Russian troops lack equipment to evacuate wounded in Kherson region

ISW analysts note that the Ukrainian Armed Forces and Russian troops are effectively using attack drones during the fighting in the Kherson region. It is also reported that the Russian army units fighting on the left bank of the Dnipro River continue to face a lack of equipment needed to evacuate the wounded to the rear.

At the same time, Russian and Ukrainian troops in the area have been engaged in mostly positional battles in recent weeks. Ukrainian forces have reportedly managed to maintain their positions in and around Krynky, despite attempted counterattacks by Russian forces in the area.

ISW's key findings:

• On December 19, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave a year-end press conference, during which he commented on Russia's unwillingness to negotiate, his confidence in future Western assistance, and possible future mobilization in Ukraine.
• Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the Defense Ministry would prioritize the continuation of the war in Ukraine and the training of newly formed units.
• Russian troops confirmed the offensive northeast of Kupiansk, north of Bakhmut, and southwest of Avdiivka, and continued positional counterattacks along the entire contact line.
• Shoigu said that the Russian military intends to recruit up to 745,000 contract soldiers by the end of 2024.

Earlier, SIGINT operators, together with the military of the 140th separate reconnaissance battalion of the Marines and the Security Service of Ukraine, destroyed a Russian TGS-1A Solntsepek on the left bank of the Kherson region.