Ukrainian Armed Forces offensive in Zaporizhzhia region
Illustrative photo: Ukrainian Armed Forces offensive in western part of Zaporizhzhia region (Getty Images)
Ukrainian troops maintained their positions on the left bank of the Kherson region on December 15 after Russia's recent ground activity in the area. According to preliminary information, Ukrainian defenders continued counteroffensive operations in the western part of the Zaporizhzhia region, reports the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Operation #1 - Luhansk region
ISW found that Russian troops conducted offensive operations near Kupiansk on December 15 and recently confirmed the offensive. A geolocation video posted on December 14 shows Russian troops advancing in the northern part of Sinkivka.
Ukrainian military observer Kostiantyn Mashovets said that Russian troops pushed Ukrainian troops out of positions north of Sinkivka and unsuccessfully attacked east of the town.
Ukraine's General Staff reported that Russian troops unsuccessfully attacked near Sinkivka. Ukrainian journalist Yurii Butusov said that Russian troops had launched an unsuccessful mechanized attack near the settlement.
Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian troops were conducting offensive operations near Kupiansk, but there were no reported or confirmed successes on December 15.
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that Ukrainian forces had unsuccessfully attacked near Sinkivka. According to them, Russian troops repelled 27 Ukrainian attacks in the Kupiansk sector over the past week.
Operation #2 - Donetsk region
According to ISW, on December 15, Russian forces continued ground attacks northeast of Bakhmut, but did not achieve any confirmed successes.
Localized offensive operations in the area of Bakhmut continued and have recently achieved confirmed successes. Geo-located video footage released on December 11 shows that Russian forces have recently advanced northwest of Klishchiivka.
Russian sources have increasingly characterized the localized Russian offensive around Bakhmut as a Chasovyi Yar encirclement operation. ISW estimates that Russian troops are at least nine kilometers from Chasovyi Yar.
ISW found that Russian troops continued their offensive near Avdiivka on December 15 and recently advanced. Geo-located video footage released on December 15 shows that Russian troops have advanced in the area of Stepove and Pervomayske.
The Ukrainian General Staff reported on December 15 that Ukrainian forces had repelled at least 45 Russian attacks east of Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, and Avdiivka and south of Severne, Pervomayske, and Nevelske.
The commander of Ukraine's Tavria group of troops, Commander General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, said that Russian troops are attacking with assault groups of up to 20 soldiers, supported by armored vehicles, in the Tavria sector (Avdiivka through western Zaporizhzhia region).
ISW notes that on December 15, Russian forces continued offensive operations west and southwest of Donetsk and recently made confirmed gains. A geolocation video released on December 13 shows that Russian forces have advanced in the western part of Maryinka.
Ukraine's General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces repelled at least 17 Russian attacks in the areas of Krasnohorivka, Maryinka, and Novomykhailivka.
"Southern Axis"
According to ISW, citing the Russian Defense Ministry, Russian troops repelled two Ukrainian attacks near the border of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions last week.
Ukraine's General Staff reported that on December 15, Russian troops unsuccessfully attacked near the Donetsk-Zaporizhzhia region border north of Pryiutne and Staromayorske.
Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces continued counteroffensives in the western part of the Zaporizhzhia region, but there were no reported or confirmed successes on December 15.
The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that Ukrainian forces had unsuccessfully attacked near Robotyne and west of Verbove.
Russian troops conducted offensive operations in western Zaporizhzhia region, but did not achieve any claimed or confirmed successes on December 15.
Ukraine's General Staff reported that Russian troops unsuccessfully attacked south of Robotyne, northwest of Verbove, and west of Novopokrovka.
A Russian source stated that Russian troops were struggling with a lack of transportation in the Zaporizhzhia sector and that Russian troops lacked repair bases for equipment in the rear areas.
According to the institute, Ukrainian troops maintained their positions on the left bank of the Kherson region on December 15 after Russia's recent ground activity in the area.
