Russia-Ukraine war: Situation on the front as of December 18
Defenders continue to fiercely resist the aggressor (photo: Getty Images)
In Ukraine, the front line witnessed 64 military confrontations over the course of the day. The Defense Forces persist in actively engaging and inflicting losses on occupying troops in terms of personnel and equipment, states the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Russians attacks
Overall, the enemy conducted 2 missile and 29 aviation strikes, along with 47 shelling incidents using multiple rocket launcher systems on the positions of our forces and civilian settlements. Unfortunately, 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 night, Russian occupiers once again attacked Ukraine, employing 5 UAVs of the Shahed-136/131 type. All offensive UAVs were successfully neutralized by anti-aircraft defense forces.
The following locations experienced aerial bombardments: Petropavlivka in the Kharkiv region; Terny, Zvanivka, Novobakhmutivka, Avdiivka, Novomykhailivka, and Paraskoviivka in the Donetsk region; Krynky and Olhivka in the Kherson region.
Over 100 populated areas in the Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Mykolaiv regions came under artillery fire.
The frontline situations
In the Volyn and Polissya directions, the operational situation remains relatively unchanged.
In the Siversk and Slobozhanske directions, the adversary maintains military presence in border areas, engaging in active subversive activities to prevent the redeployment of our forces to critical sectors. They are increasing the density of mine-explosive barriers along the state border in the Belgorod region.
In the Kupiansk direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled 9 enemy attacks in the areas of Synkivka and east of Petropavlivka in the Kharkiv region.
In the Lyman direction, the defense forces repelled 8 enemy attacks near Makiivka in the Luhansk region and east of Terniv in the Donetsk region.
In the Bakhmut direction, our troops repelled 5 enemy attacks in the areas of Bohdanivka, Klishchiivka, and Andriivka in the Donetsk region. The Defense Forces continue to inflict losses on the enemy in personnel and equipment, consolidating their positions at achieved milestones.
In the Avdiivka direction, Ukrainian defenders continue to restrain the enemy, who persists in attempting to encircle Avdiivka. Our soldiers resiliently hold the defense, causing significant losses to the occupiers. Specifically, 16 enemy attacks were repelled east of Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, and Avdiivka, and another 11 attacks were thwarted south of Tonenke, Nevelske, and Pervomaiske in the Donetsk region.
In the Maryinka direction, the defense forces continue to hold back the enemy in the area of Novomykhailivka in the Donetsk region, repelling 4 attacks.
In the Shakhtarsk direction, the enemy did not engage in offensive (assault) actions.
In the Zaporizhzhia direction, the Defense Forces repelled 4 enemy attacks west of Verbove and Robotyne in the Zaporizhzhia region.
In the Melitopol direction, Ukrainian soldiers continue actively engaging and inflicting losses on occupying forces in personnel and equipment, exhausting the enemy along the entire front line.
In the Kherson direction, the Defense Forces maintain their positions on the left bank of the Dnipro, engage in counter-battery warfare, and deliver artillery strikes on the enemy's rear positions.
Enemy losses
During the past day, the Defense Forces aviation conducted strikes on the concentration area of personnel, weaponry, and military equipment, targeting two enemy anti-aircraft missile systems.
Missile troops units inflicted damage on 4 concentration areas of personnel, weaponry, and military equipment, as well as an artillery piece and an ammunition depot of the enemy.
