According to Militarnyi
aerial reconnaissance units detected an enemy assault group moving toward the brigade’s positions
“The enemy used Russian-made vehicles
modified with anti-drone protection and stripped of doors and trunks
These vehicles were used to advance toward the brigade’s defensive line for assault operations,” the statement read
Ukrainian defenders swiftly deployed FPV drones against the advancing vehicles
forcing enemy infantry into chaotic retreat and allowing the brigade to eliminate the threat
Despite attempts to take advantage of the speed of the vehicles
Russian forces lost 12 vehicles and a reconnaissance motorcycle leading the assault group
The invaders failed to reach Ukrainian defensive positions and suffered heavy personnel losses
Militarnyi noted that this is not the first time civilian vehicles have been deployed in assaults against the Ukrainian Defense Forces
soldiers from the Khortytsia Operational and Strategic Group of Forces
successfully repelled a Russian motorized assault on the village of Bahatyr
The Russian forces deployed 18 motorcycles and 10 vehicles equipped with anti-drone protection
a GAZ-69 - a Soviet-era off-road vehicle manufactured between 1952 and 1973 - was spotted in action during the engagement
the Russian invaders are increasingly using small infantry groups with improvised equipment supported by drones
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#article-stream-0 .quote-embed .font-size p{font-size: 36px;}A Russian ATV is hit near Siversk
the Ukrainians have retreated back into Ukraine
But don’t mistake the Ukrainian retreat as a sign of wider weakness
Elsewhere along the 800-mile front line of Russia’s 37-month wider war on Ukraine
Russian offensives have stalled—or shifted into reverse in the face of determined Ukrainian counterattacks
Consider what happened on the Siversk axis along the border between Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts in eastern Ukraine on or before Tuesday
attacked the positions of the Ukrainian 30th and 54th Mechanized Brigades and 81st Airmobile Brigade east of Siversk
which oversees Ukrainian brigades in the area
The wholesale destruction of the Russian assault group is typical of recent clashes in eastern Ukraine
Yearlong Russian offensives around Chasiv Yar
Toretsk and Pokrovsk have all lost momentum as Russian losses exceeded the Kremlin’s capacity to generate fresh troops and vehicles
The Ukrainians are counterattacking in all three sectors
chipping away at territorial gains that cost Russia tens of thousands of troops and thousands of vehicles
It’s apparent the Russians devoted their best forces to their operation in Kursk—in particular
the elite Rubicon Center of Advanced Unmanned Systems drone group
whose attacks on Ukrainian supply lines in Kursk starting on Feb
25 precipitated the eventual Ukrainian withdrawal
The concentration of forces in Kursk may have depleted Russian field armies farther south—and afforded Ukrainian brigades the chance to reverse some Russian gains
The balance of power in eastern Ukraine could shift again
Rubicon may be free to redeploy—perhaps to the east
But the Russians are trying to advance along several axes in the region
It’ll take more than one elite drone group to restore Russian momentum in Ukraine
Click here to see ISW’s interactive map of the Russian invasion of Ukraine
This map is updated daily alongside the static maps present in this report
Click here to see ISW's interactive map of Ukraine's offensive in Kursk Oblast
Click here to see ISW’s 3D control of terrain topographic map of Ukraine
Use of a computer (not a mobile device) is strongly recommended for using this data-heavy tool
Click here to access ISW’s archive of interactive time-lapse maps of the Russian invasion of Ukraine
These maps complement the static control-of-terrain map that ISW produces daily by showing a dynamic frontline
ISW will update this time-lapse map archive monthly
Note: The data cut-off for this product was 11:30am ET on December 15
ISW will cover subsequent reports in the December 16 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment
Russian forces conducted a roughly battalion-sized mechanized assault in the Siversk direction following a recent reported command change of the Russian forces operating near Siversk
Ukrainian military observer Yuriy Butusov reported on December 15 that Russian forces conducted a three-pronged mechanized assault with over 400 personnel
and a Russian milblogger claimed that Russian forces advanced two kilometers in depth from the direction of Zolotarvika (east of Siversk).[4] ISW is currently unable to confirm the extent of Russian advances in this assault
and additional footage of the Russian assault will likely emerge in the coming days
Ukrainian Luhansk Group of Forces Spokesperson Major Anastasiya Bobovnikova stated on December 14 that Russian forces fielded more than 100 pieces of equipment in a recent assault in the Siversk direction and noted that there were 55 combat engagements in this direction on December 13 — a significant increase in tempo in this area of the frontline.[5]
The recent Siversk assault indicates that Russian forces appear to be learning to conduct more effective assaults but remain far from restoring maneuver to the battlefield
This Russian assault was much larger and more coherent than most Russian assaults in the Siversk direction
and Butusov assessed that Russian forces carefully prepared this assault.[6] Butusov noted that Russian forces specifically coordinated interactions between assault units and communications
and drone operations – all elements of command and control (C2) with which the Russian military command has historically struggled to conduct effectively.[7] A more prepared Russian assault may be the result of the recent reported command changes in the area
Russian forces near Siversk have especially struggled to conduct effective assaults
instead claiming that Major General Alexei Kolesnikov was the most recent commander of the 3rd CAA and that Kolesnikov recently took up a new
North Korean forces are reportedly facing expected struggles with high casualties and poor communication with Russian forces in Kursk Oblast
likely disrupting coordination between North Korean and Russian personnel and undermining Russian military operations
Ukraine's Main Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) reported on December 14 that North Korean forces operating in Kursk Oblast recently fired at Chechen "Akhmat" Spetsnaz battalion vehicles and killed eight Chechen personnel in a friendly fire incident
likely due to the language barrier between the Russian and North Korean forces.[11] The GUR noted that the language barrier also hinders effective combat coordination between Russian and North Korean forces.[12] The GUR reported that a contingent consisting of Russian and North Korean servicemen in Kursk Oblast lost 200 personnel as of December 14 and that Ukrainian drones swarmed a North Korean position
which is consistent with recent reports of North Korean forces engaging in attritional infantry assaults.[13] The poor integration and ongoing communication problems between Russian and North Korean forces will likely continue to cause friction in Russian military operations in Kursk Oblast in the near term
Russia's immediate plans for its military assets in Syria remain unclear as reports continue that Russia has secured agreements to keep its main military bases in western Syria while also withdrawing from its other bases in the country
NOTE: A version of this text also appears in ISW-CTP's December 15 Iran Update
Reports that Russian military personnel are awaiting additional food supplies suggest that the Kremlin may not plan or is unable to fully evacuate the bases in the immediate future
OSINT analyst MT Anderson reported on December 15 that satellite imagery captured on December 15 shows the Admiral Golovko Admiral Gorshkov-class frigate and possibly the Admiral Grigorovich Grigorovich-class frigate still in a holding pattern roughly 15 kilometers away from the Port of Tartus.[15] The satellite imagery does not include the other vessels in the Russian Mediterranean Sea Flotilla that have recently been offshore.[16]
The GUR also reported on December 15 that unspecified armed groups that fought against the Assad regime are accompanying Russian forces as they withdraw from "remote areas" of Syria
because Turkey and the groups on the ground in Syria—including Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS) and the Syrian National Army (SNA)—do not appear to be prepared to allow Russia to remain there
Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler also offered on December 15 to ”support” Russia’s consolidation at Hmeimim and Tartus
suggesting Turkey will not support other Russian bases.[21]
A Russian insider source claimed on December 15 that Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Director Sergei Naryshkin may have fallen out of favor with Russian President Vladimir Putin following the Assad regime's collapse since Putin reportedly recently rescinded a decree to present Naryshkin with a state award.[22]
We do not report in detail on Russian war crimes because these activities are well-covered in Western media and do not directly affect the military operations we are assessing and forecasting
We will continue to evaluate and report on the effects of these criminal activities on the Ukrainian military and the Ukrainian population and specifically on combat in Ukrainian urban areas
We utterly condemn Russian violations of the laws of armed conflict and the Geneva Conventions and crimes against humanity even though we do not describe them in these reports
Ukrainian Operations in the Russian Federation
Russian forces continued offensive operations in the main Ukrainian salient in Kursk Oblast on December 15 but did not make any confirmed advances
Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian forces advanced near Cherkasskoye Porechnoye (north of Sudzha) and from Plekhovo toward Kurilovka (both south of Sudzha)
but ISW has not observed confirmation of these claims.[23] Elements of the Russian 1427th Motorized Rifle Regiment (formed during 2022 partial reserve call up) and the "Pyatnashka" International Volunteer Brigade are reportedly operating near Russkoye Porechnoye (north of Sudzha); and elements of the Russian 11th Airborne (VDV) Brigade and 810th Naval Infantry Brigade (Black Sea Fleet [BSF]
Southern Military District [SMD]) are reportedly operating in Kursk Oblast.[24]
Ukraine's Main Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) reported on December 15 that an explosion on December 14 destroyed a railway track that supports Russian military logistics near the Sviyaga River near the Ulyanovsk Motor Plant in Ulyanovsk City.[25]
Chechen Republic Head Ramzan Kadyrov claimed on December 15 that Russian forces shot down two Ukrainian drones over Grozny
Republic of Chechnya and that a third Ukrainian drone fell on a Chechen "Akhmat-Grozny" Special Purposes Mobile Unit (OMON) base in Grozny.[26] Footage published on December 15 purportedly shows drones striking Grozny.[27]
Russian Subordinate Main Effort #1 – Kharkiv Oblast (Russian objective: Push Ukrainian forces back from the international border with Belgorod Oblast and approach to within tube artillery range of Kharkiv City)
Russian forces conducted offensive operations north of Kharkiv City near Vysoka Yaruha and Lyptsi and northeast of Kharkiv City near Vovchansk and Tykhe on December 14 and 15 but did not advance.[28] A Russian milblogger claimed on December 15 that Ukrainian forces counterattacked near Hlyboke (north of Kharkiv City).[29]
Russian Subordinate Main Effort #2 – Luhansk Oblast (Russian objective: Capture the remainder of Luhansk Oblast and push westward into eastern Kharkiv Oblast and northern Donetsk Oblast)
Russian forces continued offensive operations along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line on December 15 but did not make any confirmed advances
Russian milbloggers claimed on December 15 that Russian forces seized Dvorichna (north of Kupyansk); advanced south of Dvorichna along the western (right) bank of the Oskil River; advanced on the western bank of the Oskil River; and advanced north of Zelenyi Hai (west of Svatove).[30] ISW has not observed confirmation of these claims
A Russian milblogger claimed on December 15 that Russian forces withdrew from their bridgehead on the west bank of the Oskil River near Novomlynsk (north of Kupyansk) but maintain a bridgehead near Masyutivka (north of Kupyansk and southeast of Dvorichna).[31] Russian forces continued attacking southeast of Kupyansk near Zahryzove; west of Svatove near Lozova
and Nadiya; southwest of Svatove near Hrekivka
and Novoyehorivka; northwest of Kreminna near Makiivka and Terny on December 14 and 15.[32] A Ukrainian battalion commander operating in the Kupyansk direction stated on December 15 that Russian forces commit all their forces in the area into pushing Ukrainian forces from the eastern (left) bank of the Oskil River.[33] The battalion commander added that Russian forces are conducting high-intensity assaults that result in high casualties.[34]
Russian Subordinate Main Effort #3 – Donetsk Oblast (Russian objective: Capture the entirety of Donetsk Oblast
the claimed territory of Russia’s proxies in Donbas)
Please see topline text for updates on the Siversk direction
Russian forces continued offensive operations in Chasiv Yar itself and south of Chasiv Yar near Stupochky on December 14 and 15 but did not make any confirmed advances.[35] Elements of the Russian 98th Airborne (VDV) Division reportedly continue to operate in Chasiv Yar.[36]
Russian forces recently advanced in the Toretsk direction amid continued offensive operations in the area on December 15
An officer in a Ukrainian brigade operating in the Toretsk direction reported that the casualty ratio between Ukrainian and Russian forces is at least one-to-fifteen and that Russian forces are relying on all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and other light vehicles within Toretsk but are using heavy equipment on the outskirts of the settlement.[40] Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets stated that elements of the Russian 55th Motorized Rifle Brigade (41st Combined Arms Army [CAA]
Central Military District [CMD]) are reportedly operating in Toretsk.[41]
Russian forces recently advanced in the Pokrovsk direction amid continued offensive operations in the area on December 15
Geolocated footage published on December 15 indicates that Russian forces recently advanced east of Ukrainka (south of Pokrovsk and west of Selydove).[42] Mashovets and the United Kingdom Ministry of Defense (UK MoD) stated on December 15 that Russian forces seized Shevchenko (south of Pokrovsk).[43] A Kremlin-affiliated Russian milblogger claimed that the exact configuration of the frontline is unclear in Shevchenko
and another Russian source claimed that Russian forces pulled back to an area north of Shevchenko after Ukrainian forces broke through into the settlement.[44] The Russian MoD claimed on December 15 that Russian forces seized Pushkine (south of Pokrovsk and west of Selydove)
but ISW assessed that Russian forces had seized the settlement as of December 13.[45] A Russian milblogger claimed that Russian forces advanced to the outskirts of Pishchane (southwest of Pokrovsk and northwest of Shevchenko)
but ISW has not observed confirmation of this claim.[46] Russian forces conducted offensive operations east of Pokrovsk near Myrolyubivka and Promin; southeast of Pokrovsk near Lysivka and Sukhyi Yar; south of Pokrovsk near Dachenske
and Petrivka; and southwest of Pokrovsk near Pishchane
and Ukrainka on December 14 and 15.[47] Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces counterattacked near Shevchenko.[48] Mashovets stated that elements of the Russian 433rd Motorized Rifle Regiment (27th Motorized Rifle Division
and 239th Tank Regiment (both of the 90th Tank Division
CMD) are operating near Novotroitske; elements of the 428th Motorized Rifle Regiment and 6th Tank Regiment (90th Tank Division
CMD) are operating near Zorya and Ukrainka (both south of Pokrovsk); elements of the 27th Motorized Rifle Division and 30th Motorized Rifle Brigade (both of the 2nd CAA
CMD) are operating near Lysivka and Dachenske; and elements of the 589th and 506th motorized rifle regiments (both of the 27th Motorized Rifle Division
CMD) are operating near Mykolaivka (southeast of Pokrovsk).[49] Drone operators of the "Maxim Krivonos" volunteer detachment
allegedly formed by former members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces who defected to fight for Russia
are reportedly operating in the Pokrovsk direction.[50]
Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Kurakhove direction on December 15 but did not make any confirmed advances
A Russian milblogger claimed that Russian forces advanced up to Mechnykova Street in Kurakhove
but ISW has not observed confirmation of this claim.[51] Russian forces conducted offensive operations near Kurakhove itself and northwest of Kurakhove near Stari Terny
followed by infantry fighting vehicles and then fewer armored personnel carriers
Mashovets stated that elements of the Russian 6th and 80th tank regiments and 428th Motorized Rifle Regiment (all of the 90th Tank Division
CMD) are operating in the Kurakhove direction.[56] Elements of the 5th Motorized Rifle Brigade (51st CAA
formerly 1st Donetsk People's Republic Army Corps [DNR AC]) are reportedly operating in Kurakhove.[57]
Russian forces recently advanced northeast of Vuhledar amid continued offensive operations in the Vuhledar direction on December 15
Geolocated footage published on December 14 shows that Russian forces recently advanced across fields northwest of Uspenivka (Vuhledar) and across the O0515 Kurakhove-Velyka Novosilka highway in the area.[58] The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) claimed that elements of the Russian Southern Group of Forces seized Veselyi Hai (north of Vuhledar)
Russian forces continued ground attacks northeast of Vuhledar near Yelizavetivka; north of Vuhledar near Uspenivka
and Trudove; and northwest of Vuhledar near Kostyantynopolske
and Zelenivka on December 14 and 15.[62] A Russian milblogger claimed that Ukrainian forces also counterattacked near Kostyantynopolske.[63] Elements of the Russian 39th Motorized Rifle Brigade (68th AC
EMD) are reportedly operating near Vesely Hai
elements of the 3rd Battalion of the Russian 242nd Motorized Rifle Regiment (20th Motorized Rifle Division
and elements of the Russian 14th Spetsnaz Brigade (Russian General Staff's Main Directorate [GRU]) are reportedly operating in the south Donetsk direction.[64]
Russian forces continued offensive operations near Velyka Novosilka on December 15 but did not make any confirmed advances
Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian forces crossed the Mokri Yaly River west of Blahodatne (south of Velyka Novosilka) and advanced south of Velyka Novosilka to within 1.5 kilometers from the O0510 Velyka Novosilka-Hulyaipole highway.[65] ISW has not observed confirmation of these claims and has only observed geolocated evidence that Russian forces south of Velyka Novosilka are roughly 3.5 kilometers from the highway
Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian naval infantry advanced in southern and central Novyi Komar (north of Velyka Novosilka) and that elements of the Russian 40th Naval Infantry Brigade (Pacific Fleet
Eastern Military District [EMD]) repelled a Ukrainian counterattack near the settlement.[66] Russian milbloggers claimed on December 14 that fighting had recently resumed in Novyi Komar after Russian forces had retreated from the settlement as of December 7.[67] Russian forces conducted offensive operations near Velyka Novosilka itself; northeast of Velyka Novosilka near Rozdolne; north of Velyka Novosilka near Novyi Komar; south of Velyka Novosilka near Blahodatne
EMD) are reportedly operating in the Velyka Novosilka direction.[72]
Russian Supporting Effort – Southern Axis (Russian objective: Maintain frontline positions and secure rear areas against Ukrainian strikes)
Russian and Ukrainian sources did not report fighting in western Zaporizhia Oblast on December 15
Ukrainian sources posted footage on December 15 of a burning Russian train carrying fuel for the Russian military near occupied Tokmak on December 14.[73] The Ukrainian sources reported that a Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group planted explosives on a railway line to immobilize the train before Ukrainian forces destroyed the train with HIMARS
Russian forces continued limited ground attacks in the Dnipro direction in Kherson Oblast on December 14 and 15 but did not advance.[74] Ukraine's Southern Operational Command reported that Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian Tor air defense system and a Terek radar system in southern Ukraine on December 14.[75]
and Drone Campaign (Russian Objective: Target Ukrainian military and civilian infrastructure in the rear and on the frontline)
Russian forces conducted drone and missile strikes against Ukraine overnight on December 14 to 15
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces launched one S-300 ground-to-air missile and 108 Shahed and other drones at Ukraine from Kursk
Rostov Oblast overnight.[76] The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Ukrainian air defenses downed 56 drones in Chernihiv
and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts; that Ukrainian countermeasures caused 49 drones to become "lost" and fail to reach their targets; and that three drones returned to Russian airspace
Mykolaiv Oblast Military Administration Head Vitaliy Kim stated that a Shahed strike damaged an infrastructure facility in Mykolaiv City.[77] Kharkiv Oblast authorities reported that Russian forces struck a sports complex in Kharkiv City with an Iskander-M ballistic missile.[78]
Russian Mobilization and Force Generation Efforts (Russian objective: Expand combat power without conducting general mobilization)
Russian sources continue to complain about the Russian military's insufficient training system and inept military instructors
A Russian milblogger and former Storm-Z instructor claimed that the Russian military training system continues to rely upon military instructors who either have no direct combat experience or outdated military experience.[79] The milblogger claimed that Russian military instructors are not adapting their lessons to the changing conduct of war
but are instead only drawing from their "irrelevant" and "insufficient" combat experience
Another Russian milblogger similarly complained that Russian soldiers who had previously served in private military companies (PMCs) often struggle to adjust to the command culture of the regular Russian military
as the former PMC fighters believe they are superior to other soldiers and their commanding officers.[80] The milbloggers also claimed that most Russian junior officers only receive tactical military training and no leadership training.[81]
Russian Technological Adaptations (Russian objective: Introduce technological innovations to optimize systems for use in Ukraine)
The War Zone reported on December 10 that Russia has fitted a Su-57 fighter jet with a new flat thrust-vectoring engine nozzle.[82] The War Zone stated similar flat nozzles on F-22 fighter aircraft reduce radar signatures and provide infrared signature advantages
A Russian milblogger claimed on December 15 that Russia likely manufactured the new flat nozzles using 3D printers.[83]
Activities in Russian-occupied areas (Russian objective: Consolidate administrative control of annexed areas; forcibly integrate Ukrainian citizens into Russian sociocultural
ISW is not publishing coverage of activities in Russian-occupied areas today
Significant activity in Belarus (Russian efforts to increase its military presence in Belarus and further integrate Belarus into Russian-favorable frameworks)
Note: ISW does not receive any classified material from any source
and Western reporting and social media as well as commercially available satellite imagery and other geospatial data as the basis for these reports
References to all sources used are provided in the endnotes of each update
[2] https://t.me/edelweiss10tg/1545; https://t.me/WarArchive_ua/23549; https://x.com/blinzka/status/1868282245389377968; https://x.com/GirkinGirkin/status/1868248829721796670; https://x.com/GermanObserver1/status/1868292562408063173; https://x.com/GermanObserver1/status/1868297591546384826; https://armyinform dot com.ua/2024/12/15/visim-shturmiv-za-den-edelvejsy-vidbyly-rekordnu-kilkist-atak/
[4] https://t.me/voenkorKotenok/60737; https://t.me/ButusovPlus/15832
[5] https://suspilne dot media/902789-vijska-z-kndr-u-kurskij-oblasti-ta-zagibel-ukrainskogo-pilota-1026-den-vijni-onlajn/?anchor=live_1734266922&utm_source=copylink&utm_medium=ps
[8] https://isw.pub/UkrWar110724; https://isw.pub/UkrWar111624
[9] https://understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-december-13-2024; https://t.me/arbat/1948
[11] https://suspilne dot media/902741-soldati-kndr-pomilkovo-vbili-8-vijskovih-pidrozdilu-ahmat-u-kurskij-oblasti-gur-mo/; https://t.me/DIUkraine/5024
[12] https://suspilne dot media/902741-soldati-kndr-pomilkovo-vbili-8-vijskovih-pidrozdilu-ahmat-u-kurskij-oblasti-gur-mo/; https://t.me/DIUkraine/5024
[13] https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-december-14-2024; https://understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-december-13-2024;
[14] https://t.me/DIUkraine/5025 ; https://gur.gov dot ua/content/u-syrii-rosiiskym-viiskam-brakuie-pytnoi-vody-ta-prodovolstva.html
[15] https://x.com/MT_Anderson/status/1868295196485865519
[17] https://t.me/DIUkraine/5025 ; https://gur.gov dot ua/content/u-syrii-rosiiskym-viiskam-brakuie-pytnoi-vody-ta-prodovolstva.html
[18] https://x.com/ALBADIA24/status/1868321680831189235
[19] https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-december-14-2024; https://t.me/DIUkraine/5022
[20] https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/10/15/video-appears-show-russian-soldiers-abandoned-us-base-syria/
[21] https://x.com/tcsavunma/status/1868243974588367331
[23] https://t.me/RVvoenkor/82721 ; https://t.me/RVvoenkor/82725
[24] https://t.me/motopatriot/30494 ; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/20982 ; https://t.me/NgP_raZVedka/19961 ; https://t.me/NeoficialniyBeZsonoV/42233 ; https://t.me/rybar/66373
[25] https://t.me/DIUkraine/5028 ; https://x.com/blinzka/status/1868290168278626464
[27] https://x.com/GirkinGirkin/status/1868199444463878634 ; https://t.me/oko_gora/13922 ; https://t.me/sotaproject/91280; https://t.me/astrapress/70295; https://t.me/ostorozhno_novosti/32140
[28]https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0MWZHz49VYAiqqbvkRk7X6yVT4MLS4uzVELZu7WzeGesrQzX5gzzvzWkroqvvh79El ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid09YCWgFuK8DnWxjawRbDenz6m4jpuXoXbZKHBqXyFCHUKjHWLmNpi3UDJGbUxsHWjl ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0jcuJsnFATPFttNqKGLy3Lrz8xKWX9i1YSJbK7jWtwo8orSDU49qyYVoifBnucjuql ; https://t.me/Sladkov_plus/12046
[30] https://t.me/z_arhiv/30082; https://t.me/RVvoenkor/82673; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/20996; https://t.me/dva_majors/60225; https://t.me/Sladkov_plus/12046; https://t.me/z_arhiv/30085
[32] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0MWZHz49VYAiqqbvkRk7X6yVT4MLS4uzVELZu7WzeGesrQzX5gzzvzWkroqvvh79El; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid09YCWgFuK8DnWxjawRbDenz6m4jpuXoXbZKHBqXyFCHUKjHWLmNpi3UDJGbUxsHWjl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0jcuJsnFATPFttNqKGLy3Lrz8xKWX9i1YSJbK7jWtwo8orSDU49qyYVoifBnucjuql
[33] https://armyinform dot com.ua/2024/12/15/atakuyut-v-rezhymi-kamikadze-rosiyany-tysnut-do-oskolu/
[34] https://armyinform dot com.ua/2024/12/15/atakuyut-v-rezhymi-kamikadze-rosiyany-tysnut-do-oskolu/
[35] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0MWZHz49VYAiqqbvkRk7X6yVT4MLS4uzVELZu7WzeGesrQzX5gzzvzWkroqvvh79El; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid09YCWgFuK8DnWxjawRbDenz6m4jpuXoXbZKHBqXyFCHUKjHWLmNpi3UDJGbUxsHWjl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0jcuJsnFATPFttNqKGLy3Lrz8xKWX9i1YSJbK7jWtwo8orSDU49qyYVoifBnucjuql
[36] https://t.me/creamy_caprice/7827; https://t.me/rodnaya98vdd/59; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/20982
[37] https://x.com/AudaxonX/status/1868121501343654240; https://t.me/voron1OO/103; https://t.me/creamy_caprice/7824
[38] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0MWZHz49VYAiqqbvkRk7X6yVT4MLS4uzVELZu7WzeGesrQzX5gzzvzWkroqvvh79El; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid09YCWgFuK8DnWxjawRbDenz6m4jpuXoXbZKHBqXyFCHUKjHWLmNpi3UDJGbUxsHWjl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0jcuJsnFATPFttNqKGLy3Lrz8xKWX9i1YSJbK7jWtwo8orSDU49qyYVoifBnucjuql; https://t.me/rybar/66377
[40] https://suspilne dot media/donbas/902591-u-torecku-spivvidnosenna-vtrat-1-do-15-oficer-12-brigad/
[42] https://t.me/creamy_caprice/7830; https://t.me/mapukrdailyupdate/560
[43] https://t.me/zvizdecmanhustu/2408; https://x.com/DefenceHQ/status/1868250014343901622
[44] https://t.me/rybar/66362; https://t.me/voenkorKotenok/60749
[45] https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-december-13-2024; https://t.me/mod_russia/46851
[47] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0MWZHz49VYAiqqbvkRk7X6yVT4MLS4uzVELZu7WzeGesrQzX5gzzvzWkroqvvh79El; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid09YCWgFuK8DnWxjawRbDenz6m4jpuXoXbZKHBqXyFCHUKjHWLmNpi3UDJGbUxsHWjl ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0jcuJsnFATPFttNqKGLy3Lrz8xKWX9i1YSJbK7jWtwo8orSDU49qyYVoifBnucjuql; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/20970 ; https://t.me/voenkorKotenok/60749
[48] https://t.me/voenkorKotenok/60749; https://t.me/voenkorKotenok/60752 ; https://t.me/RVvoenkor/82664
[52] https://t.me/motopatriot/30544; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0MWZHz49VYAiqqbvkRk7X6yVT4MLS4uzVELZu7WzeGesrQzX5gzzvzWkroqvvh79El ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid09YCWgFuK8DnWxjawRbDenz6m4jpuXoXbZKHBqXyFCHUKjHWLmNpi3UDJGbUxsHWjl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0jcuJsnFATPFttNqKGLy3Lrz8xKWX9i1YSJbK7jWtwo8orSDU49qyYVoifBnucjuql
[54] https://armyinform dot com.ua/2024/12/15/na-kurahivskomu-napryamku-vorog-perejshov-do-czilodobovyh-shturmiv/; https://youtu.be/EUIDF_X_E-k
[55] https://armyinform dot com.ua/2024/12/14/horosha-pogoda-shhob-pomerty-rosiyany-voliyut-gynuty-na-sonyachnomu-svitli/
[57] https://t.me/rybar/66361; https://t.me/motopatriot/30545
[58] https://t.me/creamy_caprice/7825; https://t.me/opforukraine/67
[59] https://t.me/mod_russia/46851 ; https://t.me/sashakots/50727; https://understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-december-13-2024
[60] https://t.me/tass_agency/291076; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/20985; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/20978; https://t.me/dva_majors/60267
[62] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0MWZHz49VYAiqqbvkRk7X6yVT4MLS4uzVELZu7WzeGesrQzX5gzzvzWkroqvvh79El; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid09YCWgFuK8DnWxjawRbDenz6m4jpuXoXbZKHBqXyFCHUKjHWLmNpi3UDJGbUxsHWjl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0jcuJsnFATPFttNqKGLy3Lrz8xKWX9i1YSJbK7jWtwo8orSDU49qyYVoifBnucjuql; https://t.me/rybar/66361
[64] https://t.me/RVvoenkor/82658; https://t.me/dva_majors/60267; https://t.me/ZA_FROHT/35833 ; https://t.me/voin_dv/12280
[65] https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/20994; https://t.me/voenkorKotenok/60735
[66] https://t.me/voenkorKotenok/60751; https://t.me/voin_dv/12289
[67] https://understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-december-14-2024
[68] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0MWZHz49VYAiqqbvkRk7X6yVT4MLS4uzVELZu7WzeGesrQzX5gzzvzWkroqvvh79El; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid09YCWgFuK8DnWxjawRbDenz6m4jpuXoXbZKHBqXyFCHUKjHWLmNpi3UDJGbUxsHWjl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0jcuJsnFATPFttNqKGLy3Lrz8xKWX9i1YSJbK7jWtwo8orSDU49qyYVoifBnucjuql; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/21012; https://t.me/motopatriot/30544; https://t.me/voenkorKotenok/60735
[69] https://t.me/voenkorKotenok/60735; https://t.me/voenkorKotenok/60751
[71] https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/21011; https://t.me/voin_dv/12287
[72] https://t.me/voin_dv/12292; https://t.me/boris_rozhin/147977
[73] https://t.me/zvizdecmanhustu/2410; https://t.me/zloyodessit/23254 ; https://t.me/ButusovPlus/15840; https://t.me/oko_gora/13926; https://armyinform dot com.ua/2024/12/15/spochatku-vybuhivka-potim-himars-na-okupovanomu-zaporizhzhi-spalyly-czilyj-eshelon-z-palyvom/
[74] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0MWZHz49VYAiqqbvkRk7X6yVT4MLS4uzVELZu7WzeGesrQzX5gzzvzWkroqvvh79El; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid09YCWgFuK8DnWxjawRbDenz6m4jpuXoXbZKHBqXyFCHUKjHWLmNpi3UDJGbUxsHWjl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0jcuJsnFATPFttNqKGLy3Lrz8xKWX9i1YSJbK7jWtwo8orSDU49qyYVoifBnucjuql
[78] https://t.me/synegubov/12462; https://suspilne dot media/kharkiv/902921-u-harkovi-prolunali-vibuhi-rosijski-vijskovi-zavdali-udaru-po-kiivskomu-rajonu/; https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02jTqWdjhhy6knAswcduMvFkroVKp6cGTBec1b9PF7YxMNTS47PJknnifUtbHSJ5mEl&id=100002276907245&locale=uk_UA
[81] https://t.me/philologist_zov/1773 ; ttps://t.me/glockmeister_lj/3223
[82] https://www.twz.com/air/su-57-felons-two-dimensional-thrust-vectoring-engine-nozzle-breaks-cover
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the humanitarian aid van provided to Weston’s sister city Siversk
Ukraine has been hit by Russian munitions and severely damaged
the nonprofit that facilitated the Sister City Partnership has issued an urgent appeal for financial help to repair the vehicle
The van is a lifeline for around 1,000 civilians who still live in Siversk
it was struck in a cluster munitions attack in nearby Kramatorsk
which like Siversk is in the crosshairs of Russian forces bent on capturing the entire Donetsk region
UAI reports that no one in the van was injured in the attack, thanks to armor that was installed after the vehicle was hit by hostile fire in February
several ambulances were damaged in the same bombardment
Donations to help repair the van can be made here
The children of Siversk have been dispersed to other part of the country for about two years
and the Weston sister city steering committee has been raising funds to give them a break from war
four therapeutic camp sessions have been held on safe ground to give the children a chance to reconnect
Look for members of the committee as they accept donations at a table in front of Weston High School when the Reservoir Run kicks off on Sunday
June 10, 2024: Student Art Auction Benefits Siversk
March 15, 2024: A Chance to Help Siversk, March 21
February 7, 2024: Siversk and Weston Students Meet
November 14, 2023: Weston Aid to Siversk for Medical Care
October 13, 2023: New Aid for Siversk and Its Children
September 28, 2023: An Urgent Plea From Siversk
July 28, 2023: First Weston Aid to Siversk Set for Delivery
June 30, 2023: Weston and Siversk: Partnership, Friendship
June 26, 2023: Siversk Partnership to Launch
May 17, 2023: Weston, Siversk in Sister City Partnership
Copyright © " + thisYear + " Weston Today
Unauthorized use or reproduction of Weston Today content
Russian forces conducted a series of drone strikes against Ukraine overnight on April 13 to 14
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces launched 62 Shahed and decoy drones from the directions of Millerovo
Crimea.[94] The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Ukrainian forces downed 40 drones and that 11 drones were ”lost,” likely due to Ukrainian electronic warfare (EW) interference
Ukrainian officials reported that the strikes damaged civilian infrastructure in Odesa
www.understandingwar.org/...
and an unspecified number of motorcycles on April 12.[9] A Ukrainian brigade operating in the Novopavlivka direction published footage on April 14 showing Russian forces conducting a reinforced company-sized mechanized assault with over 20 armored vehicles
including over 10 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) and several tanks.[10] The Ukrainian brigade stated that Russian forces attempted to advance in a wave of motorcycles ahead of the attacking armored vehicles to swiftly reach Ukrainian positions
Another Ukrainian brigade operating nearby stated that the Russian assault occurred near Vilne Pole (northwest of Velyka Novosilka) and that Ukrainian forces destroyed two tanks and 12 IFVs.[11] The Ukrainian National Guard published footage on April 14 showing Russian forces conducting a reinforced company-sized mechanized assault with three tanks
an unspecified number of MT-LB armored fighting vehicles (AFVs)
and 41 motorcycles in an unspecified area of the Zaporizhia direction.[12] The Ukrainian National Guard reported that Ukrainian forces repelled the assault and destroyed two IFVs and one AFV
Russian forces have been augmenting mechanized assaults with civilian vehicles
and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) since late Fall 2024 after limiting their use of armored vehicles across the entire frontline
Ukrainian Khortytsia Group of Forces Spokesperson Major Viktor Trehubov noted on April 14 that Russian forces are using more civilian vehicles in the Pokrovsk direction due to their high degree of maneuverability for evading Ukrainian drones compared to slower armored vehicles.[15] Trehubov reported that Ukrainian drone operations are rendering Russian armored vehicle usage ineffective in the Pokrovsk direction
which is consistent with a long-term trend of Ukrainian drones discouraging Russian armored vehicle usage in this direction.[16] ISW has previously assessed that Russia's defense industrial base (DIB) cannot produce new armored vehicles and artillery systems at rates that can offset Russia's current tempo of losses in the medium- to long-term
Russian forces appear to be leveraging redeployed elements of the 8th Combined Arms Army to close the Ukrainian pocket southwest of Toretsk and level the frontline as part of ongoing Russian efforts to attack Kostyantynivka from the south. Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets stated on April 14 that elements of the Russian 150th Motorized Rifle Division (8th Combined Arms Army [CAA]
Southern Military District [SMD]) recently seized Oleksandropil
and Valentynivka (all southwest of Toretsk) and pushed Ukrainian forces from positions east of the H-20 Donetsk City-Kostyantynopil highway.[1] Russian milbloggers also claimed on April 13 and 14 that Russian forces pushed Ukrainian forces from positions east of the H-20 highway
because it is the conduct of foreign affairs
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This was reported during a TV broadcast by the Spokesperson for the Luhansk Operational Tactical Group of Troops Dmytro Zaporozhets
“The Siversk sector has traditionally seen active use of various equipment
there’s been a nsignificant increase in the use of motorized vehicles (by Russian forces – ed.)
and the 10th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade are actively engaged in destroying them..
the enemy used 17 motorcycles today and 11 yesterday… Over the week
I think around 100 motorcycles have definitely been destroyed,” said Zaporozhets
yesterday the occupiers attempted an assault toward Chasiv Yar
but their offensive actions were thwarted by Ukraine’s Defense Forces
“In the Kramatorsk sector and in Chasiv Yar itself
there had not been active assault actions for about a week
as the enemy was moving personnel to accumulate forces for future assaults
they attempted an attack from the flanks — not through the central part of the town
but from the direction of the villages of Kalynivka and Ivanivske,” Zaporozhets emphasized
The Spokesperson clarified that the occupiers were attempting to storm Ukrainian positions on foot
175 combat clashes between Ukraine’s Defense Forces and Russian invaders were recorded on the front line in the past 24 hours
Note: The data cut-off for this product was 12:30pm ET on November 23
ISW will cover subsequent reports in the November 24 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment
The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) likely attempted to cover up the recent removal of the acting commander of the Southern Military District (SMD) Colonel General Gennady Anashkin following widespread accusations within the Russian information space that Anashkin's subordinates submitted false frontline progress reports to superiors
Russian milbloggers widely claimed on November 23 that the Russian military command removed Anashkin
the acting commander of the SMD and commander of the Russian Southern Grouping of Forces
after Russian commanders in the Siversk direction in his area of responsibility submitted incorrect reports about Russian battlefield advances to their superiors.[1] Russian state outlet RBK reported that a source in the Russian MoD acknowledged Anashkin's dismissal but claimed that it was due to a "planned rotation" and praised Anashkin's military achievements.[2] Russian milbloggers widely applauded Anashkin's removal
and the commander of the 3rd CAA's 7th Motorized Rifle Brigade for submitting incorrect reports about Russian advances in the Siversk direction
and Russian milbloggers have widely complained in recent weeks about the pervasive Russian military culture of exaggerating battlefield successes near Siversk.[5] The Russian MoD falsely claimed that Russian forces in the Siversk direction seized Bilhorivka on May 20 and Serebryanka in late October 2024
despite Russian milblogger criticisms of these claims since.[6]
Ukrainian military officials denied claims of North Korean personnel's presence in Kharkiv Oblast amid new unconfirmed reports that North Korean "technical advisers" are operating in occupied Mariupol
citing an anonymous Ukrainian security source reported on November 22 that North Korean technical advisers have arrived in Russian-occupied Mariupol
and are detached from the Russian military units despite wearing Russian military uniforms
Russian forces recently advanced in the main Ukrainian salient in Kursk Oblast amid continued fighting in the area on November 23
Geolocated footage published on November 22 and 23 indicates that Russian forces recently marginally advanced southeast of Darino (southeast of Korenevo) and in eastern Darino.[10] Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian forces seized Darino and Nikolayevo-Darino (just south of Darino) and advanced near Nizhny Klin (southeast of Korenevo) and Malaya Loknya (north of Sudzha).[11] ISW has not observed confirmation of these claims
Russian forces conducted offensive operations near Nizhny Klin
Neither Russian nor Ukrainian sources reported fighting in Glushkovsky Raion west of the main Ukrainian salient in Kursk Oblast on November 23
Geolocated footage published on November 22 shows Ukrainian forces striking a Russian crossing over the Seym River near Karyzh (northwest of Glushkovo).[16]
Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelensky stated on November 23 that Russian President Vladimir Putin has tasked the Russian military command with pushing Ukrainian forces from Kursk Oblast by late January 2025.[17] Ukrainian officials and Western media have recently reported that Russia has concentrated a rough total of 50,000 personnel
including about 11,000 North Korean forces
in Kursk Oblast in preparation for an operation to push Ukrainian forces from Russian territory before late January 2025.[18]
Russian forces continued ground assaults northeast of Kharkiv City near Vovchansk and Tykhe on November 22 and 23 but did not make confirmed advances.[19]
Russian forces continued offensive operations along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line on November 23 but did not advance
Russian forces conducted offensive operations northeast of Kupyansk near Synkivka; southeast of Kupyansk near Zahryzove and Hlushkivka; southwest of Svatove near Makiivka
forcing Russian forces to walk up to 12 kilometers to reach frontline positions in the Kupyansk direction.[23] The commander also noted that high Russian personnel casualties have prompted Russian forces to resort to disguising themselves as Ukrainian personnel in order to infiltrate into Ukrainian near-rear areas - a war crime.[24] Elements of the Russian 144th Motorized Rifle Division (20th Combined Arms Army [CAA]
Moscow Military District [MMD]) reportedly continue to operate near Terny.[25]
Russian forces reportedly attacked northeast of Siversk near Bilohorivka on November 23 but did not advance.[26] A Russian milblogger indicated that Russian forces committed some unspecified reserves in the Siversk direction.[27] Russian milbloggers published footage claiming to show Russian forces striking a Ukrainian pontoon bridge over the Siverskyi Donets River west of Siversk with a Kh-38 air-to-surface missile.[28]
Elements of the Russian 98th Airborne (VDV) Division; drone operators of the "Okhotnik" Separate Special Purpose Detachment (51st Combined Arms Army [CAA]; formerly 1st Donetsk People's Republic's 1st Army Corps [AC]
Southern Military District [SMD]); elements of the Chechen "Akhmat" Spetsnaz; and elements of the 4th Motorized Rifle Brigade (3rd CAA
formerly 2nd Luhansk People's Republic's [LNR] AC
SMD) are operating in the Chasiv Yar direction.[32]
Russian forces continued ground attacks near Toretsk and west of Toretsk near Leonidivka on November 22 and 23 but did not make any confirmed advances.[33] Russian milbloggers claimed on November 23 that Russian forces advanced in northern Toretsk and up to 650 meters deep in the Zabalka Microraion (southern Toretsk).[34] ISW has not observed visual confirmation of these claims
Drone operators of the Russian 132nd Motorized Rifle Brigade (51st CAA) are reportedly operating in Toretsk.[37]
Russian sources made unconfirmed claims that Russian forces recently advanced south of Pokrovsk amid continued offensive operations on November 22 and 23
A Russian milblogger claimed that Russian forces marginally advanced to central Pustynka (west of Selydove and south of Pokrovsk)
but ISW has not observed visual confirmation of this claim.[38] Russian forces attacked east of Pokrovsk near Promin
and Myrolyubivka; southeast of Pokrovsk near Lysivka
Sukhyi Yar; south of Pokrovsk near Hyrhorivka
and Zhovte on November 22 and 23.[39] The spokesperson of a Ukrainian brigade operating in the Pokrovsk direction reported that Russian forces conduct up to 10 assaults per day within the brigade's area of responsibility and that the Ukrainian brigade is currently defending against elements of four Russian motorized rifle brigades
including elements of the Russian 74th Motorized Rifle Brigade (41st CAA
Russian sources claimed that Russian forces made several advances in the Kurakhove direction
but ISW cannot independently verify these claims
The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) claimed that Russian forces seized Novodmytrivka (northwest of Kurakhove)
and Russian milbloggers continued to claim that Russian forces are consolidating positions in Berestky (north of Kurakhove on the northern bank of the Kurakhivske Reservoir).[41] ISW has not observed visual evidence to confirm these claims
Russian forces reportedly advanced northeast of Vuhledar but there were no confirmed advances
A Russian milblogger claimed that Russian forces advanced north of Illinka (northeast of Vuhledar)
but ISW has not observed visual evidence of this claim.[45] Russian forces reportedly continued assaults northeast of Vuhledar near Romanivka
and Antonivka; and northwest of Vuhledar near Sukhi Yaly
and Kostyantynopolske.[46] The Russian 1st Company of the Kuzma Minin Battalion within the 10th Tank Regiment (51st CAA) is reportedly operating near Antonivka and Illinka
and assault elements of the Russian 33rd Motorized Riffle Regiment (20th Motorized Rifle Division
8th CAA) are reportedly operating near Antonvika.[47]
Russian forces recently conducted a company-sized mechanized assault in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area and advanced
Geolocated footage published on November 22 shows Ukrainian forces repelling waves of a Russian mechanized assault in the fields southeast of Velyka Novosilka
indicating that Russian forces advanced in the area.[48] Russian sources claimed that Russian forces broke through by almost five kilometers towards Rozdolne (northeast of Velyka Novosilka)
are consolidating positions in eastern Rozdone
Eastern Military District [EMD]) are reportedly operating near Rozdolne; elements of the 60th Motorized Rifle Brigade (5th CAA
are operating in the Vremivka direction; and drone operators of the 5th Guards Tank Brigade (36th CAA
EMD) are operating near Velyka Novosilka.[52]
Russian forces continued ground assaults in western Zaporizhia Oblast
including northwest of Robotyne near Kamyanske
on November 22 and 23 but did not advance.[53]
Positional fighting continued in the Dnipro direction in east (left) bank Kherson Oblast on November 22 and 23
but there were no changes to the frontline.[54] Elements of the Russian 80th Arctic Motorized Rifle Brigade (14th Army Corps [AC]
Leningrad Military District [LMD]) reportedly continue to operate in the Kherson direction.[55]
The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) claimed on November 23 that Russian forces destroyed a Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter aircraft in an Iskander ballistic missile strike against a Ukrainian airfield near Dnipro City
Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.[56] A Russian milblogger claimed on November 22 that a Russian Iskander-M missile may have struck a high-quality mockup aircraft instead of a real MiG-29 at the Aviatorske airfield in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.[57]
Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia does not currently need to conduct another partial involuntary reserve callup as Russian authorities continue leaning into crypto-mobilization efforts
Peskov stated on November 23 that Kremlin officials are not currently discussing a second round of mobilization and that Russia is currently recruiting sufficient numbers of contract volunteer personnel.[58] Other Russian authorities continue efforts to incentivize further contract volunteer recruitment
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law on November 23 allowing Russian soldiers who fought in Ukraine to write off loans up to 10 million rubles (about $95,869) if Russian courts initiate debt collection proceedings before December 1
likely to incentivize Russians with existing debt to sign contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD).[59] A Russian milblogger amplified a recruitment advertisement for military service within Russian Airborne (VDV) units in multiple Russian federal subjects
promising to cover recruits' travel expenses to sign contracts.[60] The advertisement also offered one-time payments of 2.5 million rubles (about $23,967) for contracts signed in Tula Oblast
3 million rubles (about $28,760) for contracts signed in Belgorod and Nizhny Novgorod oblasts
and 2.1 million rubles (about 20,132) for contracts signed in Leningrad Oblast
The Russian government remains concerned about the economic cost of continuing to wage war in Ukraine
particularly in compensating Russian soldiers
The Russian MoD submitted a draft law on November 22 that would oblige Russian soldiers to return their one-time payments from signing Russian military contracts if the soldiers commit a "gross disciplinary offense" or evade military duties.[61] Putin has recently indicated that he is concerned about Russia's long term economic stability
including by decreasing payments due to Russian soldiers injured on the battlefield.[62] The Russian MoD likely intends for this draft law to incentivize better discipline among Russian military personnel
particularly as Russian military personnel continue to publicly complain about the Russian military command's poor treatment of Russian soldiers
Former commanders of the Wagner Group private military company (PMC) have reportedly formed a new PMC unit called "Wagner Legion." Russian milbloggers amplified an image of former Wagner Group commanders
callsigns "Rusich," "Cap," "Ratibor," "Marx," and "Radimir," standing in front of a banner bearing the insignia of the Wagner Legion and claimed that "Cap" is leading the new unit.[63] The milbloggers claimed that Wagner Legion is already recruiting and training new fighters
The Russian MoD has notably attempted to subsume the Wagner Group following the death of its former financier Yevgeny Prigozhin by piecemealing remaining Wagner personnel to various Russian military formations
and the extent of Wagner Legion's subordination to the Russian MoD or other security structures is unclear
Chechen Republic Head Ramzan Kadyrov claimed in April 2024 that Wagner commander Alexander Kuznetsov (callsign "Ratibor") would join the Chechen Akhmat Spetsnaz with 3,000 Wagner personnel and indicated that the Wagner personnel would be subordinated under the Russian MoD.[64]
Russian Technological Adaptations (Russian objective: Introduce technological innovations to optimize systems for use in Ukraine)
Significant activity in Belarus (Russian efforts to increase its military presence in Belarus and further integrate Belarus into Russian-favorable frameworks and Wagner Group activity in Belarus)
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claimed on November 22 that he will disconnect the internet in Belarus if there are protests following the Belarusian presidential elections to be held on January 26
likely in an attempt to prevent protests similar to those held in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential elections.[65]
[1] https://t.me/rybar/65638 ; https://t.me/RVvoenkor/81215; https://t.me/dva_majors/58442 ; https://t.me/osetin20/9632; https://t.me/voenkorKotenok/60270; https://t.me/milinfolive/135639 ; https://t.me/Sladkov_plus/11873; https://t.me/boris_rozhin/145349; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/19738
[2] https://www.rbc dot ru/politics/23/11/2024/6741d9e09a794771ae3f0282?from=story_61ee7c0f9a7947051824f535
[3] https://t.me/rybar/65638; https://t.me/RVvoenkor/81215; https://t.me/Sladkov_plus/11873
[5] https://isw.pub/UkrWar111624; https://isw.pub/UkrWar110724
[6] https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-may-20-2024
[7] https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/ukraine-russia-war-11-22-24-intl-hnk#cm3sotvmj000k3b6nd1qoynqs ; https://t.me/NgP_raZVedka/19661
[9] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-has-lost-over-40-russias-kursk-region-counter-attacks-senior-kyiv-2024-11-23/
[10] https://x.com/franfran2424/status/1860292948488856054; https://t.me/pride_group_2_80/35; https://x.com/SibirPrizrak/status/1860255168958267814; https://x.com/franfran2424/status/1860301940703281627; https://t.me/UkropHunter/232; https://x.com/creamy_caprice/status/1860104567884775742; https://t.me/creamy_caprice/7595 ; https://t.me/creamy_caprice/7606; https://t.me/UkropHunter/233
[11] https://t.me/dva_majors/58421; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/19719; https://t.me/motopatriot/29714
[12] https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/19718; https://t.me/rusich_army/18714
[15] https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/19711 ; https://t.me/basurin_e/15659; https://t.me/motopatriot/29714 ; https://t.me/RVvoenkor/81217; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/19719; https://t.me/RVvoenkor/81226
[16] https://x.com/666_mancer/status/1860292833636212929 ; https://t.me/soniah_hub/7718
[17] https://suspilne dot media/886713-putin-postaviv-zavdanna-svoim-vijskam-vitisniti-zsu-iz-kurskoi-oblasti-do-inavguracii-trampa-zelenskij/
[18] https://isw.pub/UkrWar111224; https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-has-lost-over-40-russias-kursk-region-counter-attacks-senior-kyiv-2024-11-23/
[19]https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rL1JC4pEtUsxj2ACbYNSgxGHgHuKuhLPzu8dgoo3ud4Mk7KvEMcJgG3eV1mzfdrZl ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid023icmLmZrksGNDWW93hnjAnLR2pcjtw1YxHV24yDmgMnK3yfPEzJLXRw7gKfTz7kcl ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rMryhWeQfpWEfKvt33vyjs2V1zjvTMxHgwQc9HVXEoucv9EUFgsNoBpT8AqkWYb9l ; https://t.me/otukharkiv/2735
[20] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rMryhWeQfpWEfKvt33vyjs2V1zjvTMxHgwQc9HVXEoucv9EUFgsNoBpT8AqkWYb9l ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid023icmLmZrksGNDWW93hnjAnLR2pcjtw1YxHV24yDmgMnK3yfPEzJLXRw7gKfTz7kcl ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rL1JC4pEtUsxj2ACbYNSgxGHgHuKuhLPzu8dgoo3ud4Mk7KvEMcJgG3eV1mzfdrZl
[21] https://x.com/moklasen/status/1860291805146701876; https://x.com/moklasen/status/1860292931468271974; https://t.me/OMIBr_60/637
[22] https://armyinform dot com.ua/2024/11/23/kupyanska-avantyura-v-rezhymi-kamikadze-v-zsu-poyasnyly-yak-rosiyanam-vdalosya-zaskochyly-v-misto/
[23] https://armyinform dot com.ua/2024/11/23/pered-shturmom-12-km-pishky-chomu-na-harkivshhyni-v-okupantiv-nemaye-inshogo-vyboru/ ; https://youtu.be/aDXWlQ2K0dM
[24] https://armyinform dot com.ua/2024/11/23/aktyvizuyutsya-shhob-destabilizuvaty-sytuacziyu-yak-diyut-perevdyagnuti-u-piksel-okupanty/; https://youtu.be/TRU7BZjzevY
[26] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rL1JC4pEtUsxj2ACbYNSgxGHgHuKuhLPzu8dgoo3ud4Mk7KvEMcJgG3eV1mzfdrZl
[28] https://t.me/boris_rozhin/145296; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/19729
[31] https://t.me/tass_agency/286871 ; https://t.me/tass_agency/286872 ; https://t.me/tass_agency/286878
[32] https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/19711 ; https://t.me/dva_majors/58446; https://t.me/RKadyrov_95/5249; https://t.me/nm_dnr/13016
[33]https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rL1JC4pEtUsxj2ACbYNSgxGHgHuKuhLPzu8dgoo3ud4Mk7KvEMcJgG3eV1mzfdrZl ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rMryhWeQfpWEfKvt33vyjs2V1zjvTMxHgwQc9HVXEoucv9EUFgsNoBpT8AqkWYb9l; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid023icmLmZrksGNDWW93hnjAnLR2pcjtw1YxHV24yDmgMnK3yfPEzJLXRw7gKfTz7kcl ; https://t.me/rybar/65624
[34] https://t.me/rybar/65624 ; https://t.me/RVvoenkor/81238
[39] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rL1JC4pEtUsxj2ACbYNSgxGHgHuKuhLPzu8dgoo3ud4Mk7KvEMcJgG3eV1mzfdrZl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rMryhWeQfpWEfKvt33vyjs2V1zjvTMxHgwQc9HVXEoucv9EUFgsNoBpT8AqkWYb9l; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid023icmLmZrksGNDWW93hnjAnLR2pcjtw1YxHV24yDmgMnK3yfPEzJLXRw7gKfTz7kcl; https://t.me/boris_rozhin/145308
[40] https://armyinform dot com.ua/2024/11/22/na-pokrovskomu-napryamku-vorog-prodovzhuye-taktyku-myasnyh-shturmiv/
[41] https://t.me/NgP_raZVedka/19656; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/19712; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/19736; https://t.me/mod_russia/46056; https://t.me/RVvoenkor/81223 ; https://t.me/motopatriot/29738; https://t.me/boris_rozhin/145308;
[42] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-has-lost-over-40-russias-kursk-region-counter-attacks-senior-kyiv-2024-11-23/
[43] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rMryhWeQfpWEfKvt33vyjs2V1zjvTMxHgwQc9HVXEoucv9EUFgsNoBpT8AqkWYb9l; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid023icmLmZrksGNDWW93hnjAnLR2pcjtw1YxHV24yDmgMnK3yfPEzJLXRw7gKfTz7kcl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rL1JC4pEtUsxj2ACbYNSgxGHgHuKuhLPzu8dgoo3ud4Mk7KvEMcJgG3eV1mzfdrZl; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/19736
[45] https://t.me/z_arhiv/29728?single; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/19701
[46] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rMryhWeQfpWEfKvt33vyjs2V1zjvTMxHgwQc9HVXEoucv9EUFgsNoBpT8AqkWYb9l; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid023icmLmZrksGNDWW93hnjAnLR2pcjtw1YxHV24yDmgMnK3yfPEzJLXRw7gKfTz7kcl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rL1JC4pEtUsxj2ACbYNSgxGHgHuKuhLPzu8dgoo3ud4Mk7KvEMcJgG3eV1mzfdrZl; https://t.me/voenkorKotenok/60271; https://t.me/voenkorKotenok/60273; https://t.me/milinfolive/135638
[47] https://t.me/RVvoenkor/81194; https://t.me/dva_majors/58441
[48] https://t.me/opbr_zsu/409; https://t.me/creamy_caprice/7597; https://x.com/moklasen/status/1860261896936362317; https://x.com/moklasen/status/1860261894516285932; https://armyinform dot com.ua/2024/11/23/avtomat-na-droni-zsu-pokazaly-innovaczijnyj-pidhid-do-znyshhennya-okupantiv/; https://www.facebook.com/Prezydentska.Bryhada/videos/889412563404443
[49] https://t.me/voin_dv/11956; https://t.me/RVvoenkor/81192; https://t.me/RVvoenkor/81207; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/19728
[51] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rL1JC4pEtUsxj2ACbYNSgxGHgHuKuhLPzu8dgoo3ud4Mk7KvEMcJgG3eV1mzfdrZl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rMryhWeQfpWEfKvt33vyjs2V1zjvTMxHgwQc9HVXEoucv9EUFgsNoBpT8AqkWYb9l; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid023icmLmZrksGNDWW93hnjAnLR2pcjtw1YxHV24yDmgMnK3yfPEzJLXRw7gKfTz7kcl
[52] https://t.me/voin_dv/11958 ; https://t.me/voin_dv/11953; https://t.me/voin_dv/11955; https://t.me/boris_rozhin/145289
[53] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rMryhWeQfpWEfKvt33vyjs2V1zjvTMxHgwQc9HVXEoucv9EUFgsNoBpT8AqkWYb9l; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid023icmLmZrksGNDWW93hnjAnLR2pcjtw1YxHV24yDmgMnK3yfPEzJLXRw7gKfTz7kcl
[54] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rL1JC4pEtUsxj2ACbYNSgxGHgHuKuhLPzu8dgoo3ud4Mk7KvEMcJgG3eV1mzfdrZl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rMryhWeQfpWEfKvt33vyjs2V1zjvTMxHgwQc9HVXEoucv9EUFgsNoBpT8AqkWYb9l; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid023icmLmZrksGNDWW93hnjAnLR2pcjtw1YxHV24yDmgMnK3yfPEzJLXRw7gKfTz7kcl
[55] https://t.me/NeoficialniyBeZsonoV/41667
[58] https://www.rbc dot ru/politics/23/11/2024/6741569d9a79479d47e44568
[59] http://publication.pravo dot gov.ru/document/0001202411230004?index=1; https://meduza dot io/news/2024/11/23/putin-podpisal-zakon-o-spisanii-prosrochennyh-kreditov-do-10-millionov-rubley-uchastnikam-voyny-v-ukraine; https://t.me/astrapress/69083; https://t.me/tass_agency/286942
[61] https://www.vedomosti dot ru/politics/articles/2024/11/22/1076778-utochnili-pravila-vozvrata-viplat; https://t.me/vedomosti/54282
[63] https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/19737; https://t.me/boris_rozhin/145288; https://t.me/slavrus126/10118
[64] https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-april-6-2024
According to Ukrinform, this was reported by Bohdan Pantyo, head of the operational planning section of the headquarters of the 4th Battalion “Force of Freedom” of the Rubizh Brigade, senior lieutenant of the National Guard of Ukraine, on the air of the Espresso TV channel
“The situation remains tense in the Siversk sector
The enemy is constantly storming our positions
both from artillery and from FPV or drones with a drop,” noted Pantyo
According to him, the enemy has begun to actively use FPV drones on fiber optics to target the logistics of the Defense Forces
as well as mine the Armed Forces' logistics routes
You can never predict what kind of assault will take place today or tomorrow: whether it will be with vehicles or on foot
what type of equipment will be used - armored
expect the enemy's actions and are ready to repel assaults,” Pantyo emphasized
As Ukrinform reported, 101 combat engagements between the Defense Forces and Russian invaders took place at the front yesterday
and Ukrainian troops repelled 36 enemy attacks in the Pokrovsk sector
That’s according to the press service for the Khortytsia grouping of troops
“Thirty enemy winged reconnaissance drones have been destroyed by the anti-aircraft missile battery of the Slobozhanska Brigade in February of this year alone,” the message says
16 Supercams and 12 Zala UAVs have been downed
"All drones were skillfully shot down by Ukrainian soldiers
The enemy's reconnaissance UAVs constantly attempt to spy on us but they fail to take one thing into account: the Ukrainian sky is reliably protected
The brigade's gunners continue to purge our sky of Russian junk!" the press service emphasized
fighters from the Nemesis 412th Separate Regiment of Unmanned Systems
operating alongside other related units of Ukraine’s Defense Forces in the Selydove area of Donetsk region
Russia’s military has replaced the commander of one of its six operational groups fighting in Ukraine, the RBC news website reported Tuesday
Lieutenant General Alexander Sanchik was reportedly appointed acting commander of Russia’s “South” group of forces
Sanchik succeeds Colonel General Gennady Anashkin
who was removed as part of a “planned rotation,” according to a Defense Ministry source cited by RBC
The “South” group has been active in recent weeks near the towns of Kurakhove
Chasiv Yar and Siversk in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region
It consists of units drawn from Russia’s Southern Military District
Sanchik previously attended a May 15 meeting with President Vladimir Putin as acting commander of the Eastern Military District
Sanchik served as deputy commander of the Eastern Military District in 2023 and commanded the district’s 35th Combined Arms Army in 2020
Putin promoted Sanchik to colonel general in February 2022
shortly before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine
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The Khortytsia operational-strategic group reported this on Telegram and posted a relevant video
the Russians attempted to breach the defensive line of the Mountain Assault Brigade “Edelweiss eight times
Due to the exemplary conduct and courageous actions of the soldiers
As a result of the combat work of the defenders
As a result of the defensive actions undertaken by the defenders
one MT-LB multi-purpose light armored tractor
and one Privent-82 kamikaze drone were destroyed
a total of 292 combat engagements were recorded at the front yesterday
Brendan Cole is a Newsweek Senior News Reporter based in London
He also covers other areas of geopolitics including China
Brendan joined Newsweek in 2018 from the International Business Times and well as English
You can get in touch with Brendan by emailing b.cole@newsweek.com or follow on him on his X account @brendanmarkcole
either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter
or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources
Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content
Russian commanders have been removed from their positions for lying to their superiors about advances made on the battlefield
Pro-Moscow military bloggers have reacted angrily to officers within Russia's Third Combined Arms Army making inaccurate reports about gains near the Donetsk and Luhansk regions
While Russian state media's description of the war started by Vladimir Putin is tightly controlled by the government
pro-war milbloggers on Telegram give a far less varnished view of how Moscow is conducting the war
often revealing shortcomings regarding tactics and command
Newsweek has contacted the Russian defense ministry for comment by email
In a post headlined "a whirlwind of lies coming from Siversk," referring to a city in Donetsk oblast
the Telegram channel Rybar said brigade and battalion commanders had been arrested
removed or demoted for describing "the fake capture of settlements."
The post said that when commanders' superiors went to visit areas that were claimed to have been "liberated" by Russian forces
"the scale of the deception was revealed."
"The lies were not only in the reports," added the post
which outlined how correspondents had been invited to interview fighters "who boasted of the media capture of non-existent villages" to corroborate the false claims
The Telegram channel Osetin said Russia's sixth and 123rd brigades were also being investigated and that "the entire command staff had been changed after the lies were uncovered." The post on Saturday described the punishment as "a good result," adding
"I hope that new people will not make the same mistakes."
A number of Russian telegram channels claimed yesterday that several commanders from Russia's 3rd Combined Arms Army were arrested or removed from their positions, including the army's commander and chief of staff and the commander of the 7th Motorized Rifle Brigade, for lying… pic.twitter.com/NZ9JSUVZBP
It also said commanders had ordered "incomprehensible assaults" near Bilohorivka
a settlement that lies around 10 miles east of Siversk
The OK SPN channel said that a culture of "lies has absorbed the command of units of the 3rd Combined Arms Army
which has caused sad consequences," in which special forces (Spetsnaz) formations have been used to plug gaps and compensate for poor command decisions
The Institute for the Study of War said on Saturday that Russian command failures and the exaggeration of battlefield successes near Bilohorivka have formed "a point of neuralgia for the Russian milblogger community"
especially as Moscow suffered huge losses in personnel and equipment in trying to take the settlement
while the Kremlin has previously been sensitive to milbloggers' criticism of how it is fighting the war
it was unclear that the latest arrests were in response to their outcry
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground
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Russia claimed on Wednesday that it has taken control of another village in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region as its offensive continues to make advances.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated that its forces captured the village of Verkhniokamianske, located nearly 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) east of the city of Siversk.
Siversk holds strategic importance for Russia, as control of this area could facilitate a broader offensive toward Kramatorsk, which Ukraine has designated as the region's provisional seat since Russia seized control of Donetsk city in 2014.
Ukrainian authorities have yet to comment on Russia's claim, and independent verification of the claim is difficult due to the ongoing conflict.
this article takes stock of the recent developments on the battlefield based on open-source information
Meduza has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine from the very start
and our detailed military analyses are part of our commitment to objective reporting on a war we firmly oppose
Russian troops are continuing their offensive in Ukraine’s Donbas region
The Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) are losing ground north of Bakhmut
in the Toretsk area between Horlivka and Bakhmut
While not all these losses are equally critical
the failure to halt the Russian advance along a broad front — from Krasnohorivka in the south to Toretsk in the north — could prove costly for the Ukrainian army by late summer and early fall
Meduza has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine from the very start, and we are committed to reporting objectively on a war we firmly oppose. Join Meduza in its mission to challenge the Kremlin’s censorship with the truth. Donate today
Russian troops continue to achieve localized successes north of Soledar
They’ve captured the village of Rozdolivka and are pushing along the Bakhmut–Siversk railway
which captured the village of Spirne northeast of Rozdolivka after months of fighting
has unexpectedly pushed several kilometers into Ukrainian defenses and seized the village of Ivano-Daryivka
This advance toward Siversk from the south and east appears to be part of a larger plan by the Russian command to capture Siversk and eventually reach Sloviansk and Kramatorsk
Russian troops have taken control of the Kanal microdistrict in Chasiv Yar
which is separated from the city center by the Siverskyi Donets–Donbas Canal
but it remains unclear how successful these efforts have been and whether the Russian command plans to launch a direct assault on Chasiv Yar
Russian forces are also advancing on the flanks
they’ve secured strategically important high ground
enabling them to advance toward the Siverskyi Donets–Donbas Canal
the Russian army is attempting to take the Kalynivka microdistrict to facilitate a future crossing of the canal north of Chasiv Yar
The Russian army is continuing its attacks on all settlements south and west of Toretsk
moving toward the Russian group advancing on Chasiv Yar
The Ukrainian command has sent reinforcements from other parts of the front
The battles here have become a series of counterattacks
with Ukrainian forces trying to push back in the settlements of Pivnichne
Russian troops continue to advance northward
which is likely to become the main fortified area for Ukrainian forces in this settlement
The Russian Aerospace Forces have already begun heavy bombardments of the plant using precision-guided bombs
Fierce battles are also ongoing on the southern outskirts of Pivnichne
Both sides are using tanks and other armored vehicles and are sustaining losses
The Russian army has captured the last villages (most of Novoselivka Persha
and Yasnobrodivka) that stood between it and the major natural obstacle of the Vovcha River
Once Ukrainian forces retreat behind the river
it is likely that the Russian army will try to break through north of the river’s bend
through the villages of Prohres and Vozdvyzhenka
toward the Pokrovsk–Kostiantynivka road which serves as the main supply line for the AFU groupings in Chasiv Yar and Toretsk
(Some were established after Russia captured Avdiivka in February; it’s likely that Ukrainian forces continued to fight between Avdiivka and the Vovcha under harsh conditions to buy time to reinforce the new defensive line.) However
holding these new positions will be challenging given the Russian army’s air superiority
A recently published video suggests that Russian troops have reached the Kurakhove–Vuhledar road
which serves as the main supply line for the Ukrainian grouping in Vuhledar
This crucial route has enabled them to hold Vuhledar since March 2022
A small Russian unit advanced about four kilometers (2.5 miles) to reach the road but lost their equipment in the process
It remains unclear whether they have secured their new positions
The loss of this supply line could have serious consequences for the defense of Vuhledar
south of the regional center Velyka Novosilka
Russian forces are still expending significant resources in an attempt to reclaim territories lost during the AFU’s 2023 summer offensive
they took the neighboring village of Urozhaine
The battle for the ruins of Urozhaine lasted several weeks
with Russian forces losing dozens of pieces of equipment in an offensive that held more symbolic than strategic value
Heavy fighting continues in Vovchansk and on the northern outskirts of Kharkiv. The AFU still holds the advantage, thanks to reserves transferred to this sector, including the 414th Marine Unmanned Strike Aviation Systems Regiment, a large unit of drone operators unofficially known as the “Magyar Birds,” which previously defended the bridgehead in Krynky. This regiment is also conducting strikes on rear units of the Russian grouping in this sector, stationed in Russia’s Belgorod region.
However, Ukrainian attacks in Vovchansk seem to be waning. Russian forces have managed to improve their positions in the high-rise residential area and on the grounds of the Aggregate Plant in the northern part of the city. The situation for both Russian and Ukrainian infantry remains difficult: they’re engaged in street fighting with significant supply challenges and are under constant attack from drones, piloted aircraft, and artillery.
Russian units have also crossed the Kharkiv–Belgorod border in another location, 40 kilometers (25 miles) west of Kharkiv’s outskirts, where fighting has been ongoing since May. Russian troops were spotted in the Ukrainian village of Sotnytskyi Kozachok near the border. It’s unclear whether this is an attempt to open a new front or a diversionary attack to force the Ukrainian command to transfer reserves away from Kharkiv.
In the eastern part of the Kharkiv region, as well as in neighboring areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the slow Russian advance continues. Russian troops are now attempting to force their way across the Zherebets River near Makiivka in the Luhansk region. They’ve managed to capture most of the village, which has been a battleground since the fall of 2022.
A silent auction of student artwork on June 2 raised $1,040 to benefit the children of Siversk
organized by Weston High School National Art Honors Society co-presidents Lou Menchell and Leah Bievenour
was held at the Georgetown Arts and Cultural Center and featured live jazz
Conditions in Siversk remain dire. The city has been without electricity, gas, and sewage disposal for over two years. According to the Voice of America
the city’s population of more than 12,000 before the Russian invasion is about 800 today
Donations to Ukraine Aid International
who arranged the Sister City Partnership between Weston and Siversk
In a recent New York Times article (possibly behind a paywall)
data gathered by scientists from the City University of New York Graduate Center and Oregon State University painted a devastating portrait of damage Ukraine has sustained in two years of war
and churches are specifically forbidden by the Geneva Conventions
but more than 900 such facilities have been damaged or destroyed by Russian bombs
The report notes that those estimates are conservative
and adds that the number of buildings destroyed in Ukraine is equal to four times the number of all structures in Manhattan
The Russian army continues to shell settlements in the Kursk region of Russia
where there are no Ukrainian military forces
causing confusion among the local population
This was stated by the spokesperson for the Operational Tactical Group Siversk
Russian troops continue to carry out massive shelling of Ukrainian-controlled territories in the Kursk region
despite the absence of Ukrainian military forces in these settlements
Local residents do not understand the reasons for such attacks
"The local population does not understand why they are being shelled by the Russians
the locals are suffering; they are forced to hide in basements for several hours
and sometimes they spend half a day there."
The spokesperson emphasized that Ukrainian soldiers provide residents of Ukrainian-controlled territories in the Kursk region with water
Ukrainian forces are trying to restore water supply and electricity
"All this falls on the shoulders of the military
as we adhere to all the requirements of international humanitarian law and ensure that the local population has everything they need," noted Mysnyk
The Russian army has intensified its offensive on two fronts. In the Siversk direction, Ukrainian Armed Forces fortifications in Bilohorivka were attacked, the Khortytsia Operational-Strategic Group of Troops reports.
Russian forces attacked Ukrainian positions near Nadiia
Ukrainian fortifications in Bilohorivka came under assault
Measures are being taken to prevent further deterioration of the tactical situation
According to the General Staff, there were 192 combat clashes along the frontline on January 8. The enemy carried out the highest number of attacks in the Kursk region
The Russian army is gathering forces and accumulating reserves near Chasiv Yar and in the Siversk direction
Active battles and assaults in these areas are likely to resume soon
the spokesperson for the Luhansk Operational and Tactical Group
"The number of assaults has increased in the Toretsk direction
while in the area of Chasiv Yar and in the Siversk direction
there was only one assault in the Siversk direction over the past day," said Bobovnikova
She also mentioned that Russian forces are advancing in the Toretsk direction
"We see that the situation in the Toretsk direction has become dynamic again
The enemy is now attempting to advance with small infantry groups
and almost 90 people were either killed or wounded in Toretsk during the past day," the spokesperson said
the Russian army is gathering forces and accumulating reserves near Chasiv Yar and in the Siversk direction
Active combat and assaults are expected to resume soon
Bobovnikova also reported that the Russian army uses aviation in all three directions in the area of responsibility of the Luhansk Operational and Tactical Group
As of 4:00 p.m. on November 11, the General Staff reported 125 combat clashes
The most challenging situation is in the Kurakhove direction
The enemy is also active in the Pokrovsk direction
Additionally, the southern defense forces warned that Russian troops may soon begin ground assaults in the southern part of the Zaporizhzhia region
In the Siversk direction, Ukrainian defenders have halted the advance of Russian occupiers, destroying armored vehicles and thwarting an attempted breakthrough, the press service of the Khortytsia operational-strategic grouping of troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports.
Ukrainian defenders successfully stopped the advance of Russian occupiers who attempted to breach the defense using armored vehicles
The enemy deployed a column of armored vehicles to transport personnel to forward positions
but this attempt was disrupted by defense forces
Ukrainian artillery and FPV drone operators delivered precise strikes on enemy equipment
some of the armored vehicles were destroyed
the remnants of Russian assault groups attempting to retreat also came under drone and artillery fire
and the positions remained under Ukrainian control
and the tactical situation in this direction did not change
As previously reported, Russian occupiers are amassing forces in central Toretsk. From there
the invaders are attempting assaults on the Toretska-Tsentralna mine and the city center near the Avangard stadium
The Russian army attempted to storm the positions of Ukrainian forces in the Siversk direction, deploying a large amount of equipment and personnel, according to the Luhansk Operational Tactical Group
the Russian forces launched an assault using armored vehicles
A new offensive involving armored vehicles was stopped by Ukraine’s Defense Forces
which are part of the Luhansk Operational Tactical Group," the statement said
Russian forces suffered the following losses:
and artillery of the Defense Forces struck nine areas of personnel and equipment concentration
and one other key target of the Russian invaders
In total, Russian forces lost 1,300 personnel in the past day
Russian soldiers attempted to storm the positions of Ukrainian troops in Siversk's direction. The enemy used motorcycles for this purpose, the State Border Guard Service reports.
the Russians decided to take advantage of the cloudy weather and tried to break through to the front line of our defense
the aerial reconnaissance from the "GALA drones company" of the 1st Border Guard Command detected enemy maneuvers in time
Accurate drone strikes put the enemy in place
Ukraine's border guards eliminated eight Russian soldiers and destroyed several of their motorcycles
As reported earlier, the Russian army used aviation in an attempt to break through Ukraine's defense lines near Kurakhove
Also, on the Vremivka axis, over the last 24 hours, the Russians attacked near six settlements. They managed to infiltrate the defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
In the last 24 hours, from December 23 to 24, the Russian army lost 1,630 soldiers, 10 artillery systems, and 44 drones in the war against Ukraine.
Speaking on Espreso TV, Borysenko outlined the enemy's recent activities
"The Rubizh Brigade operates in the Lyman-Kupiansk and Siversk directions
the enemy launched three assaults in the Kupiansk direction
Every single assault was successfully repelled," he emphasized
Borysenko highlighted that russian troops are heavily relying on aviation
deploying a large number of guided aerial bombs (KABs)
russian artillery and multiple launch rocket systems remain highly active
with over 2,000 russian FPV drones recorded across the front line
"The russians are attempting to infiltrate forested areas in small infantry groups to exploit gaps between our units where possible
as such targets are the primary focus for our FPV drone operators," Borysenko explained
He also reported that in the Rubizh Brigade's operational zones
russian forces have made no territorial gains over the past day and have sustained significant losses
Ukrainian defenders continue to hold their positions firmly
Russia continues to make advances in eastern Ukraine as Kyiv's forces report an increased "intensity" in fighting along the front lines in the Donetsk region
According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW)
a small town less than 25 miles north of Bakhmut
and are continuing their ground attacks toward the city as of Monday
The think tank cited geolocated footage published on Telegram showing Russian forces west of Rozdolivka
A map compiled by ISW on Monday highlighted several ares where significant fighting in the Donetsk region was reported over the past 24 hours
according to geolocated footage reviewed by the U.S.-based think tank
Fighting was also reported near Maksymilian Ivka in the southern Donetsk region
a town that was captured by Russia on Friday
Moscow's troops also made advances toward Chasiv Yar
Additional footage published last week indicated that Russian troops had also advanced west of Kalynivka
A spokesperson for Kyiv's Khortytsia Group of Forces
told Ukrainian outlets on Monday that Russia had recently "increased the intensity of assaults" near Chasiv Yar over the past week
read ISW's latest report on the war in Ukraine
Voloshyn said the assaults have been focused near the villages of Klishchiivka and Andriivka
Voloshyn told Ukrainian public broadcast company Suspline that Kyiv's troops have repelled 65 Russian attacks over the past week in the villages surrounding Chasiv Yar
The ISW said that fighting continued north and southwest of Chasiv Yar into Monday
Some Russian milbloggers said that parts of Moscow's 200th Motorized Rifle Brigade were advancing toward the Siverskyi-Donets Donbas Canal
although the ISW did "not observe visual evidence" of such claims
Russia also recently advanced west of Avdiivka
Fighting reportedly also continued north and west of the Donetsk town into Monday
The ISW noted that Russian forces "reportedly advanced west of Donetsk City on June 17
but there were no confirmed changes to the frontline in the area." The claims were again made by Russian milbloggers
who said that Moscow advanced up to 150 meters deep along the front lines in Krasnohorivka
Ukraine's Armed Forces said in an operational update to its Facebook page on Monday that the "hottest situation" along the front lines is in the Pokrovsk direction
Kyiv said that its troops repelled 32 of the 42 attacks launched by Moscow in the region on Monday
"The enemy does not give up trying to find the weak points in our defense
with continuous assault attempts to infiltrate Ukrainian troops' combat," read the update
Newsweek reached out to Russia's Ministry of Defense via email for an update on front- line activity
Newsweek is committed to journalism that's factual and fair
Hold us accountable and submit your rating of this article on the meter.
Russian forces have intensified assaults on three fronts: Toretsk
the enemy is extensively using military equipment
as shared by the spokesperson of the Luhansk Operational and Tactical Group
the use of military equipment was previously observed only on the Siversk front
but now the Russian forces are using it on all three fronts
The enemy has also intensified its assault operations
"Now we see that the enemy is advancing on all fronts
The enemy has intensified its assaults and is conducting very active operations on these fronts," said Bobovnikova
She noted that the Defense Forces are preparing for even greater enemy activity
We are reinforcing our frontline positions where possible
We are preparing for even more intense enemy activity on these fronts," added the spokesperson
She also mentioned that the situation in Toretsk is currently the most difficult because
the Russian troops have launched 11 assaults
According to the General Staff, as of 4:00 PM Kyiv time on December 24, there have been 179 combat engagements on the front
The Russian troops are most active in attacking the Pokrovsk direction
The total Russian casualties in terms of personnel since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine have exceeded 777,000 soldiers
Specifically, in the last 24 hours, from December 23 to 24, the Russian army lost 1,630 soldiers, 10 artillery systems, 44 drones, and other equipment in the war against Ukraine.
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Russian troops launched bloody assaults on Ukrainian positions that often yielded only limited gains
But the relentless attacks are now starting to pay off: In October
Russia made its largest territorial gains since the summer of 2022
as Ukrainian lines buckled under sustained pressure
Russian forces have seized more than 160 square miles of land in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region
That has allowed them to take control of strategic towns that anchored Ukrainian defenses in the area
will help the Russian army secure its flanks before launching an assault on the city of Pokrovsk
a key logistics hub for Ukrainian forces in the Donbas
Russia’s rapid advance is a striking change from the situation last year
when the front lines remained mostly static
with both sides launching ambitious offensives that largely failed
But the stalemate that defined 2023 laid the groundwork for Russia’s recent progress
Russia’s attacks gradually weakened the Ukrainian army to the point where its troops are so stretched that they can no longer hold some of their positions
Ukrainian soldiers and military analysts say
Half of Russia’s territorial gains in Ukraine so far this year were made in the past three months alone
a military expert with the Finland-based Black Bird Group
“The situation in southeastern Donbas rapidly deteriorates,” he said
Russia made a series of small gains in July across this southeastern pocket of the Donbas
a key rail and road hub that Ukraine depends on to resupply its troops in the area
and Russia rapidly advanced 10 miles toward Pokrovsk and closed in on Selydove from the east and north
Russia’s march toward Pokrovsk slowed as it encountered several lines of Ukrainian defenses and Ukraine sent reinforcements
and it appears to have taken the city this week
It also advanced on Kurakhove from three directions
looking to squeeze Ukrainian forces out of that city
Paroinen likened the relentless assaults Ukrainian forces must try to fend off to “a constant game of Whac-a-Mole
with new crisis points emerging faster than they can be dealt with.” That allows Russia to quickly advance whenever it finds a weak spot
an analyst at the French Foundation for Strategic Research
pointed to other factors that have helped Russia’s advance
including its increased use of powerful guided bombs
which can destroy fortified enemy positions
and a lack of Ukrainian fortifications in the area where the fighting is now taking place
“Ukraine’s defenses are more and more battered
the terrain is more and more favorable for Russian offensives and
the Russians have a better impact” with the guided bombs
“The three factors combine to explain the increase in Russian gains.”
Ukrainian forces have also suffered from serious personnel shortages that have them largely outmanned on the battlefield
the secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council
told parliament on Tuesday that an additional 160,000 people would be drafted
with the goal of raising the manning of units to 85%
Russian forces broke through Ukrainian strongholds that had sustained prolonged fighting
Russian troops had long been thwarted by a canal dividing the town from its outskirts
which served as a natural barrier for the Ukrainians
it is “highly likely” that Russia “crossed the canal and “approached the town’s boundaries.”
the Russian army has used a tactic of threatening encirclement to force Ukrainian forces to withdraw
the chair of Ukraine’s Security and Cooperation Center
said that Selydove protected Pokrovsk’s southern flank and that its capture would help Russia position artillery and secure supply routes there
Russia’s recent rapid advance points to another Ukrainian weakness
military experts say: a lack of fortifications
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After seizing the fortress town of Vuhledar earlier this month
Russian forces encountered largely open terrain with sparse Ukrainian defensive lines and few urban areas where Ukrainian troops could entrench to form stiff resistance
Russia advanced roughly 6 miles north of Vuhledar — an unusually swift pace compared with previous gains
“The Russians are now well past the old front line and its extensive minefields
which halted the previous offensives against Vuhledar back in 2023,” Paroinen said
Ukraine has weakened its positions in the Donbas by redeploying seasoned units from there to Russia’s Kursk region
where Ukrainian forces launched a surprise cross-border offensive this summer
The troops have often been replaced by less experienced units that are struggling to fend off Russian assaults
Tourret noted that many units now manning the front line in the Donbas are from Ukraine’s Territorial Defense — a force largely made up of civilians who volunteered to fight the Russian invaders in 2022
but lack the training and equipment of regular army units
Paroinen said Russia’s recent rapid advance supports “the overall picture that we have of Ukrainian forces: Reserves are low
too many quality units are stuck in Kursk and Russia has enough force left to exploit any weaknesses in Ukrainian lines.”
This article originally appeared in The New York Times
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Russian Colonel-General Gennadiy Anashkin was dismissed from his post as commander of the “South” military unit
He is accused of concealing the situation at the front
Russian media outlets announced the dismissal of Colonel General Gennadiy Anashkin
The so-called Russian military correspondents also spread this information
Russia does not officially release information about Anashkin's resignation
Russians in the network note that Anashkin was allegedly suspected of concealing the real state of affairs in the Siversk direction
“The general did not inform the higher command of the true state of affairs
concealed the real situation - the units of the ‘South’ military group are also fighting near Siversk,” the Russians write
videos were circulated on social media showing columns of Russian equipment on the offensive in the Siversk sector suffering heavy losses
Colonel General Gennadiy Anashkin was the commander of the Russian military formation in Nagorno-Karabakh from September 2021 to January 2022
he became the interim commander of the troops of the Southern Military District of the Russian Federation
This year, Russian leader Vladimir Putin changed the Minister of Defense
Andrey Belousov was appointed to the post of the Defense Ministry
was appointed Secretary of the Russian Security Council
Russia also detained Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov on suspicion of corruption
The media speculated that he might be charged with treason
Moscow sent another former Shoigu's deputy to a pre-trial detention center for alleged corruption
There have been 89 combat engagements on the front since the beginning of the day. The heaviest fighting has been recorded in the Pokrovsk and Kursk directions, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
the enemy launched three assaults on the positions of our units near Petropavlivka and Pishchane
the occupying army carried out nine attacks on Ukrainian positions near the settlements of Kopanky
Three combat engagements are still ongoing
the Defense Forces repelled three attacks by Russian troops
The enemy attacked our defensive positions near Verkhniokamianske and Ivano-Dariivka
the Russian army launched six attacks in the areas of Chasiv Yar
there were eight enemy attacks in the areas of Toretsk
Ukrainian soldiers have already repelled two of them
the Russian forces have made 31 attempts to push our defenders from their positions in the areas of Vodiane Druhe
The Defense Forces have repelled 30 enemy attacks
the invaders attacked ten times near Kostiantynopil
Three of the enemy attacks have been repelled
The enemy bombed Novopil and Kostyantynopil with KABs (guided aerial bombs)
the occupying forces launched one assault on our positions near Novodanylivka
The enemy made one unsuccessful attempt to assault our defenders' positions in the Prydniprovskyi direction
the enemy has not conducted any active operations since the beginning of the day
The operation in the Kursk region continues
Ukrainian soldiers have repelled eight attacks by the occupying forces today
and three combat engagements are still ongoing
The enemy carried out 250 artillery strikes
including one from a multiple rocket launcher system
since the beginning of the full-scale war against Ukraine
Russia has lost more than 814,000 military personnel
In particular, over the past day, Ukrainian soldiers eliminated 1,480 Russian troops