Russo-Ukraine War - 17 December 2023 - Day 662
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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 11 December 2023, the Russian Central Election Commission announced that voting in the March 2024 presidential election would extend to the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine. This follows their inclusion in the September 2023 Russian regional elections.
As with the regional elections, it is almost certain that presidential election voting in the Russian-controlled regions will be neither free nor fair. The Russian authorities almost certainly see achieving the 'correct' results in these regions as a priority because they want to give the perception of legitimacy to Russia's invasion.
The Russian administration will almost certainly utilise methods including substantive electoral fraud and voter intimidation to ensure Russian President Vladimir Putin wins in the regions by a substantial margin.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of December 17, there were 54x combat engagements.
Russian forces launched a total of 2x missile strikes, 25x air strikes and 25x 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. More than 20x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Klyusy (Chernihiv oblast), Volfyne, Hrabovs'ke, Zapsillya (Sumy oblast), Vovchans'k, Vovchans'ki Khutory, Topoli (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: the Russian occupiers, with air support, made unsuccessful attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Ukrainian defenders repelled 6x Russian attacks in the vicinity of Syn'kivka and east of Petropavlivka (Kharkiv oblast). The invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: Ukrainian defense forces repelled 8x attacks in the vicinity of Makiivka (Luhansk oblast) and east of Terny (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched an air strike in the area of Zvanivka (Donetsk oblast). The Russian occupiers fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 5x attacks near Bohdanivka, Klishchiivka and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements, including Bohdanivka, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, Andriivka (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Avdiivka axis: Russian forces, with air support, made failed attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Ukrainian defenders repelled 15x attacks in the area of Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Avdiivka, and 10x attacks south of Tonen'ke, Nevel's'ke and Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched an air strike near Novobakhmutivka settlement (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Stepove, Lastochkyne, Avdiivka, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: Ukrainian defense forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinity of Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces, with air support, launched 4x 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 Urozhaine, Staromaiors'ke, Rivnopil' (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Zaporizhzhia axis: Ukrainian defense forces repelled 3x Russian attacks west of Verbove and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 20x settlements, including Poltavka, Malynivka, Hulyaipole, Charivne, Mala Tokmachka, Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast) came under artillery and mortar fire.
Kherson axis: Russian forces fired artillery at the settlements of Dar'ivka, Antonivka, Kizomys (Kherson oblast), the cities of Kherson and Ochakiv (Mykolaiv oblast). The Russian adversary launched air strike in the vicinities of Krynky and Ol'hivka (Kherson oblast).
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 17, Ukrainian Air Force launched 1x strike on a concentration of troops, weapons and military equipment, 2x strikes on air defense systems of the Russian invaders. Also, Ukrainian air defense forces shot down 7x Shahed-136/131 attack UAVs.
Ukrainian missile troops hit 4x concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment, 1x artillery system, and 1x ammunition depot 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, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems repelled nine attacks of AFU 115th mechanised, 95th air assault brigades near Sinkovka and Terny (Kharkov region).
The AFU losses amounted to more than 50 Ukrainian troops, one infantry fighting vehicle, and two armoured fighting vehicles.
In the course of the counter-battery warfare, two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems and two D-30 howitzers were destroyed.
In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces and artillery repelled one attack of the AFU 12th Special Forces Brigade close to Kuzmino (Lugansk People's Republic).
Ground-Attack aircraft and helicopters inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of AFU 67th, 109th mechanised brigades near Serebryansky forestry and Rozovka (Lugansk People's Republic).
Up to 90 Ukrainian troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, and three motor vehicles were destroyed.
In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by artillery and heavy flamethrower systems repelled four attacks launched by assault groups of AFU 24th mechanised, 5th assault, and 79th air assault brigades near Krasnoye, Kirovo, Maryinka (Donetsk People's Republic).
Aviation and artillery launched attacks at manpower and hardware of AFU 30th, 67th mechanised, 57th mechanised infantry, 3rd assault, 79th air assault, and 112th territorial defence brigades close to Vesyoloye, Artyomovskoye, Krasnoye, Kleshcheyevka, Kurdyumovka, and Andreyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).
The enemy has lost up to 250 Ukrainian personnel, one tank, three armoured fighting vehicles, and five motor vehicles.
In the course of the counter-battery warfare, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, one U.S.-made M119 gun, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system were eliminated.
In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, Operational-Tactical aircraft, helicopters, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems repelled two attacks of the AFU 79th Air Assault Brigade near Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
Manpower and hardware of AFU 58th mechanised infantry, 127th, 128th territorial defence brigades suffered losses close to Urozhaynoye, Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic), and Priyutnoye (Zaporozhye region).
Up to 100 Ukrainian troops, one tank, and three pickups were destroyed.
In the course of the counter-battery warfare, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, one D-20 howitzer, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar station.
In Zaporozhye direction, the Russian Group of Forces' units, aviation, and artillery inflicted losses on AFU 65th, 33rd mechanised, 128th mountain assault brigades near Rabotino and Pyatikhatki (Zaporozhye region).
The enemy lost up to 50 servicemen killed and wounded, one tank, and three motor vehicles.
In addition in the course of the counter-battery warfare, one French-made Caezar artillery system, one Msta-B howitzer, and one D-20 howitzer were destroyed.
In Kherson direction, as a result of the Group's units, artillery, and aviation strikes the enemy losses were up to 95 troops, one tank, and 12 motor vehicles.
In the course of the counter-battery warfare, one Msta-B howitzer, one D-20 gun, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one Nota electronic warfare station were eliminated.
Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged the AFU 47th Mechanised Brigade's command post. One HIMARS MLRS launcher was eliminated near Konstantinovka (Donetsk People's Republic), as well as fuel depots and aircraft close to Kanatovo airfield in Kirovograd region and Starokonstantinov airfield in Khmelnitsky region, and manpower and hardware of the AFU in 132 areas during the day.
Air defence systems shot down two MiG-29 and one Su-25 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Forces near Yelizavetovka (Nikolaev region), Druzhkovka and Dobropolye (Donetsk People's Republic).
Two HIMARS MLRS projectiles and one JDAM guided aerial bomb were intercepted.
In the past 24 hours, 91 unmanned aerial vehicles were eliminated close to Staromikhailovka, Berestovoye, Belogorovka, Spornoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Zmiyevka, Krovosheyevka, Novodruzhesk, Zolotoryovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Pershotravnevoye (Kharkov region), Novoye, Mirnoye (Zaporozhye region).
In total, 553 airplanes and 259 helicopters, 9,836 unmanned aerial vehicles, 442 air defence missile systems, 14,135 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,189 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,369 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 16,407 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.
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