ISW: Ukrainian forces maintain positions in east bank of Kherson

Ukrainian forces maintain positions in the east (left) bank of Kherson Oblast and Russian forces recently made marginal advances in the area.

Russian forces continued attacking along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line on December 18 and likely did not advance, Caliber.Az reports, citing a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

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

Ukrainian Luhansk Oblast Military Administration Head Artem Lysohor stated that Russian forces concentrated the majority of their attacks on Makiivka and that heavy battles took place near Terny.  

The Russian MoD claimed that Russian forces repelled Ukrainian attacks near Synkivka, Lyman Pershyi (12km northeast of Kupyansk), Lake Lyman (northwest of Synkivka), Terny, and Zhytlivka (2km northwest of Kreminna).

In addition, ISW said Russian forces continued attacks near Bakhmut on December 18 but did not make confirmed advances.  

The Russian MoD published footage claiming to show elements of the Russian 98th Guards Airborne (VDV) Division capturing a Ukrainian position northwest of Bakhmut.

The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces repelled up to 17 Russian attacks near Bohdanivka, Klishchiivka, and Andriivka (10km southwest of Bakhmut).

Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets stated that elements of the 72nd Motorized Rifle Brigade (3rd Army Corps) unsuccessfully attacked near Klishchiivka and Andriivka.

The Russian MoD claimed that elements of the Russian Southern Grouping of Forces repelled Ukrainian attacks near Bilohorivka (20km northeast of Bakhmut), Kurdyumivka (13km southwest of Bakhmut), Shumy (23km southwest of Bakhmut and just northwest of Horlivka), and Pivdenne (24km southwest of Bakhmut and immediately northwest of Horlivka).

Russian forces continued offensive operations near Avdiivka on December 18 but did not make confirmed advances.

The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces repelled at least 31 Russian attacks east of Novobakhmutivka (7km north of Avdiivka); south of Tonenke (5km west of Avdiivka); and near Stepove (3km northwest of Avdiivka), Avdiivka, Sieverne (6km west of Avdiivka), Pervomaiske (11km southwest of Avdiivka), and Nevelske (15km west of Avdiivka).

Russian forces continued ground attacks west and southwest of Donetsk City on December 18 and made a confirmed advance.

Geolocated footage published on December 18 indicates that Russian forces marginally advanced along the southern outskirts of Novomykhailivka (10km southwest of Donetsk City).

The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces repelled at least 12 Russian attacks near Novomykhailivka.

Mashovets stated that elements of the Russian 33rd Motorized Rifle Regiment (20th Motorized Rifle Division, 8th Combined Arms Army, Southern Military District) attacked north of Novomykhailivka.

The Russian MoD claimed that Russian forces repelled Ukrainian attacks near Marinka (just west of Donetsk City) and Novomykhailivka.

ISW also said neither Russian nor Ukrainian sources reported Russian or Ukrainian ground attacks in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area on December 18.

Russian forces continued ground attacks in western Zaporizhia Oblast on December 18 but did not make confirmed advances.

The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces repelled Russian attacks near Robotyne, west of Verbove (9km west of Robotyne), and west of Novoprokovka (13km northeast of Robotyne).

Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces conducted unsuccessful ground attacks in western Zaporizhia Oblast on December 18.

The Russian MoD claimed that Russian forces repelled Ukrainian attacks north of Novoprokopivka.

Ukrainian forces maintain positions in the east (left) bank of Kherson Oblast and Russian forces recently made marginal advances in the area.

Geolocated footage published on December 18 indicates that Russian forces marginally advanced in Krynky (30km northeast of Kherson City and 2km from the Dnipro River).

Footage published on December 18 purportedly shows a Ukrainian drone striking a Russian T-90 main battle tank near Krynky.