Russia-Ukraine war: Frontline update as of December 22

Russian shelling

The adversary continues to ignore the laws and customs of war, employing terror tactics and striking both military and civilian targets. With improved weather conditions, there's been an increase in the intensity of operational-tactical aviation and FPV-type quadcopter applications.

The enemy persists in aggressive assaults supported by armored vehicles, escalating the number of airstrikes and artillery bombardments. Over the past day, there were 60 skirmishes. The enemy conducted one missile and 33 aviation strikes, along with 23 shelling instances from reactive multiple launch systems targeting our troops' positions and civilian settlements.

Regrettably, Russian terrorist attacks have resulted in civilian casualties. Private residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure have suffered destruction and damage.

The situation on the fronts

The operational situation in eastern and southern 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 offensive groups. Identified units of the Belarusian Armed Forces are performing tasks in border areas with Ukraine.

In the Siversk and Slobozhanske directions, the adversary maintains military presence in border areas, conducts sabotage-reconnaissance activities, shells settlements from the territory of the Russian Federation, and increases the density of mine-explosive obstacles along the Ukrainian state border.

The enemy carried out an airstrike in the area near the settlement of Kostobobriv in the Chernihiv region. Approximately 20 settlements, including Klyusy, Karpovychi, Leonivka in the Chernihiv region; Wolfine, Basivka, Zapsillya in the Sumy region; Udy, Veterynarne, Vovchansk, Mala Vovcha, Zemlianky, Topoli in the Kharkiv region, were shelled by artillery and mortars.

In the Kupiansk direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled 8 enemy attacks in the area of Synkivka in the Kharkiv region, where the occupants, supported by aviation, attempted to break through the defense of our troops.

Approximately 10 settlements, including Dvorichna, Synkivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Berestove in the Kharkiv region, came under artillery and mortar fire.

In the Lyman direction, the enemy did not conduct offensive (assault) actions. Over 10 settlements, including Nevskoye, Bilohorivka in the Luhansk region, and Torske, Serebryanka, Verkhniokamyanske, Spirne, Rozdolivka in the Donetsk region, suffered from artillery and mortar shelling by the enemy.

In the Bakhmut direction, Defense Forces repelled 8 enemy attacks near the settlements of Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, and Andriivka in the Donetsk region. The enemy also carried out aviation strikes in the areas of Katerynivka and Toretsk in the Donetsk region.

Approximately 10 settlements, including Vasyukivka, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, New York in the Donetsk region, were under artillery and mortar fire.

In the Avdiivka direction, our defenders repelled 17 enemy attacks east of Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Avdiivka, and another 16 attacks in the areas of Pervomaiske and Nevelske in the Donetsk region.

The enemy also carried out an airstrike in the area of the settlement of Lastochkyne in the Donetsk region. Artillery and mortar shelling affected around 10 settlements, including Keramik, Novobakhmutivka, Berdychiv, Lastochkyne, Yasnobrodivka, Netailove in the Donetsk region.

In the Maryinka direction, Defense Forces continue to hold back the enemy in the areas of Maryinka and Pobeda in the Donetsk region, where the enemy, supported by aviation, made 4 unsuccessful attacks on the positions of our defenders.

The enemy also carried out aviation strikes near Heorhiivka and Novomykhailivka in the Donetsk region. Under artillery and mortar fire were Oleksandropil, Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Pobeda, Kostiantynivka, Katerynivka.

In the Shakhtarsk direction, our defenders repelled an enemy attack west of Staromaiorske in the Donetsk region. Around 10 settlements, including Vodiane, Vuhledar, Bohoiavlenske, Prechystivka, Blahodatne, Rivnopil in the Donetsk region, came under artillery and mortar fire.

In the Zaporizhzhia direction, Defense Forces repelled all attacks west of Verbove and Robotyne in the Zaporizhzhia region, where the enemy attempted to displace our units from the occupied positions. The enemy carried out aviation strikes near Robotyne and Orihove in the Zaporizhzhia region.

Around 20 settlements, including Levadne, Hulyaipole, Charivne, Mala Tokmachka, Mali Shcherbaky, Kamianske in the Zaporizhzhia region, were shelled by artillery and mortars.

In the Kherson region, in the zone of responsibility of the Odesa Joint Forces Operation, artillery shelling affected Kherson, Lvove, Tyahynka, Ivanivka in the Kherson region, and Ochakiv in the Mykolaiv region. The enemy also carried out an aviation strike in the area of Kryne in the Kherson region.

The advance of the Ukrainian Armed Forces

The enemy remains determined to dislodge our units from the right bank of the Dnipro, launching 17 unsuccessful assault actions and receiving a worthy response, resulting in significant losses.

Our units steadfastly hold their defense, maintaining their occupied positions and inflicting effective fire on the enemy.

Enemy losses

During the day, the Defense Forces aviation conducted strikes on 12 areas containing enemy personnel, weaponry, and military equipment. Additionally, utilizing anti-aircraft defense capabilities, Ukraine destroyed 3 Su-34 fighter-bombers.

The missile troops' units struck 4 areas containing enemy personnel, weaponry, military equipment, an ammunition depot, and 2 command points.

The total number of losses in the Russian army since the invasion began amounts to 351,350 military personnel.