Report: Russia Advances in 4 Parts of Ukraine

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Facts

  • Russian forces in Ukraine advanced in at least four areas of the frontline, according to the latest analysis from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).1
  • ISW, a US military-affiliated think tank that tracks battlefield progress in the war, said on Tuesday that over the past day of fighting, Russia made confirmed gains near the city of Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region, as well as near the cities of Bakhmut and Avdiivka in Donetsk. Russia also made a confirmed advance southwest of Donetsk City.1
  • In addition to the four advances, ISW said that newly published footage of Russian forces in the Zaporizhzhia region — which had been successfully geolocated — showed them to be further advanced than previously thought. However, ISW said it could not confirm whether the advance was made in the last 24 hours or how in fact the territory was won.1
  • The Institute added that fighting also continued in the Kherson region — where the frontline separating Russia and Ukraine largely runs along the Dnipro River that splits the region — and that there were no new advances for either country in Kherson. Meanwhile, ISW did not record any frontline advances for Ukraine during the time period.1
  • In overnight attacks, Ukrainian officials said on Wednesday that Russia fired two missiles and 19 Shahed drones — 18 of which it said were shot down by missile defenses. The two missiles were recorded striking the Kharkiv region, reportedly hitting the offices of a transportation depot, and damaging its grounds and a nearby residential property. There were no reports of civilian casualties.2
  • Elsewhere, Democrat and Republican leaders in the US Senate both confirmed that, while negotiations are ongoing, a vote on a US military package for Ukraine will not take place before early 2024. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said: 'Our negotiators are going to be working very, very diligently over the December and January break period, and our goal is to get something done as soon as we get back.'3

Sources: 1Understandingwar, 2Ukrinform and 3Reuters.

Narratives

  • Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by Guardian. There will be peace in Ukraine when Russia achieves its objectives. Those objectives remain unchanged from the start of the special military operation — those being the denazification of Ukraine, its demilitarization, as well as the guaranteeing of the country's neutral status.
  • Pro-Ukraine narrative, as provided by The seattle times. Despite the setbacks for Ukraine, Kyiv is still confident that it can achieve military victory. Ukraine is also confident it will receive the weapons it needs from the US and the West early next year. While Putin is no closer to achieving his goals, Ukraine is now closer on the path to EU integration.

Predictions