Day 722
Articles and Reporting
An excellent article from The Kyiv Independent, detailing Ukrainian forces’ struggles in defending Avdiivka and notably highlighting the poor state of Ukraine’s fortifications near the city.
“Fate of Avdiivka uncertain as Ukrainian forces defending it struggle with fortifications, resources,” retrieved from The Kyiv Independent.
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.
No especially notable atrocities reported today.
Overview
Russian forces launched another moderately-large Terror Bombing missile attack on several Ukrainian cities, with most of the projectiles intercepted.
Ukrainian drones struck another Russian oil and gas facility, this time an oil depot in Kursk Oblast.
Russian advances in Avdiivka forced the withdrawal of Ukrainian units from the eastern and southern ends of town, likely presaging an intensified fight for the Coke Plant in the northwest. Though more militarily significant than Bakhmut, the extraordinary casualties suffered by Russian units in taking Avdiivka will likely mean the same end result: another Pyrrhic victory.
Russian forces are reportedly massing along the Zaporizhzhia Front, possibly in preparation to retake the Robotyne salient captured by Ukraine and make further advances in the south.
The commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, Admiral Sokolov, was reportedly officially removed from his position and replaced by Vice Admiral Pinchuk. Sokolov has not been seen in public since a Ukrainian cruise missile strike on the Black Sea Fleet headquarters in Sevastopol in late 2023, where he was reputed to have been killed (despite Russian claims to the contrary).
Several nations announced additional aid packages for Ukraine during a meeting of Ukraine-allied defense ministers, including the proposed delivery of M113 APCs and other items from Spain, $108 million worth of trucks and other aid from Germany, $11 million in spending on drones over the next year from Latvia, a promise of 155mm artillery shells from Lithuania, unknown APCs and over $1 million for demining operations from Iceland, $32 million from Australia for the purchase of military supplies, and a promise of thousands of drones from Britain.
Regional Military Updates
Note: All maps except that of Avdiivka are fifty-seven days old, and will be fully replaced by Spatial Grounds maps if/when they become fully available.
Northern Theatre
Svatove Front
Significant action. The Russian Svatove Offensive is ongoing. Russian attacks around Synkivka made marginal gains. Fighting reported southeast of Kupyansk. Fighting reported west of Kreminna. Fighting reported southwest of Kreminna.
Bakhmut Front
Significant action. Russian attacks east of Bilohorivka possibly made gains. Fighting reported near Vesele. Russian attacks northwest of Bakhmut made marginal gains. Russian attacks west of Bakhmut possibly made gains. Fighting reported around Klishchiivka. Fighting reported around Andriivka. Fighting reported around Kurdyumivka.
Southern Theatre
Donetsk Front
Major action. The Russian Avdiivka Offensive is ongoing. Fighting reported east of Novokalynove. Fighting reported around Stepove. Russian assaults in northern Avdiivka made gains. Russian assaults on southern Avdiivka made gains. Fighting reported around Pervomaiske. Fighting reported around Krasnohorivka. Russian attacks around Heorhiivka possibly made gains. Fighting reported around Pobieda. Russian attacks around Novomykhailivka possibly made gains.
Velyka Novosilka Front
Limited action. Russian attacks southeast of Velyka Novosilka made marginal gains. Russian attacks south of Velyka Novosilka repelled.
Zaporizhzhia Front
Limited action. Russian attacks west of Verbove possibly made marginal gains. Fighting reported around Robotyne.
Kherson Front [Provisional]
Skirmishing continues to be reported in and around Krynky.
Daily Conclusion
No report or assessment for today.
