• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Russo-Ukraine War - 24 December 2023 - Day 669

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 24, there were 48x combat engagements. Russian forces launched 29x air strikes, launched 26x 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. More than 20x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Klyusy, Bleshnya, Leonivka (Chernihiv oblast), Seredyna-Buda, Prohres, Volfyne, Basivka, Myropillya (Sumy oblast), Hur'iv Kozachok, Veterynarne, Hatyshche, Budarky, Topoli (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 15x attacks in the vicinities of Syn'kivka (Kharkiv oblast) and Stel'makhivka (Luhansk oblast). In that area, Russian forces made unsuccessful attempts to break through the defenses of Ukrainian troops. The Russian occupiers launched air strikes in the vicinities of Petropavlivka and Kyslivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives. The invaders launched air strikes near Yampolivka and Tors'ke (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, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 3x Russian attacks near Bohdanivka, Klishchiivka and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Vasyukivka, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, New York (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 10x Russian attacks east of Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Avdiivka, and 15x more attacks in the vicinities of Pervomais'ke and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces made failed attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Also, the Russian occupiers launched air strikes near Ocheretyne, Tonen'ke, Avdiivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at the settlements of Keramik, Ocheretyne, Stepove, Avdiivka, Karlivka, Netailove (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 3x unsuccessful attacks on the positions of Ukrainian defenders. The settlements of Oleksandropil', Krasnohorivka, Kurakhove, Mar'inka, Katerynivka, Yelyzavetivka were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives. The Russian occupiers launched an air strike in the vicinity of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Blahodatne, Urozhaine, Rivnopil' (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 3x Russian attacks near Robotyne and south of Hulyaipole (Zaporizhzhia oblast). In that area, Russian forces made failed attempts to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their positions. Around 20x settlements, including Levadne, Hulyaipole, Huliaipilske, Orikhiv, Novoandriivka, 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, the settlements of Tyahynka, Komyshany, Bilozerka (Kherson oblast) and Ochakiv (Mykolaiv oblast).

Russia did not abandon his intention to drive Ukrainian units from the left bank of the Dnipro, made 23x 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 24, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 12x concentrations of troops, weapons, and military equipment, 1x ammunition depot and 1x air defense system of the Russian adversary.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 2x artillery systems and 1x command post of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, as a result of competent actions by units of the Zapad Group of Forces, supported by artillery and helicopters, have repelled four attacks by assault groups of the AFU 95th Air Assault Brigade close to Sinkovka (Kharkov region).

The enemy losses were over 40 servicemen, one armoured fighting vehicle, and three motor vehicles.

In addition, one ammunition depot of the 113th Territorial Defence Brigade has been destroyed near Liptsy (Kharkov region).

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces, supported by artillery and Operational-Tactical Aviation, have repelled two attacks by the 63rd Mechanised Brigade and the 12th Special Operations Brigade of the AFU south of Kuzmino and near Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic).

In addition, AFU manpower and hardware have been hit near Serebryanka (Donetsk People's Republic) and Serebryansky forestry.

The enemy losses were up to 100 soldiers, one armoured fighting vehicle, two motor vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer.

In Donetsk direction, as a result of coordinated actions units of the Yug Group of Forces, in cooperation with artillery, have repelled eight attacks by assault groups of 81st Airmobile, 24th, and 30th mechanised brigades of the AFU and the 4th Brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard close to Belogorovka, Spornoye, Vasyukovka, Leninskoye, and Novgorodskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

AFU manpower and hardware have been hit near Pereyezdnoye, Razdolovka, Kleshcheevka, Vasyukovka, Shumy, Andreevka, and Bogdanovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 350 soldiers killed and wounded, three infantry fighting vehicles, one armoured personnel carrier, and five motor vehicles.

In addition, in the course of counter-battery warfare, one U.S.-manufactured M777 artillery system, one Msta-B howitzer, two Akatsiya self-propelled artillery systems, three D-30 howitzers, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system have been destroyed.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, in cooperation with aviation and artillery, have inflicted a fire attack on manpower concentration areas of the AFU 79th Air Assault Brigade near Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 110 servicemen, and two pickup trucks.

In addition, during counter-battery warfare, one U.S.-manufactured M109 Paladin, Akatsiya, and Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems have been hit.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces, supported by artillery and heavy flamethrower systems, have defeated manpower and hardware of 33rd, 117th, 118th mechanised, 128th mountain assault, and 71st jaeger brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Rabotino, Verbovoye, Zherebyanka, and Mirnoye (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy losses were up to 70 servicemen killed and wounded, one armoured fighting vehicle, three motor vehicles, as well as one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

In Kherson direction, as a result of the actions by units of Russian troops and artillery, the enemy losses were up to 80 servicemen and three motor vehicles.
In the course of counter-battery warfare, one U.S.-manufactured M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system, one Msta-B howitzer, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one D-30 howitzer have been destroyed.

Operational-Tactical aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised Norwegian-manufactured launchers of NASAMS air defence systems and French-manufactured Crotale-NG at Starokonstantinov airfield (Khmelnitsky region), as well as aviation equipment, flight navigation equipment, and aviation ammunition at Kanatovo airfields (Kirovograd region) and the Dnepr, manpower and military hardware of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 127 areas during the day.

Air defence systems have shot down four Ukrainian aircraft: three Su-27 and one Su-24 of the Ukrainian Air Force near Shirokoye, Odarovka (Zaporozhye region), and Grigorovka (Dnepropetrovsk region).
Three HARM anti-radar missiles, three HIMARS multiple-launch rocket projectiles, and one Neptune anti-ship missile have been intercepted.

In addition, 49 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been destroyed close to Staromikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Zolotaryovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Vasilyovka, Golaya Pristan (Kherson region), Berdyansk, Novogorovka, and Mirnoye (Zaporozhye region).

In total, 558 airplanes, 261 helicopters, 10,040 unmanned aerial vehicles, 442 air defence missile systems, 14,299 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,189 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,479 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 16,660 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation.