Day 672
Relevant Statistics
All vehicle losses are visually confirmed only and thus represent the lowest possibly figure (sourced from Oryx, here and here); they are updated to the nearest 25 daily. All personnel losses are estimates or projections and should be viewed as such; they are updated as new information becomes available.
Russia
Ukraine
War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity
Russian forces in Ukraine have committed and continue to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity in the occupied regions of Ukraine, in violation of international law and basic human decency. Russian crimes in Ukraine constitute genocide and ethnic cleansing, with Russia’s stated war aims including the elimination of Ukrainians as a separate country, language, culture, and people.
Russian soldiers were recorded executing at least three Ukrainian prisoners of war west of Verbove sometime in December, following an earlier incident where Russian soldiers were recorded using Ukrainian POWs as human shields. The execution or endangerment of surrendered personnel is a heinous violation of the laws of war.
Overview
The United States announced another $250 million aid package for Ukraine – the last of 2023 – which included medical aid, artillery shells, millions of small arms rounds, anti-aircraft missiles, anti-tank missiles, spare parts, and other gear.
The *Associated Press* reported that Ukrainian forces were in fact preparing to launch amphibious operations along the Dnieper (similar to their current operations) at the beginning of the 2023 Counteroffensive before Russia’s destruction of the Kakhovka Dam ultimately scuttled these plans. Notably, the destruction of Kakhovka is a card that can only be played once, and potentially opens up further areas along the bank to attack now that the large reservoir between Kakhovka and Zaporizhzhia City has drained (provided the ground hardens).
Regional Military Updates
Note: MilitaryLand maps are seven days old.
Northern Theatre
Svatove Front
Limited action. Fighting reported around Synkivka. Fighting reported east of Kupyansk. Russian attacks possibly made gains west of Kreminna. Russian attacks possibly made gains south of Kreminna.
Bakhmut Front
Limited action. Russian attacks east of Spirne made gains. Fighting reported near Vesele. Russian attacks northwest of Bakhmut possibly made gains. Russian attacks west of Bakhmut possibly made gains. Fighting reported around Klishchiivka. Fighting reported around Andriivka.
Southern Theatre
Donetsk Front
Significant action. The Russian Avdiivka Offensive is ongoing. Ukrainian counterattacks west of Horlivka made marginal gains. Fighting reported southeast of Novokalynove. Russian assaults in Stepove made marginal gains. Fighting reported around the Avdiivka Coke Plant. Russian attacks southeast of Avdiivka likely repelled. Fighting reported around Sieverne. Fighting reported around Pervomaiske. Fighting reported around Marinka. Russian attacks east of Novomkyhailivka made marginal gains.
Velyka Novosilka Front
Limited action. No offensive action reported.
Zaporizhzhia Front
Limited action. Russian attacks west of Verbove made marginal gains. Russian attacks around Robotyne likely repelled.
Kherson Front [Provisional]
Skirmishing continues to be reported along much of the left bank of the Dnieper River, most especially in and around Krynky, where Russian forces made marginal gains.
Daily Conclusion
No report or assessment for today.
