Russia’s war on Ukraine. 05.12.2023
- 06.12.2023
- Опубліковано: CDS
- Категорія: DailyBrief
Operational situation
In the operational zone of the Ukrainian Operational-Strategic Group of Forces (OSG) “Khortytsia” on the Kupyansk direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled 10 enemy attacks in the areas of Synkivka and Petropavlivka. On the Lyman direction, Defense Forces thwarted 11 enemy attacks near Serebryansk Forest, Bilohorivka, and Terny. On the Bakhmut direction, Ukrainian forces repelled 11 enemy attacks in the areas of Bohdanivka, Klishchiivka, and Andriivka. The Defense Forces continue offensive (assault) actions south of Bakhmut, inflicting losses to the enemy in personnel and equipment while consolidating positions at achieved lines.
In the “Tavriya” OSG operational zone on the Avdiivka direction, Ukrainian troops continue to restrain the enemy, which persists in attempting to encircle Avdiivka. Ukrainian forces steadfastly maintain the defense, inflicting losses on the enemy. The Defense Forces successfully repelled 18 enemy attacks east of Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Avdiivka, and Severne. On the Maryinka direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces continued to restrain the enemy in the areas of Maryinka and Novomykhailivka, successfully repelling 18 attacks. On the Shakhtarsk direction, the enemy did not conduct offensive (assault) actions. On the Zaporizhzhia direction, the Defense Forces repelled all attacks of the enemy, which attempted to regain lost positions in areas south of Robotyne. On the Melitopol direction, the Defense Forces continue active operations, causing losses to the Russian forces in personnel and equipment and exhausting the enemy along the entire front line.
In the operational zone of the “Odesa” OSG on the Kherson direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold their positions on the left bank of the Dnipro River, conduct counter-battery warfare, and inflict damage on the enemy’s rear areas.
Russian forces continued offensive actions along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line, near Bakhmut and Avdiivka, west of Donetsk, on the administrative border between Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts, in the western part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast. They advanced in the Avdiivka area.
General conclusion:
- Russian forces are increasing their strategic missile stockpiles and have ramped up the production of Shahed drones.
- In the Bakhmut area, the adversary continues to implement its plan to disrupt the advance of Defense Forces south of the city and restore positions west and northwest of the city.
- South of the Avdiivka defense area, the enemy persists in attempting to break through towards Maryinka – Heorhiivka and in the direction of Novomykhailivka.
Change in the line of contact (LoC):
- There were 73 combat engagements on various fronts.
- On the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces advanced near Synkivka, controlling approximately half of the village. They attacked south of Lyman Pershy, near Pershotravneve, Petropavlivka, Torske, Terny, Bilohorivka, and the Serebryansk Forest area.
- The “Khortytsia” OSG forces attacked near Torske, Yampolivka, and Dibrova in Lyman’s direction.
- On the Bakhmut direction, Russian forces captured a breeding farm near Bohdanivka. They continued to attack west of Khromove towards Ivanivske and on the Klishchiivka – Andriivka line, where they did not achieve results. The 331st Airborne Regiment of the 98th Airborne Division displaced Defense Forces units from one position east of Bohdanivka. East of Ivanivske, the 11th Separate Air Assault Brigade east displaced Defense Forces units from three positions and destroyed three more with artillery. The enemy is attempting to increase its efforts in the Bakhmut area by engaging units from the 200th (Bohdanivka), 88th (Klishchiivka), and 72nd (Andriivka) Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades.
- The “Khortytsia” OSG forces counterattacked east of Bohdanivka, capturing two positions of the Russian 331st Airborne Regiment. Northwest of Klishchiivka, they pushed out forward units of the 4th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 2nd Army Corps from yet another position.
- On the Avdiivka direction, Russian forces have advanced near the reservoir directly north of Avdiivka, within the boundaries of Stepove, consolidating positions near the village. They have progressed up to 600 meters into the forested area southeast of Stepove. Intense combat continues near the Avdiivka Coke and Chemical Plant and in the industrial zone. The enemy failed to advance east of Novokalynove, Novobakhmutivka, Severne, and Pervomaiske. In the Krasnohorivka–Stepove direction, units of the 30th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 2nd Army were deployed into combat, and the 114th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade south of it reinforced its combat formations. The 55th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, along with the 57th and 87th Motorized Rifle Regiments, are attempting to break through the Avdiivka industrial zone in the directions of Kashtanove – Avdiivka and Mineralne – Avdiivka. In the Maryinka area, advanced units of the 103rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 150th Motorized Rifle Division managed to displace Ukrainian units from one position. Units of the 33rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division and the 39th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 68th Army Corps unsuccessfully tried concentrated attacks to approach Novomykhailivka from the side of Oleksandrivka, Maryinka, and Solodke. Assault groups of the 9th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 1st Army Corps unsuccessfully attacked south of Avdiivka.
- The “Tavriya” OSG forces near Avdiivka regained previously lost positions and repelled Russian attacks near Maryinka and Novomykhailivka. In the directions of Krasnohorivka – Novokalynove and Krasnohorivka – Novobakhmutivka, attacks by the 132nd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 1st Army Corps and the 15th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 2nd Army were repelled. Due to significant losses, the 114th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 1st Army Corps was unable to advance towards the Vesele – Coke and Chemical plant. They lost two positions due to a sudden counterattack by the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
- Berdyansk direction: The “Tavriya” OSG forces repelled a Russian attack near Staromayorske.
- Russian forces continue to attack the forests near Staromayorske, making slight progress to the northwest of it.
- Tokmak direction: Russian forces repelled Ukrainian attacks west of Robotyne, near Novoprokopivka, Nesteryanka, and made slight progress north of Verbove.
- The “Tavriya” OSG forces repelled Russian attacks south of Robotyne and in the Novopokrovka area.
- Kherson direction: The “Odesa” OSG forces are engaged in combat on Bilohrudyi Island, controlling most of it. Ukrainian forces advanced south of Krynky but came under fire from Russian artillery, forcing them to withdraw from the new position.
- In the Black Sea-Azov Sea operational naval area, the enemy’s naval grouping on combat duty consists of:
- Black Sea: 4 ships;
- Azov Sea: 1 ship;
- Mediterranean Sea: 2 ships.
- A small missile ship of project 22800 “Tucha” with the cruise missile system “Kalibr” arrived at the base point in Novorossiysk. After the modernization of its antenna armament, it will undergo state trials and join the 41st Missile Ship Brigade of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
Change in enemy disposition:
- The 385th Artillery Brigade of the 2nd Army received 80 precision-guided 152mm shells “Krasnopol-M2.” The planned supply of such ammunition is intended for the 120th Artillery Brigade of the 41st Army.
- Two groups of the 14th Separate SOF Brigade equipped with the “Lancet” strike UAVs have been deployed in the direction of Orlivka – Lastochkine – Severne – Tonenke.
Possible operation situation developments:
- In the near future, it is anticipated that the adversary will launch an offensive in the direction of Torske and Zarichne, with the objective of cutting off the Torske – Zarichne – Yampolivka road.
- The enemy’s military command will continue to focus on encircling Avdiivka, improving its operational position in the Bakhmut area, and attempting to advance towards Kupyansk in the vicinity of Synkivka. Defensive operations will be sustained on the other fronts.
- Russian forces are unlikely to completely regain the initiative in the forthcoming months, and the probability of them executing a large-scale offensive, capable of disrupting the Defense Forces’ resource allocation for counteroffensive operations, remains improbable.
Russian operational losses from 24.02.22 to 05.12.23
Personnel – almost 333,840 people (+1,030);
Tanks – 5,587 (+7);
Armored combat vehicles – 10,416 (+15);
Artillery systems – 7,987 (+26);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 913 (0);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 605 (+3);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 10,483 (+32);
Aircraft – 323 (0);
Helicopters – 324 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 6,032 (+15);
Intercepted cruise missiles – 1,570 (+1);
Boats/ships – 23 (0).
Humanitarian+general
- According to information provided by the Situation Center of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Russian troops shelled 11 regions of Ukraine over the past day. A total of 128 towns and villages and 66 infrastructure objects were attacked with various types of weapons. One person was reported killed, and 7 people were reported injured. The number of casualties is being updated/clarified.
- On the night of December 5, Russia attacked Ukraine with 17 “Shahed” strike UAVs and 6 surface-to-air S-300 guided missiles. Ukrainian forces successfully shot down ten Russian drones.
- Late in the evening on December 4 and during the night of December 5, Russian forces attacked civilian infrastructure in Donetsk, Kherson, and Kharkiv Oblasts, resulting in damage to residential buildings, businesses, a cinema and causing injuries to two people. Another infrastructure object was attacked with three UAVs in Lviv Oblast with no significant consequences.
- On December 5, Russian forces launched an attack using “Grad” rockets on Chasiv Yar in Donetsk Oblast, killing one and injuring five civilians who were receiving water and bread from volunteers, the prosecutor’s office of Donetsk Oblast reported.
- The illegal “voluntary association for the support of the army, aviation, and fleet” in the temporarily occupied Sevastopol has received nearly 6 million rubles to train children as FPV UAVs operators. Out of this amount, 2.5 million comes from the so-called “presidential grant fund.” Over the next five months, the Russian occupiers plan to train over 400 child UAV operators aged 11 to 16 in the temporarily occupied territories of Sevastopol, Crimea, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, and Donetsk Oblasts, as reported by the Office of the Ukrainian Presidential Representative to Crimea.
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