The Russians are advancing on strategic locations in Eastern Ukraine while fortifying defense lines on the southern front, anticipating a broad counterattack from the Ukrainian side, while laying the groundwork for an operation to capture Odessa.
The offensive of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in Eastern Ukraine continues, and after extensive artillery fire, they launched a general attack east of Uglendar with the apparent intention of cutting the Uglendar-Marinka highway.
During the day, Ukrainian forces, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, repelled attacks in the areas of Zelenoe settlements in Kharkiv region. Belogorivka, Nikolaevka and Novoselo in the Luhansk region. Avdeevka, Bakhmut, Veseloe, Vodiane, Mayorsk, Mariinka and Novobakhmutovka of the Donetsk region.
It should be noted that the morning report of the Ukrainian General Staff also did not mention that the attacks on Pavlovka were repulsed. At the same time, Russian military Telegram channels do not confirm the capture of Pavlovka. Today, the commander of the Vostok formation, Alexander Khodakovsky, said that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are still in the village.
At the same time, he believes it is pointless to hold the village without making a direct attack on Uglendar itself. Pavlovka is under fire from the city, and therefore difficult to maintain control.
The front has also been revived north of Uglendar, in Mariinka. Russian troops launched an offensive there with strikes by the Russian air force.
At the same time, there are reports that the Russians continue to advance on Novomihailovka (between Uglendar and Mariinka). It is possible that the enemy’s intention is to push the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the entire front sector south of Donetsk and also (through a strike at Novomykhailovka) to enter the rear of the Ukrainian forces in Uglandar, creating a threat of encirclement and forcing them to leave the city.
Northwest of Donetsk, the Russian Federation is also stepping up pressure. It should be noted that the Ukrainian General Staff announced defenses in the Vodiane region (ie did not confirm the capture of the village). With the mobilization announced by Putin completed today, the increase in the size of the Russian army will make it possible to create second lines of defense (which, according to various sources, is already being done in the Kherson and Lugansk regions), as well as to strengthen the first line defense.
That is, if the strategy of the Russian troops for the near future is defensive battles (in most directions) with separate local attacks, then the conscripts, theoretically, can “patch holes”.
As for broad offensive operations, these, with such numerical parity, are possible only thanks to training and effective tactics, as well as a significant superiority in armament.
The main conclusions emerging from the front, as shaped by today’s developments, are that the Russians are advancing on strategic locations in Eastern Ukraine, while fortifying the defense lines on the southern front, expecting a broad counterattack from the Ukrainian side, and setting, in parallel , the foundations for an operation to capture Odessa.
The main development is that even today, Ukraine experienced a new strong blow to the energy infrastructure. According to official figures, 55 rockets were fired across the country, hitting 18 energy facilities in 10 regions, according to figures announced by Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal. He added that drones were also involved in the attack (although neither the military nor regional authorities said anything about them).
Judging by the geography of the raids, but also by the videos spread by regional Telegram channels, the blow fell on the areas where the country’s largest hydroelectric plants are located.
In Kyiv, 80% of citizens had no water since morning and queues piled up at pumping stations where it was still being supplied. By evening, the water supply was only half restored. The new wave of targeted Russian raids on critical facilities is further exacerbating the country’s energy crisis. Ukrenergo warned of new blackouts.
All this, of course, raises serious questions about the gloomy winter season. Obviously, without electricity and water, very few people will be able to stay in the cities of Ukraine. In the Kiev region, they have already started talking about possible evacuation to safer areas, but the authorities of the Kiev region said that so far there are no such plans.
