Russia’s war on Ukraine. 24.12.25
Operational situation
On the Northern Slobozhansky Direction, Russian forces attacked near Andriivka, Oleksiivka, Hrabovske, and Vysoke, and attempted to advance south of Yablunivka. About 100 enemy servicemen entered Hrabovske, attempted to advance toward Ryasne, and are trying to entrench in the southern part of Hrabovske. The 36th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 29th Combined Arms Army deported 52 civilians from Hrabovske and transported them to the Russian Federation on 20 December. The 1st and 3rd battalions of the 30th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 72nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 44th Army Corps partially withdrew from Oleksiivka after artillery fire raids by Ukrainian Defense Forces.
Ukrainian Defense Forces unsuccessfully counterattacked in Hrabovske and Vysoke and are shelling poorly fortified positions of the 83rd Separate Air Assault Brigade with mortars.
On the Southern Slobozhansky direction, the 41st Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 72nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 44th Army Corps and elements of the 74th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion of the division fought for Prylipka. Russian forces attempted to advance near Starytsia, in the Lyman forest, attacked near Sotnytsky Kozachok, Vovchansk, Vovchanski Khutory, and Lyman, and advanced toward Vilcha, Milove, Khatnie, Hryhorivka, Dvorichanske, Odradne, and Kolodyazne.
On the Kupyansk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces advanced south of Zakhidne, counterattacked near Kindrashivka, Radkivka, Holubivka, Sobolivka, and Myrove, successfully counterattack near and within Kupyansk, and cut off the remaining Russian groups in the city from logistics. Russian relief groups unsuccessfully attempt to break through the encirclement from the north.
Russian forces attacked near and inside Kupyansk, near Petropavlivka, Kucherivka, Pishchane, Kurylivka, Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi, Kruhlyakivka, Bohuslavka, Zahryzove, Novoplatonivka, and Nadiia, and advanced toward Cherneshchyna. Units of the “Rubikon” Advanced Unmanned Systems Center deployed in the Kupyansk area to support elements of the 68th Motorized Rifle Division of the 6th Combined Arms Army in Kupyansk. Enemy UAV launch sites are deployed on the eastern bank of the Oskil River, which increases flight time and gives Ukrainian forces more time to react to strikes.
On the Lyman direction, Russian forces attacked near Novoselivka, Drobysheve, Serednie, Stavky, Kolodyazi, and Myrne. Troops of the 25th Combined Arms Army face a serious shortage of UAVs, which slows their advance.
On the Sloviansk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces withdrew from Siversk but keep the entire city under fire control and strike logistics within the town. It has taken the enemy 41 months to capture Siversk.
Russian forces attempted to advance west of Siversk, northwest of Sviato-Pokrovske, and west of Kuzmynivka, and attacked near Siversk, Dronivka, Zakitne, Serebrianka, Pereyizne, Zvanivka, Bondarne, Fedorivka, Pazeno, and Dibrova.
On the Kostyantynivka direction, Russian forces conducted an assault from the directions of Toretsk, Shcherbynivka, and Ivanopillya, fought for Oleksandro-Shultyne, advanced southeast of Kostyantynivka, south of the T0504 Kostyantynivka–Bakhmut highway on the eastern outskirts of Kostyantynivka, fought for Pleshchiivka, attempted to advance in the center and south of Kostyantynivka, northeast of Zaliznyanske, southeast of Minkivka, northwest of Stupochky, northwest of Ivanopillya, south of Berestok, northwest of Rusyn Yar, northeast of Sofiivka, and attacked near Kostyantynivka, Oleksandro-Shultyne, Shcherbynivka, Kleban-Byk, Yablunivka, and toward Stepanivka.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Sofiivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian forces attempted to advance northwest of Nove Shakhove, south and west of Zatyshok, and northeast of Myrnohrad, attacked toward Toretske, and near Dorizhne, Zaporizhzhia, Pokrovsk, Rodynske, Krasnyi Lyman, Sukhetske, Rivne, Novopavlivka, Leontovychi, Kotlyne, Udachne, Novopidhorodnie, Molodetske, Novoserhiyivka, and Hryshyne.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Hryshyne, conducted an assault from the village area and reached the outskirts of the Pokrovsk industrial zone, and advanced east of Rodynske.
On the Oleksandrivka direction, Russian forces attacked near Novopavlivka, Horikhove, Filiya, Dachne, Andriivka-Klevtsove, Oleksandrohrad, Sosnivka, Vorone, Vyshneve, and Oleksiivka.
On the Huliaypole Direction, infantry groups of the enemy’s 36th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 29th Combined Arms Army infiltrated the northern, central, and southern parts of Andriivka. Russian forces attempted to advance northeast of Andriivka, attacked near and inside Huliaypole, toward Ternuvate and Kosivtseve, and near Zelene, Varvarivka, Dobropillya, Nove Zaporizhzhia, Radisne, Herasymivka, Ostapivske, Solodke, Zlahoda, Pryvilne, Rybne, Marfopil, and Dorozhanka.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Andriivka and Ternuvate.
On the Orikhiv direction, Russian forces attacked near Mala Tokmachka, Shcherbaky, Stepove, Plavni, Stepnohirsk, Prymorske, and toward Lukyanivske.
On the Prydniprovske Direction, Russian forces attacked near the Antonivskyi Bridge.
Ukrainian Defense Forces struck a substation in Vynohradove.
General conclusion:
The enemy capture of Vilcha and Prylipka will allow it to advance in the direction of Hrafske and Buhayivka and along the Siverskyi Donets River toward the Pechenihy Reservoir, which in turn will enable the aggressor to approach critical Ukrainian logistical routes toward Velykyi Burluk and crossings over the Pechenihy Reservoir near Staryi Saltiv.
On the Kupyansk Direction, Russian forces attempt to strike Ukrainian logistics, but foggy weather limits the use of UAVs. The occupiers entered Petropavlivka and Kucherivka but failed to secure positions. The 27th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 1st Tank Army conducts combat operations along the Kindrashivka – Radkivka – Holubivka line; its units are forced to traverse more than 30 km of difficult forested terrain under constant UAV and mortar strikes by Ukrainian Defense Forces to reach lines for transitioning to the attack.
On the Sloviansk Direction, Russian forces attempt to break through to Dronivka, using rubber motorboats under fog cover to transport troops across the Siverskyi Donets River for a breakthrough toward Zakitne and Platonivka. Enemy assault groups increasingly enter Siversk without body armor and protective helmets, armed only with automatic rifles. The enemy strikes Ukrainian forces along routes near Sviato-Pokrovske and Riznykivka, forcing a transformation of logistics to alternative routes.
In the Siversk area, over a front length of up to 16 km within a week, units of the 54th Motorized Rifle Brigade, the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade, and the 81st Airmobile Brigade of Ukrainian Defense Forces have withdrawn on average by 5–12 km. The enemy has managed to force the Siverskyi Donets River in several sectors and is successfully developing the offensive with the aim of reaching the approaches to Sloviansk. Ukrainian Defense Forces must urgently transition to forming a defensive line along the Mykolaivka – Nykanorivka – Bilokuzmynivka line.
On the Kostyantynivka Direction, enemy air strikes affect Ukrainian logistics, depriving Ukrainian units of the ability to operate vehicles at distances of 5–6 km beyond the city. Enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups operate on the approaches to Kostyantynivka. Reports of a Russian breakthrough near Virolyubivka and the capture of Klynove are disinformation. The area west of Pleshchiivka is also not under enemy control. Ukrainian Defense Forces strike across the full depth of enemy battle formations in the Dobropillya area from positions north of Myrnohrad and Pokrovsk. Rivers, the lack of bridges, anti-tank ditches, and lowlands in this area limit the enemy’s ability to maneuver.
On the Pokrovsk Direction, the headquarters of the 7th Rapid Reaction Corps of the Air Assault Forces of the Defense Forces is focused on organizing the withdrawal of units from Myrnohrad. Russian forces employ up to 350 FPV drones per day to strike the T0515 Pokrovsk – Rodynske highway. Strikes by units of the “Rubikon” Advanced Unmanned Technologies Center have complicated Ukrainian logistics and pushed the positions of Defense Forces UAV units a further 10 km away from the frontline. Enemy UAVs may reach Pavlohrad if the enemy advances UAV launch sites forward toward Pokrovsk and captures dominant heights in this area.
On the Oleksandrivka Direction, Russian forces use foggy weather conditions to deploy artillery closer to the frontline and employ technological innovations, including upgraded Mavic UAVs capable of detecting Ukrainian UAV positions via Wi-Fi signals, although this is severely complicated by the high density of troops using Internet connectivity.
Supporting operation:
Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out UAV strikes against “Efremov Synthetic Rubber Plant” OJSC in Yefremov, Tula Oblast.
Change in the line of contact (LoC), directions of attacks and counterattacks:
There were 126 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled an enemy attack.
On the Southern Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, the enemy attempted four times to break through Ukrainian defensive lines in the area of Prylipka and toward Hryhorivka.
On the Kupyansk Direction, six enemy attacks occurred. Enemy assault actions were repelled in the area of Kruhlyakivka and toward Petropavlivka and Pishchane.
On the Lyman direction, the enemy conducted five attacks and attempted to wedge into the Ukrainian defenses near Novoselivka, Kolodyazi, and Zarichne.
On the Sloviansk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces stopped an enemy attempt to advance in the area of Dronivka.
On the Kostyantynivka direction, the enemy carried out 16 attacks near Shcherbynivka, Yablunivka, Oleksandro-Shultyne, Kleban-Byk, Rusyn Yar, and toward Sofiivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, 34 enemy assault actions were stopped near Nykanorivka, Rodynske, Chervonyi Lyman, Myrnohrad, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, Novoserhiyivka, Horikhove, and Dachne.
On the Oleksandrivka direction, the enemy conducted eight attacks in the areas of Oleksandrohrad, Sosnivka, Pryvilne, and Rybne.
On the Huliaypole Direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 17 enemy attacks near Huliaypole and toward Dobropillya.
On the Orikhiv Direction, two enemy attacks were repelled near Mala Tokmachka and Stepove.
On the Prydniprovske Direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled two enemy attacks toward the Antonivskyi Bridge.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
The 336th Separate Marine Brigade of the Baltic Fleet is being reorganized into the 120th Marine Division, into which it will be incorporated as the 336th Marine Regiment. Intensive training of division units is ongoing at the Khmelnytskyi training ground in Kaliningrad Oblast. Units of the 336th Separate Naval Infantry Brigade operate near Shakhove and in the direction of Dobropillya together with elements of the recently formed 55th Marine Division of the Pacific Fleet (formerly the 155th Separate Marine Brigade of the Pacific Fleet), the 40th and 61st Separate Marine Brigades, and the 177th Separate Marine Regiment.
The 104th Air Assault Division and the 27th, 67th, 68th, 69th, 70th, 71st, and 72nd Motorized Rifle Divisions had already been formed earlier.
Units of the “Rubikon” Advanced Unmanned Systems Center strike near Shostka with Lancet loitering munitions. The 34th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 49th Combined Arms Army operates near Osoyivka.
The 128th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 44th Army Corps strikes Ukrainian positions near Vilcha; Geran-2 UAV crews and enemy aviation strike near Velykyi Burluk, Kolodyazne, and Prykolotne.
The 352nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 11th Army Corps operates near Kupyansk.
The 85th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 3rd Combined Arms Army strikes Ukrainian positions near Bondarne, while the 169th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 25th Combined Arms Army operates near Yampil.
The 58th Separate SOF Battalion of the 51st Combined Arms Army strikes Ukrainian positions near Kostyantynivka.
The 174th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion of the 150th Motorized Rifle Division and the 33rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Combined Arms Army are advancing toward Dobropillya.
The 242nd Motorized Rifle Regiment and the 944th Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Combined Arms Army strike Ukrainian positions in Novopavlivka.
The 127th Motorized Rifle Division, the 57th and 60th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades, the 305th Artillery Brigade of the 5th Combined Arms Army, and the 38th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 35th Combined Arms Army operate near Huliaypole.
The 291st Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 42nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 58th Combined Arms Army strikes Ukrainian positions near Orikhiv.
Possible operation situation developments:
On the Southern Slobozhanske Direction, the enemy will attempt to complete the occupation of Vovchansk, completely push units of Ukrainian Defense Forces out of the southern part of the city, attempt to break through in the area of Tsehelne toward the Vovchansk–Staryi Saltiv road and the highway to Rubizhne with the forces of a tactical grouping formed from elements of the 6th Combined Arms Army, the 11th and the 44th Army Corps. All of this will significantly slow the advance of the troops toward Bilyi Kolodyaz and southward along the eastern bank of the Siverskyi Donets, in the direction of Verkhnya Pysarivka and Buhayivka.
On the Kupyansk Direction, the enemy will hold its bridgehead in the Dvorichna area north of Kupyansk and simultaneously will develop an offensive by the 47th Tank Division of the 1st Tank Army east of the city. If the military-political leadership of the Russian Federation decides to restore the status quo in Kupyansk, the command of the “Zapad (West)” Operational Grouping will require significant additional reserves; therefore, the redeployment of the 104th Air Assault Division from the Prydniprovske Direction to the Kupyansk Direction should be expected. The 6th Combined Arms Army will attempt to envelop the defense area of the Armed Forces of Ukraine around Kolodyazne and will continue attacking in the Milove–Ambarne and Krasne Pershe–Novovasylivka directions. Using its bridgehead on the Oskil River, the army’s forces will attempt to break through in the Dvorichna–Ridkodub direction. The development of the 6th Combined Arms Army’s offensive will be complicated by an operational disposition stretched from Vovchansk to Kupyansk, which will reduce operational troop densities, as well as by the active involvement of the 68th Motorized Rifle Division in the fighting in Kupyansk. An advance by the army toward Velykyi Burluk in the near term will be possible with minimal chances of operational success and only if the operational reserve of the enemy “Sever (North)” Operational Grouping is committed (likely forces of the 14th Army Corps) or if the 68th Motorized Rifle Division is regrouped from the Kupyansk direction to the Velyki Burluk direction.
The command of the enemy “Zapad (West)” Operational Grouping in the near will term be forced to seek additional reserves for the occupation of Kupyansk and may reinforce its tactical group in Kupyansk by involving forces of the 1st Tank Army (the 4th and 47th Tank Divisions, the 2nd Motorized Rifle Division, and the 27th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade), but any regrouping to the Kupyansk area will weaken the 1st Tank Army on other directions.
On the Lyman Direction, the enemy, using forces of the 20th Combined Arms Army, seeks to fully take control of the Yarova–Novoselivka–Drobysheve–Pryshyb area and to block all lines of communication leading from Lyman to the northwest in the direction of Izium along the northern bank of the Siverskyi Donets. The enemy will be breaking through to the Siverskyi Donets in the area of Ozerne and will attempt to seize the village of Dibrova in order to create a favorable starting position for launching an assault on Lyman from the south and southeast. In addition, through actions on this Direction, the enemy seeks to support the 3rd Combined Arms Army, which is advancing toward Sloviansk along the southern bank of the Siverskyi Donets. The enemy will continue active attacks in the southern part of the offensive zone of the 25th Combined Arms Army in order to develop success to the east and southeast of Lyman and to reach and secure positions along the Dibrova–Ozerne line. The enemy will attempt to penetrate as deeply as possible into the eastern and southeastern parts of Lyman using small infantry groups. By maintaining control of a bridgehead on the Siverskyi Donets in this area, Ukrainian Defense Forces will make it much more challenging for the enemy to launch an offensive towards Sloviansk from this direction. The troops of the 20th and 25th Combined Arms Armies of the enemy’s “Zapad (West)” Operational Grouping will continue offensive actions north and east of Lyman in order to isolate the area of defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine around the city from the northwest and north and to reach the Siverskyi Donets River south of the city in the Raihorodka–Zakitne sector. The enemy’s main tactical tasks are to capture Zakitne and to consolidate on the dominant heights.
On the Sloviansk Direction, the 3rd Combined Arms Army will attempt to break through from the Dronivka–Siversk line to the Zakytne–Riznykivka–Kalenyky–Kryva Luka area, which significantly simplifies the task of the adjacent 25th Combined Arms Army, which is advancing toward Lyman north of the Siverskyi Donets. The main task of the 3rd Combined Arms Army is to advance to maximum depth along the southern bank of the Siverskyi Donets in the western direction, which will allow the command of the “Zapad (West)” Operational Grouping not only to concentrate the main forces of the 20th and 25th Combined Arms Armies on the assault on Lyman without diverting them to block the positions of Ukrainian Defense Forces along the river, but also to ensure maneuver of forces in the zones of the 3rd, 20th, and 25th Combined Arms Armies across the Siverskyi Donets outside the fire influence of Ukrainian Defense Forces. In operational terms, the enemy offensive toward Sloviansk will to some extent develop frontally and currently has the best chances of success on both the Lyman and Siversk Directions, namely reaching the near approaches to Sloviansk. Ukrainian Defense Forces will address not so much the problem of holding Siversk as seeking opportunities to slow the enemy advance along the southern bank of the Siverskyi Donets River toward Raihorodka and Sloviansk.
The enemy’s “Yug (South)” Operational Grouping will attack in the directions of Oleksiyevo-Druzhkivka and Druzhkivka, attempting to cut the H20 highway Kostyantynivka–Sloviansk, which will complicate the logistics of the Ukrainian Defense Forces’ 19th Army Corps in Kostyantynivka. The enemy will deliver concentric strikes simultaneously from Chasiv Yar, Toretsk, the Kleban-Byk Reservoir, and from the Poltavka–Yablunivka line. The enemy’s naval infantry grouping operating on the adjacent flank of the 8th and 51st Combined Arms Armies will attempt to break through from the southwest to the near approaches of Druzhkivka and Kostyantynivka, bypassing them from the west. The enemy’s 3rd Army Corps and the formations of the 8th Combined Arms Army will attempt to break through toward Kostyantynivka, reach the T0504 road, and ease their advance toward Kostyantynivka through Predtechyne and Stupochky. In the area southeast of Kostyantynivka, the enemy will attempt to create an informational pretext regarding a “successful start of the battle for the capture of Kostyantynivka” and will try to isolate the units of Ukrainian Defense Forces’ 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the 11th Army Corps, which continue to successfully defend the Chasiv Yar area, from the defense area in Kostyantynivka. The enemy’s “Yug (South)” Operational Grouping will attempt break through to the Novodmytrivka–Chervone line in an attempt to completely collapse Ukrainian defenses in the Chasiv Yar area by applying pressure from the south.
On the Oleksandrivka and Huliaypole Directions, the enemy’s “Vostok (East)” Operational Grouping will attempt to envelop the Huliaypole defensive area of Ukrainian Defense Forces from the north, block its main lines of communication, reach the Huliaypole–Pokrovske road on the Dobropillya–Varvarivka section, reach the Khaychur River, force it in the Danylivka–Dobropillya area, and encircle Huliaypole from the northwest. Forces of the 36th Combined Arms Army and elements of the right flank of the 5th Combined Arms Army will attempt to break through toward Pokrovske from the southeast. Through active offensive actions in the Danylivka area, the enemy will attempt to isolate the 102nd Territorial Defense Brigade of Ukrainian Defense Forces in Huliaypole from the main forces in the Pokrovske–Oleksandrivka area.
On the Orikhiv Direction, the enemy is capable of creating an operational breakthrough toward Novomykolayivka to bypass the Orikhiv defensive area from the north. Russian military command in the Southwestern theater of military operations will attempt to collapse the defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine southeast of Zaporizhzhia and break through to its near approaches, to be achieved by simultaneous advances toward Zaporizhzhia both from the east, from the Donetsk side along the Donetsk–Zaporizhzhia highway, and from the south. The enemy’s “Dnepr” Operational Grouping will attempt to break through from the Plavni–Kamianske line along the left bank of the Dnipro River toward Stepnohirsk, and from the Stepove–Mali Shcherbaky line in the northern direction with the aim of reaching the near approaches to the city of Zaporizhzhia.
On the Prydniprovske direction, the command of the enemy’s “Dnepr” Operational Grouping will continue trying to take control of most of the island zone in the Dnipro delta in the direction of Kherson, will try to create a tactical bridgehead on the right bank, and to eliminate the tactical bridgeheads of the 30th Marine Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces in the area of the automobile and railway bridges near Antonivka.
Russian operational losses from 24.02.22 to 24.12.25
Personnel - almost 1,200 370 (+1,090);
Tanks – 11,449 (+3);
Armored combat vehicles ‒ 23,796 (+4);
Artillery systems – 35,376 (+45);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,579 (+3);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,263 (0);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 71,125 (+159);
Aircraft - 434 (0);
Helicopters – 347 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 94,197 (+1,031);
Intercepted cruise and other missiles – 4,107 (+34);
Boats/ships – 30 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
On the night of 24 December, Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 116 strike UAVs, including about 90 Shahed-type drones, as well as Gerbera and other UAV models. According to the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Ukrainian air defense neutralized 60 UAVs in the northern, southern, and eastern parts of the country. A significant portion of the strikes was directed against a critical infrastructure facility in Chernihiv Oblast; in total, 48 UAV impacts were recorded at 19 locations.
For the second consecutive day, Russian forces carried out deliberate attacks against Ukraine’s oil and gas infrastructure, employing a combined total of nearly 100 Shahed-type UAVs against Ukrnafta production facilities. As reported by Naftogaz CEO Serhii Koretskyi, critical damage to the energy system was recorded, as a result of which equipment operations have currently been suspended.
On the night of 24 December, Russian occupation forces conducted another attack on Zaporizhzhia, dropping three aerial bombs on the city. Enemy attack resulted in impacts on residential development and caused fires. Four people were injured.
During the day on 24 December, Russian forces delivered a series of precision strikes against a combined heat and power plant in the immediate suburbs of Kharkiv. One person was killed and 13 others were injured as a result of the attack. The attack caused a significant drop in voltage in the city, affecting heat supply and the operation of public transport. Where technically possible, the energy system is being switched to “energy island” mode to mitigate the impact on residents.
Throughout the day, attacks on Kharkiv’s energy infrastructure continued. As a result of the strikes, the capacity of one heat supply facility was significantly reduced, and some districts of the city are also without hot water.
On 24 December, Russian occupation forces struck Chernihiv: an enemy drone hit a multi-story residential building, causing a fire. There were no casualties.
In the Sumy community, as a result of an attack by Russian UAVs, an impact was recorded in Verkhnie Pishchane. The enemy strike caused a vehicle to catch fire, injuring a 20-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl.
On Wednesday, Russian forces attacked a civilian vehicle with a drone in the border village of Zaliznyi Mist, Chernihiv Oblast, killing a 39-year-old man.
During the day, Russian forces attacked the Nikopol area, the Synelnykove area, and the Kryvyi Rih district of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, using artillery and UAVs. In Nikopol District, the district center as well as the Marhanets, Myrove, Pokrovsk, and Chervonohryhorivka communities came under fire. A 45-year-old man was injured. An industrial enterprise, a lyceum, two cafes, nine residential houses, outbuildings, and gas pipelines were damaged, and one structure was completely destroyed.
In the evening of 24 December, the Russian army carried out a series of strikes across regions of Ukraine, attacking critical infrastructure in Kharkiv, Sumy Oblast, and Cherkasy Oblast. In Cherkasy District, air defense forces neutralized a missile, but the blast wave damaged an educational institution, a garage cooperative, and a cemetery, and one person sustained minor injuries. In Kharkiv, impacts were recorded in the Slobidskyi and Shevchenkivskyi districts against facilities that provide heat and water supply, and in Trostianets the enemy again struck with a ballistic missile, damaging residential and office premises.
As a result of Russian shelling on 24 December, several important energy facilities were damaged in Chernihiv District. According to Chernihivoblenergo energy company, the strikes left consumers in the city of Chernihiv and a number of surrounding villages without power.
Due to the deterioration of the security situation, the Coordination Headquarters for Mandatory Evacuation of the Population under Martial Law decided to conduct a mandatory evacuation of children together with their parents or legal guardians from 19 towns and villages in Donetsk Oblast.
In areas of active hostilities in Donetsk Oblast, there are currently 34,482 civilians across towns and villages in 21 communities, including the recently added Druzhkivka territorial community. According to the Donetsk Oblast Military Administration, a total of 193,698 residents remain in territory of the oblast controlled by the Ukrainian authorities. At the same time, since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, more than 1,320,600 people have been evacuated from the region, including over 202,000 children and about 47,300 persons with disabilities.