UAF – Ukrainian Forces
RF – Russian Forces
Summary of the Events
Both sides are moving troops around after Ukraine retook western Kherson region. UAF have begun destroying weapon depots and troops in eastern Kherson. The fighting is heaviest in the Donetsk region with RF taking Opytne and reaching the outskirts of Vodiane.
Eastern Kharkiv / North-Western Luhansk Front (UAF Main Objective)
UAF continue their push towards liberating Svatove and Kreminna.
Thursday – No significant changes were made on the ground. UAF attempted to push forward, and RF attempted to retake territory. The most significant fighting is over Bilohorivka (Luhansk region) which is an important hinge controlled by UAF which is threatening to cut off the connection between RF in the northern Luhansk region from those in the south.
Friday – RF that withdrew from western Kherson began arriving in Novoaidar as Russia begins to dig in and defend Luhansk. RF unsuccessfully tried to retake Novoselivske and Stelmakhivka. UAF also were not successful in gaining any new territory towards Svatove or Kreminna. UAF did destroy a Russian surface-to-air missile complex just west of Svatove.
Donetsk Front (RF Main Objective)
RF have concentrated the forces they removed from western Kherson region towards the objective of capturing all of Donetsk region which they have annexed. Their priority is the capture of Bakhmut and Avdiivka, with a secondary priority of taking Vuhledar.
Thursday – Fighting continues to be intense around Bakhmut, but no significant changes were made on the ground. UAF have several strongholds around Avdiivka which are slowing RF advances, and RF conducted a strike on one of those. Russia claimed to have reached the southeastern outskirts of Nevelske which if true will make it more difficult for Ukraine to supply their troops defending Avdiivka. RF captured Opytne and reached the eastern outskirts of Vodiane, but at great cost. RF also gained control of the T0509 Highway which allows them better movement to the south of Vuhledar.
Friday – There was heavy fighting along this front, but the only change was RF moved a little closer to Pervomaiskyi.
Zaporizhia – Eastern Kherson Front (RF Secondary Objective to Secure Southern Occupied Regions)
RF are building up their defenses with troops removed from Western Kherson. UAF have begun the same strategy they used in taking the western Kherson region against the eastern half. RF are digging in along the few roadways that connect the region to other regions occupied by Russia. This limits Russia’s ability to resupply their troops in this region. UAF have begun targeting these roadways to restrict the supply of RF in the region. This is how Ukraine started its counter-offensive in western Kherson region by destroying the limited supply routes.
Thursday – UAF continue to attack RF strongholds in the region to soften their defenses. UAF struck RF near Chaplynka and Kalanchak. UAF destroyed the Russian headquarters in Melitopol, destroyed an armored personnel carrier near Oleshky, and hit an administrative building in Nova Kakhovka.
Friday – RF continue to dig in and move farther east to get out of range of UAF weapons. UAF killed 50 Russian soldiers in an attack near Skadovsk, and a weapons depot in Chaplynka. UAF also bombed Russian assets near Nova Kakhovka, Hola Prystan, and Oleshky. RF continue to shell cities behind the front lines in Nikopol, Marhanets, and Ochakiv.
Other News
RF launched another 25 cruise missiles and conducted 5 airstrikes against power grids and gas installations in the frontline regions of Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, Kharkiv, Zaporizhia, and Mykolaiv last Thursday injuring at least fourteen civilians. UAF were able to shoot down four of the cruise missiles and two of the KH-59 guided missiles, as well as five military drones.
Russian President Vladimir Putin removed four members of the Russian Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights (HRC) who were critical of the rising number of “patriotic” social media channels and the growing number of nationalist Russian milbloggers and replaced them with his loyal friends and a milblogger who calls for the continued use of massive missile strikes. This is indicative of the Kremlin’s efforts to stifle domestic opposition.
Russia continues its attempts to destroy Ukrainian culture in the territories they occupy. All Ukrainian history books in the schools of Enerhodar were collected and burned. Ukrainian schoolchildren in Melitopol are being taught from pro-Russian curriculum. The new curriculum teaches that Ukrainians and Russians are one people and justifies the invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainians who resist are placed in internment camps and their children sent to Russian families for adoption. Ukrainian citizens in occupied territories are being forced to provide blood to assist injured Russian soldiers. In Luhansk region, children are being taught how to turn in their friend’s families who show sympathy for Ukraine.
The court in the Netherlands released their long-awaited verdict on four people on trial for the downing of Flight MH17 over Ukraine on July 17, 2014, resulting in the deaths of all 298 people on board. Two Russians and one Ukrainian were found guilty in absentia and sentenced to life in prison. All three are unlikely to serve their sentences as they are being protected in Russia. The fourth suspect was acquitted. All four suspects were part of a Russian-led rebel force that led to the firing of BUK missiles at the civilian airplane.
Although Russia claims to have ended their mobilization efforts, reports of residents of St. Petersburg receiving summons to appear at recruitment centers by January 2023 were released on Friday. And a Russian court opened a case of a man who resisted being recruited by attacking the recruitment officer suggesting that mobilization centers are still in operation. College students in Dolgoprudny had their diplomas withheld until they reported to a mobilization center. And Ukrainian doctors living in occupied territories are being forced to enlist as doctors on the field.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced that it does not recognize Russia’s illegal seizure and operation of the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) and called on Russia to remove its forces and other personnel from the ZNPP.
Video footage was released of the surrender of RF near Makiyivka. During the surrender, another Russian soldier bolted from an abandoned building firing his machine gun. The camera then showed the surrendering soldiers lying dead on the ground. It was a clear signal to Russian forces contemplating surrender that such action is not permitted.