Note to your attention — operational information from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of 6:00 on December 16, 2023 regarding the Russian invasion of our country.

Glory to Ukraine! The six hundred sixty-first day of the large-scale armed aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine has begun.

The enemy continues to ignore the laws and customs of war, uses terrorism tactics, carries out rocket and air strikes, and shells both military and numerous civilian objects in our country with multiple launch rocket systems.

During the past day, 96 combat engagements took place. In total, the enemy delivered two missile and 23 air strikes, carried out 40 shelling attacks from multiple launch rocket systems on positions of our troops and populated areas. As a result of Russian terrorist attacks, unfortunately, there are fatalities and injuries among civilians. Private residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure were damaged or destroyed.

During the night, Russian occupiers attacked Ukraine again using 31 Shahed-136/131 type UAVs. Air defense forces and means destroyed 30 attack drones.

Air strikes hit Krasnyy Hutyr, Gremyach of Chernihiv Oblast; Volvino of Sumy Oblast; Mariinka, Maximilianska, Pobedy, Novomykhailivka of Donetsk Oblast.

More than 130 populated areas in Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhya, Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts were under artillery fire.

In the area of responsibility of OSUM "North" on the Volynian and Polesian directions, the operational situation remains unchanged.

On the Northern and Slobozhansky directions the enemy maintains military presence in border areas, conducts active sabotage activities to prevent our troops from redeploying to threatening sectors, increases mine-explosive obstacles along the state border in Belgorod Oblast.

In the area of responsibility of OSUM "Khortytsia" on the Kupyansk direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled nine enemy attacks near Sinkyvka, Kharkiv Oblast.

On the Lyman direction our defenders repelled five enemy attacks east of Ternyev and Yamopolivky in Donetsk Oblast and Makieivka in Luhansk Oblast.

On the Bakhmut direction Ukrainian fighters repelled 18 enemy attacks near Bogdanivka, Ivanivske, Klyshchyvka and Andriyivka in Donetsk Oblast. Forces of Ukraine's defense continue to inflict losses on the enemy in manpower and equipment, consolidating on gained positions.

In the area of responsibility of OSUM "Tavria" on the Avdiivka direction, occupiers do not give up attempts to encircle Avdiivka. Our fighters firmly hold the defense, inflicting significant losses on the enemy. Thus, forces of defense successfully repelled 20 attacks by the enemy east of Novobakhmutivka and Avdiivka as well as another 14 attacks east of Stepanovo and south of Severnyy and Pervomaysk in Donetsk Oblast.

On the Mariupol direction forces of defense hold back the enemy in areas around Krasnogorivka, Mariinka and Novomykhailivka in Donetsk Oblast. Here our defenders successfully repelled 13 attacks.

On the Shakhtarsk direction Ukrainian fighters repelled two attacks by occupiers near Staromayorskoye in Donetsk Oblast.

On the Zaporizhzhya direction forces of defense repelled eight enemy attacks west of Novopavlovyk and south of Robotino in Zaporizhzhya Oblast.

At the same time, on the Melitopol direction, forces of Ukraine's defense continue active operations to inflict losses on occupying troops in manpower and equipment, exhausting the enemy along the entire front line.

In the area of responsibility of OSUM "Odessa" on the Kherson direction Ukrainian defenders continue holding occupied positions on the left bank of the Dnipro River, conducting counter-battery fire and artillery strikes against enemy rear areas.

During the past day, aviation of defense forces delivered seven strikes in areas of concentration of personnel, weapons and military equipment of the enemy. Also during the past day, air defense destroyed one guided missile X-59.

Subunits of rocket troops inflicted damage on four areas of concentration of personnel, weapons and military equipment and two ammunition depots of the enemy.

Support Ukraine's Armed Forces! We will win together!

Glory to Ukraine!