Russian troops keep trying to encircle Avdiivka, Ukrainian Defense Forces expand foothold in Kherson region - General Staff

The Russian occupation army continues to use its usual tactics of terror and strikes at numerous civilian objects in our country. Russian troops are launching missile and air strikes, firing from multiple launch rocket systems.

There were 56 combat engagements on the frontline yesterday, and Russians are continuing their attempts to encircle Avdiivka and continue to advance in other areas. This is stated in the report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of the morning of December 28.

During the day, the enemy launched one missile and 77 air strikes, fired 51 times from multiple launch rocket systems at the positions of our troops and populated areas. As a result of Russian terrorist attacks, civilians were killed and wounded. Private houses and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged.

In the evening of December 27, Russian occupants once again attacked Ukraine using 5 Shahed-136/131 type kamikaze drones. Our defenders destroyed 4 attack UAVs. Also, during the current day, the invaders conducted another air strike with three Shahed-136/131 drones. All enemy UAVs were destroyed.

The areas under air strike were Ivanivka, Kharkiv region; Serebryanske forestry, Luhansk region; Spirne, Novomykhailivka, Zolota Niva, Donetsk region; Orikhiv, Preobrazhenka, Zaporizhzhia region; Chervonyi Mayak, Zmiivka, Dudchany and Novoberislav, Kherson region. About 130 settlements in Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson and Mykolaiv regions came under artillery fire.

In the area of responsibility of the operational and strategic grouping of troops "North" on the Volyn and Polissya directions, the operational situation remains without significant changes.

On the Siversky and Slobozhansky directions, the enemy maintains a military presence in the border areas, conducts active sabotage activities to prevent the deployment of our troops to threatened areas, and increases the density of minefields along the state border in the Belgorod region.

In the area of responsibility of the Khortytsia operational and strategic grouping of troops in the Kupyansk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled nine enemy attacks near Sinkivka and east of Ivanivka in Kharkiv region.

In the Liman sector, the Defense Forces repelled 3 enemy attacks in the area of Serebryanske forestry in Luhansk region, where the enemy unsuccessfully tried to break through the defense of our troops.

In the Bakhmut sector, our troops repelled two enemy attacks near Bohdanivka, Donetsk region.

In the area of responsibility of the Tavria operational and strategic grouping of troops in the Avdiivka sector, Ukrainian defenders continue to hold back the enemy, who is making every attempt to surround Avdiivka. Our soldiers are steadfastly holding the line, inflicting significant losses on the invaders. Thus, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 15 attacks east of Novobakhmutivka and Avdiivka and 17 attacks near Severne, Pervomaiske and Nevelske in Donetsk region yesterday.

In the Mariinka sector, the Defense Forces continue to hold back the enemy in the areas of Mariinka and Novomykhailivka in the Donetsk region, where our defenders repelled three attacks.

In the Shakhtarsk sector, the enemy did not conduct any offensive (assault) actions.

In the Zaporizhzhia sector, the Defense Forces repelled three attacks west of Verbove and Robotyne in the Zaporizhzhia region.

In the area of responsibility of the Odesa operational and strategic grouping of troops in the Kherson sector, Ukrainian soldiers continue to expand their foothold. Despite significant losses, the enemy continues to try to drive our units out of their positions. Thus, the enemy made 13 unsuccessful assaults on the positions of the Defense Forces yesterday, received a decent rebuff and retreated.

At the same time, the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to inflict losses in manpower and equipment on the occupation forces, depleting the enemy along the entire front line.

Yesterday, our aviation struck 10 areas of concentration of personnel, weapons and military equipment and 2 enemy anti-aircraft missile systems. Missile troops struck 5 areas of concentration of personnel, weapons and military equipment, 2 command posts, 6 ammunition depots and 2 enemy artillery pieces.

As a reminder, the aggressor country Russia is pursuing its maximalist goals in Ukraine and is not interested in good faith negotiations. Today, the Kremlin is seeking a temporary cessation of hostilities in order to restore the army and continue its aggression with even greater force.

Earlier it was reported that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, told him that Russia was allegedly ready to fight Ukraine for another five years. The Kremlin leader tried to convince his Chinese counterpart that Moscow could win.

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