Russians continue to attack Kupiansk-Svatove-Kreminna line – ISW

The Russian occupiers continued their attempts to advance along the Kupiansk-Svatove-Kreminna line on 18 December, but failed. They presumably succeeded near Klishchiivka and Andriivka, though.

Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW)

Quote: "Russian forces continued attacking along the Kupiansk-Svatove-Kreminna line on 18 December and likely did not advance. 

The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces repelled Russian assaults northeast and east of Kupiansk near Synkivka (9 km northeast of Kupiansk) and east of Petropavlivka (7 km east of Kupiansk), northwest of Kreminna near Makiivka (23 km northwest of Kreminna), west of Kreminna in the area east of Terny (17 km east of Kreminna), and south of Kreminna near Spirne (30 km south of Kreminna)."

Details: Artem Lysohor, Head of Luhansk Oblast Military Administration, said that Russian troops had concentrated most of their attacks on Makiivka, with heavy fighting taking place near Terny.

Russian propagandists claimed that Russian troops were trying to break through Ukrainian defences in the area of Synkivka and Serebrianka Forest south of Kreminna, but Ukrainian troops were counterattacking in these areas.

The propagandists also claimed that fighting was taking place near Ivanivka (20 km southeast of Kupiansk).

The report says that the Russians successfully attacked near Klishchiivka and Andriivka.

Russian troops also continued ground attacks in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast on 18 December, but did not make any confirmed advances.

At the same time, Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces conducted unsuccessful ground attacks in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast on 18 December.

To quote the ISW’s Key Takeaways on 18 December:

• A combination of artillery ammunition shortages and delays in the provision of Western security assistance is likely causing Ukrainian forces to husband materiel and may delay future Ukrainian counteroffensive operations.
• General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief, declined to comment on recent Western reporting about Ukrainian counteroffensive and Russian offensive plans for 2024.
• Colonel Yurii Ihnat, Ukrainian Air Force Spokesperson, stated on 18 December that Russian forces have enough drones to launch daily strikes against Ukraine from different directions.
• The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) is reportedly forming four new military transport aviation regiments, although these efforts are likely aimed at reorganising existing military transport aviation units in support of Russia’s force posturing rather than adding new capability in the short term.
• The Russian Government Commission on Legislative Activity supported a bill that would criminalise "Russophobia" abroad, likely as part of ongoing efforts to maintain and increase Russian influence in post-Soviet countries.
• Russian officials simplified requirements to obtain Russian citizenship for Belarusian, Kazakh, and Moldovan citizens amid continued hostility towards migrants in Russian society.
• The European Union (EU) adopted its 12th sanctions package in connection with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
• Russian forces continued offensive operations along the Kupiansk-Svatove-Kreminna line, near Bakhmut, near Avdiivka, west and southwest of Donetsk City, and in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast and made a confirmed advance southwest of Donetsk City.
• Eduard Basurin, Former Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) People’s Militia Spokesperson, claimed that more than 25,000 Russian personnel are serving with Cossack volunteer formations in Ukraine as of 18 December.
• Kremlin-appointed Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova continues to deny Russian and Belarusian involvement in the forced deportation of Ukrainian children from occupied areas.

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