Donetsk

While performing a mission near Pokrovsk, rescuers from Kyiv region came under artillery fire. The operational vehicle was damaged, but the personnel were not injured.

Access to YouTube has been severely restricted in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and popular VPN services have stopped working. Lantern and NTHLink are completely blocked, and only some paid VPNs are available.

A representative office of the temporarily occupied Donetsk region was opened in St. Petersburg. The structure will organize trade missions and propaganda activities to “legalize” the occupation.

Ukrposhta has presented the final stamp issue of the year, the five-stamp New Joy Has Come. The issue was created based on a carving by artist Natalia Aksenenko and is dedicated to Ukrainian Christmas traditions.

Russian troops shelled 4 settlements in Donetsk region, killing one person. In the village of Udachne, rescuers came under repeated fire while fighting a fire.

Law enforcement units performed "Shchedryk" near Pokrovsk, where composer Mykola Leontovych once lived. The legendary melody was played by representatives of various law enforcement agencies serving in the Donetsk region.

The occupants intensified their assaults and started using equipment in the Toretsk, Kramatorsk and Siversk directions. In Toretsk, 11 assaults took place overnight, and the fight is on for every house.

Ukrainian defense forces are actively defending Makarivka in Donetsk region, trying to regain their positions and preserve logistics routes. Over the past day, 252 combat engagements took place, with the hottest spots in the Kursk and Vremivsk sectors.

The Avdiivka Humanitarian Hub “VPOraisemo” has been launched in Brovary to help IDPs from Donetsk region. The hub will provide humanitarian and counseling assistance, including social protection, pensions and legal services.

The occupiers launched the Zemsky Cultural Worker program to attract 1,100 russians to the TOT. They offer 2 million rubles for moving, but there are few people willing to do so because of the hostile attitude of the locals.

There were 164 combat engagements in the frontline, with the most intense fighting in the Pokrovske, Vremivske and Lyman sectors. The enemy is actively using aviation and artillery, and Ukrainian forces are successfully repelling the attacks.

Fighting continues in Kurakhove, Toretsk and Chasovyi Yar in the urban areas. The occupiers have changed their tactics and are trying to block the logistics of Ukrainian defenders instead of frontal assaults.

In the Vremivsk sector, Russian troops shot dead four captured Ukrainian defenders. The prosecutor's office opened a war crime investigation.

Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets informs the UN and ICRC of a new case of shooting five Ukrainian prisoners of war. 110 Ombudsman's Office publishes video of the Russian military's crime.

Paratroopers set up a Christmas tree made of military materials near a stele at the entrance to Donetsk region. The tree was decorated with patriotic ribbons and the chevron of the airborne brigade.

Russia launched a large-scale drone attack, launching 113 drones from different directions. Air defense forces destroyed 57 attack UAVs and spotted 56 imitator drones in 11 regions of Ukraine.

On December 21, cloudy weather with clearings is expected in Ukraine, with rains possible in the east and south. The air temperature will range from +1°C to +14°C, with an average daytime temperature of +5...+7°C.

The occupiers intensified their activities in the Kherson sector, firing about 1,000 shells at the city and trying to force the Dnipro River.

In Sloviansk, a soldier driving a minibus caused an accident that killed two people. Among the dead were the driver of the car and state media journalist Anastasia Volkova.

The Tarusin family-type orphanage moved from Donetsk Oblast to Vasylkiv because of the war. The state purchased a new spacious house with all the amenities for the family of 10 children.

While demining the territory in Pokrovsk district, the State Emergency Service sappers came under enemy fire, their vehicle was damaged. The personnel were not injured.

The body of journalist and soldier Andriy Nikitin was found in the village of Bashmachka in Dnipropetrovs'k region. He had been wanted since December 12, when he left his parents' house and never returned.

In Mariupol, local residents report loud explosions heard on the Left Bank and in the Kalmius district. Occupation media confirm the fact of an explosion in the city.

On December 19, Ukraine is expected to have mostly warm weather with temperatures ranging from 0°C to +11°C. Precipitation in the form of wet snow is possible in the east, while the rest of the territory will be without significant precipitation.

Terrorists have taken control of Trudove village and are advancing in the areas of Uspenivka, Kurakhove, Pishchane and Vidrodzhennia.

250 participants took part in the Kordon Race charity inclusive obstacle course race in Lviv. The event was aimed at raising funds for mine training simulators for combat units.

Russian troops launched 2714 attacks in Donetsk region, attacking 7 settlements. The shelling killed 1 person, wounded 8, and damaged 20 civilian objects.

In the village of Udachne, Russian troops shelled a bus with passengers with artillery. Four people, aged 26 to 46, received injuries of varying severity and were hospitalized.

The head of the Mariupol MSEC demanded $5,000 for establishing a disability group III for an IDP. A search of her apartment revealed more than $20,000.

A draft law has been prepared to ban the blocking of accounts of critical infrastructure operators in the war zone. Zelenskyy promised to personally oversee the adoption of this law.