Ukraine War December 18: Russia opens attack direction from Bakhmut to Charsov Yar

War in Ukraine at the Bakhmut front (Illustration: US GEGE).

Russia opens route from Bakhmut to Charsov Yar

Rybar channel reports that in the Soledar direction, in the Bakhmut epicenter, active clashes continue on the Chasov Yar - Khromovo highway, where Ukraine has built a network of fortified positions.

Russian paratroopers, with the support of UAVs, carried out offensive operations in the area between Bogdanovka and Krasnoe north of Bakhmut, breaking through the first line of enemy defense, opening a path from Bakhmut straight to Chasov Yar.

According to Ayden Channel, south of Bakhmut, the hill west of Kleshchiivka has been taken and Moscow forces are developing around Highway 0506. The areas in red boxes in the map below will become a priority for Moscow forces.

Once these areas collapse, Ukraine will find it difficult to maintain supplies to Ivanivske and will be forced to retreat or accept encirclement in this area. The road to Charsov Yar is getting shorter and shorter for Moscow's forces.

There are reports that Ukraine has finally retreated, completely abandoning Kleshchiivka and the surrounding areas. However, the fighting is still complicated, making it difficult to determine exactly soon.

Map of the Ukrainian war in the Bakhmut region as of December 17 (Photo: Ayden).

Avdiivka may collapse like Bakhmut

Rybar channel said that in the Avdiivka area, Russia continues its campaign to capture the fortified area of ​​Ukraine in a pincer movement.

On the northern flank, battles were taking place on the outskirts of Stepovoe and in the forest belt on the approaches to Novokalinovo.

On the southern flank, the situation has not changed: after several days of bad weather, the activities of both sides in this area have decreased. In the Nevelskoe area, Ukraine tried to attack the Russian forward positions, but without success.

According to the RVvoenkory channel, the battles near Avdiivka followed a similar scenario as in Bakhmut. The Russian troops broke through the defenses along both flanks, making the defense of the cities impossible.

Lacking similar fortifications as well as a second line of defense and sufficient reserves like Moscow's in the south, it was only a matter of time before the Ukrainian forces fell.

In addition, Moscow has a superior advantage in UAVs, using up to 70 units per day, continuously hunting for Ukrainian targets in the region.

Map of the Ukrainian war in the Avdiivka area as of December 17 (Photo: Abduljabbar1612).

Other fronts continue to see fierce fighting.

Rybar channel reported that in the Kupyansk region, fighting continues near Sinkovka, in the Kremennaya area and in the Torskoe promontory and Serebryansky forest. Moscow is strengthening its forces and stepping up its offensive.

In the Orekhov area, Russian units continued their offensive, regaining positions lost during the summer. Ukraine was being pressed from two directions at once: west of Rabotino and north of Verbovoe.

Kiev forces attempted to launch local counterattacks but failed. On the contrary, Russian airborne and infantry units engaged in a powerful offensive near Rabotino and Verbovoy , successfully capturing positions, knocking out many Ukrainian fighters and weapons.

According to the RVvoenkory channel, Moscow forces have gained the upper hand and are capitalizing on their success by launching a series of powerful attacks along the Kopani - Rabotino - Novoprokopovka - Verbovoe defense line.

In the Kopani - Rabotino - Novoprokopovka area, Moscow forces, supported by tanks and artillery, are carrying out attacks on Ukrainian positions. They have knocked Ukrainian infantry out of their trenches and advanced up to 1 km in Rabotino and Novoprokopovka.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine admitted that they had lost the initiative. In the morning report on December 17, they mentioned 12 enemy attacks west of Novopokrovka and Rabotino, and in the evening report they reported 3 attacks west of Verbovoy and Rabotino.

Map of the Ukrainian war in the Rabotino and Verbovoy regions as of December 17 (Photo: RVvoenkory).

Ukraine confirms Moscow increases reserve troops, attempts to capture Kupyansk

Kyiv Independent reported that Volodymyr Fito, head of the Ukrainian Army's communications department, confirmed on December 16 that Moscow is stepping up efforts to capture Kupyansk in Kharkov, moving forces of assault battalions to the area to compensate for heavy losses.

Ukrainian Army Commander Oleksandr Syrskyi said enemy forces were trying to capture the village of Synkivka in Kharkov Oblast, hoping to pave the way for a blockade of nearby Kupyansk.

Ukraine says it has repelled 25 attacks in Avdiivka

According to a report by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on December 17, 54 clashes took place on Sunday, most of the enemy attacks were repelled in the direction of Liman, Kupyansk, Avdiivka, Marinka, Bakhmut, Zaporizhia, Ukrainska Pravda reported.

Ukrainian forces continue to hold positions on the left bank of the Dnieper and Kherson regions, causing many losses to the Russian side.

President Zelensky thanks intelligence, SBU and Ukrainian Air Force

Ukrainska Pravda reported that in his evening speech on December 17, President Zelensky thanked the Main Intelligence Directorate, the Security Service of Ukraine, the Air Force and the Foreign Intelligence Service for their strong work.

"And special thanks to the Main Intelligence Directorate, the SBU, the Air Force and the Foreign Intelligence Service. There are no details in that case, just one word - powerful. Thank you!", he said.

According to President Zelensky, the world helps Ukraine "when it sees that the state and its people are doing everything to protect themselves, when they see that this country really has prospects to protect itself."

He thanked all the people in Ukraine who, week after week, have proven to the world with their strength that "Ukraine will stand firm, maintain its independence and win."

Ukrainian President on a visit to the front line (Photo: AP).

Sabotage forces raid Belgorod region, destroy Russian stronghold

According to the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Directorate (GRU), military clashes occurred near the village of Terebreno, Belgorod region in Russian territory and a stronghold was destroyed, Ukrainska Pravda reported.

The GUR report reads: "The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine confirms the fact of military clashes near the village of Terebreno, Belgorod region."

As a result of the attack carried out by opponents of the Kremlin regime in the Belgorod region, a stronghold of the Russian army was destroyed.

At around 1 p.m. on December 17, the governor of Russia's Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said that on the border of the village of Terebreno, Krasnoyaruzhsky district, according to preliminary information, "there was a gun battle with the enemy."

The governor later clarified that there were no civilian casualties but electricity and gas supply lines were damaged.

Ukraine successfully attacked a Russian military airport in the Rostov region.

Ukrainska Pravda reported that in the early morning of December 17, the Security Service (SBU) and the Armed Forces of Ukraine carried out a special operation, attacking an airport in the Rostov region.

“Despite Moscow’s tradition of claiming to shoot down all UAVs, in reality the SBU and the Ukrainian armed forces inflicted significant losses on the enemy at the base,” the SBU said.

The airport was an important target because the Russian 559th Tactical Air Regiment was stationed there. It is known that at the time of the airstrike, there were up to 20 Su-34 aircraft, 3 radar stations and other equipment present at the airport.

Su-34, Su-30SM and MiG-31 fighter jets at a Russian airbase (Illustration photo: Russian Ministry of Defense)

Ukraine says Russian air defense shot down its own Su-25

The Kyiv Independent reported that Russian air defense forces shot down their own Su-25 jet, Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola O Meatchuk said on December 17.

"I can say with confidence that it was not a Ukrainian plane," General Oleshchuk added.

Russia is enjoying growing air superiority near the front line, and this is one of the reasons given by Ukrainian officials and military observers to explain the failure of the summer counteroffensive.

Russia and Ukraine attack each other with UAVs

The Guardian reported that Russia and Ukraine exchanged dozens of UAV attacks on Sunday, December 17.

With the front lines increasingly locked down as inclement weather approaches, UAVs have become even more useful. The explosion of low-cost UAVs on the commercial market in recent years has turned them into effective weapons for surveillance and strikes deep into enemy territory.

According to AP , the Russian Defense Ministry said on December 17 that at least 35 Ukrainian UAVs were shot down overnight in three regions in southwestern Russia.

Meanwhile, Ukraine claims a Russian air base housing bombers was attacked by UAVs.

On the other hand, also on the morning of Sunday, December 17, the Ukrainian air force said they shot down 20 UAVs and 1 Kh-59 cruise missile launched by the Russian army during the night of the attack on southern and western Ukraine.

Ukraine says nearly 350,000 Russian soldiers killed or wounded

The Guardian reported that the Ukrainian General Staff reported the latest Russian casualty figures.

That figure is higher than U.S. intelligence reports, according to Ukrainian military estimates. A U.S. intelligence report declassified this week estimated the fighting had cost Russia 315,000 dead and wounded.

Ukraine said Russia also lost 5,739 tanks, 10,692 armored fighting vehicles, 10,766 vehicles and fuel tanks, 8,137 artillery systems, 923 multiple launch rocket systems, 609 air defense systems, 324 aircraft, 324 helicopters, 6,278 UAVs, 22 ships and 1 submarine.

Russian helicopters attack Ukrainian targets in Kupyansk (Source: ZvezdaTV)

Russia not interested in extending Black Sea grain deal

Moscow is not interested in extending the Black Sea deal, which collapsed after Russia withdrew in July, Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev was quoted by state news agency RIA as saying.

The agreement allows for the export of food and commercial fertilizers (including ammonia) from three important Ukrainian Black Sea ports: Odessa, Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi. In total, 33 million tons of grain left Ukrainian ports as of July.

"Our grain export volumes, taking into account the conclusion of the grain deal, have not decreased, but even slightly increased," RIA quoted Minister Patrushev as saying.

Egypt and other countries have called on President Vladimir Putin to revive the grain deal, but the Russian president said in September that Moscow would only extend it if the West fulfilled its responsibilities, facilitating Russian food and fertilizer exports.

According to AP, Guardian, RIA, Kyiv Independent, Ukrainska Pravda, Rybar, Ayden, RVvoenkory

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/chien-su-ukraine-1812-nga-mo-huong-tan-cong-tu-bakhmut-toi-charsov-yar-20231218104234566.htm