Russian commanders increase patrols to detain deserters in Luhansk region, Russia continues offensive in 2 directions - AFU General Staff

This is stated in the evening report of the General Staff for December 27.

The General Staff reports that cases of desertion and abandonment of combat positions among Russian soldiers in the Luhansk region have become more frequent. In order to maintain control over the situation, the Russian military leadership increased the number of patrols to detain and return deserters to their units. 

Ukrainian Armed Forces struck 6 Russian manpower concentrations and a command post during the day

The General Staff reported that the units of the missile troops and artillery hit a Russian control center, 6 concentrations of manpower and military equipment, an ammunition warehouse, and another important military facility.

Despite significant losses, Russian troops continue to attack in the Bakhmut and Avdiivka directions

The General Staff reports that despite significant losses in manpower, Russian troops continue their offensive in the Bakhmut and Avdiivka directions of the Donetsk region. Russian troops are also trying to improve their tactical situation in the Lyman direction.

The situation remains stable on the border with Belarus, the situation in other directions is as follows:

• On the northern and northeastern Ukrainian border, Russian troops shelled 2 settlements of the Sumy region and 4 of the Kharkiv region with artillery and mortars.
• In the Kupiansk direction, Russian troops shelled 6 settlements of the Kharkiv region and 3 of the Luhansk region.
• In the Lyman direction, Russian troops shelled 2 settlements of the Luhansk region and 2 of the Donetsk region.
• In the Bakhmut direction, 13 settlements of the Donetsk region came under Russian fire.
• In the Avdiivka direction, 4 settlements of the Donetsk region were shelled.
• In the Vuhledar direction, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Velyka Novosilka, and Vremivka settlements of the Donetsk region came under artillery fire.
• In the Zaporizhzhia direction, Russian troops fired from tanks and cannon artillery at 6 settlements of the Zaporizhzhia region.
• In the Kherson direction, Russian shelling again damaged civilian infrastructure of Antonivka in Kherson region and Kherson city. There are casualties among civilians. 

Earlier, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGSU) reported that Belarus currently does not have the necessary offensive grouping to invade Ukraine, the number and actions of the units have not changed.