Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[LB] According to the British Ministry, the occupiers want to control the roads that will allow them to advance towards Kurakhovo.
One of Russia's goals in the battles for Maryinka is further advancement in the direction of Kurakhovo. As of now, the territory controlled by Ukrainian forces within Maryinka has decreased.
One of Russia's operational objectives in the area is likely to be to control the 00510 and N15 highways, with an eventual push further west towards the city of Kurakhove. This is stated in the intelligence report of the Ministry of Defense of Great Britain, published in X.
"Despite gradual progress, a large, operationally significant Russian breakthrough in this sector remains extremely unlikely," the British believe.
Heavy fighting is currently going on for control over the destroyed city of Marinka in the Donetsk region and the surrounding areas in the south of Ukraine.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[LB] In the Avdiivka direction defenders continue to restrain the enemy, who does not stop trying to surround Avdiivka. They repelled 23 Russian attacks east of Novobakhmutivka, Stepovoy, Avdiyivka and another 22 attacks south of Severnoy, Pervomaisky, and Nevelsky, Donetsk region.
In the Marinsk direction the defenders continue to hold back the enemy's offensive in the Novomykhailivka district of the Donetsk region, where the defenders successfully repelled 17 attacks. The spokesman of the General Staff, Andriy Kovalev, announced this on the air of the telethon.
On the Zaporizhsky direction, the defenders repelled nine attacks north of Priyutny, west and northwest of Vervovoy of the Zaporizhzhia region. At the same time, in the Melitopol direction, the defenders continue to inflict losses on the enemy, exhausting the enemy.
"In the Kupian direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled 15 enemy attacks in the Sinkivka area of the Kharkiv region, Kovalev said.< /span>
At Lymansk they repelled an attack by Russians east of Terni, Donetsk region.
In Bakhmutskyi, 11 attacks were repelled in the Ivanivskyi, Klishchiivka and Andriivka districts.
During the past day, there were a total of 110 combat clashes, the occupiers launched four rocket and 50 airstrikes, carried out 56 attacks from rocket salvo systems.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[VESTI] A fire broke out there after the "arrival"
After a series of explosions were heard in temporarily occupied Donetsk on Friday evening, December 15, a fire started at an oil depot (pictured).
Source: Donetsk public pages.
Details: "Arrivals" recorded in the Budenovsky district of the city. After hitting the oil depot, the fire continued for three hours. It is not specified what exactly the occupied city was shelled with.
Worth noting, korrespondent.net has compiled its Invasion of Ukraine series into separate months, beginning May 9th, 2023. Linked in the title.
[Korrespondent] 21:51 The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that over the past two hours, air defense systems allegedly destroyed 26 “Ukrainian drones” over Crimea.
21:19 US "has a much higher rate" in Russia's war against Ukraine than most people think, ISW believes. Read more about analysts' forecasts in the materialThe fate of the United States in the event of a Russian victory.
20:48 "Governor" of the occupied Kherson region, Vladimir Saldo said that the Genichesk "okrug" Now under heavy rocket fire. According to him, at the moment at least 15 targets have allegedly been shot down. Meanwhile, the public reports about explosions in Dzhankoy, and the “governor” Sevastopol Mikhail Razvozhaev reported on the work of air defense - one UAV was allegedly shot down. In addition, they report an attack on an oil depot in the Budennovsky district of Donetsk.
19:27 Lithuania transferred a new batch of military aid to Ukraine, including several million rounds of ammunition and several thousand ammunition for short-range man-portable anti-tank grenade launchers, the country's Ministry of Defense reported. Also, Lithuania has already drawn up a long-term plan to support Ukraine for 2024-2026 in the amount of 200 million euros.
19:08 During the day, the Russians shelled Nikopol, Dnepropetrovsk region, four times with heavy artillery. Two people were injured, including a 16-year-old girl. In the city, a store, 14 private houses, outbuildings, garages and cars, several power lines and a gas pipeline were damaged, said the head of the OVA, Sergei Lysak.
18:54 The Finnish Prosecutor General's Office has initiated a preliminary investigation into possible war crimes committed in Ukraine by the former commander of the neo-Nazi group Rusich, Jan Petrovsky. The preliminary investigation will take place in Finland, since the country's court has banned the extradition of the suspect to Ukraine. Finnish authorities can investigate crimes committed in Ukraine based on the principle of universal jurisdiction.
18:26 Air defense is operating over the Russian Kursk, four drones have already been shot down, said Governor Roman Starovoit.
17:31 British intelligence believes that despite the gradual advance of the Russian army in the Marinka area, a significant breakthrough in the direction of Kurakhovo is extremely unlikely. According to intelligence data, one of the operational goals of the Russian Federation in the area is control over highways 00510 and H15 precisely with the aim of further advancement in the direction of Kurakhovo.
17:15 European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU will look for a working solution on financing Ukraine on the eve of a new summit: “A new meeting has been scheduled for early next year. And the commission will use the remaining time to make sure that whatever happens at the next summit, we will have a workable solution." She added that it is necessary to work on alternative solutions in case unanimity is not reached.
In turn, French President Emmanuel Macron said following the summit that the next few months will be decisive for both Hungary and the European Union. He stressed that Orbán should not be allowed to treat the EU “as a hostage.”
16:23 The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said that a “principled decision” was reached at the EU summit. on the creation of the Ukrainian Fund Ukraine Facility in the amount of 50 billion euros for 2024-2027. “This is a clear signal that financial support for Ukraine from the European Union will continue. We expect the completion of all necessary legal procedures in January 2024, which will allow us to receive appropriate funding as soon as possible,” the statement said.
The Foreign Ministry noted that these 50 billion euros will be used, in particular, to maintain macroeconomic stability, restore and modernize the state, as well as accelerate integration into the EU.
16:20 Russian artillery struck the Dnieper district of Kherson. As a result of a shell hitting a residential building, two people were injured, said the head of the OVA, Alexander Prokudin.
16:14 Russian public pages write that as a result of a missile attack on the Russian military in the area of the Port City shopping center in Mariupol, 52 people were killed, more than 20 were injured, about ten units were lost technology. According to them, new soldiers, including special forces, arrived at the location where the attack was carried out a few days ago. Some of them were supposed to be sent to Ugledar, some to the Avdeevskoe direction.
15:39 In the Transcarpathian region, in the building of the Keretskiv village council, one of the deputies blew up grenades during a session. As a result of the explosion, 26 people were initially injured, six are in serious condition. Read more in the materialTragedy in Transcarpathia.
15:35 Two Leopard 2 tanks were repaired in Lithuania for Ukraine. They will soon return to the front. Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas said that he personally checked the vehicles.
14:56 The resistance movement in Melitopol carried out a successful sabotage and blew up a railway train that carried ammunition and fuel daily from Crimea to Melitopol and Dneprorudnoye. According to the Center for National Resistance under the Special Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, this train was transporting ore, grain and damaged equipment back from the temporarily occupied territories. As a result of the explosion, the railway and the diesel locomotive with cars were damaged. The occupation administration is trying to hide the fact of sabotage while the Russians are unsuccessfully searching for the partisans. FSB officers, “policemen,” dog handlers with dogs, and even crime laboratory experts were involved. This is the 11th successful sabotage on the railway in 2023.
14:32 Germany sends Ukraine a batch of “winter” humanitarian aid for 6.1 million euros. The country's Foreign Ministry reported that the "winter protective umbrella" for Ukraine includes not only air defense systems, but also generators, blankets, tents and batteries.
13:54 Member countries of the Danube Commission at their 100th anniversary meeting chaired by Ukraine excluded Russia because of its attacks on the Lower Danube, Kuleba said. Russia was obliged to leave the organization by February 29, 2024. If it does not do this, the commission members will not recognize their obligations to the Russian Federation under the Belgrade Convention on the Regime of Navigation on the Danube.
13:30 The Russians fired an S-300 missile at the Kyiv district of Kharkov, the prosecutor’s office reported. The store, garages, outbuildings, car were damaged.
13:08 Lavrov said that the longer the war in Ukraine goes on, the more difficult the conditions under which peace negotiations can begin will be.
12:19 After the night attacks on Mariupol, the Russians who settled in a camp in the Port City area are packing up their things en masse, breaking contracts and going home, said adviser to the city mayor Pyotr Andryushchenko . According to him, all the builders of the Russian Ministry of Defense live here, who, in particular, build fortifications around Mariupol.
12:01 Ukrainian military intelligence has refuted Putin’s statement that 617 thousand Russians are fighting in Ukraine. As the representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate Andrei Chernyak said in a commentary to Liga, the number of Russian army in Ukraine today is 443 thousand people. In addition, there are about 30 thousand employees of the Russian Guard at the front and in the occupied territories.
11:57 Germany ordered another 68 thousand shells for Ukraine worth 278 million euros, the country’s Ministry of Defense reported. This is the first batch of assistance that Germany plans to provide by concluding a framework deal with the French ammunition manufacturer. As part of this agreement, it is planned to produce 350 thousand shells for Ukraine.
11:39 The Russians shelled Kherson - one person was killed in the Central region, said the head of the OVA, Alexander Prokudin. In addition, the enemy hit an apartment building in the Dnieper district, as well as a market. Over the past 24 hours in the region, one person was killed and two were injured as a result of enemy shelling.
11:03 According to the UA War Infographics project, the Kinzhal missile has 77 American parts. Analysts also calculated how long it takes for such a missile to fly to different Ukrainian cities:
10:36 Hungary will not support a 50 billion euro aid package for Ukraine until the EU pays all 30 billion euros frozen for Budapest, Orban said. “This is an excellent opportunity for Hungary to make it clear that it must get everything that belongs to it,” the prime minister said.
09:53 The World Bank is allocating an additional $1.34 billion to Ukraine, Shmyhal said. The funds will be used to pay pensions, teachers’ salaries, support for IDPs and other priority state budget expenses. The bulk of this funding package - 1.086 billion - comes from the Japanese government. The rest are grants from the USA, Switzerland and the Fund for Support, Reconstruction and Reform of Ukraine (URTF).
09:17 Former Deputy Minister of Defense Anna Malyar reported that at night on the eastern outskirts of Mariupol the Defense Forces destroyed an army-level rear command post. Warehouses with fuel and lubricants and parking for military and transport equipment were hit by one targeted strike, the enemy’s air defense did not work.
08:41 The General Staff announced the estimated losses of the Russian Federation as of the morning of December 15:
personnel - about 343,890 (+1090) people,
tanks - 5706 (+14),
armored combat vehicles - 10,654 (+38),
artillery systems - 8099 (+11),
MLRS - 920 (+0),
air defense systems - 605 (+0),
aircraft - 324 (+0),
helicopters - 324 (+0),
UAV of operational-tactical level - 6226 (+20),
cruise missiles - 1608 (+2),
ships/boats - 22 (+0),
submarines - 1 (+0),
automotive equipment and tank trucks - 10,699 (+24),
special equipment - 1189 (+4).
08:22 Over the past 24 hours, 110 military clashes took place at the front,the General Staff reported in the morning report . In particular, in the Avdeevsky direction, the Defense Forces repelled 23 enemy attacks east of Novobakhmutovka, Stepnoy, Avdeevka and another 22 attacks south of Severny, Pervomaisky and Nevelsky Donetsk region. Another 17 attacks were repulsed in the Maryinsky direction (in the Novomikhailovka area, Donetsk region) and 15 attacks in Kupyansky (in the Sinkovka area, Kharkov region).
In addition, in the Liman direction, the Ukrainian Armed Forces repelled an enemy attack east of Ternov, Donetsk region; on Bakhmutsky - 11 attacks near Ivanovsky, Kleshcheevka and Andreevka, Donetsk region; on Zaporozhye - 9 attacks north of Priyutnoye, west and north-west of Verbovoy, Zaporozhye region.
07:45 Two powerful explosions occurred in Mariupol at night: at a "concrete plant" and in the area outside Port City, where the Russians stationed military equipment and parts of air defense systems, said adviser to the city mayor Pyotr Andryushchenko. According to him, this is the second Ukrainian strike on the territory of Port City - the first was on September 7. The place is still cordoned off; the wounded were being taken out at midnight.
In the "DPR" stated that the Ukrainian Armed Forces fired three long-range missiles towards Mariupol at 00:25.
07:14 Air defense at night destroyed all 14 Shahed-type attack drones that Russia attacked from the Primorsko-Akhtarsk region of the Krasnodar Territory, the Air Force command reported. The drones were shot down within the Nikolaev, Kherson, Khmelnytsky and Poltava regions.
06:08 Argentina is considering the possibility of transferring to Ukraine two Mi-171E multi-purpose helicopters, which were purchased from Russia, writes Pucara Defensa. According to the publication, the relevant agreements were reached during Zelensky’s visit to Buenos Aires. Negotiations are currently underway on the terms of compensation to the Argentine side for the transfer of helicopters to Ukraine.
05:20 Orban blocked the EU budget decision, which would have included a medium-term assistance program for Ukraine, said European Council President Charles Michel. He clarified that the topic of discussion was not only funding for Ukraine: EU leaders were asked to accept a package that included funding to support Ukraine, expenses for migration programs, and funding for the EU Solidarity and Defense Fund. According to Michel, of the 27 states, only Hungary opposed it. Consideration of this issue has been postponed to early 2024.
04:37 Japan introduced a new package of sanctions against 57 companies from Russia, 27 from Belarus, as well as from the UAE, Armenia, Syria and Uzbekistan. The country is also introducing a ban on the import of non-industrial diamonds from the Russian Federation from January 1, 2024. In addition, sanctions were imposed against the Commissioner for Human Rights in Russia Tatyana Moskalkova, Ombudsman of the Moscow Region Ksenia Mishonova, and Colonel General Alexander Lapin.
02:52 Zelensky said that he returned to Ukraine and is now in Lviv - “with a decision on the European Union and other things that will strengthen air defense. There will also be more support packages."
00:51 After lengthy negotiations, the leaders of the European Union countries came to an agreement on the 12th package of sanctions against Russia, writes The Guardian. Previously, the decision was blocked by Austria. The details of the new package of restrictions have not been disclosed, but it is known that the package of sanctions previously recommended by the European Commission included proposals to block commercial income received from trading in Russian diamonds, as well as sanctions against a number of Russian officials and businessmen, including the son of Dmitry Medvedev. The final decision should be made in the coming days.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Korrespondent] There are air defense systems in the city
Collaborator Vladimir Saldo stated that “at least 15 targets have already been shot down in the sky over the city.
A series of explosions occurred in the temporarily occupied Genichesk, Kherson region, on the evening of Friday, December 15. Representatives of the "administration" The invaders are talking about a massive missile attack. Adviser to the Mayor of Mariupol Petr Andryushchenko reported thison his Telegram channel.
Air defense systems are operating in the city, and videos from the scene have appeared.
“Genichesk sends greetings and passes the baton further to Crimea,” the official said ironically.
Representative of the occupation "power" region of the Kherson region, Gauleiter Vladimir Saldo said on Telegram that the city is under heavy shelling.
He also claims that the occupiers' air defense is "shooting down missiles."
“Currently, at least 15 targets have already been shot down,” the collaborator wrote.
Let us remind you that in August powerful explosions occurred in the area of Chongar and Genichesk, Kherson region. It is known about the "arrivals" across bridges.
Later, the occupiers closed the Chongar checkpoint. Transport links with Crimea continue to operate through Chaplinka and Armyansk.
Article Linked To Is Available Only Via VPN
[EngMilRu] In the period from 9 to 15 December 2023, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out 40 group strikes by precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles at the AFU military airfield infrastructure, arsenals, artillery ammunition, weaponry, and hardware.
In addition, temporary deployment areas of AFU units, Azov nationalists formations, as well as Foreign Legion units, have been struck. All the assigned targets have been engaged.
In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line and repelled 27 AFU attacks. Aviation and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 113th Territorial Defence Brigade, 57th Motorised Rifle Brigade, 14th, 21st, 41st, 43rd, 60th, and 115th mechanised brigades near Sinkovka, Ivanovka, Yagodnoye, Petropavlovka and Kupyansk (Kharkov region).
The AFU losses over the week amounted to up to 425 Ukrainian troops, five tanks, including one Leopard tank, 11 armoured fighting vehicles, 12 motor vehicles, and three field artillery guns.
In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled 11 attacks launched by AFU assault detachments. In addition, manpower clusters of the AFU 24th, 63rd, 67th mechanised brigades, as well as 1st, 5th, and 31st Ukrainian national guard brigades were struck near Kirovsk, Torskoye, Yampol, and Grigorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).
The AFU losses over the week amounted to up to 1,100 Ukrainian troops, four tanks, three armoured fighting vehicles, 17 motor vehicles, and two field artillery guns.
In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery improved the situation along the front line and repelled 49 AFU attacks. In addition, AFU manpower and hardware was struck near Artyomovskoye, Kleshcheyevka, Kurdyumovka, and Georgiyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).
The AFU losses in this direction amounted to more than 1,580 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, two tanks, 16 armoured fighting vehicles, 13 motor vehicles, and 31 field artillery guns.
In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces repelled two enemy attacks. Aviation and artillery inflicted losses on units of the AFU 58th Motorised Rifle Brigade, 72nd Mechanised Brigade, and 128th Territorial Defence Brigade near Novomikhailovka, Ugledar, Makarovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and Levadnoye (Zaporozhye region).
The AFU losses amounted to up to 600 Ukrainian troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, 14 motor vehicles, and 11 field artillery guns.
In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces engaged in active defensive operations and repelled eight enemy attacks near Rabotino and west of Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region). In addition, manpower and hardware of the AFU 128th Mountain Assault Brigade, 33rd, 65th, 117th, and 118th mechanised brigades were struck near Malaya Tokmachka, Novodanilovka, and Novoandreyevka (Zaporozhye region).
The AFU losses in this direction amounted to up to 335 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, 19 motor vehicles, and three field artillery guns.
In Kherson direction, all AFU attempts to land sabotage and reconnaissance groups on the islands and the left bank of the Dnepr were thwarted. Aviation and artillery delivered strikes at units of the AFU 35th, 36th, 37th marines brigade, as well as 124th Territorial Defence Brigade near Kherson, Berislav, and Tyaginka (Kherson region).
As a result of pre-emptive actions by Russian troops, the AFU lost up to 290 Ukrainian troops, 18 motor vehicles, 17 boats, and nine field artillery guns.
Air defence units intercepted one Ukrainian Air Force Mi-8 helicopter near Tyaginka (Kherson region). One Tochka-U tactical missile, two S-200 anti-aircraft guided missiles, 17 HIMARS MLRS projectiles, and 119 unmanned aerial vehicles were intercepted during the week.
During the week, 82 Ukrainian servicemen were captured and voluntarily surrendered, 25 of them in the past 24 hours alone.
In total, 550 airplanes and 258 helicopters, 9,696 unmanned aerial vehicles, 442 air defence missile systems, 14,078 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,188 combat vehicles equipped with MRLS, 7,338 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 16,336 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[NewsFront] 23:59 Official summary of the DPR Representative Office in the JCCC from 00:00 12/15/2023 to 00:00 12/16/2023
Over the past 24 hours, the Representation has recorded 12 incidents of firing by the Ukrainian Federal Unitary Forces.
Information was received about the injury of three civilians in the Kuibyshevsky and Budennovsky (the second was a seriously wounded man born in 1960) districts of Donetsk.
Information about the consequences of the four-time artillery attack of the Budennovsky district, including casualties, continues to arrive.
Two residential buildings were damaged in the Kuibyshevsky district of Donetsk, as well as two civil infrastructure facilities.
The areas of three settlements of the Republic were under enemy fire: Gorlovka (Nikitovsky district), the capital city of Donetsk (Budennovsky, Kuibyshevsky, Kirovsky districts), Mariupol.
In the Donetsk direction, the enemy carried out eight attacks from MLRS and 155mm artillery.
On Gorlovka there were three artillery attacks from 155mm artillery.
In Mariupol there was one long-range missile attack.
A total of 36 units of various ammunition were fired.
In the previous 24 hours, 17 artillery attacks were recorded from the AFU.
23:31 According to the operational lines of the DPR Representative Office in the JCCC for December 15, as of 23:00, additional information was received about civilian casualties in the cities of the Republic:
g. Donetsk (Budennovsky district):
- on the street Budyonny, a man born in 1961 was wounded
Information about the consequences of the artillery attack continues to arrive.
21:17 The director for Ukraine reports that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have begun to transfer significant reserves of territorial defense forces to Kupyansk
The arriving personnel are strengthening the city's defense.
The command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces considers it likely that the battles for Kupyansk will begin soon.
19:49 The enemy declares that over the past 24 hours Russian troops have advanced in the northwestern part of Mar'inka, continuing to put pressure on the last strongholds of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the outskirts of the city.
Also, the Russian Armed Forces continue attacks on the village of Pobeda south of Mar'inka and are making some progress there.
19:27 The Russian Armed Forces seized the strategic initiative along almost the entire front:
The Russian army seized the initiative along almost the entire front line. The only exception is the Kherson direction, where the Ukrainian Armed Forces are still trying to gain a foothold in Krynki.
In the Avdeevsky direction, the Russian Armed Forces are conducting an active offensive, squeezing the cauldron around this settlement. The capture of Avdievka is of particular significance, since it is from there that indiscriminate artillery attack of peaceful Donetsk is carried out.
A similar situation is developing in the Artemovsk direction. There, Russian troops are also advancing along the flanks with the aim of enveloping the Ukrainian fortified area in Chasov Yar. The task is complicated by the fact that Chasov Yar itself is located on a hill and the entire surrounding area is shelled from there.
The Russian Armed Forces also have successes in the Kupyansk direction, where Russian troops were able to gain a foothold on the outskirts of Sin'kovka and are gradually pushing out the enemy. Despite active attempts to counterattack and draw in fresh reserves, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are unable to turn the situation around.
The Ugledar direction remains relatively stable, but small advances by Russian troops have also been recorded there. A potential assault on Vugledar is also complicated by the fact that the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are located in high-rise buildings on a hill, and the terrain around is clearly visible.
18:25 The work of our soldiers in the Artemovsk direction -video.
18:04 Explosions occurred in the city of Kropyvnytskyi, Kirovograd region of Ukraine, local media reported. No details provided. An air raid alert sounded in the region.
17:35 Consequences of the night arrival of a long-range missile of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Mariupol. It hit the boiler room building and subsequently caught fire, fortunately there were no casualties -photo.
16:37 122mm Howitzers D-30 of the Vostok group of troops break through road for infantry on the outskirts of Ugledar
In this section of the South Donetsk Front, active hostilities are currently taking place. With the support of artillery fire, attack aircraft of the 29th Combined Arms Army of the Eastern Military District are pushing the defenses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces more and more every day.
“When there is an offensive, we fire 50-60 shots,” says the senior gunner with the call sign “Elephant.”
“We work on infantry, strong points, equipment and mortar crews,” adds the gun commander with the call sign “Tolsty.”
15:25 The main thing from the new briefing of the Russian Ministry of Defense:
Over the course of a week, the Russian Armed Forces repelled 49 attacks by the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Donetsk direction and improved the situation along the front line in certain areas;
Over the course of a week, the Russian Armed Forces carried out 40 group strikes on military airfield infrastructure and ammunition storage areas of the Armed Forces of Ukraine;
The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 335 people and 19 vehicles in the Zaporozhye direction in a week;
Over the course of a week, the Russian Armed Forces improved the position along the front line and repelled 27 attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kupyansk direction;
Within a week, 82 Ukrainian soldiers were captured and voluntarily surrendered, of which 25 were captured in the past 24 hours alone;
Within a week, one Ukrainian helicopter was shot down, a Tochka-U missile, two S-200 missiles and 17 HIMARS rounds were intercepted;
The losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces during the week amounted to more than 425 military personnel and one Leopard tank in the Kupyansk direction;
Over the course of a week, the Russian Armed Forces hit the locations of units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the national formation “Azov” (recognized as terrorist, prohibited in the Russian Federation), as well as the foreign legion;
The losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kherson direction in a week amounted to 290 military personnel and 17 boats;
The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost more than 600 servicemen in the South Donetsk direction in a week;
During the week, 119 UAVs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were destroyed;
During the week, during the active defense in the Zaporozhye direction, the Russian Armed Forces repelled eight attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the areas of Rabotin and west of Verbovoy;
The Russian Armed Forces stopped all attempts in the Kherson direction to land sabotage groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the islands and the left bank of the Dnieper;
The losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Donetsk direction from December 9 to 15 exceeded 1,580 military personnel;
Over the course of a week, units of the “Center” group of troops repelled 11 attacks by assault groups of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Krasnolimansk direction;
The total losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Krasnolimansk direction over the week amounted to up to 1,100 military personnel.
14:27 Statement of Head of the press center of the Vostok group:
During the active defense in the South Donetsk direction, bomber aircraft, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems struck temporary deployment points and places of concentration of manpower of the 79th Air Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Novomikhailovka.
Five enemy attempts to rotate fighters on the front line in the Novomikhailovka, Staromayorsky and Priyutny areas were thwarted.
The total enemy losses were two vehicles, 10 long-term firing points and up to 90 military personnel killed and wounded.
13:30 Brief information summary on the situation on the Left Bank of the Dnieper from Dnepro_Rub:
Over the past 24 hours, the enemy tried to improve their position. Efforts were concentrated on trying to rotate and evacuate the wounded from the villages of Krynki and Frolovo, but two of the three evacuation boats were destroyed. The enemy is also trying to replenish supplies and bring in weapons, as cases of failure and breakdown of small arms have become more frequent in the last week.
Due to virtually no evacuation, the number of wounded who are not receiving proper care is growing. They try to keep them in basements, which negatively affects the sanitary situation.
Enemy losses: up to 80 people, six boats, one car, one communication antenna, 11 attack UAVs; in the Tyaginka area, a Mi-8 helicopter was destroyed by a Verba MANPADS.
12:29 Soledar direction situation as of December 15, 2023:
Russian troops continue the offensive operation in the Soledar direction. The main efforts are focused on gaining operational space to break into the fortified area of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the vicinity of Chasov Yar.
The Russian Armed Forces managed to advance to the southeastern outskirts of Orekhovo-Vasilevka (fighting is going on for Balka Kudlina), expand the zone of control from Dubovo-Vasilevka towards Grigorovka, and also reach the eastern outskirts of Bogdanovka.
The forest belt south of the eastern tip of Bogdanovka is under enemy control. We managed to gain a foothold on the Grigorovka-Bogdanovka road.
To the south, fighting is taking place around the turn to the highway to Chasov Yar from Khromovo. After the capture of the Bakhmutsky Shlyakh autodrome, units of the Russian troops began to fire at the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to the west.
To the west of Bakhmut, the Kamerton detachment, formed from former fighters of the Wagner PMC, is clearing the western outskirts of the dachas in the direction of Ivanovsky (Krasny). In two days it was possible to expand the zone of control in the private sector.
After occupying the dominant height 215.7 on the northwestern outskirts of Kleshcheevka, Russian troops are expanding the zone of control. From the heights, the RF Armed Forces control the advance routes and approaches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to Kleshcheevka.
To the east of Andreevka, the Russian Armed Forces are making efforts to regain control of the dams in front of the railway track.
A head-on assault on Chasov Yar, located at a height, is a difficult task (mines, quarries and several forests with tracts cannot be taken at a swoop). Most likely, the Russian Armed Forces will bypass the fortified area from the north and south, which is why the offensive is being carried out in the direction of Grigorovka.
12:20 The situation in the Zaporozhye direction is reported by the Diary of a Paratrooper:
“In the area of the settlement of Verbovoe, our assault groups, having recaptured previously lost positions, have entrenched themselves tightly and are holding the line.
The weather conditions are still not cooperating, we cope and hold on. Active operations in such weather have ceased; now the phase of containing the front is underway on a bilateral basis.
Artillery also works on infantry in a two-way manner, drones fly without stopping along the entire front. Kamikaze, when it sees any target, flies towards it. Cassettes are constantly crackling in our positions.”
12:07 Statement of Head of the press center of the Center group:
In the area of the Torsky sector in the Krasnolimansky direction, competent actions of a unit of a motorized rifle regiment of the Russian group with the support of artillery crews defeated the assault group of the 44th rifle battalion of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Enemy losses amounted to up to 180 military personnel, three vehicles, and a 155mm Caesar howitzer. During the counterbattery fight, about 30 artillery crews of Ukrainian troops were exposed and suppressed.
11:20 News from the Donetsk direction is transmitted by the Front Bird.
It is reported that our Su-34 front-line bombers hit the command post of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Aviation used high-explosive bombs with universal planning modules.
11:05 Statement of Head of the press center of the "South" group:
Units of the “Southern” group of forces, supported by artillery fire, successfully repelled six attacks by assault groups of the 24th Mechanized, 5th Assault Brigade, and 112th Territorial Defense brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kleshcheevka and Kirovo areas. They defeated the manpower and equipment of the 30th Mechanized, 79th and 95th Air Assault Brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the areas of the settlements of Kurdyumovka, Maryinka, Krasnoye and Andreevka.
The enemy lost up to 265 military personnel killed and wounded in the Donetsk direction, two armored combat vehicles and three cars were destroyed.
During the counterbattery fight, two 152mm 2S3 Akatsiya self-propelled artillery mounts, three 152mm 2A65 Msta-B howitzers, a 122mm D-30 howitzer, and three 120mm mortars were destroyed.
Air defense systems shot down seven Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles in the areas of Gorlovka and Mar'inka settlements of the Donetsk People's Republic.
10:47 This morning on the highway near Alyoshki drones of the Ukrainian Armed Forces hit for civilian cars and ambulances
There was an ordinary married couple in the car: father, mother and teenage son. They were reported to have been seriously injured.
The ambulance rushed to help the family. However, the doctors’ car also came under attack from drones of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. None of the doctors were injured, the doctors were even able to help the injured family.
10:32 Situation on the Rabotino-Verbovoye section at 10.30
Rain and fog complicate reconnaissance with UAVs. Artillery continues to work on Ukrainian Armed Forces strongholds.
Near Rabotino, the Russian Armed Forces monitor enemy movements and consolidate in positions recaptured from the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Near Verbov, the enemy periodically launches counterattacks in small groups. Off-road conditions interfere with the movement of armored vehicles. Our soldiers monitor enemy actions and call in artillery fire on identified targets.
10:00 The criminal Kiev regime continues to fire at the civilian infrastructure of settlements on the left bank of the Kherson region, yesterday during the day the Ukrainian Armed Forces fired from cannon artillery:
-- n.p. Krynki 26 rounds;
-- n.p. Alyosha 14 rounds;
-- n.p. Radensk two rounds;
-- n.p. Korsunka two rounds;
-- n.p. Staraya Zburevka five rounds;
-- n.p. Sagi seven rounds;
-- n.p. Kazachi Lagery five rounds.
During the night, the Kiev regime continued to shell civilian infrastructure in the village. Novaya Kakhovka, n.p. Kakhovka, n.p. Peschanivka, n.p. Golaya Pristan, n.p. Kardashinka, n.p. Korsunka, Maslovka, firing a total of 29 rounds from cannon artillery.
Civilian casualties and destruction of infrastructure are being determined.
09:49 Brief summary from Artemovsky direction from NGP Razvedka:
“Active actions continue towards the settlement. Red. We systematically and accurately destroy the enemy with artillery and FPV drones. Stormtroopers take positions, denazifying those who do not want to live and surrender, laying down their arms. Fierce fighting is going on."
09:19 Statement of Head of the press center of the “West” group:
During the active defense in the Kupyansk direction, motorized rifle formations of the 6th Combined Arms Army, supported by artillery fire, repelled five attacks by assault groups of the 60th and 115th Mechanized and 57th Motorized Infantry Brigades in the area of the village of Sin'kovka.
During the counterbattery fight, the group’s artillery destroyed three mortar crews in the areas of the settlement of Terny and the Olivovsky Yar ravine.
The losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces amounted to up to 45 military personnel, a T-64 tank and two armored combat vehicles.
08:14 Morning summary for December 15, 2023:
UAV "Geran" hit the enemy's rear for another night, explosions were heard in the Khmelnytsky, Kharkov and Poltava regions. In addition, yesterday it was reported that a Patriot air defense system supplied from Germany was destroyed near Zhitomir by a hypersonic “Dagger”.
In the Kherson direction, an air strike was carried out at the enemy landing site; UAV operators also destroyed boats with Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel. In the Krynok area, it was reported that a Ukrainian Armed Forces helicopter was shot down by the 337th Airborne Regiment. Satellite images of the enemy indicate severe destruction in the populated area as a result of the constant work of our aviation and artillery.
On the Zaporozhye Front, as a result of a short battle, an enemy infantry attack at Verbovoy was repelled. At Rabotino, our troops seize the initiative and try to move forward, retaking positions.
In Mar'inka, the Russian Armed Forces are consolidating their positions, expanding the zone of control south of the city, trying to create conditions for reaching the settlement. Victory. It is necessary to occupy the heights and strongholds of the enemy.
In the Avdeevsky direction, our troops attack on the northern ledge of the front near Stepovoy, moving through forest plantations. Due to the fact that in this direction the Russian Armed Forces are constantly putting pressure on the enemy’s defenses, the Armed Forces of Ukraine transferred reserves to the settlement. Berdychi and Novokalinovo. They report the use of heavy flamethrower systems against enemy positions.
North of Soledar, our troops are pushing back the enemy at Razdolovka. Significant battles for the further offensive on Chasov Yar are taking place near Bogdanovka (west of Artyomovsk). The settlement has an elongated layout, flowing into Kalinovka, which in the future will allow access to the outskirts of Chasov Yar. Fighting continues north of Kleshcheevka.
08:01 The Ukrainian Armed Forces fired three long-range missiles in the direction of Mariupol, Donetsk People's Republic. This was reported by the DPR representative office at the Joint Center for Control and Coordination of Issues Related to War Crimes of Ukraine.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. By Sergey Adamov
[REGNUM] Russian Aerospace Forces attacked the Ukrainian aviation base "Starokonstantinov" in the Khmelnitsky region in western Ukraine. According to local authorities, the explosions near the air base occurred at 15:00 local time. At the same time, Ukrainian sources report the use of Kinzhal hypersonic missile systems.
The results of the attack on the airfield were not reported. However, a number of Telegram channels suggested that aircraft were hit at the facility.
At the Starokonstantinov airbase, two flights of Su-24 front-line bombers are based, converted into carriers of Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG guided missiles. In total, the Ukrainian Air Force has from six to ten such aircraft at its disposal, which are used to attack civilian infrastructure facilities in Russia.
Previously, attempts had been made several times to “get” the base, but the Ukrainian command managed to hide the vehicles and transfer them to another airfield.
The use of the Kinzhal hypersonic missile system could deprive the command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces of the opportunity to transfer aircraft, said IA Regnum a military veteran, retired Russian Aerospace Forces officer.
“As far as I can remember, they tried to get the base five times. But the enemy drives planes from place to place, or hides them in fortified hangars. “The Dagger does not provide such an opportunity to hide,” the interlocutor explained.
When launching from border areas, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have three to four minutes to react. And even if the enemy detects the missile at the moment of launch, if later, there is no time left at all, the expert notes.
It is noteworthy that missiles can maneuver when approaching a target, so the command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces may not fully know which object is the target of the attack.
Ten minutes after the raid on the Starokonstantinov base, the Ukrainian Air Force launched a retaliatory attack. At approximately 0:30 local time, amissile strike was launched on Mariupol.
Donetsk representatives at the JCCC (Joint Center for Control and Coordination of Issues Related to War Crimes of Ukraine) reported that the city was struck by Storm Shadow missiles.
The target of the attack was a warehouse of construction materials on the territory of a local concrete plant and a mobile boiler room.
It can be assumed that the Ukrainian Armed Forces still have Storm Shadow cruise missile carriers at their disposal. However, it is possible that the Dagger’s strike still reached its target.
“It looks more like the strike on Mariupol is more likely revenge. They haven’t hit the city for six months, the targets were obviously unsuccessful, noted the source of IA Regnum. —As if on emotions. I would assume that someone or something at Starokonstantinov was picked off. The question is quantity.”.
But even the loss of one or two aircraft is already critical for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. They simply don’t have and won’t have any more, the interlocutor added.
As long as the West slows down the supply of F-16 fighters to Ukraine, Kyiv can only count on Soviet-made aircraft.
Earlier, a number of Western media reported that the Ukrainian Air Force is suffering from a shortage of combat-ready vehicles, spare parts and ammunition. The Su-24 bombers available to the Armed Forces of Ukraine were produced more than forty years ago and have not undergone high-quality maintenance. Often one machine is assembled from two or three bombers.
Two or three successful strikes on Ukrainian Air Force air bases could deprive Kyiv of the ability to use even those limited reserves of guided missiles that were transferred by “Western partners.”
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] Russian tanks T- 80BVM received new standard protection against high-precision weapons, including protection from FPV drones. The Ministry of Defense reported this on December 15.
“Based on the experience of using armored vehicles during a special operation, the T-80BVM received special protective equipment that reduces the ability to aim high-precision weapons and provides protection from attacks from loitering ammunition, bombs dropped from quadcopters, and attacks from FPV drones,” the department said.
Tankers of the 29th Combined Arms Army of the Eastern Military District began using the T-80BVM to provide fire support for attack aircraft in the South Donetsk direction in the Northern Military District zone.
As reported by IA Regnum, on December 13, a tanker of the Western Military District with the call sign Belka told how he hit the equipment and positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kupyansk direction with one shot. According to the soldier, working on the T-80 at the forefront , the crews support motorized rifle units, delivering powerful fire strikes on Ukrainian positions. Belka called the main difference between the Russian tank is the gas turbine engine, which provides more power with a relatively light weight.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] Without the help of the United States and the North Atlantic Alliance, Ukraine will only be able to hold out for a few months, and in the worst case scenario, Kyiv could be defeated or significantly retreat by the summer of 2024. This was reported on December 15 by CNNwith reference to a high-ranking American military man.
According to the source, intelligence services of Western countries are now figuring out how long Kyiv will be able to hold out without the help of the United States and NATO.
“A senior American official believes that months, and in a worst-case scenario, a significant retreat or even defeat by the summer is possible,” the publication says.
Western countries believe that Ukraine will lose the conflict without continued assistance from the United States and other allies of Kyiv, and they are also afraid that if Washington refuses help, European countries will also refuse it, the material notes.
“With us there is no guarantee of success, but without us they will definitely lose,” complained a senior US military officer.
As reported by IA Regnum, on December 6, White House Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby high in a conflict with Russia if Western military supplies to Ukraine are stopped. Thus, the official answered the question about possible developments if the US administration and parliament do not agree on continued support for Kyiv. They consider the possibility of Kiev losing stated that in Washington
Former USMC intelligence officer Scott Ritter, on November 25, said that Russia could liberate half of the territory of Ukraine after the collapse of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. According to him, the Ukrainian army has exhausted all human and military-technical reserves, which is why a “catastrophic” situation has developed for it in the combat zone.
Commentary by Russian military blogger Andrey Chervonets
The Poles admitted that the Polish side falsified the results of the examination of the Smolensk disaster.
The head of the office of the Prime Minister of Poland said that the Polish commission of inquiry into the 2010 Smolensk disaster, in which the country's President Lech Kaczynski died, falsified the examinations of American and European specialists.
The Poles dug up and buried again Kaczynski. As a result, the investigation was stopped today.
What are you doing, sir? What is it like? I can’t believe my eyes? Have you really been reborn? I don’t believe and never will believe in my life that the Poles have stopped lying!!!
For almost 15 years, the Poles investigated the disaster near Smolensk. They blamed Russia - the Russians planted a bomb, created fog... And then the Russian dispatchers initially suggested for some reason to go to an alternate airfield... But the pilot was pressured by the high-ranking Polish bureaucrats on board (and drunk) about a mandatory landing - like there was no other way comme il faut.
Now the Poles have begun to recognize Goebbels’ version of the Katyn execution as a lie. And submit on your knees - the Poles in 1919-22. The Poles destroyed about 100,000 prisoners Red Army soldiers in their concentration camps.
Deputy of the Keretskiv Transcarpathian village council Sergei Batrin, who detonated grenades during a meeting of his colleagues, underwent surgery, the Ukrainian publication “Strana” reported. ua".
As journalists learned, he received a non-fatal wound to the stomach. Another deputy, who received a shrapnel wound to the head, is in worse condition; doctors continue to fight for his life. Three more wounded were hospitalized, a total of 26 people were injured.
According to the publication, Batrin acted this way because during the meeting they were going to increase salaries and pay a bonus to the head of the village of Kushnitsa. A few days before the grenade detonation, the deputy posted a video on social networks where he accused the village head of the lack of water for the residents.
As reported IA Regnum, Batrin on December 15 threw three grenades during a meeting of colleagues. Before this, he took one of the deputies out of the room, after which he returned, stood at the door and, after an argument, detonated grenades.
Rada Deputy Alexey Goncharenko (included in the Rosfinmonitoring list of terrorists and extremists) announced that the bomber is a member of the Servant of the People party.
Exploding grenades during meeting of the Transcarpathian village council, the deputy was there from the very beginning and actively argued with those present. As the Ukrainian publication “Country” learned. ua", before committing the explosion, he left the hall, calling another parliamentarian with him.
The footage of the meeting shows how, on his way out, he called the man sitting in front of him along the way. They went out together, and after some time the bomber returned alone. He stood near the door, entered into an argument again and accomplished his plan.
Rada Deputy Alexey Goncharenko (included in the Rosfinmonitoring list of terrorists and extremists) later reported on the Telegram channel that the bomber turned out to be a deputy “Servant of the People”. Vladimir Zelensky, belonging to the party of the head of the Kyiv regime Sergei Batrin.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
