The situation on the front line
The attempts of the Russian military to completely capture the Donetsk region within the administrative border continue. Offensive operations are underway in the Bakhmut and Liman directions, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports.
On the Kupyansky and Limansky directions, the areas of 19 settlements fell under the fire action of the Russians. Among them are Dvurechnaya, Kupyansk, Kislovka, Kotlyarovka, Krokhmalnoe and Stelmakhovka, Makeevka, Ploshanka and Dibrova (direction to Kremennaya), the General Staff reports. At the same time, a Def Mon military analyst wrote that 2.5 kilometers northwest of Dibrova, Ukrainian positions were fired from Gradov, indicating that the territory is still under the control of the Russian military.
In the Stelmahovka area, the Armed Forces of Ukraine repulsed the blow, writes Def Mon. The Armed Forces of Ukraine reported shelling in the area of Tavolzhanka and Olshan, which may indicate the approach of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to the cities. In the Bakhmut direction, more than 15 settlements were affected by the fire. In particular, Controversial, Berestovoye, Belogorovka, Soledar and Bakhmut.
Fierce fighting continues around Soledar, the Russian side claims success in this direction, but Def Mon notes that there is no evidence of this. It was also reported that Wagner PMCs entered the territory of the Artyomsol plant in Soledar.
In the Kherson direction, the civilian infrastructure of the settlements of Chernobaevka, Berislav, Zolotaya Balka and Kherson suffered from shelling by enemy artillery. There are civilian casualties.
The Russian military also stated that under their full control is the Big Potemkin Island on the left bank of the Dnieper near Kherson – the corresponding videos with the alleged hoisting of the Russian flag on the island began to circulate online. The Ukrainian analytical project Deep State claims that the videos that the Russians made to prove their capture of the island were filmed on the Konka River far south of the island.
Yevgeny Erin, a spokesman for the Tauride Defense Forces, claims that the island is in fact in a “grey zone” and is not controlled by either the Russian or Ukrainian military. He noted that the island is not a foothold that needs to be maintained in the long term. According to Erin, control over the islands will be possible only after establishing full control over the opposite coast.
In the Kherson region, a fire brigade was struck. According to the head of the IVA, as a result of the shelling, one rescuer was killed and four others were injured. One of the victims is in serious condition, three of his colleagues are on average.
Arms supplies
The Canadian company Roshel has delivered more than 100 of its Senator armored vehicles to Ukraine since May and plans to deliver more than 300 of these vehicles, Ukrainian media reported . The shipment appears to be funded by the Canadian government.
The United States will provide Ukraine with Sea Sparrow anti-aircraft missiles, which are modified to fit the Soviet Buk. The Sea Sparrow is an American ship-to-air guided missile with a semi-active radar homing head. It is a ship-based short-range anti-aircraft missile, and is also used to provide anti-missile protection for ships. The maximum firing range of the rocket is 20-30 km, the height of the defeat is 15240 m.
Berlin announced that the Patriot battery will be transferred to Ukraine in the first quarter of 2023, and the training of the Marder BMP crews will take at least 8 weeks and will be conducted in Germany. In total, Kyiv plans to supply 40 BMP Marder and 50 M2A2 Bradley. More details about the decision taken by Germany on the supply of weapons to Ukraine were announced the day before.
Ukrainian media published the full list of the $2.85 billion US military aid package:
- 50 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles with 500 TOW anti-tank missiles and 250,000 25mm rounds
- 100 M113 armored personnel carriers
- 55 MRAP wheeled armored vehicles
- 138 HMMWV cargo vans
- 18 155mm self-propelled howitzers and 18 ammunition support vehicles
- 70,000 155 mm artillery shells
- 500 155mm Excalibur rounds
- 1,200 155 mm Remote Anti-Armor Mine (RAAM) rounds
- 36 105 mm towed howitzers and 95,000 105 mm artillery shells
- 10,000 120mm mortar rounds
- Ammunition HIMARS
- RIM-7 missiles for air defense
- 4,000 Zuni aircraft missiles
- Approximately 2,000 anti-tank missiles
- Sniper rifles machine guns and ammunition.
The Christmas "truce" that doesn't exist
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the Christmas truce is being observed by Russian troops “along the entire line of military contact between the parties in Ukraine,” despite ongoing shelling from Ukrainian positions. The statement was refuted by the "head" of the so-called DPR, Denis Pushilin, who bluntly stated that the decision would not be implemented.
Ukraine does not plan to agree to a "truce" either. The Office of the President of Ukraine stated that a "temporary truce" is possible only if Russia withdraws from the occupied territories.
Those convicted of murder, robbery and robbery return home
The Important Stories publication has identified five prisoners who were previously recruited to be sent to the front by PMC Wagner, who are starting to return to their homes. Now they are free and with medals.
These are, in particular, Alexander Suetov, who was sentenced to 10 years for a series of raids on jewelry stores in St. Petersburg; recidivist Denis Kinev, who was tried for theft, robbery and murder; terms for leaving the military unit, theft, theft, murder, as well as Alexander Nikitin, convicted of theft and robbery.