To your attention — operational information from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of 6:00 on December 18, 2023 regarding the Russian invasion of our country.

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

The enemy continues to ignore laws and customs of war, uses tactics of terror, carries out missile and air strikes, conducts artillery attacks with multiple rocket launchers not only on military but also on numerous civilian objects in our country.

During the past day, 64 combat engagements took place. In total, the enemy inflicted two missile and 29 air strikes, carried out 47 artillery attacks with multiple rocket launchers on positions of our troops and populated areas. As a result of Russian terrorist attacks, unfortunately, there are casualties among civilians. Private residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure were damaged.

During the night, Russian occupiers once again attacked Ukraine, using five UAVs of the Shahed-136/131 type. All attacking UAVs were destroyed by air defense forces and means.

Air strikes hit Petrovka in Kharkiv Oblast; Terny, Zvanivka, Novobakhmutivka, Avdiivka, Novomykhailivka, Paraskoviyivka in Donetsk Oblast; Krynytsi and Olhivka in Kherson Oblast.

More than 100 populated areas in Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, 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 Slobozhanskyi directions the enemy maintains military presence in border areas, conducts active sabotage activities to prevent our troops from redeploying to threatening sectors, increases the density of 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 and east of Petrovka, Kharkiv Oblast.

On the Lyman direction our soldiers repelled eight enemy attacks near Makieyevka in Luhansk Oblast and east of Terny in Donetsk Oblast.

On the Bakhmut direction Ukrainian defenders repelled five enemy attacks near Bogdanivka, Klyshchyvka, and Andriyivka in Donetsk Oblast. Defense forces 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, defense forces continue to hold back the enemy who does not give up attempts to encircle Avdiivka. Our soldiers steadfastly hold their ground, inflicting significant losses on occupiers. Thus, 16 attacks were repelled east of Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, and Avdiivka as well as another 11 — south of Tonenkyi, Nevelskoye, and Pervomaiskoe in Donetsk Oblast.

On the Mariupol direction, defense forces hold back the enemy in the area of Novomykhailivka in Donetsk Oblast where four attacks were repelled.

On the Shakhtarsk direction offensive (assault) operations were not conducted.

On the Zaporizhzhia direction, defense forces repelled four enemy attacks west of Verbovskoye and Robotino in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

At the same time on the Melitopol direction, Ukrainian defense forces continue to inflict losses on occupation troops in manpower and equipment through active actions, exhausting the enemy along the entire front line.

In the area of responsibility of OSUM "Odessa" on the Kherson direction, our soldiers continue to hold 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 inflicted strikes on the area of concentration of personnel, weapons, and military equipment as well as two air defense missile complexes of the enemy.

Subunits of rocket troops struck four areas of concentration of personnel, weapons, and military equipment, an artillery system, and a munitions depot of the enemy.

Support the Armed Forces of Ukraine! We will win together!

Glory to Ukraine!