillery systems, and 2x ammunition and fuel depots 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 aviation and artillery repelled five attacks of AFU 14th, 115th mechanised, and 25th airborne brigades near Olshana, Sinkovka (Kharkov region), and Novosyolovskoye (Lugansk People's Republic).
The AFU losses amounted to more than 35 Ukrainian troops, four armoured fighting vehicles, three pickups, as well as one D-30 howitzer.
In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces, helicopters, and artillery repelled two attacks of assault groups of the AFU 12th Special Forces Brigade close to Kuzmino (Lugansk People's Republic), as well as inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU near Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
Up to 100 Ukrainian troops, five armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, and one D-20 howitzer were destroyed.
In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled four attacks launched by assault groups of AFU 81st airmobile, 79th, 95th air assault brigades near Belogorovka (Lugansk People's Republic) and Pobeda (Donetsk People's Republic).
In addition, manpower and military hardware of AFU 5th assault, 24th, 30th, and 93rd mechanised brigades suffered losses close to Krasnoye, Kleshcheyevka, Kirovo, and Kurdyumovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
The enemy has lost up to 290 Ukrainian personnel, one tank, two infantry fighting vehicles, and four motor vehicles.
In the course of the counter-battery warfare, two Msta-B howitzers, one D-30 howitzer, and two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems were destroyed.
In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, helicopters, and artillery repelled three attacks of the AFU 79th Air Assault Brigade near Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
Up to 90 Ukrainian troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, and one D-20 howitzer were destroyed.
In Zaporozhye direction, two attacks launched by assault groups of the AFU 118th Mechanised Brigade were repelled by the Russian Group of Forces, air strikes, and artillery fire near Rabotino (Zaporozhye region).
Moreover, the Russian Armed Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of AFU 33rd mechanised, 128th mountain assault brigades near Rabotino and Kamenskoye(Zaporozhye region).
During the day, a total of 50 Ukrainian troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, one motor vehicle, one Msta-B howitzer, and one D-30 gun have been neutralised.
In Kherson direction, as a result of artillery and aviation strikes near Tyaginka and Belozyorka (Kherson region), the AFU 36th, 37th marines brigades' losses amounted to up to 65 Ukrainian troops and seven motor vehicles. One ammunition depot was wiped out.
In the course of the counter-battery warfare, one Msta-B howitzer, two D-20 guns, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system and one D-30 howitzer were eliminated.
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 125 areas during the day.
Russian Aerospace Forces' aircraft shot down one Mi-8 helicopter of the Ukranian Air Force close to Orekhov (Zaporozhye region).
Air defence and electronic warfare systems repelled one AFU attempt to launch massive strikes by UAVs at facilities on the territory of the Crimean Peninsula. All UAVs were shot down.
In the past 24 hours, 49 unmanned aerial vehicles were eliminated close to Verkhnekamenka (Lugansk People's Republic), Tokmak (Zaporozhye region) Novaya Kakhovka, Kairy, and Alyoshki (Kherson region), as well as nine HIMARS MLRS, Uragan, and Olkha projectiles.
In total, 550 airplanes and 259 helicopters, 9,745 unmanned aerial vehicles, 442 air defence missile systems, 14,096 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,188 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,353 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 16,359 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.
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