Summary: The first snowfall impacted visibility on both sides. The only progress of Ukrainian forces was in Ukraine Sector 4 where they gained control of more of the western part of Krynky. But Russian forces were on the offensive in almost all sectors with marginal success threatening to retake the initiative in the war and ending Ukraine’s counteroffensive.
Russia 1 – Kupyansk/Svatove Line
Russian forces continued their offensive operations in the sector but made no confirmed advances. The main fighting occurred around Synkivka (6 miles NE of Kupyansk) and Ivanivka (13 miles SE of Kupyansk). Russia claims to have made marginal advances crossing the Ivanivka-Kyslivka road and consolidating their positions near the railway line directly east of Ivanivka.
Russia 2 – Svatove/Kreminna Line
Russian forces continued their offensive operations in the sector and marginally advanced in the Serebrianska forest region south of Kreminna.
Russia 3 – Avdiivka/Marinka Line (Outskirts of Occupied Donetsk City)
Russian forces continued their offensive operations in the sector but made no confirmed advances. Russia claimed to have broken through Ukrainian defenses near the rail station in the industrial region in the southeastern outskirts of Avdiivka. Russia also claimed to have made some advances north of Avdiivka near Novokalynove (8 miles N of Avdiivka) and Ocheretyne (10 miles NW of Avdiivka).
The heaviest fighting occurred in the southeast industrial zone and the Coke Plant in the northeast suburbs. Ukrainian forces continued their counterattacks near Stepove but made no confirmed advances.
Russian forces also continued their assault on Marinka and Novomykhailivka (6 miles S of Marinka) but made no progress.
Ukraine 1 – Liberate Bakhmut
Ukrainian forces continued offensive operations in the sector but made no confirmed advances. Ukrainian forces are focused on taking the waste heap northwest of Horlivka (20 miles S of Bakhmut).
Russian forces conducted a counterattack between Bakhmut and Klishchiivka (5 miles S of Bakhmut) and claimed to advance but this has not been confirmed. Russian forces have replenished their grouping in the sector and are threatening to retake the initiative.
Ukraine 2 – Drive to Berdyansk from Velyka Novosilka
Ukraine conducted no offensive operations in the sector.
Geolocated footage shows Ukrainian forces repelling a Russian attack confirming that Russian forces had advanced further west of Novodonetske (7.5 miles E of Velyka Novosilka) at some time. Russian forces also made unsuccessful attacks near Urozhaine (6.5 miles S of Velyka Novosilka) and Staromaiorske (6 miles S of Velyka Novosilka).
Ukraine 3 – Drive to Melitopol from Orikhiv
Ukrainian forces conducted offensive operations in the sector but made no confirmed advances. Russian forces also conducted offensive operations but were not successful.
Ukraine 4 – Liberate Eastern Kherson
Ukrainian forces continued building a beachhead on the east bank of the Dnipro River and expanded their control of western Krynky.
A Ukrainian soldier and a woman were killed in Kyiv after a grenade exploded in an apartment. A second man was also injured. An investigation has begun on what caused the explosion.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin made an unannounced visit with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv to reiterate US support of Ukraine was for the “long haul”. He also announced another $100 million in military assistance to include anti-aircraft missiles, another HIMARS system with ammunition, missiles, anti-tank weapons, artillery, and small arms rounds.
Polish truckers continue their blockade of the four largest border crossings between Poland and Ukraine in their protest over the lack of regulations on Ukrainian truckers transporting goods through Poland. This blockade has greatly slowed down the delivery of humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
Unable to convince Wagner Group forces in Africa to join under the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD), the MoD has announced the creation of the “Africa Corps” to compete with the Wagner Group forces serving as mercenaries throughout Africa. The “Africa Corps” will first establish themselves in Libya and recruiting has now started.
The Russia Strelkov Movement, created to pressure the Russian government to release nationalist Igor Girkin from prison, officially announced they were forming their own political party, and that Igor Girkin would be their candidate in the upcoming presidential elections.
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has placed Russian President Vladimir Putin in a difficult position. During a conference call celebrating the renewal of the Russian transport fleet, Kadyrov made a bold move to enhance his status amongst his fellow Chechens by inviting Putin to visit Chechnya and noting that he has not visited since 2011. Putin politely thanked him for the invitation and thanked the Chechen people for their hard work in restoring the republic. If Putin ignores the invitation, he risks snubbing Kadyrov. But if he accepts the invitation, it will be perceived that Kadyrov has power to put pressure on him.
Armenia has angered Russia even more as they continue to move out of the Russian orbit. Armenia asked to remove provisions on assistance to Armenia from the agenda of the upcoming Russian-controlled Collective Security Organization Summit in Minsk. Armenia has also begun talks with the European Union by allowing EU election monitors to operate in Armenia.
Russia is creating a migrant crisis on the Finnish border in retaliation for them joining NATO. Finland had closed several border crossings two days ago after two months of an influx of migrants numbering 300 from Iraq, Yemen, Somalis, and Syria overwhelmed their border seeking asylum. 89 migrants had arrived in over just two days prior to the border being closed. These migrants were literally pushed through the Russian checkpoints who then shut their gates closed so they could not return. Stuck in the no-man’s land in between, they gathered around a campfire in sub-zero temperatures to stay warm. With no other option, these migrants were forced to enter Finland illegally. Finland has announced that they will shut all Russian border crossings tomorrow. Russia’s goal is to embarrass Finland internationally by not accepting them into their country. Russia had done the same thing to Poland in 2021.
Ukraine reported that they have successfully returned 45 Ukrainian children over the last six months whom Russian authorities had forcibly deported to Russia.
Russian occupation officials held a webinar last Wednesday for educators in occupied regions to how to increase the effectiveness of military-patriotic education of schoolchildren.