Russia’s war on Ukraine. 08.12.2023

Operational situation

In the operational zone of the Ukrainian Operational-Strategic Group of Forces (OSG) “Khortytsia” on the Kupyansk direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 7 Russian attacks in the area of Synkivka. On the Lyman direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled all enemy attacks in the area of Terny. On the Bakhmut direction, Ukrainian troops repelled 24 enemy attacks in the areas of Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka and Andriivka. The Ukrainian Defense Forces continue assault operations south of Bakhmut, inflicting losses on the enemy in personnel and equipment, and consolidating on the achieved positions.

In the “Tavriya” OSG operational zone on the Avdiivka direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue holding back the enemy, which persists in attempts to encircle Avdiivka. Ukrainian troops steadfastly maintain the defense, inflicting losses on the enemy forces. The Ukrainian Defense Forces successfully repelled 30 enemy attacks in areas east of Novobakhmutivka, Avdiivka, south of Tonenke and Pervomaiske. On the Maryinka direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces continued to restrain the enemy in the areas of Maryinka and Novomykhailivka, where the Ukrainian troops repelled 14 attacks. On the Shakhtarsk direction, the enemy did not engage in offensive (assault) actions. On the Zaporizhzhia direction, the Ukrainian troops repelled 8 Russian attacks in the areas west of Verbove and Robotyne. On the Melitopol direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue active operations, inflicting losses to the Russian forces in personnel and equipment and wearing down 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 and to conduct counter-battery warfare and inflict damage on the enemy’s rear areas.

Russian forces continued offensive actions on the Kupyansk – Svatove – Kreminna line, near Bakhmut, Avdiivka, west and southwest of Donetsk, on the administrative border of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts, in the western part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast. They slightly advanced in the Avdiivka area.

General conclusion:

• The command of the Russian “Center” grouping has begun to intensify its efforts on the Lyman direction with the aim of reaching the Chornyi Zherebets – Siversky Donets line.
• Exploiting the decreased intensity of combat engagements in the Azov operational area, especially the stabilization of the situation on the Tokmak direction, the Russian command has initiated the reformation of its operational reserve.
• On December 6-7, 2023, at the territory of the 2631st Missile and Ammunition Aviation Base of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus (Prudok village, Vitebsk Oblast), the combat crews of the 465th Separate Missile Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus exercised preparation for combat deployment and loading of the 9K79 “Tochka” tactical missile system launcher with missiles containing a special 9M79B warhead (nuclear). The nuclear warheads located on the territory of the Republic of Belarus have exhausted their shelf life and have been transferred to the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Belarus, with the extension of the terms of use for an additional 3 years. This kind of warhead is no longer produced in the Russian Federation.
• Russian forces have reduced aviation activity over the Black Sea following the downing of the Su-24M bomber by the Ukrainian air defense near Snake Island.

Change in the line of contact (LoC):  

• There were 89 combat engagements on various fronts.
• On the Kupyansk direction, the “Khortytsia” OSG troops repelled at least 7 Russian attacks near Synkivka and 6 attacks near Terny, Vesele, Rozdolivka, and have achieved insignificant success in the areas of Terny and Yampolivka.
• Russian forces advanced near Synkivka, moving 1.5 km closer to Vesele on December 6. They conducted an assault near Petropavlivka, continued to strike Ukrainian crossings over the Oskil River, repelled 5 assaults near Synkivka, Lake Lyman, and near Yampolivka.
• On the Bakhmut direction, Russian forces captured several positions during a sudden assault near Bakhmut, attacked from Khromove and near the Berkhivka Reservoir.
• The “Khortytsia” OSG troops repelled Russian attacks near Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, and Andriivka, and continued assault operations south of Bakhmut.
• On the Avdiivka direction, Russian forces made slight progress to the east of Stepove and southeast of Avdiivka, as well as in the industrial zone. They attacked near Novokalynove and the Avdiivka Coking Plant.
• The “Tavriya” OSG forces repelled Russian attacks to the east of Novobakhmutivka, near Stepove, Avdiivka, Severne, Tonenke, Pervomaiske, Krasnohorivka, Maryinka, and Novomykhailivka.
• Berdyansk direction, the “Tavriya” OSG forces repelled a Russian attack north of Novodonetske.
• Russian forces attacked near Staromayorske and Urozhaine.
• Tokmak direction: Russian forces repelled several Ukrainian attacks near Robotyne and Verbove and unsuccessfully attacked from Novofedorivka.
• The “Tavriya” OSG forces repelled at least 6 Russian attacks near Robotyne, Novoprokopivka and west of Verbove.
• Kherson direction, The “Odesa” OSG troops keep holding positions on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River. They continued their assault near Krynky, maintaining positions on the outskirts of wooded areas south of Krynky. An unspecified number of Ukrainian reconnaissance and sabotage groups have landed on the Kinburn Spit.
• In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, the enemy naval group on combat duty consists of:
  • Black Sea: 1 ship;
  • Azov Sea: 1 ship;
  • Mediterranean Sea: 4 ships, including 2 cruise missile carriers. The total “Kalibr” missile salvo is 16 cruise missiles.

Changes in the enemy disposition:

• The 51st and 119th Airborne Regiments of the 106th Airborne Division continue to operate respectively to the north and south of Bakhmut.

Possible operation situation developments:

• 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 08.12.23 

Personnel – almost 337,220 people (+990);

Tanks – 5,626 (+8);

Armored combat vehicles – 10,508 (+26);

Artillery systems – 8,057 (+12);

Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 919 (0);

Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 605 (0);

Vehicles and fuel tanks – 10,591 (+30);

Aircraft – 324 (0);

Helicopters – 324 (0);

UAV operational and tactical level – 6,136 (+20);

Intercepted cruise missiles – 1,571 (0);

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 111 towns and villages and 74 infrastructure objects were attacked with various types of weapons. The number of casualties is being updated/clarified.
• Overnight and in the morning of December 8, Russian forces launched 20 cruise missiles Kh-101 and Kh-555, a ballistic missile “Iskander-M,” and 6 guided anti-aircraft missiles S-300 at Ukraine. The Ukrainian air defense successfully destroyed 14 Kh-101/555 cruise missiles. Russia deployed a total of 7 Tu-95 strategic aircraft, launching missiles from Saratov Oblast.
• The December 8 morning missile strike on the Pavlohrad district of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast killed one person and injured 8 individuals, with two of them in critical condition.
• On the night of December 8, Russian forces launched 6 strikes on Kharkiv with S-300 missiles, significantly damaging the distribution point of the regional power company (Oblenergo). 165 residential consumers were left without electricity.
• To balance the energy system and prevent power outages, the “Ukrenergo” National Energy Company has sought emergency assistance from Romania and Poland for the second consecutive day from 11:00 to 19:00.
• In the temporarily occupied Mariupol, 90% (54) of schools have been damaged, including around twenty with critical structural impairments, since the start of the full-scale Russian Federation invasion, the legally elected [Ukrainian] Mariupol Municipal Council reported.
• The occupation authorities of Kherson Oblast have announced their intention to hold the Russian presidential elections in the temporarily occupied communities in March 2024, Yuriy Sobolevsky, the First Deputy Chairman of the Kherson Oblast Council, said. They are considering the possibility of conducting the “voting” over a three-day period: March 15, 16, and 17.

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