Russia's war on Ukraine. 27.12.24
Operational situation
On the Kursk direction, fighting continued near Leonidovo, Cherkasskya Konopelka, Guevo, Kurilovka, and in the forests of the Sudzha district.
The "Siversk" Operational Tactical Group (OTG) counterattacked near Guevo and Leonidovo, slowing the enemy's advance.
On the Kharkiv direction, Russian forces are attempting to advance near Starytsia along the Siverskyi Donets River toward Derhachi and Zolochiv. They attacked near Vysoka Yaruha, Lyptsi, Starytsia, and Vovchansk, and continue assaults near Kozacha Lopan. However, units of the "Kharkiv" Operational Tactical Group (OTG) maintain positions on adjacent tactical heights and counterattacked from Lyptsi toward Hlyboke.
On the Kupyansk direction, the command of the 69th Motorized Rifle Division has so far been unable to significantly expand the bridgehead south of Dvorichna, despite several attempts to advance toward the R79 road connecting Kupyansk and Dvorichna. Enemy assault groups tried to advance in the area of the "Korobochkyne" reserve and toward the village of Zapadne but failed.
The 1st Motorized Rifle Regiment and 1st Tank Regiment of the 2nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 1st Tank Army have unsuccessfully attempted to expand the bridgehead on the left bank of the Oskil River near Kruhlyakivka.
In the direction of Borova, the enemy has deployed the 252nd Motorized Rifle Regiment and 237th Tank Regiment of the 3rd Motorized Rifle Division of the 20th Combined Arms Army, the 25th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 6th Combined Arms Army, and the 27th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 1st Tank Army.
On the Lyman direction, Russian forces attacked near Yampolivka, Terny, Druzhelyubivka, Torske, Serebriansk Forest, and Hryhorivka.
On the Siversk direction, Russian forces attacked near Bilohorivka.
On the Kramatorsk direction, Russian forces attacked near Chasiv Yar, Stupochky, Bila Hora, and Predtechyne. They are amassing reserves near Chasiv Yar in preparation for future assaults and are concentrating on capturing the refractory materials plant in the center of Chasiv Yar.
On the Toretsk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces regained lost positions on Papanin Street in northern Toretsk.
Russian forces advanced to the "Tsentralna" mine and the central market on Mayakovskoho Street in the center of Toretsk. They attacked near Dachne, Dyliivka, Druzhba, and Shcherbynivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian forces are close to capturing Novovasylivka, have advanced west of Pushkyne, in the center of Novyi Trud, east of Ukrainka, toward Uspenivka, between Novovasylivka and Novoelyzavetivka, south of Vovkove, west of Pishchane, along the railway northeast of Shevchenkove, east of Sukhy Yar, north and northwest of Hrodivka, and crossed the Kazennyi Torets River east of Myrolyubivka. The enemy has reached a line 3.5 km from the T0406 highway southwest of Pokrovsk. The enemy attacked near Pokrovsk, Zelene Pole, Vozdvyzhenka, Myrolyubivka, Promin, Lysivka, Dachenske, Novyi Trud, Zelene, Shevchenkove, Novotroitske, Vovkove, Novovasylivka, Pishchane, Novoelyzavetivka, and Novoolenivka.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Pishchane, Novovasylivka, and Novotroitske, regaining lost positions on the northeastern outskirts of Vovkove.
The 433rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 27th Motorized Rifle Division, part of the 74th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, and the 239th Tank Regiment of the 90th Tank Division managed to break into the tactical zone near Pishchane, advancing northwest, and farther west toward Novovasylivka.
The command of the "Tsentr (Center)" Operational Grouping is attempting to cut two roads west of Pokrovsk—to Mezhova and the E50 highway to Pavlohrad—or bring them under heavy fire control.
On the Kurakhove direction, the situation is characterized by increased stability of Ukrainian Defense Forces' positions under the "Khortytsia" OSG along the critical line for the entire Kurakhove bridgehead—the Sukhi Yaly River. The forces of the 29th and 8th Combined Arms Armies and the 68th Army Corps have been unable to make significant advances northward, even with the involvement of units from the 114th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 51st Combined Arms Army and the 57th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 5th Combined Arms Army.
The pace of the enemy's advance on the southern flank of the Kurakhove bridgehead has significantly slowed. Intense defensive battles are ongoing near Uspenivka, Konstyantynopolske, Sukhi Yaly, and Zelenivka, with the enemy attempting to break northward across the river. The 80th and 6th Tank Regiments and the 228th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 90th Tank Division, reinforced by the 67th and 87th Separate Motorized Rifle Regiments, have made no significant progress along the Zorya–Sontsivka line to completely outflank the "Khortytsia" OSG’s defending units in the Kurakhove area. Assault groups of the 5th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 51st Combined Arms Army have so far been unable to advance significantly west of Stari Terny. They managed to expand their penetration north of the village, but Shevchenkove (lower) west of Stari Terny remains under Defense Forces' control.
Ukrainian Defense Forces in the Yantarne area continue to hold the bridgehead on the southern bank of the river and maintain control of the crossing.
On the Vremivka direction, the 40th Separate Marines Brigade of the Pacific Fleet and the 336th Separate Marines Brigade of the Baltic Fleet managed to cut the main "Khortytsia" OSG’s logistical and maneuver routes north of Velyka Novosilka in the area of Novyi Komar and Rozdolne. The forward units of the 37th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade and the 5th Tank Brigade of the 36th Combined Arms Army, which have reached Velyka Novosilka from the east and southeast, capturing Blahodatne, Makarivka, and Storozhove, are unable to launch an assault on the area of Neskuchne, Vremivka, and Velyka Novosilka.
Units of the 127th Motorized Rifle Division and the 60th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 5th Combined Arms Army have failed to bypass this area from the west or cut the Velyka Novosilka–Uspenivka road west of Vremivka, despite approaching from the southwest to within 2.5 km of the road near Neskuchne.
On the Orikhiv direction, Russian forces attempt to advance south and southwest from Novodanylivka and near Kamianske, attacking in the area of Novoandriivka and Novodanylivka.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Kamianske.
On the Prydniprovskyi direction, Russian forces attempted to advance on islands in the Dnipro River delta but failed. The enemy is conducting reconnaissance and deploying 2–3 boats with squads of 5–7 soldiers in attempts to seize sections of the coastline on the right bank and on Kozatskyi Island.
General conclusion:
On the Kupyansk direction, the enemy is delivering its main strike south of Kupyansk -Vuzlovyi within the offensive sector of the 2nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 1st Tank Army and the 3rd Motorized Rifle Division of the 20th Combined Arms Army in the direction of Kruhlyakivka–Zahryzove and is attempting to expand a tactical penetration toward Borivska Andriivka along the Lozova–Zelenyi Hai line. The goal is a breakthrough to the village of Borova, toward which a grouping comparable to an army is advancing—the main forces of a motorized rifle division and two motorized rifle brigades. Over the past five days of intense fighting, the enemy has achieved only limited progress in this direction northeast and east of Zahryzove and north and south of Lozova.
On the Pokrovsk direction, the enemy is advancing west of Pokrovsk aiming to reach the M30 Pokrovsk–Pavlohrad highway. Over the past two weeks, the enemy has been attacking only with small infantry groups of 2 to 5 individuals, without employing heavy equipment. The situation of Ukrainian Defense Forces continues to deteriorate. The enemy is gradually expanding its penetration south of Pokrovsk. The 90th Tank Division has captured Ukrainka and Novoolenivka and advanced to Novoelyzavetivka.
On the Vremivka direction, the command of the enemy’s "Vostok (East)" Operational Grouping will attempt to capture Velyka Novosilka despite a lack of reserves.
On the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove directions, the enemy command will have to address the dilemma of simultaneously capturing Pokrovsk and compressing the Kurakhove bridgehead without disrupting the combat formations of the 90th Tank Division and redeploying additional troops from the Toretsk direction of the 51st Combined Arms Army or regrouping the 8th Combined Arms Army here.
The steadfast "Khortytsia" OSG defense along the Sukhyi Yaly River is already beginning to significantly influence the situation both across the entire Kurakhove direction and in the two neighboring directions—Pokrovsk and Vremivka.
Change in the line of contact (LoC):
There were 171 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Kharkiv direction, there were two enemy attacks in the areas of Vovchansk and Starytsia.
On the Kupyansk direction, the occupiers conducted nine attacks. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled enemy assaults toward Zapadne, Lozova, and Kruhlyakivka, as well as Bohuslavka and Nova Kruhlyakivka.
On the Lyman direction, supported by aviation, the enemy carried out 25 attacks, attempting to advance near Kopanky, Cherneshchyna, Novoserhiyivka, Platonivka, Zelenyi Hai, Druzhelyubivka, Makiivka, Terny, Zarichne, and Torske.
On the Siversk direction, the aggressor attempted four assaults to dislodge Ukrainian defenders from positions near Bilohorivka and Hryhorivka but failed.
On the Kramatorsk direction, 4 attacks occurred near Chasiv Yar, Stupochky, Bila Hora, and Oleksandro-Shultyne.
On the Toretsk direction, the enemy carried out 13 attacks in the areas of Dyliivka and Toretsk.
On the Pokrovsk direction. Ukrainian Defense Forces stopped 42 Russian assault and offensive actions toward Vozdvyzhenka, Myrolyubivka, Promin, Lysivka, Zelenyi, Dachenske, Novyi Trud, Pishchane, Pokrovsk, Novoolenivka, Vovkove, Shevchenko, and Novotroitske.
On the Kurakhove direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 23 enemy assaults, with the main offensive efforts concentrated near Petropavlivka, Slovyanka, Andriivka, and Kurakhove.
On the Vremivka direction, the enemy conducted 24 assaults near Yantarne, Vremivka, Konstyantynopil, Novyi Komar, and Konstyantynopolske.
On the Orikhiv direction, near Novoandriivka, the invaders made a futile attempt to push Ukrainian Defense Forces from their positions.
On the Prydniprovskyi direction, Russian invaders attacked Ukrainian positions three times but suffered losses and retreated.
On the Kursk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 20 enemy attacks, while the enemy conducted 24 airstrikes.
In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, the enemy naval group on combat duty consists of:
Black Sea: 1 ship, including 1 cruise missile carrier; the total salvo is 4 cruise missiles.
Mediterranean Sea: 8 ships, including 3 cruise missile carriers; the total salvo is 26 cruise missiles.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
Units of the 98th and 106th Airborne Divisions operate near Kruglenkoe.
15th and 30th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades of the 2nd Combined Arms Army are active near Novoolenivka, Vovkove, Pishchane, and Solone.
On the southern flank of the Kurakhove bridgehead, in addition to enemy forces advancing toward Vremivka, the 36th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 29th Combined Arms Army, 39th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 68th Army Corps, 114th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 51st Combined Arms Army, 57th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 5th Combined Arms Army, and a consolidated tactical group of the 18th Machine Gun-Artillery Division are operating. The 20th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Combined Arms Army is advancing on the Kurakhove bridgehead from the east and southeast. In Kurakhove itself, as well as to its east and south, assault groups of the 110th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 51st Combined Arms Army and the 150th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Combined Arms Army actively operate.
On the Zaporizhzhia direction, the 14th Separate SOF Brigade and the 247th Air Assault Regiment of the 7th Air Assault Division are active.
Possible operation situation developments:
On the Kramatorsk direction, the "Khortytsia" OSG units will be forced to retreat to the Kostyantynivka area if the enemy reaches the Chervone–Stupochky line and simultaneously launches an offensive northward at the junction of its 41st and 51st Combined Arms Armies from the Novooleksandrivka–Arkhanhelske line, advancing to the Yablunivka–Oleksandro-Kalynove line on the Toretsk direction. If the Chasiv Yar Refractory Materials Plant is lost, it will be under enemy control by the end of December.
On the Pokrovsk direction, a withdrawal of the “Donetsk” OTG to the Ukrainka – Andriivka – Rozlyv – Novoocheretuvate line is expected. The length of the line of contact will be reduced, thereby tightening the combat formations of the operational-tactical group. As soon as the enemy completes the formation of the southern flank of Pokrovsk’s envelopment with the forces of the 2nd Combined Arms Army, the 41st Combined Arms Army will launch an offensive towards Myrnohrad and Novoekonomichne to form the northern flank.
If the enemy advances to the area where the Vovcha and Solona rivers converge near Dachne from the north, the position of Ukrainian Defense Forces units in Kurakhove will become critically complicated unless they manage to retreat in time. On the Zelenivka–Ulakli and Yasna Polyana–Rozlyv directions, the enemy may additionally deploy the main forces of the 39th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade and part of the forces of the 57th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 5th Combined Arms Army of the "Vostok (East)" Operational Grouping, which had previously been held in reserve by this grouping's command.
On the Orikhiv direction, the enemy command may deploy an assault grouping consisting of the 42nd Motorized Rifle Division, the 136th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, and the 503rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 19th Motorized Rifle Division of the 58th Combined Arms Army. Possible directions of advance may include Nesteryanka–Novoandriivka and Myrne–Shcherbaky. The objective may be to bypass the city of Orikhiv from the west, cut the logistical route between Orikhiv and Stepove, and create conditions for encircling the defensive positions of the "Tavria" Operational Strategic Group around Orikhiv from two sides simultaneously. The possibility of forming another assault grouping (forces of the 35th Combined Arms Army) cannot be ruled out, which could strike in the general direction of Myrne–Charivne, bypass Orikhiv from the east, or encircle the city from the north by breaking through to the village of Omelnyk.
The enemy's military command in the south-western theater of operations until March 2025 will try to reach the administrative borders of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts and the junction of Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk Oblasts near the village of Temyrivka thus achieving the military-political goal of the “Special Military Operation”, namely occupation of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts.
Russian operational losses from 24.02.22 to 27.12.24
Personnel - almost 782,510 (+1,650);
Tanks 9,644 (+14);
Armored combat vehicles – 19,951 (+18);
Artillery systems – 21,379 (+22);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,256 (0);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,032 (+1);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 32,262 (+82);
Aircraft - 369 (0);
Helicopters – 329 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 20,999 (+28);
Intercepted cruise missiles – 3,003 (0)
Boats/ships – 29 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
On the night of December 27 (starting at 7:00 PM on December 26), Russia attacked Ukraine with two Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 24 strike UAVs, including Shahed drones and other types. Thirteen drones were destroyed, and 11 failed to reach their targets.
Late on December 26, Russian forces struck Zaporizhzhia. According to the head of the oblast's military administration, Ivan Fedorov, the enemy targeted industrial infrastructure in the oblast.
In Sumy Oblast, rescuers recovered the body of a man killed under the rubble of a destroyed house in a border settlement in Sumy Raion on December 27.
In the village of Komyshany, Kherson Oblast, a local resident was injured during an artillery shelling. The 65-year-old woman sustained blast injuries and a concussion while inside her home during the attack.
In Kherson Oblast, the enemy shelled the village of Bilozerka. A 42-year-old man suffered blast injuries and a concussion and is currently hospitalized. In the same village, a 51-year-old man was wounded in a drone attack by Russian forces.
In northern Ukraine, the frequency of shelling in border areas increased over the past day. However, according to Colonel Vadym Mysnyk, spokesperson for the "Siversk" OTG, there are currently no indications of the enemy forming a strike group to advance further into Ukrainian territory.
Forty-five percent of Ukrainians believe that a victory by Republican Donald Trump in the U.S. presidential election would bring peace closer in the Russia-Ukraine war, while nearly 14% think peace would become more distant. The remaining 40% either believe nothing will change or are undecided, according to a survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS), conducted from December 2 to 17.
Ukraine has established four camps for holding Russian prisoners of war. From March 2022 to June 2024, 294.2 million UAH (over 7 million USD) were allocated for their housing, security, and medical care, according to the Accounting Chamber.
In Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Volyn, Chernivtsi, and Mykolaiv Oblasts, power outage schedules were canceled on December 27.
As of late 2024, construction has begun on 139 underground schools and several dozen vocational education institutions in Ukraine, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Nadiya Kuzmychova reported. She stated that 79 underground educational facilities are currently under active construction, with up to ten expected to be commissioned by the end of 2024.