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Russo-Ukraine War - 23 December 2023 - Day 668

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 in recent weeks, both Ukrainian and Russian troops have highly likely suffered from exceptional levels of rat and mice infestation in some sectors of the front line.

This year's mild autumn, along with ample food from fields left fallow due to the fighting, have likely contributed to the increase in the rodent population. As the weather has become colder, the animals are likely seeking shelter in vehicles and defensive positions. Rodents will add further pressure to front line combatants' morale.

In addition, they pose a risk to military equipment by gnawing through cables – as recorded in the same area during the Second World War. Unverified reports also suggest Russian units starting to suffer from increased sickness cases which the troops attribute to the pest problem.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of December 23, there were 57x combat engagements. Russian forces launched 11x missile and 14x air strikes, launched 21x 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. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Leonivka and Chervonyi Khutir (Chernihiv oblast). More than 20x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Bleshnya, Leonivka (Chernihiv oblast), Oleksiivka, Stanychne, Sadky (Sumy oblast), Kozacha Lopan', Bilohivka, Velykyi Burluk, Izbyts'ke, Stroivka (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 12x attacks in the vicinity of Syn'kivka (Kharkiv oblast). In that area, Russian forces made attempts to break through the defenses of Ukrainian troops. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives. The invaders launched an air strike in the area of Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk 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, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 8x Russian attacks near Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Vasyukivka, Bohdanivka, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, New York (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 19x Russian attacks east of Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Avdiivka, and 12x more attacks in the vicinities of Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). The Russian occupiers fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Novobakhmutivka, Berdychi, Avdiivka, Lastochkyne (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, Russian forces, with air support, launched 2x unsuccessful attacks on the positions of Ukrainian defenders. The settlements of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Pobjeda, Kostyantynivka, were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives. The adversary fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Vuhledar, Bohoyavlenka, Prechystivka, Rivnopil' (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled all Russian attacks near Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). In that area, Russian forces made failed attempts to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their positions. Around 20x settlements, including Poltavka, Hulyaipole, Charivne, Mala Tokmachka, Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: Russian forces fired artillery at the cities of Kherson and Ochakiv (Mykolaiv oblast).

Russian forces did not abandon his intention to drive our units from the left bank of the Dnipro, made 15x 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 23, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 18x concentrations of troops, weapons, and military equipment, and 6x air defense systems of the adversary. Also, Ukrainian air defense forces destroyed 1x Kh-59 guided missile and 2x reconnaissance UAVs.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 5x concentrations of troops, weapons, and military equipment, 3x ammunition depots, 2x artillery systems and 1x command post of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces supported by helicopters and artillery inflicted losses on AFU manpower and hardware near Sinkovka, Petropavlovka, Kupyansk, and Terni (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to up 15 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces repelled two attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 63rd Mechanised Brigade and 12th Special Operations Brigade close to Torskoye (Donetsk People's Republic) and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic).

In addition, aviation and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 67th Mechanised Brigade near Serebryansky forestry.

The AFU losses amounted to up 150 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two armoured personnel carriers, and one D-30 howitzer.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled 11 attacks and inflicted losses on AFU manpower and hardware close to Krasnoye, Dyleyevka, Kirovo, and Georgiyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses in this direction amounted to up to 200 Ukrainian troops, four tanks, including one German-made Leopard 2 tank, one U.S.-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, and three motor vehicles.

Moreover, in the course of counterbattery warfare, one Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery system, two Msta-B howitzers, one Akatsiya and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems, and two D-30 howitzers were neutralised.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces supported by helicopters and artillery repelled three attacks of the AFU 79th Air Assault Brigade near Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and inflicted losses on AFU manpower and hardware near Paraskoveyevka and Makarovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 65 Ukrainian troops, three pickup trucks, one Akatsiya and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems, and two D-30 howitzers.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 82nd Air Assault Brigade, 33rd and 117th mechanised brigades close to Malaya Tokmachka, Verbovoye, and Rabotino (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 90 Ukrainian troops and five motor vehicles.

In Kherson direction, as a result of cohesive actions of units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery, the AFU losses amounted to up to 100 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, one Msta-B howitzer, and one D-30 howitzer.

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 110 areas during the day.

Air defence units intercepted six HIMARS and Uragan MLRS projectiles over the past 24 hours.

Moreover, 36 unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down near Kotlyarovka (Kharkov region), Verkhnekamenka, Svatovo (Lugansk People's Republic), Gorlovka, Mariynka, Pobeda (Donetsk People's Republic), Novaya Mayachka and Gornostayevka (Zaporozhye region).

In total, 554 airplanes and 261 helicopters, 9,991 unmanned aerial vehicles, 442 air defence missile systems, 14,279 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,189 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,462 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 16,618 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.