UAF – Ukrainian Forces
RF – Russian Forces
Summary of the Events
Another slow day as UAF continue their slow advance towards Svatove and Kreminna, and RF continue their slow advance on Bakhmut and Avdiivka.
Eastern Ukraine: (Eastern Kharkiv and Western Luhansk Oblast – UAF Counter-offensive)
Satellite images have confirmed that UAF are occupying the western part of Novoselivske which had been retaken by Russia last week.
Donetsk Oblast: (Russia’s Main Objective)
RF continue their slow advance on Bakhmut from the east. Satellite images confirmed that RF are operating northeast of Klishchivka. Satellite images also have shown UAF destroying RF positions east of Yakovlivka which Russia also claimed to have taken last week.
UAF that had fought in Kherson, have now rested up and have appeared in the Donbas region, mostly in defense of Bakhmut. That suggests that Ukraine has opted to defend against RF advances in the Donbas rather than start a counteroffensive to take eastern Kherson.
Southern Ukraine: (Eastern Kherson, Southern Zaporizhia, and Western Donetsk)
RF shelled Kherson city killing two civilians and wounding five. The attack was made against civilian targets from artillery, multiple launch rocket systems, tanks, and mortars. UAF hit RF in Melitopol with multiple launch rocket systems killing dozens of Russian soldiers.
Other News
Russian officials consistently release rumors suggesting that Belarus will join Russia in its war against Ukraine. The likelihood of this happening is very low as Belarus has a very ineffective army and could not pose a threat to Ukraine. Most of their weapons have already been given to Russia under the guise paying Russia to modernize their tanks, for example. But the rumors circulate for the purpose of tying Ukrainian forces to the Belarus border rather than fight along the front lines against Russia.
International Support
The Council of the European Union approved €18 billion of military aid for Ukraine throughout 2023.