Russia-Ukraine war: Frontline update as of December 27

Ukrainian defenders continue to mount a successful defense against relentless Russian assaults, delivering a decisive blow to enemy forces near Pokrovsk, reports the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

According to the General Staff, 158 combat engagements have occurred so far. The fiercest clashes were reported in the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove directions, with enemy activity also observed in the Lyman and Vremivka directions and the Kursk region.

Throughout the day, Russian forces launched 37 airstrikes on Ukrainian territory, including 43 guided aerial bombs. Additionally, they deployed 808 kamikaze drones. In total, more than 4,300 shelling incidents targeting Ukrainian military positions and civilian settlements were recorded.

Frontline situation

In the Kharkiv direction, Russian forces launched two attacks near Vovchansk. Preliminary estimates indicate that Ukrainian defenders eliminated or wounded 72 occupiers during the day in this area. They also destroyed a tank, two artillery systems, an anti-tank weapon, four vehicles, three communication systems, and 29 drones.

In the Kupiansk direction, the enemy made five attempts to advance toward Ukrainian positions near Petropavlivka and Lozova throughout the day. Four attacks were successfully repelled by the Ukrainian Defense Forces. Intense fighting is ongoing.

In the Lyman direction, Russian forces carried out 20 attacks, all of which were repelled by Ukrainian troops.

In the Siversk direction, the Russian army attempted to advance four times but were driven back.

In the Kramatorsk direction, five combat engagements were recorded, with assaults occurring near Chasiv Yar, Bila Hora, and Stupochky.

In the Toretsk direction, Ukrainian forces repelled ten enemy attacks, successfully halting all advances.

The Pokrovsk direction saw an intense effort by Russian forces, with 52 attempts to breach Ukrainian defenses. The Russian army faced a fierce response from Ukrainian defenders.

Preliminary reports indicate that in this area alone, Ukrainian troops neutralized 382 Russian soldiers, including 196 who were killed. Additionally, they destroyed four vehicles, an armored combat vehicle, a Murom-M observation system, an electronic warfare system, seven communication devices, a Lancet drone, and a motorcycle.

In the Kurakhove direction, Russian forces launched 18 attacks on Ukrainian positions, all of which were successfully repelled by Ukrainian defenders.

In the Vremivka direction, Ukrainian troops thwarted 17 enemy assaults.

In the Prydniprovskyi direction, the enemy continued efforts to dislodge Ukrainian forces from their positions, conducting two unsuccessful offensives over the past day.

In the Kursk region, Ukrainian defenders repelled 22 offensive actions by Russian forces. Meanwhile, Russian aviation carried out 15 airstrikes, deploying 18 guided bombs on their territory.

Notably, as reported by Bloomberg, Ukraine may withdraw its forces from the Kursk region by spring.