Russian troops have significantly increased pressure on the Kramatorsk, Toretsk and Vremivsk directions.
This was announced by Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyy during an online speech at a meeting of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities.
Russians also became more active in the Kursk Region, using North Koreans.
"As of 17 December, the Defence Forces are actively engaged in combat operations on the frontline with a total length of over 1,170 kilometres. The most difficult situation is now in the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove directions. For three days now, the enemy has been conducting intense offensive operations in the Kursk region to force Ukrainian Defence Forces units out of the Russian Federation. It is actively using units of the North Korean army. North Korean mercenaries have already suffered heavy losses," said Syrskyy.
The Chief of Defence added that Ukrainian defenders "are steadfastly holding the designated lines, destroying Russian personnel and equipment, for which I am grateful to the soldiers, sergeants and officers."
- On 14 December, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that there was already preliminary evidence that the Russians had begun to use soldiers from North Korea in their assaults, and in significant numbers.