Russia-Ukraine war: Frontline update as of December 21
Photo: Ukrainian forces continue to repel the enemy (Getty Images)
Since the start of December 21, Ukrainian Defense Forces have repelled 200 attacks along the front, with the heaviest fighting in the Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka directions of the Donetsk region, reports the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Russian shelling
According to the General Staff, the Russian army launched one missile at Ukraine over the past day. They also carried out 17 airstrikes with 46 guided bombs, deployed 1,779 kamikaze drones, and conducted 2,500 attacks on Ukrainian positions and populated areas.
Frontline situation
In the Northern-Slobozhanskyi and Kursk directions, two enemy attacks and one airstrike targeted Ukrainian positions, along with 95 attacks on nearby settlements along the contact line.
In the Southern-Slobozhanskyi direction, Russian soldiers carried out 16 attacks near Vovchansk, Prylipka, Dvorichanske, and toward Izbytske, Vilcha, and Obukhivka. One battle is still ongoing.
In the Kupiansk direction, Ukrainian forces repelled six Russian attacks toward Kurylivka, Petropavlivka, Pishchane, and Hlushkivka.
In the Lyman direction, the enemy carried out 15 unsuccessful attempts to storm Ukrainian positions near Druzhliubivka, Stavky, Novoserhiivka, Korovii Yar, Stepove, Olhivka, Lyman, Drobysheve, and Zarichne. Four clashes are still ongoing.
In the Sloviansk direction, five enemy attacks near Yampil and Siversk were repelled.
In the Kramatorsk direction, Ukrainian forces repelled three Russian attacks on Ukrainian positions near Minkivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, and Virolubivka.
In the Kostiantynivka direction, the second most active area of the day, with 24 clashes. Russian forces attempted to advance near Oleksandro-Shultyne, Pleshchiivka, Kleban-Byk, Kostiantynivka, Rusyn Yar, and toward Sofiivka and Stepanivka.
In the Pokrovsk direction, Ukrainian forces repelled 47 enemy attacks near Shakhove, Rodynske, Sukhetske, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, Filiia, and toward Dorozhne, Novopidhorodne, Serhiivka, Nove Shakhove, and Novopavlivka. Ukrainian forces neutralized 104 Russian soldiers. They also destroyed an artillery system, 13 drones, three vehicles, and seven enemy shelters.
In the Oleksandrivka direction, Russian forces attacked Ukrainian positions 16 times near Oleksandrohrad, Sichneve, Sosnivka, Pryvilne, Rybne, Pershotravneve, and toward Andriivka-Klevtsove, Rodynske, Sukhetske, and Ivanivka. One battle continues.
In the Huliaipole direction, 11 Russian attacks near Huliaipole were repelled.
In the Orikhiv direction, Ukrainian forces repelled five enemy attacks near Stepove, Shcherbaky, Mali Shcherbaky, Stepnohirsk, and toward Novoandriivka.
In the Prydniprovskyi direction, Russian forces attempted twice to approach Ukrainian positions near the Antonivskyi Bridge. Both attempts were repelled, inflicting losses on the enemy.
As of the morning of December 21, the enemy lost 1,130 personnel along the front. Ukrainian defenders also destroyed over 100 drones and numerous pieces of Russian equipment.
Kupiansk and Pokrovsk remain under Ukrainian control despite Russian propaganda claims that these cities have been occupied. Heavy fighting continues in Pokrovsk. Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi reported that Ukrainian units continue to hold the northern part of Pokrovsk. The battle for control is ongoing.
Kupiansk is undergoing clearance of the remaining encircled Russian forces. Despite this, Russian leader Vladimir Putin recently repeated false claims of the city's "liberation" and the supposed "encirclement" of Ukrainian troops.
