Armed Forces of Ukraine repel Russian attacks near more than 15 settlements

This is stated in the report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of 06:00, December 18, posted on Facebook.

“The enemy tries to improve its tactical position in Lyman direction and focuses its efforts on conducting offensive operations in Bakhmut and Avdiivka directions,” reads the report.

Over the past day, the units of the Defense Forces repelled Russian attacks in the areas of more than 15 settlements, including Stelmakhivka and Serebrianske forestry in Luhansk region; Verkhniokamyanske, Vyimka, Vesele, Bakhmut, Klishchiivka, Opytne, Pervomaiske, Nevelske, and Krasnohorivka in Donetsk region.

Over the past 24 hours, the enemy launched five missile strikes and 42 MLRS attacks.

There is still a threat of airstrikes and missile attacks throughout Ukraine.

In Volyn and Polissia directions, the situation has not changed, no signs of the formation of enemy offensive groups have been detected.

In Siversky and Slobozhansky directions, the areas of Seredyna-Buda and Vovkivka in Sumy region; Strilecha, Hlyboke, Starytsia, Vovchansk, Volokhivka, Chuhunivka, Novomlynsk, and Dvorichna in Kharkiv region came under enemy fire.

In Kupyansk direction, the areas of Berestove, Yahidne, Kotliarivka, and Krokhmalne settlements in Kharkiv region; Novoselivske and Stelmakhivka settlements in Luhansk region came under fire.

In Lyman direction, the enemy shelled Makiivka, Ploshchanka, and Chervonopopivka in Luhansk region.

In Bakhmut and Avdiivka directions, more than 15 settlements came under enemy fire, including Verkhniokamyanske, Spirne, Bilohorivka, Soledar, Bakhmutske, Bakhmut, Chasiv Yar, Opytne, Marinka, and Novomykhailivka in Donetsk region.

The enemy did not conduct active operations in Novopavlivka direction. To clarify the positions of Ukrainian troops, an UAV was deployed in the area of Shevchenkove settlement.

In Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, the enemy shelled 24 settlements with tanks, mortars, tube and rocket artillery, including  Bilohirya, Novodanylivka, Orikhiv, Stepove, Plavni in Zaporizhzhia region and Kozatske, Tiahynka, Mykilske, Kherson, and Dniprovske in Kherson region.

It was confirmed that several enemy manpower and military equipment clusters, as well as two ammunition depots in Zaporizhzhia region, were hit by the units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine on December 16. The enemy lost more than 150 servicemen wounded, 10 units of military equipment of various types destroyed. Information about eliminated invaders is being clarified.

The command of the occupation forces plans to impose a 24-hour curfew in populated settlements in the temporarily occupied territory of Zaporizhzhia region. In particular, the specified restrictions will be imposed in Chernihivka from December 25, in Berdiansk – from December 30, 2022, to January 3, 2023.

Over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian missile and artillery units struck eight Russian personnel clusters, two command posts, and four ammunition depots.

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