12/15-12/18/23 Ukrainian General Update LanguageLearner

12/15-12/18/23 Update, day 660-664 of Russian invasion.


Belarus/Western Border:

A new truck blockade on the Polish border has begun, and is scheduled to last until March 8th. The protestors state they wont block busses, humanitarian cargo, animals or perishable materials through. The protest had previously been blocked by local Polish government, but was allowed on appeal. Presently, the protest plans to let only 1 truck through per hours. There are currently some 2300 trucks waiting to enter Ukraine.

Polish farmers have also joined the blockade, demanding a stop to certain UA imports, and subsidies for Polish grain producers. The presumptive Deputy minister of Agriculture stated that the EU agricultural market must be closed to UA for 20 years after it joins the EU. He drew reference to the labor market for Poland being closed in Germany for 8 years after its accession.


Kyiv/ West Ukraine:

Following a listening device discovered in a "possible future office" for CIC Zaluzhnys, he expressed that he didn't discuss sensitive material in the bugged office. The SBU has opened an investigation and claims the device was found in an unpowered, non-recording state.

Per GUR head Budanov, the total strength of UA defense forces is approximately 1.1 million people, and such troop strengths cannot be maintained without mobilization. He spoke about some of the motivations of serving soldiers, with the relatively high payment (3000 USD/month for active combat service) being a major one. Families continue to demonstrate for information on demobilization timeframes.

In positive medical news, the UA military has created a process for writing off used IFAKs (soldier's first aid kits), as previously reporting use of a medical kit and receiving a new one could take months. Now, the process has been radically simplified.

Kyivstar is broadly up and running again, as data and voice call access have resumed. SMS messages are taking a little longer, and people who missed out on compensation due to the network outage are advised to file a report after the system is back up to 100%.

10 battalions and 3 demining companies have reportedly been formed, due to the massive amount of UXO and mines across Ukraine. Reportedly some 2,610 square KM have been cleared, and 20,900 linear KM of infrastructure (roads, pipelines, railway, power lines) have been cleared. 285 square KM have also been marked, although the total amount of land to be cleared is massive.

UA successfully fundraised for 5000 FPV drones (3000 thermal, 2000 regular) in 48 hours, raising 5.9 million USD.


Sumy/Chernihiv/Kharkiv city:

The RDK (Russian Free Legion) volunteer battalion assaulted across the border into Belgorod oblast over the weekend, reportedly destroying a platoon base and threatening they had left considerable amounts of mines near Terebreno, E of Sumy.

Separately, RU had a T-80 tank apparently run into a mine in Belgorod, killing one crewmember and destroying the tank.

RU sabotage groups apparently continue some activity along the Sumy and Chernihiv borders, specifically leaving explosive traps.

A Kharkiv university professor and State Emergency Service officer was arrested for the deaths of 2 cadets, after they forced them to try and defuse a live 152mm artillery shell as a "classroom test" back in May of 2023. The resulting explosion destroyed much of the building and killed the cadets.


Kupyansk/Kreminna/Svatove

RU forces continue attempts to push down towards Kupyansk via Synkivka, however RU forces apparently took considerable losses here. It appears that RU either failed to have enough artillery fire here, or other suppress UA forces, as there is footage of UA tanks literally driving through houses occupied by RU soldiers. As the mopping operation continues, it appears that the RU offensive action towards Kupyansk has been defeated, at least for now.

A 29 year old man accidentally detonated an explosive in his backyard near Kupyansk, but is currently alive in hospital.

The frontlines otherwise remain stationary in the E Kharkiv region, with UA UAV activity noted around Kreminna.


Kramatorsk/Bakhmut:

RU forces continue airstrikes N of Soledar, destroying long range UA artillery and targeting medical facilities.

RU forces continue to press from NW Bakhmut, in the direction of Chasiv Yar. RU forces have also made additional gains in the SW suburbs of Bakhmut along the main highway W towards the ruins of Ivanivske. This may also be an attempt to cut off UA access to Klischiivka, where an impassioned defense has cost many RU lives.

Avdiivka:

RU continues assaults near Avdiivka, however due to the degradation of mechanized vehicles it appears they have modified their assaults. The overall rate of assaults has decreased, from an average of 50/day last week to <20/day over the weekend.

RU forces have resumed attacks from the SW near Vodyane, attempting to expand around Avdiivka and Pervomaiske supply lines. Given the lack of RU gains in the NW, RU has started focusing again on the SW and SE regions. RU is currently on the extreme edge of the SE Avdiivka suburban village region.

Due to the destruction of RU vehicles in the region, reportedly RU forces are not currently actively supporting the on average 20 man infantry assaults, instead disembarking them from vehicles a distance away and just attempting to support them with artillery instead.

The 47th brigade reported that RU is bringing out more FPV drones with night vision capabilities, which are targeting UA movements at night. RU is targeting supplies to the defensive position at the Avdiivka Coke (chemical) plant.

Currently, some 1230 people remain in the city. Evacuation amounts have dwindled significantly, with only 5 people leaving over the weekend.


Donetsk/Luhansk occupied regions:

UA struck a RU oil depot in SE Donetsk.

RU continues to demolish buildings in Mariupol that were used for war crimes, specifically the district police station which became an infamous torture den.

RU additionally built a dirt bridge over the central Kalchyk river which bisects Mariupol. The blockage is expected to broadly annihilate any aquatic life upstream from the sea of Azov, along the 88 km river.


Zaporizhia/Southern Axis:

RU continues to shell across the frontline, with some gains around Robotyne

UA partisans blew up a railway train delivering ammo and fuel in melitopol.

RU authorities are forcing employees of the Zaporizhia NPP to receive RU passports and sign contracts with Rosatom, the RU nuclear energy provider. Reportedly, those who don't sign over by Jan 1st will have their station access passes cancelled. It remains to be seen if RU will go ahead with potentially mass firings of the critical staff, or if this is simply another attempt to exert pressure.

Currently there is a shortage of 1300 doctors in the occupied regions of Zaporizhia, as UA medical personnel have refused to work in RU military hospitals despite higher pay. The main hospital in Melitopol is the primary functioning medical center for all of occupied Kherson and Zaporizhia, leading to several week waits for service. Soon, RU is requiring citizens to have an RU passport before they can receive medical care, starting in Jan 1, 2024. Some 70% of qualified medical personnel either fled RU occupation or refuse to work publicly under the administration.


Kherson:

RU attacked a hospital in Kherson with UAV's over the weekend. UA has also intensified its aerial bombardment using glide bombs in this area.

3 children between 13 and 15 were returned from kidnapping to Russia. They were taken out of the occupied Kherson region.

UA forces continue to leverage FPV drones across the Dnipro to destroy RU armor in S Kherson, allegedly destroying 2 T90M tanks.


Odessa/Black Sea/Crimea:

RU targeted western Ukraine with 20 Shahed-136 drones on Sunday night, which were intercepted. One of the drones crashed into a house post-intercept, killing an elderly man in Odesa.

Per UA, the RU low activity at sea is due to to them accumulating missiles in expectation of colder weather and power outages. UA apparently continues to launch drone strikes towards  Crimea, and has identified a

Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria are expected to sign an agreement on joint demining of the black sea in January. This is expected to focus primarily on the existing grain route, and is explicitly not a NATO operation.

RU is apparently permitting military veterans to serve as teachers in Crimea.

Odesa reopened its National Art Museum following a missile strike in early November. Currently only part of the building is open.

A Georgian national was banned from entering into Ukraine near Odesa after it was revealed she's an RU propagandist.


Russia:

UA launched a drone attack on RU airfields in Rostov, where some 20 SU-34 were present. Potentially due to heightened air defense activity, RU reportedly shot down one of their SU-25 jets, per a reliable RU Pilot's telegram channel (Fighterbomber). The exact amount of damaged or destroyed RU jets is currently being clarified, as UA claims 15 damaged or destroyed while RU claims 0.

While Putin claimed that 617,000 soldiers are currently in Ukraine, the UA intelligence agency stated this is a gross exaggeration, and 450,000 RU soldiers are currently arranged against UA.

UA new defense minister Umerov stated that RU is waging an information war to try and create artificial political conflict in the UA government.

Kyrgyzstan is reportedly newly producing RU armored trucks, specifically the GAZ-66M.

A former GRU officer, a Colonel and senior Wagner/DPR instructor, fled to the Hague and is apparently interested in testifying about RU war crimes.

Companies that left RU have apparently declared more then 103 Billion USD in losses.


General:

Over the last week RU forces conducted 237 air strikes and 41 missile strikes, and 650 combat engagements were reported.

Yesterday Ukrainian forces eliminated:

1090x soldiers (Total 347,160)
60x APC
44x Tank
0x Air defense
41x Artillery (3xMLRS)
56x vehicles
12x UAV


Overseas:

The EU will meet on Feb 1st to discuss the allocation of 50 Billion euros over the next 4 years for Ukraine. This comes after Hungarian PM Viktor Orban blocked the aid package. EU representatives have stated they are confident an agreement will be reached.

Lithuania expressed that Orban works for Putin, and Hungary should be deprived of voting rights due to "internal destruction of the EU".

Bulgaria banned the processing or export of RU fuel starting in Jan 2024, far earlier then the EU requirements of October 2024.

The EU adopted its 12th package of economic sanctions against RU. This bans the import of RU diamonds, the transit of goods through Russia, and dual use electronics.

The UK has signed a 3 year manufacturing agreement with UA, where UA staff will produce certain weapons and equipment at a factory in UA proper. This includes artillery systems, demining ships, and UAVs.

The world bank is allocating 1.34 billion USD to Ukraine for state budgetary needs. Japan supplied 1.1 billion USD of this.

Per the US defense officials interviewed by CNN, RU is currently firing 5-7 the # of shells UA is, and in the complete absence of western and US aid, UA will likely run out of critical munitions. The resulting lack of long range missiles, air defense systems, and ultimately artillery is projected to have dramatic negative effects on the war effort. Call your elected representatives.