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Ukraine Invasion Day 665: FPV droning on... [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2023-12-19

A combination of artillery ammunition shortages and delays in the provision of Western security assistance is likely causing Ukrainian forces to husband materiel and may delay future Ukrainian counteroffensive operations.

Putin's MoD Collegium claims are rife with rhetorical contradictions and are dependent on tenuous historical allegories that fall apart when considered in different historical contexts.

During the December 19 Collegium Address, Putin further engaged with this pseudo-historical framing to suggest that western Ukraine is also not truly Ukrainian and claimed that Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin "gave it away" to Ukraine from pieces of Poland, Romania, and Hungary following the Second World War.[6] Putin baselessly claimed that people living in western Ukraine want to return to their "historical homeland," suggesting that western Ukraine could feasibly return to 17th-century conceptions of state borders and become parts of Poland, Romania, or Hungary. This statement suggests that Putin is selectively weaponizing facets of Eastern and Central European history as they suit his ideological line to further rhetorically strip Ukraine of its internationally recognized sovereignty.

⚡️ WAR IN #UKRAINE - DEC 19, 2023 ■ Relatively few strikes on both sides but more combat engagements & many settlements under artillery fire ■ Highest 7-day casualties since start of war, equipment losses below average ■ Oryx: 62 🇷🇺 3 🇺🇦 added to records - 56:0 with removal… pic.twitter.com/T725IeUrQ2

Russian Subordinate Main Effort #1 – Luhansk Oblast (Russian objective: Capture the remainder of Luhansk Oblast and push westward into eastern Kharkiv Oblast and northern Donetsk Oblast)

Russian forces recently made a marginal confirmed advance northeast of Kupyansk. Geolocated footage published on December 18 indicates that Russian forces marginally advanced north of Synkivka (northeast of Kupyansk).[28] Russian and Ukrainian sources stated that fighting continued northeast of Kupyansk near Synkivka and Petropavlivka.[29]

Russian Subordinate Main Effort #2 – Donetsk Oblast (Russian objective: Capture the entirety of Donetsk Oblast, the claimed territory of Russia’s proxies in Donbas)

Russian forces recently made a confirmed advance north of Bakhmut. Geolocated footage published on December 12 indicates that Russian forces advanced northwest of Bilohorivka, Donetsk Oblast, 15km northeast of Bakhmut.[32] The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) claimed that Ukrainian forces unsuccessfully attacked near Pazeno, 15km north of Bakhmut.[33]

Russian forces reportedly advanced northwest and southwest of Bakhmut. ... Russian sources claimed that Russian forces also advanced northwest of Bakhmut near Khromove and Bohdanivka, although ISW has not observed visual evidence of these claims.[34] Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces unsuccessfully attacked on the western outskirts of Bakhmut and southwest of Bakhmut near Klishchiivka.[35] Russian and Ukrainian sources stated that fighting occurred northwest of Bakhmut near Bohdanivka; west of Bakhmut near Ivanivske; and southwest of Bakhmut near Klishchiivka and Andriivka.[36] Ukrainian military officials stated that the Russian military command is using its most combat-capable airborne (VDV) and naval infantry units, and “Storm-Z” and “Storm-V” units comprised mostly of prisoner recruits, in the Bakhmut direction and that Russian forces’ goal is to attack Chasiv Yar (10km west of Bakhmut).[37] The Russian MoD stated that elements of the Russian 98th VDV Division are operating north of Bakhmut and that elements of the Russian 200th Motorized Rifle Brigade (Northern Fleet) are operating in the general Bakhmut direction.[38]

Russian forces recently made confirmed advances near Avdiivka. Geolocated footage posted on December 18 shows that Russian forces made a marginal gain just north of Pervomaiske (about 10km southwest of Avdiivka) around December 15.[40] Additional geolocated footage posted on December 19 shows that Russian forces have also marginally advanced in the quarry area southwest of Avdiivka.[41] One Russian milblogger claimed that Russian forces achieved tactical successes southwest of Avdiivka.[42] Several Russian sources additionally claimed that Russian forces are trying to push Ukrainian forces out of positions in the Avdiivka Coke Plant (on the northwestern outskirts of Avdiivka), and that Russian forces are advancing on the northern flank of Avdiivka near Stepove.[43] The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces repelled Russian attacks near Avdiivka itself, as well as northwest, southwest, and directly west of Avdiivka.[44] A Russian source claimed that elements of the 41st Combined Arms Army (Central Military District) are operating in the Avdiivka area.[45]

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