December 31, 2023

Russian Ministry of Defense: Russia responds to Ukraine attack on Belgorod; up to 670 Ukrainian troops killed in the last 24 hours

Russian Defense Ministry

Yesterday the Armed Forces of Ukraine launched an attack with multiple rocket launchers against the city of Belgorod. Civilians, including children, were killed.

Responding to this terrorist act, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation struck decision-making centres and military facilities used by the Kiev criminal regime in the city of Kharkov.

Representatives of the Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) and Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) who were directly involved in the planning and execution of the terrorist attack against Belgorod were neutralised in a precision missile strike on the former Kharkov Palace Hotel.

There were also up to 200 foreign mercenaries who were to have been involved in terrorist attacks on the territory of the Russian Federation on the border with Ukraine.

High-precision missile strikes on the building of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in Kharkov region and the temporary deployment area of the Right Sector nationalist formation eliminated SBU personnel, foreign mercenaries and members of the Kraken unit who were directly involved in preparing sabotage operations on Russian territory.

In addition, near the village of Zalestsy, Khmelnitsky region, a branch of the National Space Facilities Control Centre, used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces for reconnaissance, was hit with high-precision strikes. Fuel depots in Kharkov and Zaporozhye used to supply Ukrainian forces in Kharkov and Orekhov directions were annihilated.

Furthermore, missile strikes were launched against the temporary deployment areas of the 59th Motorised Infantry Brigade and the 79th Air Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and foreign mercenaries, with a total of up to 600 fighters, as well as against the sites of military hardware and artillery systems in Selidovo, Kurakhovo, and Korotchenko Mine in Donetsk People’s Republic.

As a result, the enemy suffered heavy losses. Two HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems were eliminated. With their help, the Kiev regime planned to launch rocket attacks on Donetsk during the New Year holidays.

We would like to emphasise once again that the Russian Armed Forces are hitting only military facilities and the infrastructure that is directly connected to them.

▫️ The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.

▫️ In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces, supported by helicopters and artillery, repelled four attacks by assault detachments of the 30th and 115th mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Sinkovka (Kharkov region). In addition, manpower of the 1st Operational Brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard was defeated near Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People’s Republic).

Up to 120 Ukrainian troops, one Leopard-2 tanktwo infantry fighting vehicles, and two motor vehicles were neutralised. During the counter-battery warfare, two U.S.-made M777 artillery systems were hit. Also, on the north-eastern outskirts of Kharkov, a POL depot of the 74th Support Centre of the AFU was neutralised.

▫️ In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces, supported by artillery and aviation, repelled an attack launched by a unit of the 63rd Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People’s Republic). Russian troops inflicted damage on enemy’s manpower clusters close to Serebryansky forestry.

The enemy losses were up to 50 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, and three pick-up trucks.

▫️ In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces, in cooperation with Operational-Tactical Aviation and artillery, repelled three attacks of assault groups of the 56th motorised infantry, 24th mechanised, and 80th air assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Bogdanovka and Georgiyevka (Donetsk People’s Republic). Enemy’s manpower clusters near Bogdanovka, Krasnoye, Kleshcheyevka, Andreyevka, and Kurdyumovka (Donetsk People’s Republic) were hit.

The total enemy losses in this direction amounted to 300 troops, two armored fighting vehicles, as well as four motor vehicles. In addition, during the counter-battery warfare, the Russian Armed Forces hit one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, one Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery system, one D-30 gun, one U.S.-made M119 howitzer, as well as one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar.

▫️ In South-Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, in cooperation with artillery, repelled one attack launched by an assault group of the 127th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Priyutnoye (Zaporozhye region), and inflicted fire damage on manpower of the 79th Air Assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the vicinity of Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People’s Republic).

The enemy’s losses amounted to 100 troops and two motor vehicles.

In the course of counter-battery warfare, Russian troops hit one German-made FH70 howitzer, one Msta-B howitzer, and one D-30 gun.

(31 December 2023)

▫️In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces, with the support of artillery and aviation, hit manpower and military hardware of the 118th mechanised and 82nd air assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Rabotino and Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU lost up to 75 servicemen killed and wounded, two armored fighting vehicles, three pick-up trucks, and two D-30 howitzers.

▫️In Kherson direction, Russian troops and artillery fire inflicted losses on the AFU amounting to 25 servicemen, three motor vehicles, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

▫️Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Groups of Forces of the Russian Armed Forces neutralised three MLRS launchers, including two HIMARS and one Alder MLRS, close to Selidovo (Donetsk People’s Republic) and Glubokoye (Kharkov region), one radar of the S-300 SAM system near Sanzheyka (Odessa region), aviation equipment in hangars at the Dnepr airfield (Dnepropetrovsk region) and Shkolny airfield (Odessa region).

Moreover, fuel and ammunition depots of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Zaporozhye and the Belaya Tserkov, manpower and military hardware in 133 areas were hit.

▫️Air defence systems intercepted 14 HIMARS and Olkha MLRS projectiles during the day. In addition, 31 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were neutralised near Spornoye, Volnovakha, Volodino (Donetsk People’s Republic), Stelmakhovka, Verkhnekamenka, Golikovo, Nyrkovo (Lugansk People’s Republic), Vasilyevka (Kherson region), and Ulyanovka (Zaporozhye region).

📊In total, 564 airplanes and 263 helicopters, 10,272 unmanned aerial vehicles, 445 air defence missile systems, 14,412 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,194 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,578 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 16,905 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

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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!

At the heart of this crisis are the political triggers. Armed conflicts, ethnic or religious persecutions, and systemic human rights abuses force millions to flee their homes in terror. Many are displaced within their own national boundaries, while others seek asylum abroad. If these factors change as a result of political shifts at home or the pressures from abroad, they can return to their homes. Forced displacement is thus different from environmentally driven displacement, as victims of climate change may never be able to return to their homes.

The ramifications of any sort of displacement are profound, not just for those directly affected, but also for host communities and countries. Overburdened infrastructures, socio-economic strains, and cultural tensions can arise, necessitating comprehensive strategies to foster harmony and integration. Yet the root causes of forced displacement can be remedied with a concerted focus by local players and international diplomacy.

Organizations like Refugees International play a crucial role in this arena, advocating for the rights and needs of the displaced, conducting on-the-ground assessments, and influencing policymakers to take informed actions. Their relentless work underscores the gravity of the situation and the urgency ofinternational cooperation. But they, too, are overwhelmed by the rapid expansion of the crisis.

International Humanitarian Law (IHL), with its core principles centered on the protection of civilians during conflicts, plays a pivotal role in this discourse. Yet, despite clear legal frameworks, compliance remains
inconsistent. This initiative emphasizes the importance of upholding and reinforcing these international standards.

It’s not just about recognizing the problem; it’s about active engagement. We urge governments, organizations, and individuals to prioritize the rights and needs of the forced displaced. Through collective efforts, informed policies, and sustained advocacy, we can shift the narrative from passive acknowledgment to proactive intervention.