Russia Makes Continued Gains; Ukraine Strikes Russian Ship

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Facts

  • With fighting in Ukraine continuing all along the front lines, Russian forces have reportedly continued to make territorial advances in the country — namely in the Donbas regions of Luhansk and Donetsk.1
  • According to the latest analysis from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US military think tank that tracks battlefield progress, Russian troops have made confirmed gains near the city of Kreminna in Luhansk, as well as near the Donetsk city of Avdiivka.2
  • Earlier in the week, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu also claimed that the country's forces had captured the town of Marinka in Donetsk. However, this was disputed by Ukrainian officials that said fighting for the town was continuing.3
  • Meanwhile, after claiming to have shot down three Russian war planes last week, Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that two more were shot down on Christmas Eve. 'Every Russian pilot has to make a clear choice for himself whether to continue to participate in this war,' he said.4
  • On Tuesday, Ukrainian officials also claimed to have 'destroyed' a Russian landing ship after an attack on the Crimean port city Feodosia. The head of Ukraine's air force, said: 'This time, the Novocherkassk landing ship has met the same destiny as the Moskva cruiser, the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.'5
  • Russia's Defense Ministry confirmed the attack, stating that Ukraine had used guided missiles launched from aircrafts. However, it claimed the ship was merely 'damaged,' and that the two fighter jets that carried out the attack were later shot down. Meanwhile, the Moscow-installed governor of Crimea said that one person was killed and two more were injured. He added that six buildings were damaged and that their residents have been evacuated.6

Sources: 1Ukrainska Pravda (a), 2Understandingwar, 3Barron's, 4Ukrainska Pravda (b), 5Ukrainska Pravda (c) and 6Al Jazeera.

Narratives

  • Pro-Ukraine narrative, as provided by Ukrainska Pravda. Ukrainian forces continue to weaken Russia's grip on occupied Crimea, this time destroying a Russian landing ship in the port of Feodosia. These types of attacks will continue until Crimea is liberated.
  • Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by TASS. This Ukrainian attack damaged the landing ship, not destroyed it. It also killed one person and injured two more. Russia's air force shot down the two Ukrainian planes responsible for carrying out the attack.

Predictions