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Russo-Ukraine War - 18 December 2023 - Day 663

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 members of Russian Shtorm-Z units are highly likely being returned to combat duties with unhealed wounds, and even after limb amputations. This follows credible reports that members of Shtorm-Z, Donetsk militias, and Wagner Group have frequently received minimal or no treatment.

It is likely that convict recruits - who make up a large proportion of Shtorm-Z units - are especially liable to receive poor treatment. One reason is that prisoners often lack the paperwork required to access military hospitals.

Whilst reducing pressure on an overburdened military medical system, the lack of proper in-theatre medical attention will transfer the administrative and medical burden back to troops' home units.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of December 18, there were 92x combat engagements. Russian forces launched 1x missile and 6x air strikes, 33x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have killed and wounded civilians. Private residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed or damaged.

The operational situation in the east and the south of 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 fired artillery and mortars at more than 35x settlements, including Volfyne, Yunakivka, Sadky, Myropil's'ke (Sumy oblast), Bolohivka, Stroivka, Kam'yanka, and Topoli (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 4x Russian attacks near Syn'kivka and east of Petropavlivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Kovalivka, Ivanivka, and Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: Russian forces made unsuccessful attempts to break through the defense of Ukrainian troops. The Ukrainian defense forces repelled 10x Russian attacks in the vicinities of Makiivka (Luhansk oblast) and east of Terny, Spirne (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, and Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian troops repelled 17x Russian attacks near Bohdanivka, Klishchiivka, and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Bohdanivka, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, and Kurdyumivka (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 9x Russian attacks in the vicinities of Avdiivka and 13x more attacks near Sjeverne, south of Tonen'ke, Pervomais'ke, and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Sukha Balka, Novobakhmutivka, Ocheretyne, Avdiivka, Berdychi, and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian forces near Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). With the air support, the Russian adversary launched 12x unsuccessful attacks. Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Mar'inka, Pobjeda, and Novomykhailivka were under artillery and mortar fire of the Russian occupiers.
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces did not conduct any offensive (assault) operations. Around 10x settlements, including Bohoyavlenka, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Blahodatne, and Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire.
Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 13x Russian attacks west of Novopokrovka and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 25x settlements, including Novodanylivka, Orikhiv, Novoandriivka, Mali Shcherbaky, P'yatykhatky, and Plavni (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Kherson axis: the Russian adversary artillery shelled Chornobaivka (Kherson oblast) and civilian targets of the city of Kherson.

The Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold positions on the left bank of the Dnipro River and fire for effect at Russian forces.

Also, the Ukrainian air defense forces and means destroyed 1x Kh-59 guided missile.

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 ten attacks of assault groups of AFU 21st, 115th mechanised, 95th air assault brigades near Sinkovka, Liman Perviy, and Terny (Kharkov region).

AFU losses were more than 60 Ukranian troops, one German-made Leopard-2 tank, three infantry fighting vehicles, two armoured personnel carriers, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

In Krasny Liman direction, the Tsentr Group of Forces' units supported by artillery repelled one attack of the AFU 12th Azov Special Forces Brigade south-eastern of Kuzmino (Lugansk People's Republic).

The enemy's losses amounted to up to 220 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, one tank, three armoured personnel carriers, five motor vehicles, as well as one Slovakian-made Zuzana 2 self-propelled artillery system.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by artillery and heavy flamethrower systems repelled nine attacks launched by assault groups of AFU 24th, 28th mechanised, 79th air assault, 81st airmobile brigades close to Kurdyumovka, Belogorovka, Leninskoye, Shumy, and Maryinka (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, aviation and artillery launched strikes at AFU manpower and hardware near Kleshcheyevka and Andreyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy has lost up to 190 Ukrainian personnel, five infantry fighting vehicles, including one Bradley, and two motor vehicles.

In the course of the counter-battery warfare, two Msta-B howitzers, one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, and three D-30 howitzers were eliminated.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces supported by Operational-Tactical aircraft, helicopters, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems repelled four attacks launched by assault groups of the AFU 79th Air Assault Brigade near Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy's losses amounted to 90 troops, three pickups, as well as one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

In Zaporozhye direction, two attacks launched by assault groups of the AFU 117th Mechanised Brigade near Novoprokopovka (Zaporozhye region) were repelled by the Russian Group of Forces, air strikes, and artillery fire.

Moreover, the Russian Armed Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower pf AFU 33rd, 65th mechanised, 128th mountain assault brigades near Rabotino, Zherebyanka, and Nesteryanka (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy's losses amounted to 30 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, as well as one D-30 howitzer.

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 killed and wounded and three motor vehicles.

In the course of the counter-battery warfare, one U.S.-made M109 Paladin, one Polish-made Krab, and one Msta-B howitzer were destroyed.

Operational-tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops and artillery of the Group of Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation destroyed one command and observation post of the AFU 1st Operational Brigade of National Guard near Serebryanka (Donetsk People's Republic), as well as manpower and military hardware in 113 areas.

Air defence systems shot down 25 unmanned aerial vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Topolevka, Verkhnekamenka (Lugansk People's Republic), Gorlovka, Berestovoye, Spornoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Alyoshki (Kherson region), as well as two U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles.

In total, 553 airplanes and 259 helicopters, 9,861 unmanned aerial vehicles, 442 air defence missile systems, 14,165 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,189 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,382 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 16,437 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.