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Russo-Ukraine War - 25 December 2023 - Day 670

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 25, there were 76x combat engagements. Russian forces launched 1x missile and 19x air strikes, carried out 30x 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.

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 Volfyne, Ryasne, Sadky (Sumy oblast), Ivashky, Udy, Vovchans'k, Budarky, Ambarne (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 6x attacks in the vicinity of Syn'kivka (Kharkiv oblast). In that area, Russian forces made unsuccessful 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 Defense Forces repelled 24x attacks in the area of Serebryans'ke forestry, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast) and Vesele (Donetsk oblast). In the area, the Russian occupiers, with air support, made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched air strikes near the settlements of Terny, Dibrova, Sivers'k, Vyimka, Spirne, Vesele (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 4x Russian attacks near Bohdanivka (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Vasyukivka, Kalynivka, Ivanivske, Stupochky, Andriivka, New York (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 20x Russian attacks east of Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Avdiivka, and 12x 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 an air strike near Novobakhmutivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Ocheretyne, Berdychi, Stepove, Avdiivka, Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinity of Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). In that area, Russian forces, with air support, launched 3x unsuccessful attacks on the positions of Ukrainian defenders. The settlements of Heorhiivka, Mar'inka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka, Kostyantynivka were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Shakhtars'ke axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 3x attacks in the vicinity of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Urozhaine, Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 2x 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 Levadne, Malynivka, Hulyaipole, Mala Tokmachka, Orikhiv, 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, Antonivka (Kherson oblast) and Solonchaky, Kutsurub (Mykolaiv oblast).

Russia does not abandon his intention to drive Ukrainian units out of their footholds on the left bank of the Dnipro. Thus, during the day, Russian forces made 12x unsuccessful assaults and suffered significant 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 25, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 4x concentrations of Russian troops, weapons, and military equipment.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 4x concentrations of troops, weapons, and military equipment, 2x ammunition depots and 3x air defense systems 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 artillery and helicopters repelled three attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 60th Mechanised Brigade, 25th Airborne Brigade, and 95th Air Assault Brigade near Sinkovka (Kharkov region) and Novoselovskoye (Lugansk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 30 Ukrainian troops and two motor vehicles.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces supported by artillery and operational-tactical aircraft repelled one attack of the AFU 5th National Guard Brigade north of Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware of the AFU 21st Mechanised Brigade and 23rd Rifle Battalion near Yampolovka and Torskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 180 Ukrainian troops, one tank, one Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, and two motor vehicles. Moreover, in the course of counterbattery warfare, one Akatsiya and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems, as well as two D-30 howitzers were eliminated.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by artillery repelled one attack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 24st Mechanised Brigade near Shumy (Donetsk People's Republic) and inflicted losses on AFU manpower and hardware near Kleschcheyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Over the past 24 hours, the AFU losses amounted to up to 200 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, two infantry fighting vehicles, and six motor vehicles. In the course of counterbattery warfare, one Msta-B and one D-20 howitzers, two D-30 howitzers, as well as one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system were neutralised.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces supported by artillery and aviation inflicted losses on manpower clusters of the AFU 79th Air Assault Brigade near Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses in this direction amounted to up to 55 Ukrainian troops, three pickup trucks, and one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by artillery and heavy flamethrower systems inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 33rd Mechanised Brigade, 128th Mountain Assault Brigade, and 102nd Territorial Defence Brigade close to Rabotino, Kamenskoye, and Gulai Pole (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses in this direction amounted to up to 90 Ukrainian troops, four motor vehicles, one D-20 howitzer, and two D-30 howitzers.

In Kherson direction, as a result of actions of the Russian Group of Forces' units supported by artillery, the AFU losses amounted to up to 60 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, and one Msta-B howitzer.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Groups of Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation wiped out one 35D6 low-altitude target detection and tracking radar station, two German-made IRIS-T air defence systems, one POL depot, as well as engaged manpower and military hardware in 113 areas.

Air defence units intercepted five HIMARS MLRS projectiles over the past 24 hours. In addition, 40 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down close to Veliky Vyselok (Kharkov region), Kremennaya, Ploshchanka, Verkhnekamenka (Lugansk People's Republic), Maryinka (Donetsk People's Republic), Ocheretovatoye (Zaporozhye region), Novaya Kakhovka and Brilyovka (Kherson region).

In total, 558 airplanes and 261 helicopters, 10,080 unmanned aerial vehicles, 442 air defence missile systems, 14,309 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,189 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,493 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 16,690 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.