Russia-Ukraine war: Frontline update as of December 23

Russians shelling

Over the past 24 hours, there have been 75 armed clashes. In total, the enemy launched 1 missile and conducted 40 aerial strikes, as well as 57 rocket barrages targeting our military positions and civilian settlements.

Regrettably, due to Russian terrorist attacks, there are casualties and injuries among the civilian population. Private residential houses and other civilian infrastructure have suffered destruction and damage.

During the previous day, Russian occupiers once again attacked Ukraine, employing 23 UAVs of the Shahed-136/131 type. Nineteen of these attack drones were successfully eliminated by air defense systems.

Targets of the aerial strikes included:

• Kostobobriv, Chernihiv region;

• Synkivka, Kharkiv region;

• Katerynivka, Toretsk, Lastochkyne, Avdiivka, Heorhiivka, Maryinka, Novomykhailivka in Donetsk region;

• Robotyne, Orihiv in Zaporizhzhia region;

• Krynyky in Kherson region.

Approximately 110 settlements in the Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Mykolaiv regions have come under artillery fire.

The frontline situation

In the Volyn and Polissia directions, the operational situation remains largely unchanged.

In the Siversk and Slobozhanske directions, the adversary maintains military presence in border areas, actively conducts sabotage activities to prevent the redeployment of our forces to critical directions, and increases the density of mine-explosive barriers along the state border in the Belgorod region.

In the Kupiansk direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled 16 enemy attacks in the vicinity of Synkivka in the Kharkiv region, where the enemy attempted to breach the defense of our forces.

In the Lyman direction, the enemy did not engage in offensive (assault) actions.

In the Bakhmut direction, our forces repelled 8 enemy attacks near Bohdanivka, Ivanivka, Klyshchiivka, and Andriivka in the Donetsk region.

In the Avdiivka direction, Ukrainian defenders continue to restrain the enemy, preventing any attempts to encircle Avdiivka. Our forces steadfastly maintain their defense, inflicting significant losses on the occupiers.

Defensive forces repelled 23 enemy attacks east of Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, and Avdiivka, as well as 17 attacks in the areas of Pervomaiske and Nevelske in the Donetsk region.

In the Maryinka direction, the defensive forces continue to hold back the enemy in the areas of Maryinka and Pobieda in the Donetsk region, where 4 attacks were repelled.

In the Shakhtarsk direction, our defenders repelled an enemy attack west of Staryi Mykhailiv in the Donetsk region.

In the Zaporizhzhia direction, the defensive forces successfully repelled all enemy attacks west of Verbovе and Robotyne in the Zaporizhzhia region.

Offensive by Ukrainian Armed Forces

In the Melitopol direction, the Ukrainian Defensive Forces continue active operations, inflicting losses on the occupying forces in personnel and equipment, and wearing down the enemy along the entire front line.

In the Kherson direction, Ukrainian soldiers continue efforts to expand the foothold. Despite setbacks, the enemy has not abandoned its intention to dislodge our units from occupied positions and attempted 17 unsuccessful assault actions.

Faced with a worthy counteraction, the adversary suffered losses and retreated. Our defenders are engaged in counter-battery combat, delivering fire strikes on the enemy's rear areas.

Enemy losses

During the past 24 hours, the Defense Forces aviation conducted strikes on 12 concentration areas of enemy personnel, weaponry, and military equipment. Additionally, three Su-34 fighter-bombers were destroyed by the air defense system.

Rocket forces units targeted five concentration areas of enemy personnel, weaponry, and military equipment, along with two ammunition depots and two command posts of the adversary.

The total number of losses in the Russian army since the beginning of the invasion is reported to be 351,350 military personnel.