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Russo-Ukraine War - 26 December 2023 - Day 671

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 26, there were 59x combat engagements. Russian forces launched 5x missile and 21x air strikes, carried out 38x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have resulted in civilian casualties and injuries. 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 an air strike in the vicinity of Varvarivka settlement (Kharkiv oblast). More than 20x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Arkhypivka, Bleshnya, Hirs'k (Chernihiv oblast), Volfyne, Ryasne, Volodymyrivka (Sumy oblast), Udy, Vovchans'k, Ambarne (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled x attacks in the vicinity of Syn'kivka and northeast of Petropavlivka (Kharkiv oblast). The Russian occupiers launched an air strike near Sobolivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 11x attacks in the area of Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast) and Vesele (Donetsk oblast). In the area, the Russian occupiers, with air support, made unsuccessful attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched air strikes near the settlements of Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast) and Dibrova (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Serebryanka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 3 Russian attacks near Klishchiivka and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, New York (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 10x Russian attacks east of Novobakhmutivka, Avdiivka, and 13x more attacks in the vicinities of Pervomais'ke and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Novokalynove, Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Avdiivka, Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinities of Novomykhailivka and Pobjeda (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces, with air support, conducted 5x failed attacks on Ukrainian positions. The Russian occupiers launched an air strike near Oleksandropil' (Donetsk oblast). The settlements of Heorhiivka, Mar'inka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka 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, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 4x Russian attacks west of Verbove and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). In that area, the Russian adversary made failed attempts to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their positions. Around 20x settlements, including Poltavka, Malynivka, Charivne, Mala Tokmachka, Robotyne, 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, Mykil's'ke, Sadove, Stanislav (Kherson oblast). Also, the Russian invaders launched an air strike in the vicinity of Krynky settlement (Kherson oblast).
The Russian occupiers do not abandon their intention to drive Ukrainian units out of their footholds on the left bank of the Dnipro. Thus, during the day, Russian forces made 14x unsuccessful assaults. The attacks were repelled and Russian forces suffered significant losses. The Ukrainian troops are holding the line, continue to retain their positions and fire for effect on the Russian enemy.

During the day of December 26, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 17x concentrations of Russian troops, weapons, and military equipment, 5x air defense systems.

Air defense destroyed 2x Kh-59 guided missiles and 1x reconnaissance UAV. Moreover, tactical aviation of the Ukrainian Air Force launched a successful strike on Novocherkassk, a Ropucha-class landing ship of the Russian Black Sea fleet.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x concentration of troops, weapons, and military equipment, 1x command post, 1x artillery system and 3x other important targets 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 repelled three attacks of an assault detachment of the AFU 60th and 115th mechanised brigades close to Sinkovka (Kharkov region).

The enemy losses amounted to up to 25 Ukrainian troops, one tank, three motor vehicles, and one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces repelled one attack launched by the AFU 63rd Mechanised Brigade near Chervonaya Dibrova (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, air strikes and artillery fire struck the personnel and hardware of the 5th National Guard Briagde, 100th, and 125th territorial defence brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Torskoye (Donestk People's Republic) and Serebryansky forestry.

The enemy's losses amounted to up to 195 Ukrainian troops, one tank, three pickup trucks, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces liberated Maryinka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Over the past day, Russian troops, in cooperation with aviation and artillery, repelled five attacks and defeated the manpower and hardware of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Seversk, Krasnoye, Dyleyevka, and Georgiyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The total enemy losses in this direction amounted to 205 servicemen and five pick-up trucks.

During the counter-battery warfare, the following artillery pieces were hit per day: one M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system manufactured in the United States, two Akatsiya self-propelled artillery systems, one Msta-B howitzer, one D-20 gun, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, as well as two D-30 howitzers.

In South-Donetsk direction, units of the Group of Forces, in cooperation with helicopters and artillery, inflicted fire damage to manpower and hardware of the 72nd Mechanised, 79th Air Assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Vodyanoye and Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy's losses amounted to 150 troops, one tank, two infantry fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces repelled one attack by the AFU 117th Mechanised Brigade's assault group close to Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).

In addition, air strikes and artillery fire hit AFU personnel and hardware close to Belogorye and Rabotino (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy's losses amounted to 65 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, as well as one D-20 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 35 Ukrainian troops and three motor vehicles.

In the course of counter-battery warfare, the Russian troops hit one U.S.-made M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

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 107 areas during the day.

Russian air defence means have shot down two Su-24 airplanes of Ukrainian Air Force near Zhovten (Nikolayev region) and Nikolayevka (Dnepropetrovsk region). Air defence units intercepted five HIMARS MLRS projectiles over the past 24 hours.

Moreover, 24 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been downed close to Tokarevka (Kharkov region), Kremennaya, Svatovo, Lisichansk (Lugansk People's Republic), Gorlovka, Aleksandrovka, Staromikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic), and Obryvka (Kherson region).

In total, 560 airplanes and 261 helicopters, 10,104 unmanned aerial vehicles, 442 air defence missile systems, 14,334 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,189 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,509 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 16,738 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.