Russia-Ukraine war: Frontline update as of December 18
Illustrative photo (Photo: Getty Images)
Ukrainian soldiers continue to hold positions on the left bank of the Dnipro River and repelled enemy attacks near Bohdanivka, close to Bakhmut, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Russian shelling continues
The adversary continues to disregard the laws and customs of war, employing terror tactics and targeting both military and civilian objects.
During the day, there were 92 armed clashes. The enemy launched 1 missile and conducted 6 aerial attacks, carrying out 33 shelling operations using multiple rocket launcher systems on our troops' positions and civilian areas.
Unfortunately, due to Russian terrorist attacks, there are casualties and injuries among the civilian population. Private residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure have suffered destruction and damage.
Situation on the frontlines
The operational situation in the east and south of Ukraine remains challenging.
In the Volyn and Polissia directions, there haven't been significant changes in the operational situation. There are no signs of the formation of advancing enemy groupings.
Identified units of the Belarusian Armed Forces are performing tasks in the border areas with Ukraine.
In the Siversk and Slobozhanske directions, the adversary maintains military presence in border areas, conducts sabotage and reconnaissance activities, shells populated areas from the territory of the Russian Federation, and increases the density of mine-explosive barriers along the Ukrainian state border.
More than 25 populated areas, including Wolfinoe, Yunakivka, Sadky, and Myropilske in the Sumy region; Bologivka, Stroiivka, Kamianka, and Topoli in the Kharkiv region, have been subjected to enemy artillery and mortar shelling.
In the Kupiansk direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled 4 enemy attacks near Synkivka and east of Petropavlivka in the Kharkiv region.
Close to 10 populated areas, such as Dvorichna, Synkivka, Petropavlivka, Kovalivka, Ivanivka, and Berestove in the Kharkiv region, were under artillery and mortar fire.
In the Lyman direction, the enemy unsuccessfully attempted to breach the defense of our forces. Defense forces repelled 10 enemy attacks in the areas of Makiivka in the Luhansk region and east of Terniv, Spirne in the Donetsk region.
More than 10 populated areas, including Nevske, Bilohorivka in the Luhansk region, and Torske, Serebrianka, Verkhniokamianske, and Rozdolivka in the Donetsk region, suffered from enemy artillery and mortar shelling.
In the Bakhmut direction, Ukrainian soldiers repelled 17 enemy attacks near Bohdanivka, Klishchiivka, and Andriivka in the Donetsk region. Approximately 10 populated areas, including Bohdanivka, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, and Kurdiumivka in the Donetsk region, were under artillery and mortar fire.
In the Avdiivka direction, our defenders repelled 9 enemy attacks in the areas of Avdiivka and another 13 attacks near Severne, south of Tonenke, Pervomaiske, and Nevelske in the Donetsk region.
Approximately 15 populated areas, including Sukha Balka, Novobakhmutivka, Ocheretine, Avdiivka, Berdychiv, Nevelske in the Donetsk region, suffered from enemy artillery and mortar fire.
In the Maryinka direction, defense forces continue to hold off the enemy near Novomykhailivka in the Donetsk region. Here, the enemy, with air support, carried out 12 unsuccessful attacks. Populated areas like Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Maryinka, Pobeda, Novomykhailivka were under enemy artillery and mortar fire.
In the Shakhtarsk direction, the enemy did not conduct offensive actions. Approximately 10 populated areas, including Bohoiavlennia, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Niva, Blahodatne, Urozhaine in the Donetsk region, were subjected to enemy artillery and mortar shelling.
In the Zaporizhzhia direction, defense forces repelled 13 enemy attacks west of Novopokrovka and Robotyne in the Zaporizhzhia region.
Around 25 populated areas, including Novodanilivka, Orikhiv, Novoandriivka, Mali Shcherbaky, Piatykhatky, Plavne in the Zaporizhzhia region, were under enemy artillery and mortar fire.
In the Kherson direction, the enemy's artillery shelling affected Chornobaivka in the Kherson region and civilian objects in the city of Kherson.
Advance of the Ukrainian Armed Forces
The defense forces continue to hold positions on the left bank of the Dnipro River in the Kherson region and continue to inflict fire damage on the enemy.
Losses of the enemy
During the day, using the forces and means of Ukraine's air defense, 1 guided missile X-59 was destroyed.
The total number of losses in the Russian army since the beginning of the invasion amounts to 347,160 military personnel.
