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Russo-Ukraine War - 21 December 2024 - Day 1032

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 UK Ministry of Defence reported that Russia's counter-offensive against the Ukrainian-occupied salient in Kursk oblast continues with tactical gains in territorial control observed in the last week.

In the north-western corner of the salient, Russian forces have advanced up to 4km south-east along a front of approximately 4km, contesting the village of Kruglen'koe. In the south-eastern corner of the salient, Russian forces have advanced west approximately 2km from the town of Plekhovo and remain near the outskirts of Makhnovka, approximately 3km to the north.

Ukrainian forces control approximately 480 sq km of Russian territory, down from approximately 510 sq km a week ago, and a high point of 800-900 sq km in August 2024. The recent loss of territory is likely due to Russian counterattacks being led by Naval Infantry, Airborne (VDV) forces and troops from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Ukraine's incursion into Kursk, in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, is the first time since the Second World War that foreign troops have occupied Russian territory. Russia will almost certainly continue carrying out limited attacks to reduce the amount of territory in Kursk oblast under Ukrainian control.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that in total, since the beginning of this day, there have been 169 combat clashes. Ukrainian defenders continue to decisively give a detachment to the Russian occupiers, giving them a fiery impression.

Russian zagarbniki launched on the territory of Ukraine one rocket (one rocket) and 35 aviation strikes, dropping 60 controlled aviation bombs. In addition, 629 kamikaze drones were recruited and carried out more than four thousand shells on the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements.

In the Kharkiv direction, the Russian enemy six times without success stormed the positions of Ukrainian units in the area of Cossackoí̈ Lopana, High Yaruga and Vovchansk.
According to preliminary estimates, today Russian forces lost 85 soldiers killed and wounded, also Ukrainian soldiers destroyed two artillery systems, a vehicle, five BPLAs and three special occupiers units; significantly damaged the vehicle and special equipment unit.
In the Kupians Петkomu direction, Russian forces carried out offensive actions near Petropavlivka and Kruglyakivka. Ukrainian defenders stopped two Russian attacks. Two more clashes continue.
In the Lyman direction Russian invaders 19 times attacked the positions of Defense Forces near Green Grove, Grekivka, Terniv and Ivanivka. One battle is going on so far.
In the Sívers дваkomu direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled two assaults of the Russian occupation troops in the direction of Verkhnyokamiansky and Bílogorivka.
In the Kramators позиkomu direction, Russian forces twice stormed Ukrainian positions near Stupočok. Got the cut off.
In the Toretsky direction, the battle is currently underway, in total, for today, Ukrainian units repelled four attacks in the area of Toretsky and Friendship.
On the pokrovsky direction, from the beginning of this day, the Russian opponent 24 times attacked in the areas of mirolûbívka, ray, fox, green, new labor, dachensky and novovasilívka. Ukrainian defenders repelled 20 attacks. Four attacks are underway.
Today in this direction, according to preliminary data, Ukrainian soldiers damaged 404 invaders, of them 193 - irrevocably. A tank, nine cars, two automatic grenades and a satellite communication system were also destroyed, and the artillery system was also damaged.
In the kurakhivs проkomu direction, Russian forces made 13 attempts to break through Ukrainian defense near the old terns, kurakhovogo and dachnogo. Eight boêzítknen нен completed, five more to go.
In the Vremívs лиkomu direction, Russian forces 41 times attacked Ukrainian units near Uspenívka, Amber, Novosilka, Blagodatnogo and in the direction of Spillway and Odradnogo. Fighting is still sharpening, Ukrainian defenders repelled 29 Russian assault actions.
In the Orihivsky direction, the troops of Zagarbnikívka seven times stormed the positions of the Defense Forces near Novoandriivka and Pyatyhatok, one confrontation is ongoing.
In the Pridniprovsk direction, Ukrainian troops repelled two attacks, the Russian opponent was not successful.
In the Kursk region, Ukrainian defenders repelled 39 Russian attacks today, fierce fighting is currently underway.
In the rest of the destinations - there are no special changes.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kharkov direction, units of the Sever Group pf Forces defeated formations of one mechanised brigade of the AFU and one territorial defence brigade close to Kazachya Lopan and Volchansk (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses were up to 40 troops, one infantry fighting vehicle, two motor vehicles, three 122-mm D-30 howitzers, and one ammunition depot.

Units of the Zapad Group of Forces improved the tactical situation and defeated manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigades, one airborne brigade, and assault brigade of the AFU near Zapadnoye, Zagryzovo, Lozovaya, Dvurechnaya (Kharkov region), Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic), and Torskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

Two counter-attacks launched by the enemy's assault detachments were repelled. The AFU losses were up to 440 servicemen, three tanks, including one German-made Leopard tank, two pickup trucks, five 122-mm D-30 howitzers as well as one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, two U.S.-made 105-mm M101 howitzers, and two U.S.-made 105-mm M119 howitzers. One ammunition depot and two electronic warfare stations were destroyed.

As a result of decisive actions, units of the Yug Group of Forces liberated Ostrovskogo (Donetsk People's Republic).

Russian troops hit formations of two mechanised brigades, one motorised infantry brigade, one assault brigade, one mountain assault brigade of the AFU, and two territorial defence brigades close to Zaliznyanskoye, Orekhovo-Vasilyevka, Chasov Yar, Kurakhovo, Seversk (Donetsk People's Republic), and Belogorovka (Lugansk People's Republic).

The AFU losses were up to 285 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, one U.S.-made 105-mm M119 howitzer, and five field ammunition depots.

Units of the Tsentr Group of Forces continued advancing into the depth of the enemy's defences and defeated manpower and hardware of four mechanised brigades, two jaeger brigades of the AFU, one marine brigade, one territorial defence brigade, one national guard brigade, and one assault brigade of the National Police of Ukraine close to Dzerzhinsk, Peschanoye, Krasnoye, Novotroitskoye, Novoolenovka, Nadezhdinka, Krasnoarmeysk, Shcherbinovka, and Shevchenko (Donetsk People's Republic).

Twelve counter-attacks of the enemy were repelled. The enemy losses were up to 580 troops, one German-made Leopard tank, one infantry fighting vehicle, U.S.-made M113 and M1117 armoured personnel carriers, four motor vehicles, one Polish-made 155-mm Krab self-propelled artillery system, two 152-mm Msta-B howitzers, two 152-mm D-20 guns, two 122-mm D-30 howitzers, and three armoured fighting vehicles, including one U.S.-made MaxxPro.

Units of the Vostok Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front line and defeated formations of two mechanised brigades of the AFU and one territorial defence brigade close to Razliv, Velikaya Novosyolka, Konstantinopol, and Storozhevoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses were more than 160 troops, six motor vehicles, two U.S.-made 155-mm M198 howitzers, and one 152-mm Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system.

Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces defeated manpower and hardware of one air assault brigade, one mountain assault brigade of the AFU, and two territorial defende brigades close to Antonovka, Kamyshany (Kherson region), and Stepnogorsk (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses were up to 70 troops, two motor vehicles, one 152-mm Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, three 152-mm D-20 guns, and one electronic warfare station.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces struck power facilities that support Ukrainian defence industry enterprises infrastructure of military airfields, one attack UAV depot, as well as engaged clusters of AFU manpower and military hardware in 147 areas.

Air defence units shot down eight HIMARS MLRS projectiles and 89 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 650 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 38,241 unmanned aerial vehicles, 590 anti-aircraft missile systems, 19,947 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,504 MLRS combat vehicles, 19,902 field artillery guns and mortars, and 29,402 units of support military vehicles have been neutralised.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation also reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue to defeat AFU formations in Kursk region.

In the course of offensive operations, units of the Sever Group of Forces defeated formations of one heavy mechanised brigade, five mechanised brigades, three air assault brigades, one marine brigade, and four AFU territorial defence brigades close to Aleksandriya, Viktorovka, Kurilovka, Lebedevka, Leonidovo, Martynovka, Nikolayevka, Nikolayevo-Daryino, Russkoye Porechnoye, Sverdlikovo, and Cherkasskaya Konopelka. Two counter-attacks launched by the enemy's assault detachments were repelled.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the enemy near Aleksandriya, Viktorovka, Guyevo, Kositsa, Kurilovka, Lebedevka, Leonidovo, Malaya Loknya, Martynovka, Nikolayevo-Daryino, Novaya Sorochina, Rubanshchina, Russkoye Porechnoye, Sverdlikovo, Cherkasskoye Porechnoye, Yuzhny as well as Basovka, Belovody, Vodolagi, Zhuravka, and Loknya in Sumy region.

Over the past 24 hours, the AFU losses were more than 300 troops, one tank, two U.S.-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, two armoured personnel carriers, four armoured fighting vehicles, eight motor vehicles, and two electronic warfare stations.

Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk region, the AFU losses amounted to more than 42,750 troops, 249 tanks, 189 infantry fighting vehicles, 130 armoured personnel carriers, 1,305 armoured fighting vehicles, 1,166 motor vehicles, 323 artillery guns, 42 MLRS launchers, including 11 of HIMARS and six of MLRS made by the USA, 13 anti-aircraft missile launchers, seven transport-loading vehicles, 78 EW stations, 13 counter-battery warfare radars, four air defence radars, 27 units of engineering and other materiel, including 13 counterobstacle vehicles, one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle, six armoured recovery vehicles, and one command post vehicle.

The operation to neutralise the AFU units is in progress.edited 13:59