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Russo-Ukraine War - 31 December 2023 - Day 676

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 31, there were 42x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 12x missile and 58x air strikes, including Shahed-136/131 attack UAVs, carried out 48x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have resulted in civilian casualties and injuries. Private residential and apartment buildings, and other civilian and industrial infrastructure were destroyed and damaged.

The operational situation in eastern and southern 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 30x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Khrinivka (Chernihiv oblast), Ulytsya, Svarkove, Stukalivka, Basivka, Vysoke, Popivka (Sumy oblast), Veterynarne, Kozacha Lopan', Ohirtseve, Vovchans'k, Budarky, Bolohivka (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 11x attacks in the vicinity of Syn'kivka (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: Russian forces conducted assault operations near Makiivka (Luhansk oblast). The Russian occupiers launched air strikes in the area of Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast) and near Hryhorivka, Riznykivka, Zvanivka, Spirne (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Spirne, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 7x attacks in the vicinities of Bohdanivka and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 3x Russian attacks near Avdiivka, and 9x more attacks in the vicinity of Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast). In that area, Russian forces conducted unsuccessful attempts to improve his tactical situation. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Berdychi, Stepove, Avdiivka, Sjeverne, Netailove, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back the Russian enemy in the vicinity of Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces, with air support, conducted 4x failed attacks on Ukrainian positions. The settlements of Maksymil'yanivka, Heorhiivka, Mar'inka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka, Kostyantynivka were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Shakhtars'ke axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled an attack near Urozhaine (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Vuhledar, Urozhaine, Makarivka, Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia axis: Russian forces made unsuccessful attempts to regain lost ground in the vicinity of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 4x assaults in the area. More than 25x settlements, including Levadne Hulyaipole, Charivne, Mala Tokmachka, Mali Shcherbaky, P'yatykhatky (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: Russian forces fired artillery at the settlements of Ivanivka, Sadove, Antonivka and Kherson (Kherson oblast). Also, Russian forces launched air strikes near Kachkarivka and Chervonyi Mayak (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 9x unsuccessful assaults. The Ukrainian troops are holding the line and keep inflicting significant losses on the Russian enemy.

During the day of December 31, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 11x concentrations of Russian troops.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 3x concentrations of troops, weapons, and military equipment, 1x ammunition depot 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 repelled six attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 14th, 30th, 57th mechanised brigades, 25th Airborne Brigade, and 10th Mountain Assault Brigade near Sinkovka (Kharkov region) and Novoselovskoye (Lugansk People's Republic).

Moreover, the Russian Armed Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 25th Airborne Brigade and 101st Territorial Defence Brigade near Berestovoye and Peschannoye (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 50 Ukrainian troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, and two motor vehicles.

In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces repelled one attack launched by an assault squad of the 5th Ukrainian National Guard Brigade north of Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic), as well as inflicted losses on AFU manpower and hardware near Serebryansky forestry.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 100 Ukrainian troops and three armoured fighting vehicles.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled two attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 24th Mechanised Brigade and 79th Air Assault Brigade close to Shumy and Maryinka (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, strikes were delivered at AFU manpower and hardware near Razdolovka, Pereyezdnoye, Andreyevka, Kurdyumovka, Kleschcheyevka, and Bogdanovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses in this direction amounted to up to 350 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, two armoured personnel carriers, and six pickup trucks.

In the course of counterbattery warfare, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system and one U.S.-made M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system were eliminated.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces supported by helicopters and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade, 79th Air Assault Brigade, and 128th Territorial Defence Brigade near Ugledar, Novomikhailovka, and Vodyanoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses in this direction amounted to up to 115 Ukrainian troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, and one electronic warfare station.

In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 33rd, 65th, and 117th mechanised brigades close to Rabotino (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 20 Ukrainian troops and three pickup trucks.

In Kherson direction, as a result of actions of the Russian Group of Forces supported by artillery and aviation, the AFU losses amounted to up to 25 Ukrainian troops and six motor vehicles.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces eliminated one Olkha MLRS near Liptsy (Kharkov region).

In addition, POL and missile artillery armament depots at Starokonstantinov airfield (Khmelnitsky region) and Chernobayevka (Kherson region) were wiped out, as well as manpower and hardware were engaged in 118 areas during the day.

Air defence units intercepted 15 HIMARS and Olkha projectiles, as well as three HARM anti-radiation missile during the day.

In addition, 35 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been shot down near Spornoye, Maryinka, Verkhetoretskoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Novaya Kakhovka, Babino, Kairy, Vasileyvka, Malaya Lepetikha (Kherson region).

In total, 564 airplanes and 263 helicopters, 10,241 unmanned aerial vehicles, 445 air defence missile systems, 14,403 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,191 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,566 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 16,868 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.