138 battles have taken place on the front since the beginning of the day, most of them in the Kursk, Pokrovsk, Kurakhove and Vremivsk directions, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported in a summary as of 16 December, UNN reports.
Ukraine's defense forces are holding back the Russian invaders' offensive. Terrorists continue to kill Ukrainians and destroy Ukrainian cities and villages with missile, air and artillery strikes. As of now, the number of military clashes has increased to 138. The hottest spots are in the Kursk, Pokrovsk, Kurakhove and Vremivsk sectors. Defense forces are taking measures to prevent the enemy's advance
Today, the enemy's artillery and mortar fire affected communities in the Sumy and Chernihiv regions, such as Semenivka, Yanzhulivka, Turya, Hrabovske, Velyka Pysarivka and Ponomarenky; the invader fired at Krasnopillia with multiple rocket launchers; and at Oleksandrivka with unguided aerial missiles.
According to the General Staff, the situation is as follows:
In the Kharkiv sector, an enemy attack on the positions of our units near Vovchansk continues. The enemy launched air strikes on Vovchanske Khutory and Udy.
In the Kupyansk sector, Russian occupants attacked the Ukrainian Defense Forces three times in the areas of Petropavlivka and Lozova. Two firefights are still ongoing. Ukrainian soldiers are steadfastly holding the line and inflicting losses on the enemy.
In the Lyman sector, the invading army conducted 11 attacks on Ukrainian positions near Hrekivka, Novoyehorivka, Nadiia, Yampolivka and Terny during the day. Six engagements ended, five more are ongoing.
Three attacks by enemy troops were repelled by Ukrainian defenders in the Siversky sector, and a battle is currently underway near Verkhnekamianske.
Three times the enemy tried to advance in the area of Chasovyi Yar, Hryhorivka and in the direction of Bila Hora, the fighting continues.
In the Toretsk sector, the enemy is trying to break into our defense in the area of Toretsk, Diliyivka and Shcherbynivka with the support of the air force, eight firefights are ongoing.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian invaders made 27 attempts to push our defenders from their positions in the areas of Myroliubivka, Promen, Lysivka, Dachanske, Zelene, Novovasylivka, Chumatske and Novooleynivka. The defense forces are holding back the onslaught and repelled 19 enemy attacks, eight combat engagements are still ongoing.
In the Kurakhove direction, the enemy army attacked 14 times near the settlements of Sontsivka, Stari Terny, Kurakhove and Dachne. Nine of the occupiers' attempts to advance have already been repelled.
In the Vremivsky sector, 15 hostile attacks took place near Kostiantynopolske, Rozlyv, Velyka Novosilka, Blahodatne, Novyi Komar and Storozheve. Six firefights are ongoing.
The enemy conducted offensive actions near Novoandriivka in the Orikhiv direction, the attack was repelled by Ukrainian units.
"The operation in the Kursk region continues. Enemy aircraft continue to raze our villages and towns to the ground. Since the beginning of the day, Russian planes have carried out 14 strikes (17 missiles) on their own territory. Ukrainian soldiers repelled 36 enemy attacks today, the fighting continues," the General Staff said.