Russia-Ukraine war: Frontline update as of December 17
Illustrative photo: Defense inflicts heavy losses on Russian forces (Getty Images)
The situation on the frontline remains tense along the entire line of contact. Russian forces continue to attempt offensives in several directions simultaneously, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Overall frontline situation
As of 10:00 PM on December 17, a total of 125 combat engagements had been recorded since the start of the day.
Ukrainian defenders continue to hold back pressure from Russian forces, preventing them from advancing deeper into Ukrainian territory and inflicting fire damage on invading troops.
Over the course of the day, Russian forces carried out 28 air strikes, using 82 guided aerial bombs.
In addition, Russian forces deployed 3,145 kamikaze drones and conducted 2,233 strikes on the positions of Ukrainian units and populated areas.
North and east updates
In the Northern Slobozhanskyi and Kursk direction, Ukrainian troops repelled three assault attempts. A total of 115 strikes were recorded, seven of them involving multiple launch rocket systems.
In the Southern Slobozhanskyi direction, Russian forces attacked AFU positions six times near Lyman, Odradne, Dovhenke, and toward Izbytske.
In the Kupiansk direction, two offensive attempts were recorded toward Pishchane and Hlushkivka.
In the Lyman direction, 11 attacks took place near Novovodianе, Krynytsia, Drobysheve, Novoselivka, and toward Cherneshchyna.
In the Sloviansk direction, Ukrainian forces repelled four assaults near Serebrianka, Siversk, and Pereizne.
In the Kramatorsk direction, no combat engagements were recorded.
Most intense directions
In the Kostiantynivka direction, Russian forces attempted to breach Ukrainian defenses 16 times near Oleksandro-Shultyne, Kleban-Byk, Pleshchiivka, Rusyn Yar, and toward Kostiantynivka and Sofiivka.
The highest activity was recorded in the Pokrovsk direction, where 37 attacks took place during the day. Fighting occurred near Shakhove, Rodynske, Krasnyi Lyman, Myrnohrad, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodizhne, Dachne, and toward Novopavlivka. Combat is still ongoing in several locations.
According to preliminary data, 78 Russian troops were neutralized in this direction, including 42 killed. Ukrainian forces also destroyed one tank, three artillery systems, 35 UAVs, six vehicles, and one ground robotic complex. Twelve personnel and ammunition shelters were damaged.
South and other areas
In the Oleksandrivka direction, Russian forces attacked AFU positions nine times near Oleksandrohrad, Sosnivka, Solodke, Pryvilne, Krasnohorske, and toward Dobropillia. One engagement is still ongoing.
In the Huliaipole direction, ten attacks were recorded near Huliaipole and toward Varvarivka.
In the Orikhiv direction, Russian forces made three unsuccessful attempts to advance near Plavni.
In the Prydniprovskyi direction, no offensive actions were recorded.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán claimed that the European Commission had allegedly abandoned the initiative to provide Ukraine with a reparations loan backed by frozen Russian assets.
Separately, the Cabinet of Ministers revised the procedure for submitting applications to the International Register of Damage, expanding eligibility to include not only individuals but also legal entities.
