Summary: The Ukrainian counteroffensive is no longer making progress, and Ukraine is currently fortifying its fortifications in anticipation of the impending Russian counteroffensive. Ukrainian forces have arrived at the outskirts of Mayorsk, which is located 14 kilometers south of Bakhmut. Russian forces have strategically maneuvered around Ukrainian forces in Marinka, effectively encircling the remaining Ukrainian defenders within the city. Ukraine achieved a temporary closure of the railway routes that connect North Korea to Russia, resulting in a deceleration of arm shipments.
Russia 1 – Kupyansk/Svatove Line
Russian soldiers progressed in a southeastern direction from Vilshana, which is located 10 miles northeast of Kupyansk. Russian soldiers launched an aggressive military campaign at Synkivka, located 6 miles northeast of Kupyansk, but were ultimately driven back.
Russia 2 – Svatove/Kreminna Line
Ukrainian soldiers made progress in the direction of Dibrova, which is located approximately 6 kilometers southwest of Kreminna. Russian forces launched offensives in the Serebrianska forest area but were successfully repulsed.
Russia 3 – Avdiivka/Marinka Line (Outskirts of Occupied Donetsk City)
Russian forces have made progress in the northern, eastern, and southeastern directions from Stepove, which is located 5 miles northwest of Avdiivka, as they aim to encircle the settlement. Intense combat persists in the industrial area located in the southeastern outskirts of Avdiivka, with no progress being made. However, the general frequency of Russian attacks has significantly declined in recent days because of adverse weather conditions and substantial Russian casualties.
Russian forces strategically maneuvered around Ukrainian forces, successfully encircling them, and asserting dominance by raising their flag on the western outskirts of Marinka. As a result, Ukrainian defenders now only maintain control over a limited area within the settlement. Russian forces attempted offensive operations near Novomykhailivka, about 6 miles south of Marinka, but were not successful.
Ukraine 1 – Liberate Bakhmut
Ukrainian soldiers made progress towards Mayorsk and arrived at the outskirts of the settlement. Russian forces engaged in offensive maneuvers in the vicinity of Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, and Andriivka, but were successfully repulsed in each case.
Ukraine 2 – Drive to Berdyansk from Velyka Novosilka
Russian forces launched offensives towards Staromaiorske and successfully made progress in the southwestern direction of the settlement.
Ukraine 3 – Drive to Melitopol from Orikhiv
There were no verified advancements made by Ukrainian forces in the sector. However, it has been verified that Russian forces currently have control over Myrne.
Ukraine 4 – Liberate Eastern Kherson
The Ukrainian forces persist in maintaining their positions on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River amidst ongoing combat, with no acknowledged progress made by either side.
Thursday, November 30
Ukrainian saboteurs vandalized the railway connection connecting Russia and North Korea, which is utilized for the transportation of weapons into Russia. An explosion occurred in the Severomuysky Tunnel on the East Siberian Railway in the Republic of Buryatia. A number of rail carriages ignited.
President Zelensky paid a visit to the courageous Ukrainian defenders stationed in Kupyansk in order to provide them with encouragement and express his gratitude for their dedicated service. While President Zelensky frequently visits the troops stationed on the frontline, President Putin has never made a single visit to the frontline. Zelensky declared that Ukraine will promptly fortify its military capabilities in Russian Sectors 1-3 in anticipation of the forthcoming Russian counteroffensive.
Russia executed numerous campaigns of missile and drone assaults on Ukraine, targeting civilian infrastructure. In the early morning hours, Russia deployed a total of eight missiles and 20 drones. Ukraine announced that they successfully intercepted 14 drones. A drone struck a historic building in Odesa Oblast. Multiple missiles targeted residential structures and police stations in various cities within Donetsk Oblast, causing the unfortunate loss of five human lives. Multiple explosions occurred near the Khmelnitsky Nuclear Power Plant. In the evening, Russia deployed an additional seven unmanned aerial vehicles, but Ukrainian air defense successfully intercepted five of them. Presented below is a compilation of footage capturing various rescue efforts.
In November, Russian soldiers experienced a significant number of casualties, with an average of 900 per day.
Today, two surveys were released indicating a decline in Russian support for the ongoing war against Ukraine. A recent survey conducted by an opposition party revealed that the proportion of those who endorse the departure of Russian forces without accomplishing their military objectives has remained constant at 40% during the current year. However, the proportion of individuals advocating for the war’s continuation to accomplish its objectives has declined from 47% in February to 33%. Russia is attempting to divert focus from the war and onto domestic matters as the upcoming presidential elections approach. The increasing number of civilian complaints over the conditions of soldiers contrasts with the decreasing number of complaints from journalists and milbloggers, indicating a tendency for self-censorship in anticipation of the elections. President Putin is anticipated to formally declare his candidacy for the presidency on December 14th during his customary Direct Line conference (which he had previously canceled in 2022).
Sergei Lavrov, the Foreign Minister of Russia, delivered a speech at the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in North Macedonia. It is worth mentioning that Lavrov did not take the opportunity to strengthen the Russian stance of being open to negotiating the resolution of the conflict with Ukraine. Instead, he criticized the OSCE for aligning itself with NATO and the EU, claiming that they have deviated from their intended role as impartial observers. In addition, he took the opportunity to issue a warning to Moldova, cautioning that it could face a similar fate as Ukraine if it were to align itself with the West. The delegates from Ukraine, Romania, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia refused to attend the meeting due to the invitation extended to Russia by the hosts from North Macedonia. Several additional delegates departed from the meeting upon hearing Lavrov’s speech, and Lavrov himself left the meeting after a mere 15 minutes of addressing the participants.
Russia and Belarus have reached a consensus on a fresh set of Union State integration measures, which would further incorporate Belarus into Russia.
The Netherlands has committed to providing Ukraine with $2.5 billion in military assistance for the year 2024.
Polish truckers are currently in their third week of blockading the main border crossings with Ukraine. They are demanding the restoration of permits for Ukrainian truck drivers, which were stopped during Russia’s invasion. This suspension was intended to facilitate the importation of humanitarian aid into Ukraine. Polish truck drivers are expressing dissatisfaction with what they perceive as unjust competition. The Polish administration has declared their intention to intensify inspections of Ukrainian trucks to verify that they are exclusively carrying humanitarian assistance. Polish truckers expressed their willingness to potentially alleviate their blockades if these checks provide tangible outcomes.
Friday, December 1
Ukrainian saboteurs targeted the second railway line that links Russia and North Korea by setting off an explosive on a train transporting gasoline while it was crossing a bridge. Currently, both railway connections between the two nations have been temporarily deactivated, resulting in a deceleration of North Korean arms shipments to Russia.
In the early morning hours, Russia executed an additional missile and drone attack on Ukraine. Russia deployed a fleet of 25 drones and fired two guided missiles. Ukrainian air defense systems successfully intercepted eighteen drones and one missile.
Belarus’ membership in the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent has been terminated due to their complicity in the illicit expulsion of Ukrainian children from seized areas of Ukraine.
Saturday, December 2
Ukrainian partisans in Melitopol executed an assault that resulted in the demise of multiple Russian soldiers and the annihilation of military machinery.
In the early morning hours, Russia carried out a fresh round of missile and drone attacks, specifically aimed at Southern Ukraine. A total of eleven drones were deployed along with a single missile. A solitary drone successfully bypassed the Ukrainian air defense system and executed a precise strike on a civilian infrastructure target in Odesa Oblast.
An unsettling video depicting the execution of two Ukrainian troops after their surrender has been made public. Access the video here. Ukraine is urging for the establishment of an international tribunal to probe this heinous act of war.
The Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant, currently under Russian control, experienced a complete power outage lasting for a duration of five hours during the night. The deactivation of the coolant tanks resulted in a perilous circumstance, which was fortunately prevented by the subsequent return of electricity.
The United States has included two companies from the United Arab Emirates and one firm from Liberia in the list of sanctioned entities. These companies have been penalized for transporting Russian crude oil at a price exceeding the established limit of $60 per barrel.
Sunday, December 3
Russia executed a sequence of nocturnal missile and drone attacks, deploying a total of 12 drones and one missile. Just two of the drones successfully evaded Ukrainian air defense systems and targeted a command post in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast and an ammo dump in Mykolaiv Oblast. A septuagenarian male perished as a result of descending debris above the locality of Sadove.