It is hard to avoid contact battles in winter - Ukrainian Armed Forces serviceman Barna on Russian assault actions

Stepan Barna, a Ukrainian Armed Forces serviceman, told this on the Espreso TV channel.

"Winter is a very difficult period for the military. We need to prepare for the fact the enemy will resort to assault actions with the use of equipment, as in other areas. The Russians drive up with whole groups of vehicles, gather a group of 400 people and launch assault operations. Then it is very difficult to avoid so-called contact battles," he said.

According to the military, when it is warming up, it is difficult to be in a trench. There is no way to get to the position, but it stops the Russian assault actions, which have intensified along the entire frontline today. "The enemy's assault actions have intensified not only in the Kupyansk and Avdiivka directions. This activation took place over the past two weeks along the entire frontline, including the area where the 10th separate mountain assault brigade Edelweiss is located. The Russian army is concentrating certain efforts, human resources, equipment, and aviation is working quite intensively. Human wave assaults are quite active now. Unfortunately, our side does not always use enough munitions, artillery, aircraft or FPV drones that can stop such things. But obviously, they take place and the enemy suffers heavy losses," he explained.

"The Russians' goal is to stretch the Ukrainian Defense Forces along the border in order to intensify their offensive, probably in the Avdiivka or Kupyansk directions," Barna said. "The occupants want the Defense Forces to minimize the mobility factor of the aid forces for our formations located in these areas," the serviceman added.

• On December 17, 54 combat engagements took place in the frontline. In the Avdiivka sector, the Russian troops unsuccessfully attempted to break through Ukrainian troops' defenses

• On December 18, the press center of the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff reported that in the Avdiivka direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back the enemy, who keeps trying to surround Avdiivka.

• Vitaliy Barabash, head of the Avdiivka city military administration, said that Russian occupation forces will not be able to capture the city even before the presidential elections in Russia.

• On December 19, Oleksandr Shtupun, a spokesman for the Tauride Defense Forces press center, said that Russian troops were storming Ukrainian positions near Avdiivka less frequently, but were using more infantry and equipment.

• On December 21, the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff reported that in the area of responsibility of the Tavria Brigade in the Avdiivka direction, Ukrainian defenders continue to hold back the enemy, who keeps trying to surround Avdiivka. The defense forces repelled 14 enemy attacks in the areas of Novokalynove, east of Novobakhmutivka, Avdiivka, and another 22 attacks near Sievierne, Pervomaiske and Nevelske in Donetsk region.