December 31, 2023

Ukrainian General Staff: 960 Russian troops killed or wounded in past 24 hours; 25 Russian tanks and APC’s destroyed or disabled 

Ukraine Defense Ministry

The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02.2022 to 31.12.2023 were approximately:

personnel ‒ about 359230 (+960) persons,

tanks ‒ 5977 (+8),

APV ‒ 11070 (+17),

artillery systems – 8464 (+30),

MLRS – 943 (+4),

Anti-aircraft warfare systems ‒ 623 (+2),

aircraft – 329,

helicopters – 324,

UAV operational-tactical level – 6591 (+37),

cruise missiles ‒ 1709 (+1),

warships / boats ‒ 23,

submarines – 1,

vehicles and fuel tanks – 11292 (+48),

special equipment ‒ 1268 (+8).

General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine 

Operational information on 18.00, 31.12.2023 regarding the #russian_invasion 

Glory to Ukraine! The six hundred and seventy-sixth day of the large-scale armed aggression of the russian federation against our state continues.

The adversary continues to ignore the laws and customs of war, uses terror tactics, strikes, and attacks both military and civilian targets. The enemy actively uses operational-tactical aviation and quadrocopters of the “FPV” type, carries out assault operations with the support of armored vehicles, and has increased the number of air strikes.

During the day, 42 combat clashes took place. In total, the enemy carried out 12 missile and 58 air strikes, including by attack drones of the “Shahed-136/131” type, and carried out 48 attacks from rocket salvo systems on the positions of our troops and populated areas. As a result of russian terrorist attacks, unfortunately, there are dead and wounded among the civilian population. Private residential and apartment buildings, other civil and industrial infrastructure were destroyed and damaged.

The operational situation in the east and south of Ukraine remains difficult.

On the Volyn and Polissya directions, the operational situation has not changed significantly. There were no signs of the formation of offensive groups. Certain units of the armed forces of belarus perform tasks in the areas bordering Ukraine.

In the Siverskyi and Slobozhanskyi directions, the enemy maintains a military presence in the border areas, conducts sabotage and intelligence activities, attacks populated areas from the territory of the russian federation, and increases the density of mine and explosive barriers along the state border of Ukraine. More than 30 settlements were hit by enemy artillery and mortar fire, including Hrinivka, Chernihiv region; Ulytsia, Svarkove, Stukalyvka, Basivka, Vysoke, Popivka, Sumy region; Veterinary, Kozacha Lopan, Ohirtseve, Vovchansk, Budarky, Bologivka of the Kharkiv region.

In the Kupyansk direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled 11 attacks by the occupiers near Synkivka, Kharkiv region. The enemy also carried out an airstrike in the Ivanivka area of the Kharkiv region. About 10 settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, in particular, Dvorichna, Synkivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Berestovka of the Kharkiv region.

In the Lyman direction, the enemy was conducting assault operations near Makiivka, Luhansk region. Carried out an airstrike in the Serebryansk Forestry area of the Luhansk Region and Hryhorivka, Riznykyvka, Zvanivka, Spirnyi in the Donetsk Region. Shelled more than 10 settlements with artillery and mortars, among them Nevske, Belogorivka of Luhansk region and Torske, Serebryanka, Verkhnyokamianske, Spirne, Rozdolivka of Donetsk region.

In the direction of Bakhmut, the Defense Forces repelled 7 enemy attacks near Bohdanivka and Andriivka, Donetsk region. More than 10 settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, in particular, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka of the Donetsk region.

In the Avdiivka direction, our defenders repelled 3 enemy attacks in the vicinity of Avdiivka and another 9 attacks in the Pervomaisky area of the Donetsk region, where the enemy unsuccessfully tried to improve the tactical position. About 10 settlements, including Berdychi, Stepove, Avdiivka, Severne, Netaylove, and Pervomaiske of the Donetsk region, were hit by artillery and mortar attacks.

In the Marinka direction, the Defense Forces continue to hold back the invaders in the Novomykhailivka area of the Donetsk region, where the enemy, with the support of aviation, launched 4 unsuccessful attacks on the positions of our defenders. Maksimilianivka, Georgiivka, Maryinka, Pobyeda, Novomykhailivka, Kostyantynivka came under artillery and mortar fire.

In the Shakhtarsky direction, the Defense Forces repelled an enemy attack near Urozhany, Donetsk region. About 10 settlements, including Vodyane, Vugledar, Urozhaine, Makarivka, and Staromayorske of the Donetsk region, were hit by artillery and mortar attacks.

In the Zaporizhzhia direction, the enemy unsuccessfully tried to restore the lost position in the Robotyne area of the Zaporizhzhia region. 4 attacks were repelled here. More than 
25 settlements, including Levadne, Gulyaipole, Charivne, Mala Tokmachka, Mali Shcherbaki, Pyatikhatka of the Zaporizhia region, were hit by artillery and mortar attacks.

In the zone of responsibility of the “Odesa” air defense system in the Kherson direction, enemy artillery fire hit Ivanivka, Sadove, Antonivka, and Kherson in the Kherson region. Also, the enemy carried out airstrikes in the areas of Kachkarivka and Red Mayak settlements of the Kherson region.

The occupiers do not give up their intention to knock out our units from the bridgeheads on the left bank of the Dnipro river. Yes, during the day, the enemy carried out 9 unsuccessful assaults on the positions of our troops, but our units continue to hold their positions and inflict significant losses on the invaders.

During the day, the aviation of the Defense Forces struck 11 areas where enemy personnel were concentrated.

Units of the missile forces struck 3 areas of concentration of personnel, weapons and military equipment, an ammunition depot and the enemy’s control post.

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Wilson Center

Forced displacement represents one of the most pressing humanitarian issues of our time. Individuals and families, torn from the fabric of their communities, find themselves navigating a world of uncertainty, often without basic necessities or a clear path to safety. There are currently some 110 million forced displaced, and this number is growing by 10 million each year!

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