UAF – Ukrainian Forces
UAS – According to Ukrainian Sources
RF – Russian Forces
RS – According to Russian Sources
Summary of the Events
RF seized Yakovlivka near Bakhmut. And Hungary seized a substantial amount of Russian assets for the first time signaling that its friendship with Russia may be coming to an end, a situation that has protected our region of Zakarpattia from coming under attack.
Eastern Ukraine: (Eastern Kharkiv and Western Luhansk Oblast – UAF Counter-offensive)
RF are conducting hopeless counteroffensives in Eastern Ukraine to slow down the advance of UAF on Svatove and Kreminna. RF are building extensive defenses, especially around Svatove.
Svatove – RF conducted assaults near Novoselivske (9 miles NW) and Stelmakhivka (10 miles NW). [UAS].
Kreminna – RF conducted assaults near Ploshchanka and Chervonopopivka (11 miles N) and Bilohorivka, Luhansk (7 miles S). [UAS]. Fighting remains intense on the western outskirts of Bilohorivka [RS].
UAF struck two weapon depots in the rear areas in Kadiivka and Irmino.
Donetsk Oblast: (Russia’s Main Objective)
Bakhmut – RF were repelled from attacks near Bakhmut, as well as from the NE near Vyimka, Yakovlivka, Soledar, and Bakhmutske, and to the south near Klishchiivka, Andriivka, Kurdyumivka, Opytne, Ozerianivka, and Druzhba [UAS]. RS claim that RF took Yakovlivka, with satellite images supporting the claim. Satellite images also show that RF are making marginal advances west of Ozerianivka.
Avdiivka – RF were repelled from attacks to the north on Novobakhmutivka and Oleksandropil, and to the south near Nevelske, Marinka, Pobieda, and Novomykhailivka [UAS]. RF are focusing their attacks on retaking Marinka having almost reached the center of the city.
Some fighting continues along the western Donetsk and Southern Zaporizhia line with UAF attempting an assault on Solodke [RS].
Southern Ukraine: (Eastern Kherson, Southern Zaporizhia, and Western Donetsk)
RF continue to build up their defenses in Southern Ukraine while continuing to shell targest in Kherson, Zaporizhia, and Dnipropetrovsk Oblasts. Video was released of the aftermath of RF artillery fire on a residential building in Kherson city. Satellite images also showed RF destroying their own air-defense system near the T2207 highway in friendly fire. UAF had destroyed this system back in August. Russia launched 21 missiles at Zaporizhia city which damaged a piece of critical energy infrastructure.
A UAF rocket attack on Tokmak on Wednesday wounded 180 Russian soldiers and destroyed ten pieces of equipment [UAS]. Satellite images confirmed a UAF rocket attack on Skadovsk.
Russian Mobilization and Force Support
Russian soldiers are surrendering at an increased level as the cold winter weather as brought them misery as well. This is based on an internet search of phrases related to surrender which numbered 121,000 over the last month as compared to only 19,000 the month before.
Yevgeniy Prigozhin voiced his anger over his private army not being allowed decorated military funerals.
Partisans working in the Luhansk region assisted UAF in helping to correct indirect fire against a Russia military base which resulted in the deaths of 20 Russian soldiers and eight pieces of military equipment.
Life in Russian-Occupied Regions
As occupied regions are also experiencing energy shortages, Russia is diverting what remains to Russian subjects leaving Ukrainians out in the cold. Several hospitals in the occupied regions are no longer accepting Ukrainian citizens.
Russia has started a campaign to return the names of streets in the occupied regions of Zaporizhia to their former Soviet names and restore monuments to Russian heroes that were removed since the first invasion of Russia in 2014.
Belarus
Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet for the first time since 2019 with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko next Monday as another sign that Russia plans another invasion of Kyiv from Belarus in early 2023. Pundits still feel that such an invasion is unlikely but that Russia is sending false signals to draw UAF away from the east to defend the Belarus border and Kyiv.
Other News
Russia conducted its ninth large-scale missile campaign against critical Ukrainian energy infrastructure and one of the largest missile attacks on Kyiv to date. Russia fired 40 missiles at Kyiv of which UAF shot down 37. Another 32 missiles were fired at other targets of Ukraine and 23 or them were shot down. Nearly 80% of Russian missiles were shot down before hitting targets. None of these attacks are on military targets and are designed to make life miserable for civilians.
International Support
In a surprise move, Hungary finally seized assets of Russians amounting to $925 million of Russian assets. Up until now, Hungary had only seized $3200 of Russian assets. This may signal that the friendship between Hungary and Russia that has kept our region safe may be coming to an end.