UAF – Ukrainian Forces
RF – Russian Forces
Summary of the Events
RF continue to fight Bakhmut from three sides but made limited gains at huge losses. There was no change on the ground in other regions.
Eastern Ukraine: (Eastern Kharkiv and Western Luhansk Oblast – UAF Counter-offensive)
UAF continue to progress closer to Svatove. They struck Svatove and farther in the rear at Novopskov with HIMARS rockets and heavy artillery. UAF engaged RF near Dachne and continue to fight over control of Novoselivske.
UAF repelled RF counterattacks near Kreminna, Nevske, and Bilohorivka. RF claimed to have gained some ground in Bilohorivka. But UAF are also getting closer to Kreminna.
Donetsk Oblast: (Russia’s Main Objective)
UAF repelled attacks on Bakhmut and Avdiivka and the surrounding areas. Both sides experienced heavy losses. RF claim to have pushed back UAF farther from Donetsk city. Fighting continue over Vuhledar, but RF are having a difficulty because of the high-rise buildings used by UAF sharpshooters.
Southern Ukraine: (Eastern Kherson, Southern Zaporizhia, and Western Donetsk)
UAF and RF continue to shell each other across the Dnipro River. RF specifically fired artillery on Kherson city. UAF hit RF in rear areas with HIMARS rockets in Chaplynka and Skadovsk. UAF also struck RF command posts and weapon depots near Enerhodar, Molochansk, Tokmak, and Berdyansk. UAF also hit an air defense system near Vesele.
Russian Mobilization
Russia plans to open military training centers within ten of their regions for children from 14 to 18 suggesting that Russia is planning on a long conflict with Ukraine. The program will begin in the Spring 2023 with 45,000 schoolchildren.
A Russian soldier lost control of a grenade launcher at a shooting class and killed another mobilized soldier on Saturday. Another mobilized soldier was found dead on Friday in his tent in Omsk. Another group of Russian soldiers on the frontlines in Kherson stole a civilian’s car and crashed it after drinking heavily on Saturday.
Life in Russian Occupied Territory
Russian troops in occupied territories are stealing civilian utility equipment and using it to build defensive structures.
Russia is also establishing mandatory health insurance in occupied regions and that all businesses in occupied regions must now register with the local Russian authorities.
The number of civilian cars being stolen by Russian troops in the occupied regions is increasing. The cars are being given Russian license plates and then sold in Russia. Russian police in occupied regions constantly pull over Ukrainian drivers and extort fines for invented violations.
Other News
An unnamed US defense source told The Times that the Pentagon is no longer insisting that Ukraine should not strike military targets within Russia. This change is due to the constant Russian missile attacks on Ukrainian energy and civilian infrastructure. Ukraine has the green light to begin drone attacks on legitimate military targets from which RF are launching attacks on Ukraine.
RF conducted attacks against critical infrastructure targets in Ukraine using a significantly higher number of Iranian-made drones than in previous weeks. Fifteen drones were used in the attack, and Ukraine shot down ten of them before they hit their targets. The attacks were made in the Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Odesa oblasts. One drone did critical damage in Odesa and will take a long time to restore.
Leaders of the breakaway Donetsk People’s Republic have begun to criticize Russian President Vladimir Putin for failing in his promise to secure the Donetsk region for the rebels. UAF are still within artillery range of Donetsk city after nine months of fighting.
International Support
The U.S. announced another $275 million military aid package to Ukraine that will include ammunition for the HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems and 80,000 rounds of artillery shells. It will also include anti-drone and air defense systems, ambulances, medical equipment, and 150 power generators.
The European Commission donated 40 power generators.