12/27/22 Ukrainian General Update LanguageLearner

12/27/22 Update, day 307 of Russian invasion.


Belarus:

RU movement continues towards the border in SW Belarus, stoking concerns about a potential RU assault. However, given the lack of manpower in the forces deployed here (the badly mauled 1st Guards Tanks army).

Presently, the UA Intel services state there is no observed formation of assault groups, and RU is attempting to force a redeployment of UA troops from positions in the East. UA troops around the Rivne NPP, the hypothesized goal of any RU incursion, are actively battle ready.


Kyiv/ West Ukraine:

Ukraine returned the bodies of 42 dead soldiers today, and have thus far managed to return 869 dead servicemen in total.

Per the Kyiv city administration, emergency power outages will continue in the capital throughout the winter, although the power drain is less severe on weekends. This comes after the above-ground tram services were suspended, and turned over to a fleet of busses. The metro continues to run.

Per the UA SSO, there have been hundreds of RU cyber attacks since October, specifically targeting energy infrastructure.

The Ukrainian Special Forces announced open recruitment for a qualification course starting in mid-february, and lasting 4 months. Participants must be under 35 years old, and in active military service at time of application. Graduates are guaranteed an immediate position in the UA SOF community.

The UA Supreme court has recognized a law that obliges the UOC to change its name so it indicates its affiliation with the Russian Orthodox Church. The UOC has been subject to numerous investigations due to ties with RU orthodoxy, as well as having demonstrable support, both financially and via intel, for RU seperatist movements in the Donbas.

UA has stated that evacuation will not be an obstacle to recieving pension payments or disability, and there is a system in place. There were quantities of people who refused to leave front line areas, due to thinking they would lose all financial packages.

UA seized the property of Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov worth some $54 Million USD. He was responsible for stealing some 160k tonnes of UA Iron ore, mainly from Berdyansk and Mariupol.

Per Zelensky, Italy is considering providing air defense equipment to Ukraine.

Due to martial law, there will be no extra public holidays on new years and christmas. Previously, if a holiday fell on a weekend, a public holiday would be moved to the regular weekday.

The Transcarpathian region of Ukraine, the furthest away from the front lines, marked its 200th air raid alert.

Over 12,000 people have been detained by the border guards for trying to cross the border illegally since the invasion began. A UA citizen who crossed into romania illegaly died due to exposure in the Carpathian mountains. Several more remain missing from the group that snuck across.


Sumy/Chernihiv/Kharkiv city:

RU forces continue to shell along the border area, destroying houses.

Damage to the main gas pipeline in Kharkiv oblast has caused the forced shutdown of all gas boiler plants in Donetsk Oblast.

Currently, some 1.1 million people live in and around Kharkiv City, with a new wave of returning people come spring. About 450k internally displaced people live in the Kharkiv region.

29 settlements remain occupied in the entire Kharkiv region.


Kupyansk/Kreminna/Svatove

Reportedly, there has been a noted increase in desertion cases of RU servicemembers along this front, with increased barrier troop patrols to detain and return deserters to the front line.

The ground here remains cold, but not solidly frozen enough for heavy mechanized forces.

Per the UA government, the UA military is having successes on the Svatove-Kreminna axis, but there are a large quantity of mines and newly conscripted RU troops in the area.

UA forces continue to press on RU positions near Kuzemivka, with RU forces desperately working to retain control over the highway and the rubbelized town of Novoselivske, where UA presence would have an elevation advantage over RU troops encamped further west, all the way to Svatove.

Around Kreminna, UA continues to skirmish towards Chervonovpopivka, with UA troops still not in control of the highway following a large RU counter-attack that resulted in heavy casualities on both sides.

SW of Kreminna, UA troops appear to be continuing assaults towards Dibrova via the forested regions, with video footage of UA tanks moving through the forests immediately south of Dibrova.


Siversk/Lysychansk.

There is no major change around Siversk/Lysychansk, with RU attempts towards the NE,E, and SE fronts. It appears that more RU forces have been redeployed here from Kherson.

RU forces fired a missile into downtown Kramtorsk today.


Bakhmut:

In Soledar, the situation remains unchanged, with RU forces still firmly in control of the SE section of the city and areas around the large open pit mine.

RU forces continue to skirmish in the fields to the NE of Bakhmut city, near the intersection right outside of town and its gas station there. RU is still shelling toward Pidhorodne and the NE Bakhmut suburbs, with some territory taken along the fields here, and UA shelling immediately outside the NE section of the city. This wooded territory immediately to the NE of Bakhmut has some 200-300 ft of elevation over the city proper, and so RU forces and UA troops continue to skirmish around it, with RU recently retaking the hilltop.

To the E, along the heavily defended Patrisa Lumumby st, RU forces continue to work to dislodge UA forces from the fortified ceramic factory, one of 3 remaining heavily reinforced UA strongpoints. RU forces do continue to press here, and this area has a 50 ft elevation dip valley between the two sides, which has become a no mans land. RU shelling remains heavy here.

SE of Bakhmut, RU forces have continued attempts to fight downhill from their positions in the garbage dump towards the UA residential region, although thus far they appear blunted. UA artillery fire ranges right up to the RU positions.

S of Bakhut, RU forces appear to have seized more territory in Optyne which increasingly allows for an RU incursion into the S residential area of Bakhmut city. RU forces appear to be fighting for control over the northern half of Optyne presently, the last obstacle before entering the residential districts of S Bakhmut.

SW of Bakhmut, RU forces attempting to push counter-clockwise to cut off supplies have been impeded by the UA defense of Kliischiivka, although RU is consolidating its forces along the riverside towns of Kurdyumivka and Ozarianivka for further assaults in this area.

Overall, the situation remains tense in Bakhmut, with RU forces continuing to shovel men into the grinder, and photographs showing a small area of a blasted field covered in enough RU bodies to be reminiscent of WW1.

The commander of the UA Ground forces, General Alexander Syrskyi, visited the front line units in Bakhmut.


Donetsk/Luhansk occupied regions:

The Omega group of the UA National Guard destroyed seven armored vehicles and 50 RU soldiers this last week, as RU attempted a direct assault on Avdiivka. It was repulsed.

What is suspected to be RU or Wagner forces killed a family of 8 today in occupied Makiivka, near Donetsk. The family's car was stolen, and 4 youth + 4 adults were killed. The youngest were 1, 7, and 9 years old. RU is blaming the murders on "mercenary thieves", as the UA governor of Mariupol states he suspects its a direct consequence of lowered standards for entry in Wagner.

Due to a lack of blood supply for wounded RU forces in Horlivka, all medical employees were required to make blood donations.


Mariupol:

2 additional groupings of RU forces were seen traveling through Mariupol in the direction of Berdyansk. In total, some 100 pieces of equipment including T-62 tanks, APCs, and trucks were spotted. RU is believed to be strengthening the Melitopol frontline, which is supported by RU conversations overheard in Mariupol.

RU occupation officials continue to level damaged homes and other sites of war crimes, forcing those sheltering in them out into the street.

Cases of frostbite continue to rise among those who remain. Many medical facilities lack heating.

Per the family members of Azovstal defenders, over 700 fighters remain in RU captivity.


Zaporizhia/Southern Axis :

UA and RU continue shelling across the front line here, with UA missile strikes in Melitopol, Berdyansk, Tokmak, and other areas including RU ammo warehouses.

The UA employees who did not cooperate with RU occupiers at the ZNPP will recieve a salary increase of up to 50% in the new year, among other bonuses. The Union of energy workers is also working to provide for family members of employees stuck behind RU lines.

Reportedly, RU forces continue to destroy any religous institutions that are not directly subordinate to the Russian orthodox Church, or Chechen Islamic organizations.


Kherson:

RU forces again shelled the Kherson general hospital, damaging a maternity ward where 2 children were being deliverd. Thankfully, there are no injuries.

RU has increased the presence of military forces on the S bank of the Dnipro river here, with some saying "there are about 7 soldiers for every resident". This appears to be a mechanism to ensure total control over the banks of the Dnipro, following some UA recon actions.

Gas supply has been fully restored in Kherson, as well as 83% of electricity supply, 92% of water supply and 76% of heat.

There were no reported UA artillery strikes on the Kiburn penninsula today, although RU forces fired across the bay into Ochakiv.


Odessa/Black Sea/Crimea:

Up to 10 RU ships are in the Black sea, with 3 missile cruisers carrying 16 Kalibr missiles. In the Sea of Azov, only 1 RU ship is on combat duty

Two mafia bosses in Odesa were detained on essentially organized crime charges over the last several years. They were allegedly affiliated with RU organized crime organizations.

The Police have set up additional heating points in Odesa.


General:

Yesterday Ukrainian forces eliminated:

620 x soldiers (Total 13,220)
7x APC
2x Artillery (0x MLRS)
5x vehicles

After the strikes on Engels yesterday, RU has further dispersed its aircraft, which has impeded the chances of further RU air-launched missile strikes for the moment.

Reportedly, RU has purchased another 250 IRGC drones.

Hungarian PM Viktor Orban said that he does not want to sever economic ties with Russia, and claimed that US and NATO weaponry is prolonging the conflict.

Putin banned the sale of oil to countries that support the price ceiling imposed by the West, from Feb 1 until July 1 of next year.

Putin presented members of the CIS meeting in Russia with rings, prompting a response from the SBU saying they "Had read Tolkien, and had only bad news for Putin" before posting a picture of UA troops overlooking Mount Doom.