Summary: Russia conducted its largest drone and missile attack on Ukraine so far in this decade long war killing 40 civilians. Ukraine retaliated the following day against Belgorod resulting in the deaths of 22 Russian civilians. Along the frontlines, there was not much change.
Sloboda Front – Initiative Russia – Current Target: Recapture Kupyansk
There were no confirmed advances by either side in this sector, but Ukrainian forces claimed to have advanced southeast of Kupyansk.
Siversky Donets Front – Initiative Russia – Current Targets: Zherebets River, Siversk, Spirne, Khromove, Bohdanivka, and Ivanivske
Zherebets River – Russian forces advanced marginally west of Dibrova towards Torske.
Spirne – Ukrainian forces have made confirmed advances south of Spirne.
Around Bakhmut – The intensity of fighting around Bakhmut has decreased. Ukrainian forces made confirmed marginal advances southeast of Klishchiivka.
It has been confirmed that Russian forces had previously advanced east of Hryhorivka (2.5 miles NW of Bohdanivka). Russian forces also have made confirmed advances into the northern outskirts of Bohdanivka and northwest of Khromove, both directly northwest of Bakhmut. Russian forces are hesitant to take Bohdanivka as it is in a lowland and would make their troops highly susceptible to artillery and mortar attacks. Russia forces have also made confirmed advances southwest of Bakhmut towards Klishchiivka. Russia also claimed to have advanced marginally towards Ivanivske, but this has not been confirmed.
Donetsk Front – Initiative Russia – Current Targets: Avdiivka, Marinka, Pervomaiske, & Novomykhailivka
Avdiivka – Russian forces made confirmed marginal advances near the Avdiivka Coke Plant in the northwest outskirts of Avdiivka and advances north of Stepove (north of Avdiivka). Russian forces also claimed to have advanced within a half mile of Sieverne (SW of Avdiivka), near Ocheretyne along the railway line (NW of Avdiivka), and in the industrial zone in the southeastern outskirts of Avdiivka, but these claims have not been confirmed.
President Zelensky made a symbolic visit to the nearly surrounded city of Avdiivka on Saturday to encourage the troops. Zelensky did a similar visit to Bakhmut to turn that city into a fortress and raise morale to defend it. This visit to Avdiivka will have a similar impact.
Around Marinka – Russia forces have made confirmed advances northeast of Vodiane (11.5 miles SW of Marinka). Russian forces claimed to have begun moving out from Marinka toward Pobieda (SW of Marinka), but this is not confirmed.
Zaporizhia Front – Initiative Russia – Target: Recapture Robotyne
It has been confirmed that Russian forces have recaptured Dorozhnyanka, south of Hulyaipole. Russian forces had claimed to have taken the settlement a year ago, but it has only been confirmed now. In addition, Russian forces claim to have advanced west and northwest of Robotyne; in the area to the east between Robotyne and Verbove; and advanced a mile towards Novoprokopivka, but these claims have not been confirmed. Russian sources also report that Ukraine has advanced towards Verbove from the north, but this has not been confirmed.
Left Bank Front – Initiative Russia – Current Target: Recapture Krynky
Neither side made any confirmed nor claimed advances in the sector.
Thursday, December 28
Russian artillery shelled the village of Bilenke (15 miles S of Zaporizhia) on the Ukrainian-held side of the Dnipro River killing two fishermen. Two elderly women were killed in the border town of Vovchansk (37 miles NE of Kharkiv) due to Russian shelling. And three women were injured during an air attack on the village of Hlushkivka (9.5 miles SE of Kupyansk).
Russia has officially admitted to violating the Geneva Convention on POWs and committing war crimes by deploying a battalion formed from Ukrainian POWs to fight on the frontlines. The Bogdan Khmelnitsky Battalion consists of 70 Ukrainian POWs. This is in addition to their violations of using Ukrainian POWs as human shields as they advance on Ukrainian troops as shown on recent videos. Another such video was released today showing a Ukrainian POW being used as a human shield and then executed near Robotyne.
Ukraine’s Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets stated that the new law passed concerning Ukrainian mobilization violates the Ukraine constitution. The new law lowers the draft age from 27 to 25 and requires compulsory military training for all Ukrainian citizens from 18 – 25 years of age. But the part which may not pass constitutional muster is a provision that removes a citizen’s rights under the constitution if they evade military registration and service.
The US announced a $250 million security assistance package to Ukraine which includes air defense systems, artillery ammunition, anti-tank weapons, and small arms ammunition rounds. President Biden also signed an executive order that imposes sanctions on financial institutions that provide services to companies that are being sanctioned.
President Putin met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Moscow where he admitted the war in Ukraine was not going well, but said Russia is prepared to continue the fight for at least five years and will eventually win.
A Panamanian ship on its way to pick up Ukrainian grain hit a Russian mine and had to steer into shallower water to evade sinking. Two sailors were injured in the blast. Ukrainian tug boats were sent to evacuate the crew to safety while the ship is towed to port.
Russian imprisoned nationalist Igor Girkin suspended his race for president as authorities would not allow him access to a notary to complete the necessary application process.
Two Russian citizens received 7 year and 5.5 year prison sentences for simply reading poetry publicly in protest of the war against Ukraine. One of them reported that during the detention for their trial, he was raped by prison guards and forced to film an apology video under a threat against his girlfriend.
Friday, December 29
Russia conducted the largest missile and drone strike against Ukraine since the start of the renewed invasion last year. 36 drones followed by 120 missiles were launched at industrial and military facilities and critical infrastructure. 27 of the drones and 88 of the missiles were intercepted by air defense systems. This attack was a culmination of seven months of various drone and missile combinations designed to find the best system to penetrate Ukrainian air defense systems which paid off as 25% of the launches were successful. The drones were launched first to find current holes in the Ukrainian air defense system. 30 civilians were killed and another 160 injured in the massive drone and missile strike, and those numbers could rise higher. Kyiv alone was the victim of nine explosions killing six people and injuring 22. Zaporizhia suffered the most deaths at seven with another 12 injuries. A maternity hospital was hit in Dnipro killing six people.
Leaked US intelligence claims that Russia has lost 315,000 troops so far since the renewed invasion started last year. In perspective, that is nearly three times the number of troops the US lost in World War 1 and 75% of the US loss in World War 2.
Saturday, December 30
In response to Russia’s drone and missile attack of the day before, Ukraine launched its largest drone attack against Russian territory launching 70 drones against military targets near Moscow, Belgorod, Tula, Tver, and Bryansk. More than half of them hit their targets with Russia only intercepting 32 of the drones. Targets hit included the Kreminy El Plant in Bryansk which is the largest Russian manufacturer of microchips. In addition, Ukraine launched an MLRS attack on nearby Belgorod causing extensive damage to the water system of the city. Some collaborative damage to civilian housing also occurred resulting in the deaths of 22 with another 108 injuries according to Russian claims.
Russia launched another ten drones and an unspecified number of missiles. Half of the drones were intercepted by Ukrainian air defense systems as well as at least two missiles. Civilian housing was struck in Kharkiv, a business in Odesa, and the office of the Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner in Kherson.
The death toll of yesterday’s massive attack rose to 39 with 159 injuries. Hundreds of civilian targets were hit. The comparison is striking. Whereas Ukraine continues to strike military targets, Russia continues to terrorize the citizenry by hitting homes and apartment buildings.
President Biden called on Congress to approve more funding for Ukraine noting that the huge missile and drone attack proves that Russia is not interested in peace but the full destruction and capture of Ukraine.
Sunday, December 31
Russia launched 49 drones and twelve missiles at Ukrainian targets, and Ukraine’s air defense system intercepted only 21 of the drones. This shows that the US suspension of military support has left Ukraine without enough air defense missiles to defend itself and they must now be choosier on which targets to intercept. The US Congress’s decision is costing dozens of Ukrainian lives already. Most of the drones and missiles that got through hit civilian targets.
Kyiv’s death toll from the massive Russian attack has risen from the initial six reported to nineteen as more and more bodies are discovered in the debris. Total deaths throughout Ukraine has risen from 30 reported that first day to 40 now.