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Russo-Ukraine War - 27 December 2023 - Day 672

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 27, there were 49x combat engagements. Russian forces launched 67x air strikes, carried out 12x 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, hospitals 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 Volodymyrivka, Novovasylivka, Popivka (Sumy oblast), Losivka, Bochkove, Krasne Pershe (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 8x attacks in the vicinity of Syn'kivka and east of Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast). The Russian occupiers launched an air strike near Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast). 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 3x attacks in the area of Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast). In the area, the Russian occupiers, with air support, made unsuccessful attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched an air strike near the settlements of Spirne (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Spirne, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 2x Russian attacks near Bohdanivka (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Kalynivka, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, Stupochky (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 12x Russian attacks east of Novobakhmutivka, Avdiivka, and 15x more attacks in the vicinities of Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Keramik, Stepove, Avdiivka, Tonen'ke, Pervomais'ke, 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), where Russian forces, with air support, conducted 3x failed attacks on Ukrainian positions. The settlements of Krasnohorivka, Mar'inka, Kurakhove, Pobjeda, Yelyzavetivka were under artillery and mortar fire of the Russian occupiers.
Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives. The invaders launched an air strike near the settlement of Zolota Nyva (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 2x Russian attacks west of Verbove and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). In that area, Russian forces made failed attempts to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their positions. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinity of Orikhiv and Preobrazhenka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 25x settlements, including Poltavka, Luhivs'ke, Novodanylivka, Novoandriivka, Shcherbaky, Kam'yans'ke, Plavni (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: the Russian adversary fired artillery at the city of Kherson, the settlements of Beryslav, Stanislav (Kherson oblast). Also, Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Chervonyi Mayak, Zmiivka, and Novoberyslav (Kherson oblast).

Russian forces 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 10x 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 27, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 10x concentrations of Russian troops, weapons, and military equipment.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 5x concentrations of troops, weapons, and military equipment, 2x command posts, and 4x 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 supported by army aviation and artillery repelled six attacks of assault groups of AFU 60th, 115th mechanised, 95th air assault brigades near Sinkovka (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 45 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one D-30 howitzer.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces supported by artillery and heavy flamethrowers repelled two attacks launched by the AFU 63rd mechanised and 12th Special Forces brigades near Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic).

In addition, strikes were delivered at clusters of enemy manpower and hardware near Serebryansky forestry.

Up to 190 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, and one D-30 gun were eliminated.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by artillery repelled two attacks launched by assault groups of the AFU 24th Mechanised Brigade near Novogorodskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, strikes were delivered at enemy manpower and hardware near Veseloye, Krasnoye, Kleshcheyevka, Vasyukovka, Bogdanovka, and Andreyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses in this direction amounted to up to 280 Ukrainian troops, two armoured personnel carriers, and three motor vehicles.

In the course of the counter-battery warfare, two Msta-B howitzers, two Akatsiya self-propelled artillery systems, two D-30 howitzers , and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system were eliminated.

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

The enemy lost up to 90 Ukrainian troops and three pick-up trucks.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by artillery and aviation inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 33rd, 65th mechanised and 82nd air assault brigades close to Rabotino and Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).

During the day, up to 45 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, one motor vehicle, one Msta-B howitzer, and one D-30 gun were neutralised.

In Kherson direction, as a result of the Russian Group of Forces actions, artillery, and aviation, the AFU losses amounted to up to 20 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, one D-20 gun, and four Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Group of Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation engaged command and observation posts of the AFU 67th Mechanised Brigade and 1st Operational Brigade of National Guard, a fuel depot, as well as manpower and military hardware in 127 areas.

One Mi-8 helicopter of the Ukrainian Air Force was also shot down by air defence systems near Vodyanoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

Air defence systems also intercepted seven HIMARS MLRS projectiles, one HARM anti-radiation missile, and one JDAM aerial guided bomb.

In addition, 17 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down near Gorlovka, Kirillovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Belogorovka, Novodruzhesk (Lugansk People's Republic), Radensk, Peschanovka (Kherson region), and Balochki (Zaporozhye region).

In total, 560 airplanes and 262 helicopters, 10,121 unmanned aerial vehicles, 442 air defence missile systems, 14,341 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,189 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,527 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 16,765 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.