It has been the 1032th day of the Ukrainian resistance to the russian military aggression.
What happened in Ukraine today:
Here is operational information of the General Staff as of 4 pm:
The Ukrainian Defense Forces are holding back the advance of russian occupiers. Terrorists continue to destroy Ukrainian cities and villages with rocket, air and artillery strikes.
At this time, the number of combat clashes was 110.
Ukrainian defenders are taking measures to prevent the enemy from advancing deep into Ukrainian territory.
Leonivka and Hai in Chernihiv oblast; Porozok and Bachivsk in Sumy oblast were affected by enemy artillery fire, mortars, and multiple launch rocket systems.
Towards Kharkiv, the enemy stormed the positions of Ukrainian units once, and a battle is underway near Kozacha Lopan.
Towards Kupiansk, russian occupiers attacked the Defense Forces near Petropavlivka and were repulsed.
Towards Lyman, the invading army carried out 12 attacks on Ukrainian positions near Zelenyi Hai, Hrekivka, Terny and Ivanivka. Nine battles are still ongoing. The enemy launched airstrikes on Ivanivka and Yampolivka with KABs, and hit the settlement of Nadiia with unguided rockets. Ukrainian soldiers are holding their defenses steadfastly and inflicting losses on the enemy.
The occupiers’ troops continue to look for weak spots in Ukrainian defenses near Verkhnokamianske and Bilohorivka towards Siversk. Two futile enemy assaults occurred. The enemy dropped five guided air bombs on Siversk.
Towards Kramatorsk, the occupiers’ aviation carried out air strikes on Markove, Kostiantynivka and Chasiv Yar. Ukrainian defenders are repelling two enemy attacks near Stupochky.
Towards Toretsk, the aggressor tried four times to penetrate our defenses in the vicinity of the settlements of Toretsk and Druzhba. The enemy is actively using aviation. It carried out air defense strikes on Romanivka and Katerynivka.
Towards Pokrovsk, the russian invaders made 15 attempts to push Ukrainian defenders from their occupied positions in the vicinity of Myroliubivka, Promin, Lysivka, Zelene, Novyi Trud, Dachenske and Novovasylivka. The defense forces are holding back the onslaught and repelled seven enemy attacks, eight clashes are still ongoing. Oleksandropil, Pokrovsk, Lysivka, Sukhyi Yar, Udachne and Zvirove come under the blows of russian air bombs.
Towards Kurakhove, the enemy army attacked nine times near Stari Terny, Kurakhove, and Dachne. Seven enemy attempts to advance were repelled.
Towards Vremivka, there were 26 enemy attacks near Uspenivka, Yantarne, Novosilka, Blahodatne, and towards Rozlyv and Odradne. The enemy is most active in the vicinity of Konstantinopolske, where 14 clashes took place. Three battles are still ongoing. The aggressor carried out an airstrike on Temyrivka, dropping a KAB.
Towards Orikhiv, occupation troops stormed the positions of the Defense Forces near Novoandriivka and Piatykhatki six times. One clash is ongoing.
In Kursk oblast, Ukrainian defenders are repelling 19 enemy attacks, in total, the invader carried out 32 assaults.
In the remaining directions, there were no significant changes.
The UN reported that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, russia has killed more than 12,300 civilians in Ukraine. More than 27,800 were injured.
According to the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, as part of the operation of the State Defense Forces and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 34 people were evacuated from the territory of Syria on December 21. Among them, 31 are citizens of Ukraine, and three are citizens of Syria who are relatives of citizens of Ukraine.
Recent war events in the east of Ukraine
The General Staff said that the Defense Forces of Ukraine repelled more than 130 attacks on the eastern front. Pokrovsky and Vremivka lead in terms of the number of attacks.
Towards Pokrovsk, the Armed Forces of Ukraine repelled 46 russian attacks. The occupiers actively used attack and bombing aircraft.
Towards Kurakhove, the Defense Forces continue to restrain the russian army. Here, the Russian military tried to break through Ukrainian defense lines 24 times.
Russian units attacked towards Vremivka 36 times.
Kharkiv oblast
The General Staff reports that towards Kharkiv, the russian military stormed the positions of Ukrainian units once, as of 16:00 a battle was underway near Kozacha Lopan. Towards Kupiansk, the russian army attacked the Defense Forces once neare Petropavlivka.
The day before, at 23:41, russians attacked the city of Kharkiv, Kyivskyi district. According to the RMA, as a result of the hits from the Shahed UAV fragments, the roof of the house was on fire and the gas pipeline was damaged. 2 people were injured, in light condition.
At 21:38, russians attacked the city of Kharkiv, Saltivskyi district. As a result of the hit from the Shahed UAV, apartments on the 1st and 2nd floors were on fire. 6 people were injured.
At 23:21, russians attacked the Kharkiv district, Solonytsivka community, the village of Solonytsivka. As a result of the impact of the Shahed UAV debris, the roof of a non-residential building at a civilian enterprise was on fire.
Towards Kharkiv, one combat clash with the enemy took place near Vovchansk.
Towards Kupiansk, the enemy tried 11 times to displace Ukrainian units from positions near Kucherivka, Synkivka, Petropavlivka, Zahryzove and Lozova. One combat clash is ongoing.
24 people were evacuated from Kupiansk and Borova directions, including 1 child.
Donetsk oblast
At about 2am, the enemy launched 3 FAB-250 airstrikes on Kostiantynivka. 7 homes were damaged.
The police recorded 3,141 enemy strikes. 10 settlements were shelled.
The occupiers dropped 5 FAB-250 air bombs on Kostiantynivka – killing one person and wounding another. 7 apartment buildings and 6 private houses, dormitories, a service station, a shop, a medical facility, cars, garages, a gas pipeline, power lines, and an administrative building were destroyed.
russians hit Pokrovsk with artillery and carried out three FAB-250 airstrikes. As a result of the shelling, 3 civilians were injured, 1 apartment building and 7 private houses, a critical infrastructure facility, cars, and railway infrastructure were damaged.
The enemy attacked Slaviansk with 2 FAB-500 air bombs – 3 civilians were injured. 46 private homes and 12 cars were destroyed.
In Lyman, a person was injured as a result of the shelling.
Bohdan Petrenko, Head of the communications department of the 48th brigade, says that the russian army towards Vremivka wants to block supply channels, that is, to control the roads by which supplies are delivered to Ukrainian fighters. In particular, Kurakhove highway and the roads to Velyka Novosilka.
Anastasia Bobovnikova, Spokeswoman for Luhansk OTG, reports that the russian military towards Kramatorsk and Toretsk are preparing to begin active combat operations. Towards Siversk, the russian army is “exhausted” and will probably be inactive. Under the cover of bad weather, russian troops, on the contrary, are intensifying their assaults.
Luhansk oblast
Over the past day, the invaders focused on the assault on Serebrianka Forest, where they tried to dislodge the Ukrainian Armed Forces from their occupied positions. According to the RMA, the enemy has not stopped shelling villages located along the line of combat contact and the fortifications of the Ukrainian Defenders. The enemy opened fire from artillery installations eight times. They used 151 drones. This significantly exceeds the figures recorded in Luhansk oblast at the beginning of the month, when the invaders doubled the use of UAVs and launched about 100 of them per day.
From 50 thousand to 5 million rubles will be fined in the so-called “lpr” for information about refusing to have children, namely for propaganda of abortion. The corresponding law came into effect on the territory of the russian federation on December 3. In case of violation, citizens face a fine of 50 to 400 thousand rubles, officials – from 100 to 800 thousand rubles, legal entities – from 800 thousand to 5 million rubles. The ban applies to information posted on the Internet, mass media, cinema, and advertising.
In Starobilsk, the list of ownerless real estate includes apartments and houses whose owners have never left anywhere – neither to the territory controlled by Ukraine, nor deep into the russian federation. When inspecting real estate, local collaborators classify it into one category or another, based on the presence or absence of owners directly during the inspection.
What is happening now in the north of Ukraine
Kyiv oblast
On the night of December 20, as a result of a UAV attack, the enemy destroyed one of the Silpo chain warehouses, which stored frozen products. Fozzy Group reports that no people were injured. However, the fire destroyed goods worth more than UAH 400 million. The team thanks the rescuers for their courage and professionalism and is working on reconfiguring logistics.
Mobile boiler houses were deployed in the capital to heat a hospital in the Pechersk district. As reported by Kyivteploenergo, the medical facility was left without heat due to russian missile attack on December 20.
Kyiv City Military Administration reported that in Kyiv, utilities have restored heat supply to all consumers who were left without heating due to the morning missile attack on December 20, . As a reminder, 630 residential buildings, 16 hospitals, and 30 educational institutions were left without heating due to damage to the heating main.
The Svidok.org platform collects people’s testimonies about the russian missile attack on Kyiv on December 20, which killed one person, injured another 13, damaged office and residential buildings, and a church. Citizens can anonymously report explosions, falling debris, damaged property, etc. Representatives of the platform are distributing Ukrainians’ testimonies abroad to draw the world’s attention to the events in Ukraine. Also, the facts of the war crime, along with attached photos and videos, will be transferred to the International Criminal Court and the Prosecutor General’s Office. Ukrainians are already joining the collection of memories.
On December 20, a ministerial delegation led by Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas arrived in Kyiv. Intergovernmental consultations with Lithuanian colleagues were held in the capital: defense capability and security of Europe, Ukraine’s membership in the EU and NATO, the recovery program, further strengthening of sanctions against russia and confiscation of russian frozen assets, economic and trade cooperation.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas and the government, which, after approval by the Seimas, made the first full-fledged visit to Ukraine in the history of Ukrainian-Lithuanian relations.
The RMA reported that the second mine action course (MAD) for veterans with disabilities has ended in Kyiv oblast. The course was organized by the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine together with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) with funding from Sweden. The emphasis in this course was on working with machines for humanitarian demining.
The city council reported that Bucha community has handed over Mavic 3T drones to four units of the 5th separate assault Kyiv brigade. In these units, more than 70 Bucha residents are defending Ukraine side by side with their comrades, the report says.
The RMA reported that in Vasylkiv, the restoration of housing damaged as a result of the full-scale invasion of the russian federation is underway. One of such objects is a five-story residential building with 60 apartments at 46 Dekabristov Street. During the fighting in 2022, windows, doors and destroyed balconies were broken in the high-rise building, the walls, facade and individual apartments were destroyed. The restoration of the building will allow more than 200 people to fully return to their homes.
The city council reported that Austrian diplomats visited Bucha and honored the memory of the victims of russian aggression. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Austria to Ukraine Arad Benkö and Secretary General of Foreign Affairs at the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs Nikolaus Marszyk visited the Church of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called and honored the memory of the fallen Buch residents near the memorial installation dedicated to the 509 victims of russian aggression.
Zhytomyr oblast
In Zhytomyr oblast, on the night of December 21, the air raid siren sounded four times. The sounds of explosions could be heard – the russian army was attacking the region with “shaheeds”. In the morning, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that UAVs were shot down. The last air raid siren that night was announced at 04:26, and it lasted almost an hour. At 04:33, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported about the flight of UAVs over the southern regions of the oblast in the northeast direction.
On December 20, the families of the fallen soldiers were presented with state and departmental awards, the For Courage Order of the 3rd degree and the Honorary Breastplate, in the premises of e Zhytomyr City Council. The awards were presented to the families of nine soldiers who fell in the battles for Ukraine.
Sumy oblast
During the night and morning, russian forces carried out three attacks on border areas and settlements in Sumy oblast, resulting in three explosions. The targeted communities included Khotin, Yunakivka, and Putyvl:
- Yunakivka community: A GAB strike (1 explosion).
- Khotin community: A GAB attack (1 explosion).
- Putyvl community: The enemy struck by an FPV-drone(1 explosion).
The Main Department of the National Police in Sumy oblast reported that on 20 December, bomb disposal experts from Sumy oblast police neutralised the warhead of an X-59 aviation missile. The warhead failed to detonate, and it was safely disarmed at the site before being transported to a secure location for destruction via detonation.
Chernihiv oblast
On 20 December, russian forces attacked four border communities in Chernihiv oblast: Novhorod-Siverskyi, Semenivka, Snovsk, and Horodnia, with a total of 54 explosions recorded by border guards.
Novhorod-Siverskyi Community:
- Bohdanove: Three explosions, likely by 120mm mortar rounds.
- Mykhalchyna Sloboda: One explosion, likely from a UAV-dropped munition.
- Hai: Three explosions, likely by 120mm mortar rounds.
Semenivka Community:
- Semenivka: Ten hits, likely by artillery fire and UAV-dropped munitions.
- Halahanivka: One explosion, likely by a UAV-dropped explosive.
- Bleshniya: Five hits, likely by 82mm mortar.
- Tymonovychi: Four hits, likely by FPV-drones.
- Mykolaivka: Two explosions, likely by UAV-dropped explosives.
- Hremyachka: Four hits, likely a combination of FPV-drones and 120mm mortars.
Snovsk Community:
- Kliusy: Twelve explosions, likely by 120mm mortar.
- Yeline: Four explosions, likely by UAV-dropped munitions.
Horodnia Community:
- Senkivka: Four hits, likely by UAV-dropped explosives.
- Berylivka: Two explosions, likely by FPV-drones.
Farewell to Defenders:
Ripky Settlement Council and Horodnia City Council reported that on 21 December,residents paid tribute to two defenders, Volodymyr Starovoitov and Viktor Sytnyk, who were laid to rest in two communities of Chernihiv oblast.
Recent events in the central regions of Ukraine
Dnipropetrovsk oblast
Mykola Lukashuk, Head of Dnipropetrovsk RMA, reported that last night, the enemy continued to attack Nikopol region. The occupiers dropped munitions from a drone on a village in Marhanets community and shelled Myrove community by artillery.
There were approximately 15 attacks that targeted Nikopol region with artillery and drones. In Nikopol, a 60-year-old woman was injured in an artillery strike and hospitalised in moderate condition. A 65-year-old man sought medical assistance after being wounded in a drone attack on Marhanets community. The strikes targeted the regional centre, Marhanets and Chervonohryhorivka communities, damaging 19 private houses, a summer house, 5 outbuildings, garages, cars, infrastructure, 40 solar panels, power lines and gas pipelines.
In Pavlohrad, an event was held on 21 December to support prisoners of war and missing persons. Relatives and friends of Ukrainian soldiers gathered at the Avenue of Glory to remind others of their loved ones.
Kirovohrad oblast
In Kropyvnytskyi, relatives of military personnel participated in the Hear Us campaign. The aim was to once again draw the authorities’ attention to their loved ones who are either in russian captivity or missing.
Poltava oblast
In Poltava, the YaMariupol (I Am Mariupol) support centre for displaced persons organised a winter holiday event for displaced families from Mariupol. A performance was held and gifts were given to 18 children.
The city also hosted the Do Not Be Silent. Captivity Kills campaign. Participants gathered in the city centre with posters, flags and photos of their loved ones.
Cherkasy oblast
Ihor Taburets, Head of Cherkasy RMA, reported that at night, air defence forces in Cherkasy shot down 4 Shahed drones.
In Kamianka, the Christmas Tree of Memory campaign was held to honour fallen defenders. A Christmas tree was decorated in their memory.
Latest news from the front of the southern regions of Ukraine
Zaporizhzhia oblast
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Defence Forces repelled 6 russian assaults near Novoandriivka and Piatykhatky in Orikhiv region.
Ivan Fedorov, Head of the RMA, reported that the number of injured from the russian strike on Zaporizhzhia on 20 December has risen to 4, including a 12-year-old boy. The blast wave and shrapnel partially shattered windows in a 9-story building.
The russian military carried out 313 strikes on 16 towns and villages in Zaporizhzhia oblast on 20 December, including 173 attacks by drones of various types. The affected areas include Zaporizhzhia, Pidhirne, Lobkove, Prymorske, Shcherbaky, Huliaipole, Mala Tokmachka, Novoandriivka, Novodanylivka, Bilohiria, Malynivka, Olhivske, Novodarivka.
Referring to the General Staff, the russian military attempted to advance in the areas of Novodarivka, Nove Pole and Mala Tokmachka.
According to the National Police of the oblast, on 20 December, 2 civilians, a man and a woman, were evacuated from the frontline Prymorske and Poltavka villages in Zaporizhzhia oblast.
Mykolaiv oblast
According to the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as of 7:38pm, a drone was detected in Mykolaiv oblast moving southward.
Vitalii Kim, Head of Mykolaiv RMA, informed that on 20 December, russian forces attacked Mykolaiv oblast by FPV drones and artillery. In one of the strikes, a house in Dmytrivka village, Kutsurub community, was damaged. There were no casualties reported.
Odesa oblast
According to the Ukrainian Navy, on the morning of 21 December, russia deployed 12 ships to the Black and Mediterranean seas, including carriers of Kalibr cruise missiles.
Kherson oblast
The RMA reported that around 5:40pm, russian forces shelled Bilozirka in Kherson oblast by artillery, wounding a 22-year-old resident. He was diagnosed with explosive injuries, a traumatic brain injury and a concussion.
Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of the RMA, said that a girl born in 2009 was injured in a russian artillery strike on Korabelnyi district of Kherson. She was hospitalised.
The RMA reported that russian artillery fire injured 2 people in Stanislav.
Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of the RMA, informed that russian morning shelling killed a 69-year-old man in Tomyna Balka.
According to the RMA, on 20 December, russian forces launched 2 guided bombs at an oncology clinic in Kherson and carried out airstrikes on settlements within the city community. There were no casualties as all people were in shelters.
Based on the information provided by Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of the RMA, russian shelling in Kherson oblast on 20 December killed 2 people and injured 11. 34 apartment buildings, 29 private houses, gas pipelines and vehicles were damaged. The russian forces shelled 42 settlements in the oblast.
Latest news for today in the western regions of Ukraine
Volyn oblast
The RMA held a meeting with members of the IDPs Council in Volyn. The issues of housing, employment and social assistance worried the displaced people the most.
Lutsk community sent an EcoFlow Delta2 MAX charging station, a Starlink system and an inventory gasoline electric generator to the Military Unit A 4350.
Zakarpattia oblast
The oblast sent a high-terrain vehicle and a mobile EMS system to the military thanks to the benefactors.
Ivano-Frankivsk oblast
In RMA, relatives of the Carpathian Hero Bohdan Shvitz, who gave his life defending Ukraine, presented the regional award – the For Merit to the Carpathians medal (posthumously). They also gave their relatives an Ecoflow, an uninterrupted power supply device that will provide light and heat to their home under any conditions.
Lviv oblast
The Burnt Love photo exhibition was opened in Lviv Historical Museum. The exhibition presented a collective author’s series of photographs by Ukrainian photographers Valerii Leshchynskyi from Kyiv, Andrii Fursenko and Roman Herinovich from Lviv. This series of photos is dedicated to all Ukrainians who are fighting for independence, to all those who defend our state today, to the inner and outer beauty of Ukrainians, to their indomitable will to freedom.
Rivne oblast
At the invitation of Rivne RMA within the framework of the national project Side by Side. United Communities almost 100 children from Sumy oblast came to the Rivne oblast. These are children from Bilopillia, Konotop, Okhtyrka and Sumy communities, who are under constant enemy fire. For 2 weeks, they will rest in one of the health facilities in Duben region.
Ternopil oblast
Ternopil City Council reported that funds for treatment and rehabilitation will be provided to 9 wounded veterans in the community.
Khmelnytskyi oblast
During the air alarm signal, the Air Defense Forces shot down 2 enemy Shahed UAVs. There were no injuries, deaths or property damage.
A rotating meeting with a new group of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency was held at the site of Khao NPP. The IAEA mission monitors nuclear and radiation safety and security in accordance with the seven principles of nuclear safety. The new team will continue its work, providing continuous supervision and support at Khmelnytskyi NPP site.
Chernivtsi oblast
The Red Cross of Ukraine sent 24 kW 10 generators and a 5 kW generators to 10 places of temporary residence, where almost 500 IDPs live. Specifically, 3 generators were received by places of temporary residence of Vyzhnytsk community, 2 – Khotynsk, 1 – Mahalsk and 4 generators – dormitories of professional and higher education institutions.
International support of Ukraine in the russian-Ukrainian war (russia’s invasion of Ukraine)
Australia will send EUR 50m for Ukraine to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The country will allocate another $6.39m to support the energy industry.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, met with Gintautas Paluckas, Prime Minister of Lithuania. They discussed military cooperation.
A joint meeting of the Interagency Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict and the UN Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting was held in Kyiv, during which gross violations of children’s rights in the context of the full-scale russian aggression were discussed. The event was held within the framework of the initiative of the President of Ukraine Bring Kids Back UA and the CAAS (Children and Armed Conflicts) mechanism in Ukraine.
Ihor Zhovkva met with Nikolaus Marshik, General Secretary of the Federal Ministry for European and Foreign Affairs of Austria. They discussed the expansion of Austria’s support for Ukraine in continuation of the talks between Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, and Karl Neghammer, Federal Chancellor of Austria in Paris.
A rotating meeting with a new group of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency was held at the site of Khao NPP. The IAEA mission monitors nuclear and radiation safety and security in accordance with the seven principles of nuclear safety. The new team will continue its work, providing continuous supervision and support at Khmelnytskyi NPP site.
Materials compiled by Tetiana Kliuchnyk-Horobets, Tetyana Pidgorna, Olena Reka, Yana Hushchyna, Tamara Moshkovska, Sofia Ratynska, Ioanna Kryvenko, Helena Albahachiieva, Kristina Maknynia
Translated by Tetyana Pidgorna, Yana Hushchyna, Alla Litrovnyk, Liudmyla Stadnykova, Ilona Korolevska, Tetiana Moiseienko, Marharyta Koval, Tetiana Kurbatova
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