Russian troops are amassing reserves and preparing to resume active hostilities near Chasovyi Yar. Fighting is currently taking place there, but at a lower intensity than in other areas.
Complex urban battles continue in Toretsk, the city is subjected to massive artillery and air strikes. According to the military, almost nothing is left of the town.
Lieutenant Colonel Ivan Kovalyov said that Russia does not have the forces to launch a large-scale offensive in the north of Kharkiv region. The enemy is rotating due to losses and trying to create a “buffer zone.
Ukrainian defense forces have pushed back Russian troops in the area of Pishchane near Pokrovsk in Donetsk region. The enemy, with a fourfold advantage in manpower, is trying to outflank the city.
Ukrainian troops control Kurakhove in Donetsk region, but are fighting hard to hold their positions. Russia is concentrating its reserves and trying to level the front line by deploying three large military formations.
SBU drones attacked Russian troops' depots near the village of Markyne in the occupied Donetsk region. Thousands of rounds of ammunition and a fuel and lubricant depot were destroyed, and explosions were heard all night.
Ukrainian defense forces regained control of positions in Kolesnykivka in Kharkiv region. At the same time, Russian troops made progress in several areas of Donetsk region.
The occupation authorities have detained a man suspected of blowing up the car of the former head of the Olenivka colony. According to the detainee, he was promised $10,000 from Ukraine for the attack.
The occupants used more than 450 drones and tripled the number of reconnaissance drones over the day. The number of artillery attacks has increased to 3,000 rounds, and the enemy is trying to capture Velyka Novosilka.
Explosions were heard in Kharkiv, hitting the Kyiv district. The Air Force announced a missile alert for six regions of Ukraine, including Kharkiv.
The spokesperson for the Khortytsia military unit denied the information about the presence of Russian subversive reconnaissance groups in Pokrovsk and fighting on the outskirts of the city. Fierce fighting continues in the Pokrovsk sector, where the enemy is losing up to 400 troops daily.
The SBI exposed a deputy head of a military unit who forced his subordinates to work for his family. The soldiers worked for free and gave back part of their combat pay, with the total amount of losses exceeding UAH 3 million.
Russian troops are near Pokrovsk and are constantly shelling the city. The enemy uses small group tactics to probe the defense, but suffers significant losses.
Fake volunteer centers have been opened in the temporarily occupied Donetsk to prepare for the 80th anniversary of the “victory”. The centers spread propaganda and distorted history about russia's role in World War II.
Donetsk collaborators were tasked by the russian federation to “improve the demographic situation” by increasing the number of russians in the region. By December 20, they have to submit 10 proposals for the implementation of this plan.
The President of Ukraine inspected the equipment of the 27th Rocket Artillery Brigade and listened to a report on the operations. The soldiers were awarded the Bohdan Khmelnytsky and “For Courage” orders.
Russian troops have reduced the number of assaults near Chasovyi Yar, but are amassing forces and equipment.
In the occupied territories, Russians are conducting mandatory testing of schoolchildren for knowledge of the Russian Constitution. The tests are organized by the “citizen” association with the support of the occupation “ministries of youth”.
Presidential Advisor Daria Gerasymchuk held meetings with the Irish government on the return of deported children. The delegation presented the film “Stolen Childhood” and held a panel discussion on the reintegration of returned children.
Donetsk RMA plans to complete the evacuation of the last 18 children from Pokrovsk by the end of this week. All other settlements along the front line have already fully evacuated children.
Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Syrsky reported to the President on successful strikes against Russian military and fuel and energy facilities. He also reported on the record losses of the Russian army in November and December.
Shakhtar's match against Bayern Munich at Arena AufSchalke was attended by 57,079 spectators. This is the largest number of fans at the home game of the Donetsk club in its entire history.
The Russian occupation authorities intend to create a landfill near Oleshky Sands to unload the Crimean landfills. The occupiers are also creating new landfills in the occupied Donetsk region to serve the Rostov region.
Military exercises will continue in Belarus until December 31, due to which an increase in the number of air raid alerts is expected in the Rivne and Volyn regions. During the war in Ukraine, 51,888 air raid alerts have been announced.
Soldiers of the 42nd Brigade showed the destruction of Toretsk after Russian attacks from a drone. Out of 70,000 residents, only 1,500 remain in the city and refuse to evacuate.
Russian troops made 40 assault attempts in the Kurakhove direction, trying to break through the defense and take control of logistics routes. Ukrainian defense forces continue to hold the town and destroy enemy subversive reconnaissance groups.
An ammunition depot of the Russian army was attacked in the temporarily occupied Yenakiyevo, Donetsk region. The occupation authorities are conducting an emergency evacuation of local residents from the surrounding area.
The occupants are moving military forces through Mariupol district in the direction of Kurakhove and Vremivka. Civilian vehicles are used for transportation, and the military spend the night in high-rise buildings in the western part of Mariupol.
Russia has organized a two-week export of children from the occupied Donetsk region to Yekaterinburg for new year's events. During the trip, children are given propaganda lectures about Russian identity.
In Kiev, Transcarpathian and Poltava regions, 5 people were detained who set fire to military vehicles and administrative buildings. Malefactors, including three minors, were recruited through Telegram channels.
