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Russo-Ukraine War - 21 December 2023 - Day 666

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 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of December 21, there were 86x combat engagements. Russian forces launched 41x air strikes, 28x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have wounded civilians. Private residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and 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. Around 20x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Karpovychi (Chernihiv oblast), Tur'ya, Krasnopillya (Sumy oblast), Vesele, Hatyshche, Dvorichans'ke (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 18x attacks in the vicinity of Syn'kivka (Kharkiv oblast) and Stel'makhivka (Luhansk oblast). In that area, Russian forces used air support in attempts to break through the defenses of Ukrainian troops. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian soldiers repelled 3x Russian attacks in the vicinity of Terny (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces, with air support, made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched air strikes near Nevs'ke (Luhansk oblast) and 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, Spirne (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 7x Russian attacks near Bohdanivka, Klishchiivka, and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). Also, Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Toretsk (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, Kurdyumivka (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 20x Russian attacks east of Novokalynove, Novobakhmutivka, Avdiivka, and 12x more attacks in the vicinity of Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast). The Russian occupiers, with air support, made failed attacks to breach Ukrainian defense in the area. The Russian occupiers fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Oleksandropil', Sukha Balka, Novobakhmutivka, Avdiivka, Vodyane, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinities of Mar'inka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). In that area, the Russian adversary, with air support, launched 11x unsuccessful attacks on the positions of Ukrainian defenders. The settlements of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Mar'inka, Novomykhailivka, Pobjeda were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces did not conduct any offensive (assault) operations. The adversary fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Blahodatne, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 5x Russian attacks west of Verbove (Zaporizhzhia oblast). In that area, the Russian adversary made attempts to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their positions. Around 25x settlements, including Robotyne, Novodanylivka, Orikhiv, Novoandriivka, Mali Shcherbaky, P'yatykhatky (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: Russian forces fired artillery at the city of Kherson and the settlement of Antonivka (Kherson oblast). Also, Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Krynky (Kherson oblast).

Russia did not abandon its intention to drive our units from the left bank of the Dnipro, made 11x failed assaults. The attacks were repelled and Russian forces retreated having suffered major losses. The Ukrainian troops are holding the line, continuing to retain their positions and firing for effect on the Russian enemy.

During the day of December 21, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 14x concentrations of troops, weapons, and military equipment, and 2x strikes on Russian air defense systems.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x concentration of troops, weapons, and military equipment, 1x artillery system, and 2x ammunition depots of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces jointly with helicopters, artillery, and heavy flamethrowers repelled nine attacks launched by assault groups of the 95th Air Assault, 14th and 43rd Mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Sinkovka (Kharkov region) and Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The Zapad Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on clusters of AFU manpower and hardware close to Petropavlovka (Kharkov region) and Terny (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy's losses amounted to up to 55 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, as well as two D-30 howitzers.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces repelled one attack launched by the AFU 12th Special Forces Brigade near Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic).

In addition, air strikes and artillery fire struck the personnel and hardware of the 63rd and 67th mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Torskoye (Donestk People's Republic) and Serebryansky forestry.

The enemy lost up to 190 Ukrainian troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, and one D-20 howitzer.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled 17 attacks, and inflicted fire damage on AFU manpower and hardware close to Bogdanovka, Belaya Gora, Artyomovo, and Georgiyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses in this direction amounted to up to 210 Ukrainian troops, and three pick-up trucks.

In counter-battery warfare, one UK-made AS-90 self-propelled artillery system, three Akatsia self-propelled artillery systems, two Gvozdika self-popelled artillery systems, one D-20 howitzer, as well as one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-37 counterbattery warfare radar were neutralised.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, helicopters, and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 72nd Mechanised, 79th Air Assault brigades near Katerinovka and Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy's losses amounted to up to 65 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two motor vehicles, one Giatsint-S self-propelled gun, as well as one D-20 howitzer.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces repelled one attack launched an assault group of the AFU 65th Mechanised Brigade close to Rabotino (Zaporozhye region).

In addition, air strikes and artillery fire hit AFU personnel and hardware close to Novodanilovka and Malaya Tokmachka (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy lost up to 75 Ukrainian troops and four motor vehicles.

In Kherson direction, as a result of the Russian Group of Forces actions, artillery fire, and air strikes, the AFU losses amounted to over 70 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, one Msta-B howitzer, and one Giatsint-B gun.

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 129 areas during the day.

Air defence units shot down 29 unmanned aerial vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Svatovo, Belogorovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Mayorsk, Gorlovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Peremozhnoye (Zaporozhye region), Tavriysk, Novaya Kakhovka (Kherson region), as well as four HIMARS MLRS projectiles.

In total, 553 airplanes and 260 helicopters, 9,928 unmanned aerial vehicles, 442 air defence missile systems, 14,226 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,189 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,430 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 16,547 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.