Russia-Ukraine war: Frontline update as of December 31
The General Staff reported on the situation at the front (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
As of the evening of December 31, 188 combat engagements were reported on the frontlines. The fiercest clashes are occurring in the Pokrovsk direction, with significant enemy activity also noted in the Lyman, Kramatorsk, and Kurakhove directions, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Today, the enemy launched five missile strikes (25 missiles), carried out eight airstrikes (deploying, among others, 14 guided bombs), and used 376 kamikaze drones for attacks across Ukraine. Over 2,500 shelling incidents targeted Ukrainian positions and civilian areas.
In the Kharkiv direction, the enemy attempted one unsuccessful assault near Vovchansk.
In the Kupiansk direction, Russian forces made seven attempts to advance toward Ukrainian positions near Lozova, Nova Kruhlyakivka, and Zahryzove throughout the day. All enemy assaults were repelled by the Defense Forces.
In the Lyman direction, the enemy launched 18 assaults in the areas of Nadiia, Pershotravneve, Zelenyi Hai, Novoyehorivka, Yampilivka, Terny, Dibrova, and toward Druzhelyubivka, Cherneshchyna, and Novoserhiivka. Ukrainian forces successfully repelled all attacks.
In the Siversk direction, Russian troops attempted eight advances near Bilohorivka and Hryhorivka but were driven back. One engagement is still ongoing.
In the Kramatorsk direction, enemy activity resulted in 31 combat engagements since the beginning of the day. Assault actions occurred near Chasiv Yar, Stupochky, Bila Hora, and Predtechyne, with four unresolved battles.
In the Toretsk direction, Ukrainian forces repelled 12 enemy attacks near Toretsk and Shcherbynivka. One confrontation remains active.
Since the beginning of the day, the enemy has attempted 56 advances against Ukrainian defenses in the Pokrovsk direction, targeting areas near Zelene Pole, Baranivka, Novotoretske, Promin, Lysivka, Myrnohrad, Kotlyne, Solone, Shevchenko, Novooleksandrivka, Dachenske, Zelene, Novyi Trud, Vovkove, Pishchane, and Novovasylivka. Six engagements remain ongoing.
The enemy is suffering significant losses. Preliminary reports indicate Ukrainian forces have neutralized 208 enemy personnel in this sector today, 94 of them irreversibly. Additionally, four vehicles and two drone control antennas were destroyed, and one armored combat vehicle and one mortar were damaged.
In the Kurakhove direction, the enemy launched 20 attacks on Ukrainian positions, focusing its efforts near Petropavlivka, Dachne, Ukrainka, Shevchenko, and Kurakhove. Ukrainian defenders repelled 18 of these assaults, while two engagements remain ongoing.
In the Vremivka direction, Ukrainian forces fended off 11 enemy attacks near Kostiantynopolske, Dachne, Rozlyv, Velyka Novosilka, and Neskuchne. The enemy also dropped guided aerial bombs on the Zelene Pole.
In the Orikhiv direction, Russian troops made three attempts to advance toward Novoandriivka but were repelled each time.
In the Prydniprovskyi direction, the enemy continues attempts to dislodge Ukrainian forces from their positions, launching three unsuccessful assaults throughout the day.
In the Kursk region, Ukrainian defenders repelled 12 offensive actions by Russian forces. Russian aviation conducted three strikes, using three guided bombs on Russian territory. Additionally, the enemy carried out 298 shelling incidents.
Russia's losses in the war
According to the General Staff, Russia has lost over 789,000 personnel since the beginning of its full-scale war against Ukraine.
In the past 24 hours alone, Ukrainian Defense Forces eliminated 1,610 enemy troops and destroyed five tanks, 27 armored combat vehicles, 34 artillery systems, and additional enemy equipment.
