In a significant escalation of claims from the battlefield, Russia has announced a series of major advances and inflicted heavy casualties on Ukrainian forces within a 24-hour period. The Russian Defence Ministry stated that its military operations on December 21, 2025, resulted in the capture of new settlements and the elimination of over 1400 Ukrainian personnel.
Widespread Offensive Across Multiple Fronts
According to the claims from Moscow, Russian forces have been active on several key fronts. The ministry reported advances in the Sumy, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions. The offensive reportedly targeted not just Ukrainian army brigades, but also Western-supplied weapon systems and critical military infrastructure.
The scale of the claimed operations is vast. Russian aviation and artillery are said to have struck more than 150 military targets in that single day. These assertions, which remain unverified by independent sources, paint a picture of intense and widespread combat activity as the conflict continues.
Air Defence and Heavy Ukrainian Losses Claimed
A central part of Russia's daily briefing focused on the reported success of its air defence systems and the scale of Ukrainian losses. The ministry claimed that its forces intercepted several high-value projectiles, including HIMARS rockets and a Neptune missile.
Furthermore, they stated that over a hundred Ukrainian drones were shot down in the same timeframe. The most striking claim, however, is the reported human cost for Ukraine. Russian authorities allege that more than 1400 Ukrainian troops were wiped out during these engagements, a figure that, if accurate, would represent one of the heaviest daily casualty counts reported in recent phases of the war.
Capture of Villages and the Stalemate of War
Beyond inflicting casualties, Russia claims to have made tangible territorial gains. The announcement specifically mentions the 'capture' of villages in the Sumy and Donetsk regions. These areas have seen continuous fighting, and the capture of even small settlements is often used to signal momentum.
It is crucial to note that these claims from the Russian Defence Ministry cannot be independently verified at this time. Both sides in the conflict frequently issue battlefield reports that are difficult to confirm from the outside. However, the nature and detail of these latest assertions underscore how fiercely contested the war remains. They also highlight that both militaries are likely bracing for, and actively engaging in, further escalation with no clear end in sight.
The reports of intercepting Western-supplied arms like HIMARS also point to the ongoing strategic importance of weapon systems provided by Ukraine's allies and Russia's continued efforts to neutralise them. As the war grinds on, such daily claims and counter-claims continue to define the information landscape of this protracted conflict.
