Russia-Ukraine war: Frontline update as of December 20
The enemy is intensively attacking the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Pokrovsk direction (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
As of 10:00 p.m. Kyiv time on December 20, there have been 191 combat engagements on the front since the start of the day, including 50 in the Kursk region alone, reports the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Russian shelling
Today, the enemy launched three missile strikes and 32 airstrikes using nine missiles and 59 guided bombs, over 730 kamikaze drone attacks, and carried out more than 4,000 shelling incidents.
Frontline situation
In the Kharkiv direction, there was one combat engagement with the enemy near Vovchansk.
In the Kupiansk direction, the enemy attempted 11 times to push our units from their positions near Kucheryvka, Synkivka, Petropavlivka, Zahrizove, and Lozova. One engagement is ongoing.
The enemy launched 14 attacks in the Lyman direction, attempting to advance towards Yampolivka, Terny, Novoserhiivka, Zelenyi Hai, Ivanivka, Torske, Hryhorivka, and in the Serebryanske Forestry. Two engagements are ongoing.
In the Kramatorsk direction, the defense forces repelled six enemy attempts to advance near Chasiv Yar.
The enemy made 11 attempts to break through our defense in the Toretsk direction. Since the beginning of the day, the occupiers have faced strong resistance from our defenders in the areas of Toretsk and Leonidivka, with 10 repelled attacks. One attack is ongoing.
The enemy has been intensively attacking Ukrainian defenders in the Pokrovsk direction. Throughout the day, the aggressor conducted 41 assault and offensive actions. The highest activity of Russian forces remains in the areas of the settlements of Myroliubivka, Promin, Lysivka, Zelene, Novyi Trud, Dachenske, Vovkove, Pishchane, Novovasylivka, Novoielyzavetivka, Novooleksiivka, and Ukrainka.
Ukrainian defenders have already repelled 35 attacks in this direction, and six more engagements are ongoing. At the same time, the enemy launched airstrikes on the settlements of Oleksandropil, Sukhyi Yar, and Pokrovsk, dropping a total of three guided bombs.
"Our troops are making every effort to prevent the enemy from advancing deeper into Ukrainian territory. According to the latest available information, the enemy's losses on this front today amount to 370 personnel, of which 171 are irreversible. One BMP and nine vehicles were destroyed. Additionally, a mortar and one unit of automotive equipment were damaged," the General Staff reports.
In the Kurakhove direction, there have been 20 combat engagements so far today. The invaders maintain high activity, attempting to advance in the areas of the settlements of Sontsivka, Stari Terny, Andriivka, Kurakhove, Dachne, Dalne, Kostiantynopolske, and Kostiantynopil. Defense units have repelled 17 enemy attacks, and three attacks are still ongoing. Airstrikes with guided bombs targeted the settlements of Kostiantynopil and Andriivka.
"At the same time, on this front, the Defense Forces eliminated 86 Russian soldiers, of which 34 were irreversible. Additionally, one unit of automotive equipment was destroyed," the statement adds.
In the Vremivka direction, 25 combat engagements took place. Twenty-two enemy assaults have been repelled by our defenders in the areas of Uspenivka, Dalne, Yantarny, Rozlyv, Bohatir, Velyka Novosilka, Makarivka, Novosilka, Novopillia, and Novodaryvka. Intense fighting continues at this moment. The enemy also used aviation in the Velyka Novosilka area, dropping four guided bombs.
In the Orikhiv direction, our forces successfully repelled an enemy attempt to advance near Mala Tokmachka.
Our defenders repelled four attacks by Russian forces in the Prydniprovskyi direction. The enemy used assault aviation in the area of Ivanivka, striking with eight unguided rockets.
Fifty combat engagements took place today in the Kursk direction, in addition to one missile strike and 377 artillery shelling by the enemy.
In the Siversk and Huliaipole directions, the enemy did not conduct any active operations since the beginning of the day.
"Today, we should highlight the efforts of the 425th Separate Assault Battalion, the 68th Separate Hunter Brigade named after Oleksa Dovbush, the 38th Separate Marine Brigade, the 25th Separate Airborne Sicheslav Brigade, the 414th Strike Drone Regiment, the 128th Separate Mountain Assault Zakarpattia Brigade, and the 124th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade, who are holding off enemy attacks in extremely difficult conditions despite being outnumbered," the General Staff concluded.
On December 19th, a total of 191 combat engagements were recorded on the front, similar to the partial day on December 20th. Additionally, the enemy primarily attacked Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region of Russia. The Ukrainian Armed Forces successfully repelled 60 enemy assault attempts during the fighting.
