Russia-Ukraine war: Frontline update as of December 21
Illustrative photo (Getty Images)
Ukrainian soldiers are holding their positions on the left bank of the Dnipro River. They successfully repelled Russian attacks in the area of the village of Terny (the Donetsk region) and destroyed two depots containing enemy ammunition, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Russian shelling
The enemy continues to disregard the laws and customs of war, employing terror tactics and launching strikes on both military and civilian objects.
With the improvement in weather conditions, the enemy has intensified the use of operational-tactical aviation and FPV-type quadcopters.
The enemy persists in active assault operations with the support of armored vehicles, increasing the number of air strikes and artillery shelling incidents. Over the day, 86 combat engagements took place.
The enemy delivered 41 aerial strikes and conducted 28 rocket artillery bombardments on our troops' positions and populated areas. Unfortunately, civilian casualties have occurred as a result of the enemy's terrorist attacks. Private residential homes and other civilian infrastructure have suffered destruction and damage.
The situation on the fronts
The operational situation in the east and south of Ukraine remains complex.
In the Volyn and Polissia directions, there have been no significant changes in the operational situation. There are no signs of the formation of offensive groups. Identified units of the Armed Forces of Belarus are carrying out tasks in border areas with Ukraine.On the Siverskyi and Slobozhanskyi fronts,
In the Siversk and Slobozhanske directions, the enemy maintains military presence in border areas, conducts sabotage and reconnaissance activities, fires on settlements from the territory of the Russian Federation, and increases the density of mine-explosive barriers along the state border of Ukraine.
Approximately 20 settlements, including Karpovychi in the Chernihiv region, Tur’ia and Krasnopillia in the Sumy region, and Vesele, Hatysche, and Dvorichanske in the Kharkiv region, have been subjected to artillery and mortar shelling.
In the Kupiansk direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled 18 enemy attacks in the areas of Synkivka in the Kharkiv region and Stelmakhivka in the Luhansk region, where the enemy, with aviation support, attempted to breach our troops' defenses.
Approximately 10 settlements, including Dvorichna, Synkivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, and Berestove in Kharkiv region, came under artillery and mortar fire.
In the Lyman direction, Ukraine's forces repelled 7 enemy attacks near Bohdanivka, Klishchiivka, and Andriivka in the Donetsk region. The enemy also carried out an aviation strike in the area of Toretsk in the Donetsk region.
Approximately 10 settlements, including Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, and Kurdiumivka in the Donetsk region, came under artillery and mortar fire
In the Bakhmut direction, our forces repelled 7 enemy attacks near Bohdanivka, Klishchiivka, and Andriivka in the Donetsk region. The enemy also carried out an aviation strike in the area of Toretsk in the Donetsk region. Approximately 10 settlements, including Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, and Kurdiumivka in the Donetsk region, came under artillery and mortar fire.
In the Avdiivka direction, our defenders repelled 20 enemy attacks east of Novokalynove, Novobakhmutivka, and Avdiivka, and 12 attacks in the areas of Pervomaiske in the Donetsk region. Here, the enemy, with aviation support, unsuccessfully attempted to breach our troops' defenses.
Around 10 settlements, including Oleksandrivka, Sukha Balka, Novobakhmutivka, Avdiivka, Vodyane, and Nevelske in the Donetsk region, were subjected to artillery and mortar shelling.
In the Maryinka direction, the defense forces continued to hold back the enemy in the areas of Mariinka and Novomykhailivka in the Donetsk region, where the adversary, with aviation support, conducted 11 unsuccessful attacks on our defenders' positions.
Settlements under enemy artillery and mortar fire include Krasnohorivka, Maryinka, Heorhiivka, Pobeda, and Novomykhailivka.
In the Shakhtarsk direction, the enemy did not engage in offensive actions. Approximately 10 settlements, including Blahodatne, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, and Zolota Niva in the Donetsk region, experienced artillery and mortar shelling.
In the Zaporizhzhia direction, the Defense Forces repelled 5 attacks west of Verbove in the Zaporizhzhia region, where the enemy attempted to displace our units from occupied positions.
Around 25 settlements, including Robitne, Novodanylivka, Orikhiv, Novoandriivka, Mali Shcherbaky, and Pyatyhatky in Zaporizhzhia region, were affected by enemy artillery and mortar shelling.
In the area of responsibility of the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces "Odesa" in the Kherson front, the enemy subjected Kherson and Antonivka in the Kherson region to artillery shelling. Additionally, the enemy conducted an aerial strike in the vicinity of Krynyky in the Kherson region.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces offensive
The enemy did not abandon the intention to dislodge our units from the left bank of the Dnipro River and attempted 11 unsuccessful assault actions. They faced a worthy response and suffered significant losses.
Our units resiliently maintain the defense, continue to hold the occupied positions, and inflict effective firepower on the enemy.
Enemy losses
During the day, the Defense Forces aviation conducted strikes on 14 areas of personnel concentration, armaments, and military equipment, as well as targeted 2 anti-aircraft missile complexes of the enemy.
Missile forces units targeted the area of personnel concentration, armaments, and military equipment, hitting 2 ammunition depots and an artillery piece of the enemy.
It is worth noting that the total number of losses in the Russian army since the beginning of the invasion is reported to be 350,270 military personnel.
