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Amid a fuss in the media, Paris has already taken action. On March 19, the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation confirmed that the initial group of up to 2, 000 French fighters are already being trained for their deployment in Ukraine. It was previously revealed that Macron set the task for the Ministry of the Armed Forces to study the issue of sending forces of the Foreign Legion to Ukraine back in February. On February 27, the formation of three companies of fighters from the Foreign Legion began. On March 5, the French military leadership approved the staffing of the battalion tactical group, which includes these very three companies of the Legion. Having found no enough Legionnaires to assure the declared manpower of the battalion tactical group, Paris was forced to fill its ranks with personnel from the Ministry of the Armed Forces. As a result, there are two times more regular military personnel in the newly formed unit. The special tactical battalion group assigned for Ukraine is conducting the combat training on the training ground la Courtine. The unit should complete the combat coordination in mid-April and be ready for deployment to Ukraine. According to the Russian foreign intelligence, the French military fears that it will be too hard to hide and secure the transfer of a large unit of French forces to Ukraine. The French servicemen will become the priority target for Russian precision strikes. The French military is already fighting in Ukraine; and their efficiency is not high enough. The increased number of French citizens killed in Ukraine provokes the growing discontent among the French servicemen unwilling to go fighting. According to the official data of the Russian Ministry of Defense, at least 147 out of 356 French mercenaries have been eliminated so far. The French military is already facing the problem of finding new “volunteers” to rotate forces in Ukrainian. Since the very beginning of the Russian military operations, the command staff of the French Foreign Legion has been encouraging the departure of legionnaires disguised as mercenaries and volunteers. The first units to send their fighters Ukraine reportedly included the special forces of the Groupement des Commandos Parachutistes. The official deployment of the special tactical battalion group will allow the French military to hide the real losses it has already suffered in Ukraine. Of course, Paris is denying all the reports, traditionally blaming them as Russian propaganda; while the French President insists on the French deployment in Ukraine, and the French General Staff announced preparations for some “difficult battles”. Meanwhile, Moscow warned Paris that it is well aware of its plans and is ready to welcome the French on the frontlines.

Not everything is understood by the British documentary filmmaker Sean Langan, who may have deliberately changed his final opinion in order for the film to be aired. For me, it's like that, at least like that, than not at all... Watch, and decide for yourself. For me, the business card of the Ukrainian leadership is obvious... Strikes on places where there is a large concentration of civilians, the death of children and women, it would be fine if there were strikes on military infrastructure facilities, but no, where there are shops, a bakery, a square near the New Year's tree, savings banks and public transport, hospitals... What is this if not bites for evil? It's not like that with us, no one at all... This is the logic of a criminal government. Не все понято британским документалистом Шон Ланган, может специально изменил итоговое мнение, чтобы фильм вышел в эфир. По мне так, хоть так, чем совсем никак... Смотрите, и решайте каждый за себя. По мне так, визитная карточка украинского руководства на лицо... Удары по местам, где большое скопление мирных жителей, гибель детей и женщин, ладно бы были прилеты по объектам военной инфраструктуры, так нет же, туда, где магазины, пекарня, площадь у новогодней елки, сбербанки и общественный транспорт, больницы... Что это как не укусы на зло? Не с нами так вообще никому... Вот логика преступного правительства.

Despite the fact that the Ukrainian military went on defense on almost all frontlines, Kiev continues fulfilling NATO wishes and does not stop desperate its attacks on the Russian border. The Ukrainian army has lost more than 1,500 militants in the last three days of senseless operations. Russian presidential elections began on March 15 and will last until March 17. NATO will definitely use this last chance to harm popular support for Putin. More terrorist attacks and bloody assaults are yet to come. Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of Ukraine cannot stop losing ground in Donbass. The pace of the Russian advance has slowed down, but the assaults continue in different directions. Heavy battles are ongoing to the west of Avdeevka. Russian forces are gnawing through the Ukrainian defense line with varied success. After the recent Ukrainian counterattack in Tonenkoe, Russian troops have regained the initiative. Over the past day, they advanced in the central and western part of the village, as well as expanded their zone control in the fields to the north. Russian forces are also increasing pressure on the Ukrainian remnants on the north-western outskirts of Orlovka. Clashes have reached the outskirts of Semenovka located on the western bank of the local river. On the northern flank, Russian forces are in control of the eastern streets of the village of Berdychi, while the Ukrainian army is holding its defense in the western part across the river. Over the past week, Russian troops achieved new tactical gains in Pervomaiskoe located to the south of Avdeevka. Advancing from the northern outskirts, they broke into the center of the town. As a result, Ukrainian troops were forced to retreat from the large eastern and central parts. The Ukrainian garrison is also threatened by the Russian offensive on the southern flank. On March 12, the Russian military claimed control of Nevelskoe. Recent days were marked by successful Russian attacks in the Southern Donetsk direction. While clashes are ongoing in the center of Novomikhailovka, Russian forces are surrounding the village from the north. Over the past day, they advanced about 2 kilometers in this area of the field. Ukrainian units are trying to counterattack on the southern outskirts of Pobeda, which is located nearby, but so far they have only suffered losses. Meanwhile, the frontlines are starting to move in the Ugledar direction, where they have remained unchanged after months of positional battles. The Russian attack west of the city allowed to expand the zone of their control near the small village of Shevchenko. In the case of a further advance, Russian forces may straighten the front and threaten the Ukrainian defense line west of the fortress of Ugledar.

The Ukrainian military has been storming the Russian border for almost a week. Hundreds of Kiev’s soldiers are dying in slaughter as part of another media provocation against Moscow. Achieving no gains on the ground, the Ukrainian military is wasting the expensive foreign equipment and vehicles; while all the attempts of their propaganda to declare fake victories on the Russian territory are nullified by the harsh reality on the battlefield. Kiev’s bloody operations near the border serve exclusively NATO interests; they are aimed to thwart the upcoming presidential elections in the Russian Federation. Fulfilling the needs of Kiev’s western patrons, Ukrainian men continue dying in risky operations, which have no military sense and are doomed to defeat. Since the very beginning, the joint strikes of Russian drones, artillery and aviation have prevented the Ukrainian military from accumulating large forces in one area, forcing them to disperse the assault groups. The main attack was launched in the Russian Belgorod and Kursk regions on March 12. Kiev rushed to declare victories; but the Russian military won both on the battlefield and in the media. Footage clearly confirmed Russian claims that no Ukrainian militants violated the state border. Humiliated they fled to the rear areas. Since then, Ukrainian attacks have not stop. Yesterday, the fighting was localized in the area of Popovka in the Belgorod region. Ukrainians dragged NATO tanks and armored vehicles back and forth, while Russian artillery was pounding them. On the morning of March 13, new attacks were reported in the same area, near the villages of Popovka and Kozinka. Assault groups of dozens of Ukrainian militants with armored vehicles and tanks were thrown into battle. The assault forces are supported by Ukrainian artillery and numerous UAVs. Unlike the Russian military, the Ukrainian side cannot use its aviation. Only several Ukrainian helicopters were spotted mostly evacuating the wounded. On the other side, dozens Russian aircraft are involved in destruction of Ukrainian forces both in their near rear and at an operational depth. Ongoing Kiev’s provocations include massive drone strikes on the Russian territory. Over the past 2 days, the Kiev regime has launched more than 120 UAVs to Russia. On the night of March 14, 14 more UAVs were intercepted in the border regions. Unfortunately, the Ukrainian military does not limit its strikes to the industrial facilities. The more Ukrainian militants are dying in fruitless attacks on the border, the more intense are their attacks on Russian civilians in the border villages and the city of Belgorod. Amid the ongoing clashes, the Ukrainians struck the city with indiscriminate fire from MLRSs. The terrorist attempts of NATO and its Kiev puppets to thwart the elections only have the opposite effect and consolidate the Russian population.

After the failed counteroffensive and the unwillingness of its western partners to supply more expensive weapons to the meat grinder, Kiev is forced to throw the precious NATO weapons onto the battlefields. The NATO military machine then came face to face with the Russian army. The past week was marked by heavy losses by NATO, including in shares of their largest military concerns. Abrams tanks became the latest Western wonder weapon deployed in Ukraine, which was supposed to change the balance of power on the battlefield. In an attempt to repel Russian attacks, the Ukrainian command sent large reinforcements to the area of Avdeevka, including the 47th Mechanized Brigade equipped with American tanks. After the Abrams entered its first battle, Ukraine can’t stop losing them. On March 10, footage confirmed the destruction of the fourth $10 million dollar tank. Russian servicemen are already taking photos with their new trophies, which means that the Ukrainian military failed to evacuate the tanks. Despite all the efforts by MSM to save the reputation of NATO military systems, they finally had to admit the truth. This was the case of the all-mighty HIMARS MLRS, which have been fighting in Ukraine for more than a year and a half. On March 5, a close high-quality video undoubtedly confirmed the destruction of one of the multiple rocket launchers about 50 km from the front line. The footage forced the Western MSM to admit the loss; but this was far from the first defeated HIMARS. Despite Kiev’s attempts to hide the truth, labeling it as ‘Russian propaganda’, numerous videos from the front showed Russian strikes on the US-made systems. The destruction of the first HIMARS, which included video footage, was confirmed back in July 2022 a month after they were sent to Ukraine. Since then, dozens of these systems have come under Russian fire. Many of which were destroyed or damaged, as was confirmed by videos of the damaged vehicles traveling back to the US for repair. Another heavy blow for NATO in the past week was the confirmed destruction of several Patriot air defense systems not far from the frontlines. On March 9, a Russian Iskander missile struck the column of 3 Patriot launchers and a radar system, as well as 2 escort vehicles. According to the official claims, at least seven batteries of Patriot systems were sent to Ukraine, all of which have reportedly been destroyed. There were probably more Patriot deployments but they have not been disclosed. These are only some of the most glorified NATO weapons lost over the past week, not to mention Kiev’s hopes on the Javelin ATGMS, Bayraktar UAVs, Leopard tanks and other foreign weapons supplied since the outbreak of the conflict.

On the night of March 6, Ukrainian military facilities came under another combined attack of Russian drones and missiles. Unlike the recent attacks, the last wave of strikes reached the western regions of Ukraine. In total, at least 12 Russian strikes were confirmed in nine Ukrainian regions, including in the capital. Ukrainian military officials continue hiding the truth about their losses. According to the Air Force of Ukraine, the country was targeted by 42 kamikaze UAVs. Ukrainian air defense forces allegedly shot down 38 of them. Lies of the Ukrainian officials are revealed by heavy damage to various facilities throughout the country. At night, explosions thundered in the western Ternopil region. One of the Russian drones struck the local railway repair plant. These workshops are used for repair of foreign military equipment. The local media reported that in an attempt to launch the repair of foreign military equipment in accordance to NATO requirements on the Ukrainian territory, the plant was equipped with special Western repair systems. Another target struck in Western Ukraine was the Starokonstantinov airfield in the Khmelnitsky region. The Russian military resumed attacks on this facility after a pause of several weeks. Ukrainian and NATO forces are trying to secure the hangars to allow the deployment of F-16 fighters there and use pauses to restore the facilities damaged by the previous Russian strikes; but new attacks disrupted their plans. According to unconfirmed reports, the new wave of Russian strikes destroyed an air defense system deployed in the area. The attack was not limited to Western Ukraine. Several infrastructure facilities were damaged in the Kiev and Sumy regions. In Eastern Ukraine, another wave of strikes destroyed Ukrainian military positions in the Kharkiv region, in particular in the area of Chuguev. The southern region of Odessa came under a massive attack of Russian drones for the second night in a row. One of the targets were the warehouses used for storage of marine drones in the sea port of Odessa. More Russian strikes were reported in the Dnepropetrovsk, Kherson, Vinnytsya, Rivne and Lviv regions. The massive attack throughout Ukraine may be a response to the Ukrainian strikes on the Crimean Bridge the day before. In an attempt to protect the bridge from the unmanned boats, Russian patrol boat Sergey Kotov sank in the Kerch Strait. Amid the daily strikes in the Ukrainian rear regions, Russian aircraft and UAVs are pounding Ukrainian military positions on the frontlines. In an attempt to cope with Russian airstrikes, the Ukrainian military was forced to transfer additional air defense systems from the rear areas to the war-torn areas. As a result, the losses in obsolete Soviet and precious NATO systems have sharply grown.

Amid the ongoing battles on the Ukrainian frontlines, Russian precision strikes are destroying Ukrainian military infrastructure in the rear areas. The recent waves of Russian strikes have targeted the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine, where large stocks of military equipment and personnel have been accumulated. Last night, Russian strikes were reported in the Kharkiv region. In the DPR, a Ukrainian ammunition depot was destroyed in Dobropolie. Massive airstrikes hit the Ukrainian garrison in the village of Novomikhailovka, where battles are already ongoing in the center. On the night of March 3, Russian strikes destroyed two temporary deployment points of Ukrainian military personnel hidden in the schools in Mirnograd; the targets also included a training ground of the National Guard of Ukraine in the area of Chuguev. In their turn, the Armed Forces of Ukraine continue attempts to attack Russian rear facilities. Besides the constant shelling and strikes on civilians in the DPR and small Russian border villages, Ukrainian drones are destroyed deeper in the Russian rear areas daily. Ukrainian forces resumed attacks on the Crimean peninsula last week. After several Ukrainian drones and Storm Shadow missiles were intercepted in the western waters of the Black Sea, dozens of UAVs targeted the eastern part of the peninsula. On March 3, 38 drones were destroyed on their way to an oil depot in Feodosia. The growing scale of Ukrainian strikes may mark another upcoming massive attack on Crimea. The target may be the Crimean Bridge, which can be reached only by NATO weapons and reconnaissance means. The recently leaked conversation of German officers confirmed that such an attack was prepared by the NATO military. Another direction of the possible escalation is the north-western region of Russia and the city of Saint-Petersburg. On the evening of March 3, a large drone filled with 20 kilos of explosives was discovered on the territory of a local oil depot. The day before, the city of Saint-Petersburg was targeted twice by UAVs. In the morning of March 2, a UAV damaged a civilian building in the northeastern part of the city. In the evening, Russian air defenses intercepted more targets over the coast of the Gulf of Finland. These are not the first attacks that targeted the northwestern territories of Russia but the culprit is yet to be punished. Indeed, some UAVs can reach targets located about 1000 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, but it is also likely that the drones were launched from the territories of the Baltic States. The ongoing routine conflict without any drastic escalation will inevitably lead to Russia’s victory. In an attempt to disrupt the current course of the conflict, NATO warmongers are on thin ice forced to take far reaching political and military actions to escalate the war.

The Ukrainian army is rapidly retreating from strategically important lines, paving the way for the further Russian advances. The recent Ukrainian attempt to launch a second front in the Kherson region failed. The operation by Ukrainian special forces to land at the Tendrov Spit led to deaths of 25 Ukrainian professionals trained by the British military. They were defeated by six Russian fighters. One of the Ukrainian servicemen was captured and will share the secrets of his foreign trips with the Russian military. On the Zaporozhye front, fighting continues in Rabotino. Since the village was destroyed by prolonged battles, the both sides face difficulties gaining a foothold in the ruins. In recent days, another battlefield was revived. As a result of a blitz attack, Russian forces expanded their zone of control on the southern outskirts of Gulyai-Pole. Successful pinpoint attacks threaten the Ukrainian defense with a breakthrough in any sector of the front where the Ukrainian command fails to strengthen positions due to deficiencies in reserves. In the South Donetsk direction, the Russians gained a foothold on the outskirts of Krasnogorovka. Ukrainian attempts to counterattack led to no success. Earlier this week, Russian assault groups entered the village of Ivanovskoe located west of Artemovsk. By the end of the week, preliminary reports claimed full Russian control of the settlement. While there is no official confirmation, the mop up operation and fighting on the outskirts continue, but the Ukrainian army is unlikely to stop the Russian offensive. At the same time, Russian forces have already approached the main Ukrainian stronghold in the region in Chasov Yar, where Ukrainian positions are constantly pounded by Russian heavy bombs. The main success of the Russian army was the blistering advance west of Avdeevka. After completing the mop up operations in Lastochkino, Severnoe and Stepovoe, the Russian military broke through the main line of Ukrainian defense in the region and almost took the full control of it. The Ukrainian military has no chance to regain the initiative and is already retreating across the steppes under heavy Russian artillery fire. NATO warmongers clearly understand the failure of their bid for Kiev in this war, and no longer hide their plans to enter the battles on the ground. In response, the Russian political elites, as well as its military-industrial complex, demonstrate their full readiness for any development of the conflict. Despite all the efforts by Western leaders to hide it, Russia has been fighting with a NATO military contingent in Ukraine for years. Russian soldiers have already gained successful experience in confronting the Western military machine on the battlefield. While European and American soldiers are nurtured by Western propaganda about this war and have little idea what they may face in the Ukrainian steppes.

The blight is eating up the vicious minds of Western leaders as their lovely puppets have turned their tails and run in some of the key parts of the battlefield. The pungent smell of nearing defeat is rising up from the every nook and cranny of NATO HQs and Ukrainian trenches. Delicate attempts of mainstream media to refresh air with some victorious ranting barely can help against videos of burning Abrams and Leopard battle tanks, and fleeing Ukrainian troops. In the past 24 hours only, the Russian Armed Forces advanced near Avdeevka and finish the mop up operation in Petrovskoe. Now, they are developing the momentum around Tonenkoe and Orlovka. The village of Severnoe is liberated. Reports also claim that Russian units were able to make tactical advances and enter Krasnogorovka In Bakhmut area, Kyiv is trying to contain the collapse of its defense in the village of Krasnoe. Russian assault units push forward in the central part of it and northeast of Shosseynaya Street. Developments intensified in the Gulyai-Polye sector. According to reports, assault units took control of part of the Gulyai-Polye Dachas area. In Zaporozhye, the Russian Armed Forces are gaining momentum in the areas of Rabotino and Verbovoe. Kyiv’s troops had to retreat from the area northwest of Verbovoe. As to Rabotino itself, the Russians are holding the southern part of the settlement. The capturing of the ‘strategic village’ of Rabotino, together with some of nearby empty rural houses, were painted as the large success of the Ukrainian counter-offensive last year. So, now, Kyiv is on the brink of loosing even this consolation gain. Worse yet, the Russian Aerospace Forces continue strikes on industrial and military facilities of Ukraine. In Poltava, the most recent strike hit the territory of a military airfield. According to reports, the German Sea King Mk41 and Mi-8MSB helicopters were destroyed. In Kirovograd region, strikes hit the air base in Alexandria. However, the frenzy of despair are pushing NATO leaders to get their paws even deeper in the conflict. Recent proposals of the king of bedbugs Emmanuel Macron to send NATO forces into an open fight in Ukraine found no public support, but highlighted the trouble. Western states are running low of options to escalate further without a full-scale and public war. The only thing that stops them is the restraint of the Big Brother. Fortunately for the ordinary people of Europe, Washington is currently more concerned how to use the Ukraine issue as a part of own internal political games rather than fight on behalf of its vassals against Russians. Macron and some other NATO hyenas seem to be searching for options to change this.

The third year of the full-scale war in Ukraine has begun. The Russian military continues offensive operations in all directions on the frontlines, destroying Ukrainian military infrastructure in rear areas, while the Ukrainian army went on the defensive, losing international support in the process. On the night of February 26, another massive Russian combined attack struck Ukrainian military facilities throughout the country. Russian strikes targeted points of accommodation of Ukrainian military personnel and military-industrial facilities in the Sumy and Poltava regions. Local authorities confirmed numerous strikes in the city of Kharkiv. In Dnipro the targets reportedly included the machine-building plant and the local airfield. The Kanatovo airfield in the Kirovograd region also came under another attack. Closer to the frontlines, a new wave of explosions thundered in Chuguev and Pokrovks and Kupyansk. Russian precision strikes continue on a daily basis, which makes it possible to destroy Ukrainian reserves and deter the maneuvers of the Ukrainian military on the battlefields. As a result, the Russian advance on the front does not stop. To the west of Artyomovsk, Russian forces launched an assault on Ivanovskoe. Clashes are already reportedly ongoing in the central part of the village. The Ukrainian military was forced to retreat to the western outskirts of the settlement. At the same time, Russian forces expanded their zone of control in the forest area on the outskirts of Chasov Yar, threatening the Ukrainian garrison with an upcoming assault of their large stronghold there. After their victory in Avdeevka, Russian forces are finishing the mop up operation in the city without stopping their advance in the region, pushing the Ukrainian army to the west. The Russian military is securing their positions in the recently captured villages of Stepovoe, Lastochkino and Severnoe, where the remaining Ukrainian forces continue attempts to counterattack on the outskirts. According to preliminary reports by both Russian and Ukrainian military sources, Russian assault groups have reached the village of Tonenkoe, where clashes are already ongoing on the eastern streets. This village is located on the main line of the Ukrainian defense which is in the chain of settlements west of Avdeevka. In the case of a Russian breakthrough there, the Russian troops will face almost no obstacles to advance about 10 kilometers to the west and take control of large territories of the Donetsk People’s Republic. At the same time, the Russian military is taking back positions it lost during the failed Ukrainian counteroffensive. Russian forces gained a foothold on the southern outskirts of Rabotino and continue attacks in the center of the village, where there are at least some large buildings to hide in during the operations in the ruins. The Ukrainian stronghold was withdrawn to the cemetery north of the village, from where they attempt counterattacks.

The Ukrainian military proudly declared another victory against the Russian UAVs. According to the official report, last night Ukrainian air defense shot down 8 out of 10 Russian kamikaze drones, which targeted Ukrainian military facilities; but evidence from Ukrainian regions revealed the lies of the Ukrainian military officials. One of the main targets which was struck at least twice last night is Mirgorod airfield located in the Poltava region. As a result of the attack, a fire broke out at the facility and led to large secondary detonation. Ukrainian sources confirmed damage to Su-24M and MiG-29 aircraft with foreign MALD and SCALP missiles. Ukrainian military observers supposed that the Russian strikes hit the aircraft at the moment when they were preparing to launch attacks on the Russian territory. Ukrainian authorities confirmed Russian strikes in the Odessa region, providing no details. Another group of Russian drones struck the Ukrainian military in the Donetsk People’s Republic. One of the strikes destroyed a control point of the Ukrainian grouping deployed in the South Donetsk direction. The headquarter was deployed in the administrative building I the village of Memrik. Another target was a point of temporary deployment of the Ukrainian military personnel in the town of Dobropolie. As a result of the precision strikes in the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Ukrainian army suffered heavy losses in manpower. In their turn, Ukrainian forces take advantage of the of the Russian military and inflict heavy blows on places of accumulation of the Russian military personnel in frontline zones in different regions. On February 20, Ukrainian forces launched three strikes with HIMARS MLRS on the rear training ground in the village of Trudovskoe in the DPR at the moment when the Russian officers launched a forming there. As a result, 65 Russian servicemen were reportedly killed on the spot. In only two days, the Ukrainian military declared another attack on the Russian group of servicemen in the Kherson region. Russian military personnel accumulated on a training ground about 15 kilometers from the village of Krynki. In total, three strikes with HIMARS MLR hit the area. The third strike likely targeted the investigative task force, which came to the spot to launch an investigation. Precision strikes on the enemy manpower in the rear areas are constant and are launched by the both sides. For example, on February 13, strikes of Russian Iskander missiles inflicted heavy losses to the Ukrainian army on the training ground in Selidovo. The instant heavy losses always provoke the public outrage. The Ukrainian side has an advantage in the media battles following the attacks because, unlike in Ukraine, there is no criminal liability for publishing the footage the results of fire damage in Russia.

“We made a terrible mistake. We wanted to protect people from a dangerous virus. But it turns out the virus is much less dangerous than we thought. And the vaccine is far more dangerous than anyone could have imagined

The winter offensive of the Russian army has already brought a great victory – control over one of the largest Ukrainian strongholds in Donbass, the industrial city of Avdiivka. Kiev admitted its defeat. he order to retreat from the city was not an attempt to save lives of Ukrainian servicemen but rather a bureaucratic fiction. In fact, Ukrainian units have been abandoning their positions, fleeing en masse from the city for several days. Having lost control of the situation, the Ukrainian command was unable to organize a safe retreat from the almost surrounded city. This was likely the first time such a chaotic and panicked escape happened from a heavily fortified stronghold of the Ukrainian army. On the morning of February 19, the Russian Ministry of Defense officially confirmed the completion of the mop up operation at the Coke Plant, where the fighters of the former Azov National Battalion were hiding. As of today, there are no Ukrainian military personnel left on the territory of the enterprise. Russian engineering units are starting to demine the city which is covered with the corpses of dead Ukrainian servicemen. The loss of Avdiivka has jeopardized the Ukrainian defense in the entire Donetsk direction, where the Ukrainian Armed Forces lack sufficiently fortified positions on new lines of defense. Ukrainian military resources are sounding the alarm. The new commander-in-chief, fearing a collapse of the front, is reportedly hastily transferring reserves to the area, including units that are defending the capital Kiev. However, this does not stop the Russian advance. Battles have already reached Lastochkino. The village is already in the gray zone, and according to preliminary reports, the Russians are close to taking full control over it. Ukrainian units continue to retreat to the west, where they are hastily equipping a new line of defense in Orlovka. Amid the victory in Avdiivka, Russian troops continue offensive operations on all fronts, destroying Ukrainian reserves with precision strikes in the rear areas. As a result, the Ukrainian command is forced to stretch its forces along the frontlines. It cannot concentrate a large group of forces in some areas without knowing the direction of a new Russian main attack. On the second day of the offensive on the Zaporozhye front, the Russian military had already launched an assault on Rabotino from the southern and western outskirts, having previously expanded the control zone around the village. In the area of Artemovsk, Russian aviation and artillery are pounding Chasov Yar, preparing for an assault. Fighting is already underway in the partially surrounded Ivanovo. In the south Donetsk direction, Russian forces are advancing in Novomikhailovka, while on the northern fronts of Donbass, the Russians approach the important Ukrainian stronghold in Terny. Thus, any maneuver by Ukrainian reserves can lead to a Russian breakthrough in any direction.

The conflict in Ukraine has reached a breaking point marking the gradual shift of the initiative on the battlefield to Russia and a growing disarray among the supporters of Kyiv. Since mid-2023, Kyiv’s forces have thrown away an incredible amount of military equipment and manpower in fruitless attempts to break through the Russian defense in the southern sector of the frontline. NATO-equipped and NATO-trained detachments planned to carry out a victorious march on Crimea but ended up in unmarked graves all around the Donbass steppe. The butchery of Ukrainian reserves organized by the Kyiv leadership and its foreign advisers led to the capture of only a few empty villages in the gray zone. By February of 2024, a crack had formed in the parallel reality existing in the MSM coverage and statements of US and EU diplomats. Hopes of sponsors of Kyiv to skim the cream off the Russian “defeat on the battlefield” and the “collapse of its statehood” were destroyed. The cost of the conflict is growing day by day. In turn, the Russian economy that they wanted to throw into the “stone age” seems to be doing much better than anybody among mainstream economic analysts even allowed themselves to think about. The Biden administration has been struggling to push the new “aid” package to Zelensky and hangers-on. The fixation of the Biden Team on Ukraine instead of dealing with internal economic and social challenges plays into the hands of his opponents in the upcoming presidential election. From the useful tool in the standoff with Russia, Ukraine became a bargaining chip in internal political games. Both Democrats and Republicans would be happy to move away from this situation by laying blame on the failure on their opponents. European minions of Washington are in an even more complex situation. They have already undermined own economical potential and burned a lot of bridges with Russia. These are highlighted by the collapse of the Ukrainian attempts to keep control of Avdeevka, which is strategically located close to the city of Donetsk. In the past 24 hours, Russian units were able to split the remaining Ukrainian forces into two isolated groups from the northeastern direction. Russian units took control of the “Zenit” fortified area, on the territory of the former air defense base, as well as entered the so-called Brev no, Vinogradniki and Cheburashka. Parts of Kyiv troops deployed there are fleeing their positions or surrendering to the Russians. Meanwhile, General Aleksandr Tarnavksy, the head of the operational-strategic group of the Ukrainian Armed Forces active in Avdeevka claimed that all is under control and his forces are just carrying out a “maneuver”. Apparently, the next stage will be to claim that nobody even wanted to control that unimportant town and the entire situation was an epic success. No surprise, even the most dedicated supporters of Kyiv have doubts about the prospects of the regime.

The Russian military maintains the initiative on all the frontlines. While Ukrainian forces attempt counterattacks to slow down the Russian advance in the city of Avdeevka, they are losing ground in all other directions. In the north of the Donbass, Russian troops took control of the dominant heights east of Terny. They continue their assault on a wide front, moving up to several hundred meters per day. The retreating Ukrainian units found themselves in a lowland under heavy fire of Russian aircraft and artillery. Since the area was heavily mined, Russian forces are pounding Ukrainian positions in order to prevent the enemy from any operations, while the sappers are mopping up the routs for a further offensive. The Russian military is also pushing Ukrainian artillery away from Donetsk in order to reduce shelling on civilians in the city. The Russian army is approaching the large Ukrainian stronghold in Kurakhovo from three directions. To the northeast, they achieved new tactical success in the town of Pervomaiskoe. Over the past day, they advanced about 800 meters near the lakes, straightening the frontline. To the east, they continue their assault in Georgievka. To the southeast, the Russian military is advancing in the partially surrounded Novomikhailovka. As a result of prolonged battles, Russian forces broke through Ukrainian defenses and gained a foothold in the eastern part of the town. NATO patrons clearly understand the defeat of the Ukrainian military and are preparing a further escalation of the war against Russia. London reportedly proposed to its allies to consider deployment of the NATO Expeditionary Force to Ukraine. The chief warmonger supposes to covertly transfer large highly maneuverable NATO forces from the border areas of Romania and Poland to take defense along the Dnieper River. This would allow the release of the necessary military reserves of the Ukrainian Army to send them to the front. The operation may include a preemptive strike by the Armed Forces of Moldova and Romania on Transnistria as well deployment of the NATO military on the territory of Norway and Finland to disperse Russian forces and launch strikes on strategic infrastructure facilities in the northern regions of Russia. Thus, according to London’s plan, NATO will allegedly undermine Russia’s offensive capabilities and Moscow will be forced to launch negotiations. Britain reportedly intends to complete the preparation of such a scenario by May of this year. This plan does not correspond to the will of European countries to fight Russia by using other’s forces; but London is sure that the ongoing Russian advance deep into Ukraine will persuade them to take decisive action. In fact, the NATO military has long been deployed in Ukraine, disguised as mercenaries and military instructors. Today, the Western warmongers are only looking for ways to legalize the NATO presence in Ukraine.

The Russian military does not stop constant precision strikes on the Ukrainian military infrastructure. The night of January 31 was not an exception. New wave of Russian strikes hit the Kherson region, where the Ukrainian military is accumulating significant reserves to continue operations on the eastern bank of the Dnieper River. More targets were hit in the Dnepropetrovks region. An industrial facility and places of accommodation of the Ukrainian military personnel were reportedly destroyed in the city of Krivyi Rig. The Kharkiv region located near the Russian border remains one of areas that are targeted by Russian strikes the most often. Last night, Ukrainian military personnel and equipment were struck in the border town of Volchansk. The Ukrainian military responded with a drone strike in the Russian Pskov region, but it was destroyed by the local air defense forces. Meanwhile, Russian troops continue advance at the front in different directions. The Ukrainian army faced with the shortage of artillery ammunition and military personnel, as well as poor training of incoming reinforcements of the recently mobilized civilians. Ukrainian forces continue to hold the line, although, they already lost the ability to take offensive actions. The Ukrainian army continues loosing positions it gained during the counteroffensive on the southern frontlines. Russian attacks north of Priyutnoe resulted in their advance on a wide front of about 2,5 kilometers. At the same time, Russian forces expanded the zone of their control north of Novomikhailovka, which is already in semi encirclement. Russian advance in these both directions, threatens the large Ukrainian grouping that is defending Ugledar. On the outskirts of the Donetsk city agglomeration, heavy battle for Avdiivka continues. Russian forces are on the offensive in the south of the city. The Russian Army is advancing along the streets, approaching the 447th railway station, control of which will cut Ukrainian supply to their last strongholds on the southeastern outskirts of the city, the former air defense base called the Zenith fortified area by the Ukrainian military. The Russian military is also advancing along the frontlines in the Kharkiv region. After Russian forces took control of several villages to the southeast of Kupyansk, they continue offensive westward on the village of Kislovka and Peschanoe. There lays the shortest way to pass through the hills to push the Ukrainian military to the Oskol river. After the rapid Russian advance in the region provoked public outrage against the Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Zaluzhny, Kiev changed the local military command, which missed Russian attack and lost positions in the villages. Some reinforcements were sent to the area to slow down the Russian advance.

The battle for Avdeevka began in October of last year. Despite significant successes around the city, the Russian military has failed to surround the large enemy stronghold so far. However, this did not stop the Russian advance and last week was marked by new Russian victories inside Avdeevka itself. Despite the attempts of the Ukrainian General Staff to refute the reports on the Russian breakthrough, referring to them as ‘Russian propaganda’, Ukrainian sources were the first to reveal the details of the Russian military operations in the city. They were soon confirmed by Russian sources. The Ukrainian defense in the south-eastern part of the city was destroyed as a result of a risky and unique Russian operation. The servicemen of various Russian units had been preparing the operation for several weeks. They sawed open passages in an old flooded underground pipe, which was less than a meter in diameter. The pipe passed under the railway, right under the Ukrainian positions and led to the residential quarters. Special equipment, including oxygen cylinders, were delivered to the front. Special air ducts were made in the pipe, the necessary military equipment and ammunition were hidden inside. The operation was carried out under heavy fire from Russian artillery aimed at avoiding detection of the underground forces. As a result, the operation ended with success. A group of about 150 Russian servicemen passed more than 2 km in the icy water in the pipe and suddenly attacked from behind the enemy’s back. The Ukrainian military even did not understand where the Russian fighters came from. At the same time on the surface, the Ukrainian positions were attacked by three reconnaissance and assault detachments of the ‘Veterans’ volunteer brigade. As a result of the sudden attack, the Ukrainian stronghold in the area of the resort Tsarskaya Ohota was destroyed in several hours. The Ukrainian army suffered sensitive losses; a lot of Ukrainian servicemen were captured and became prisoners. The successful operation allowed the Russian military to gain a foothold in the southeastern part of Avdeevka and enter the city streets. They advanced along the streets of Grushevskogo, Chernishevskogo and Sportivnaya and reached the southern part of Sobornaya street. The advance in the area was also possible due to the recent Russian victory on the territory of the former air defense military base located on Donetsk road. After prolonged battles, Russian forces took control of this strategically-important Ukrainian stronghold, to the west of which there are open field areas, where the retreating Ukrainian units have no place to hide. According to preliminary reports, the battles already reached the 9th district in the south of Avdeevka. It is a complex of high-rise buildings, control of which will allow Russian forces to control almost the entire city, increasing losses of the defending Ukrainian grouping.

Russian precision strikes on the Ukrainian military do not stop. On the night of January 24, Russian UAVs destroyed Ukrainian training military camps in the Zhitomir region and more military facilities in the Poltava region. More facilities used for accommodation of the military personnel were hit in Mirnograd. As a result of the strikes, military equipment used for the buildup of the defense line near Kurahovo was reportedly destroyed. More accommodation sites were hit in Kherson, where Ukrainian marines who take part in the operations on the eastern bank of the Dnieper, were destroyed. Russian missile strikes destroy the plans of the Ukrainian military command to carry out any operations with the military reserves from the rear regions. Over the past week alone, at least 17 facilities used for accommodation of Ukrainian servicemen and foreign mercenaries were destroyed in the Kharkiv region. For example, the last wave of strikes targeted the temporary accommodation points and manpower in the city of Kharkiv, as well as in Chuguev and Balakleya. The Ukrainian army is losing forces from the strategic reserve, which was aimed to plug the holes in the defense on the frontlines and to secure the operations of Ukrainian saboteurs on the territory of the Russian border regions. The defeat of the strategic reserve of the Ukrainian army results in Russian advance in several directions in the region. At least 35 settlements in the Kharkiv region are already under the Russian control and their number is growing. At the end of last week, Russian forces took control of the village of Krahmalnoe, which allows them to expand the zone of their control south of Kupyansk, secure their control of the strategically important road and push Ukrainian forces towards the Oskol river, where their maneuvers will be complicated and losses will increase. At the same time, the bad dreams of the Ukrainian command about the Russian offensive across the border in the Kharkiv region may soon come true. On January 23, Ukrainian units reportedly retreated from the village of Pletnevka located near the Russian border northeast of Kharkiv. Russian artillery has been pounding Ukrainian positions in the area for several days. As a result, Russian troops managed to cross the border and conduct the mop up operation in the area, threatening the Ukrainian grouping in the main Ukrainian border stronghold in Volchansk. Some reports claimed Russian control of the village but some other denied this, saying that the Russian military stepped back across the border. The operation in the village is unlikely to mark the beginning of another large ground offensive in the Kharkiv region in the coming days, but it clearly demonstrates the weakness of the Ukrainian defense along the border.

A Russian response to the recent bloody attack on the crowded market in Donetsk was not long in waiting. On the morning of January 23, dozens of Russian drones and missiles targeted Ukrainian military facilities throughout the country. Sirens sounded in all regions of Ukraine immediately after Russian strategic bombers took off from airfields in the rear areas. There were several waves of combined strikes in the morning hours. While the first wave missiles were cruising over the country, the overloaded Ukrainian air defense was forced to use scarce anti-aircraft missiles. Meanwhile, the second wave of missiles came into the country, mocking the Ukrainian air defenses and moving from one region to another. According to the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russia struck with air-launched cruise missiles and ground-launched ballistic missiles. The targets of the strikes were military facilities in the Kharkiv, Poltava and Dnipro regions and in Kiev. As usual, representatives of the Ukrainian regime again announced the “destruction” of all missiles that attacked the country’s capital. According to a representative of the Kiev administration, there were about 20 missiles in total. The claims from Kiev raise only one question: if the almighty Ukrainian air defense forces are so effective, why then does Zelensky continue traveling around the globe begging for more air defense systems and other weapons? Even the residents of the Ukrainian capital did not believe in this lie and filmed videos that clearly show the arrival of Russian missiles on targets. According to preliminary local reports, as a result of the Russian attack, facilities in the Boryspil airport area in Kiev, as well as the airfield in Pavlograd, were either damaged or destroyed. In Kharkiv, the targets were several bases used to house Ukrainian troops and foreign mercenaries, and military depots. During the attack, Ukrainian sources in Kiev and Kharkiv confirmed attacks on civilian high-rise buildings, not by Russian strikes, but again by Ukrainian air defense missiles, which the Ukrainian military places directly in residential areas. The ongoing Russian attacks interrupt the operation of various Ukrainian military-industrial facilities, used for production and repair of military equipment, as well as warehouses and logistic hubs necessary for the timely transfer of reinforcements to the frontlines. At the same time, Russian troops continue their offensives in almost all directions from Kherson to Kupyansk, and Ukrainian losses in manpower and equipment are growing. The Ukrainian military has passed the point of no return. Their obsolete equipment is rapidly destroyed, and new supplies from NATO are not enough to plug the holes. As a result of the shortage of equipment, the elite Ukrainian troops have switched to horses.

The Russian military has been congratulating their Ukrainian colleagues on the holidays all night long. Facilities across the entire country came under the massive New Year attack. Local sources reported more than 100 strikes in almost all regions. Today’s attack has become the most powerful one in recent months. It is comparable to the strikes launched in the early days of the war. The Ukrainian military complained that the Russian Aerospace Forces used various drones and all available types of missiles, except for Kalibrs. About 110 different missiles were reportedly launched. The targets included warehouses, seaport infrastructure, fuel depots, military bases, airfields, etc. A series of explosions thundered in the Odessa region, where the port and positions of air defense forces on the outskirts were hit. Another Ukrainian air defense system deployed in a residential area was filmed failing and missiles fell on civilians. At least two dead and 15 wounded were reported in Odessa. This once again confirms that Russian strikes are aimed at destroying military infrastructure, and do not target civilians. More strikes at civilian buildings were reported in Kiev and Dnepropetrovsk, which were also the result of unprofessional work of the Ukrainian air defense forces. Ukrainian authorities confirmed the damage to various industrial facilities across the country, hiding their real military losses. Dozens of strikes hit targets in almost all regions. For example, at least eight strikes were reported in the capital, including in the area of the Boryspil airfield. Secondary detonation confirmed destruction of some military facilities in the industrial area. Many targets came under attack in the Lviv region, which remains the main logistics hub through which military supplies are coming from NATO. Some of the targets there included the notorious Yavorovsky training ground and barracks of the local Army Academy, which likely hosted foreign specialists. New wave of strikes hit the Mirgorod and Starokonstantinov airfields. Despite Zelensky’s attempts to hide the defeat, the year of 2023 is ending with Russian victories. Russian forces took control of Bakhmut and Soledar, which destroyed Ukrainian defense on a large part of the Donbass front. In the end of the year, Russians launched offensive in the Donetsk direction, took full control of Maryinka and are grinding Ukrainian forces in Avdeevka. Ukrainian defense along the southern Donbass front is already collapsing. This are only some of the Russian strategic victories, which prevented the Ukrainian military from gaining any advantage on the front. As a result, the counteroffensive turned into disaster for the Ukrainian army. Today, Kiev has nothing left but to hunt on the disabled, women and the elderly in a new wave of mobilization in order to continue the war to the last Ukrainian.

In less than two years of active hostilities, the regular Ukrainian army was finished off. The command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has asked Kiev to call up 500 thousand more soldiers. Even military officials themselves admit that this demand is not feasible, and the deputies in Kiev complains that the country has no money for this. The Ukrainian military complains that the mobilization process has slowed down significantly. Everyone who wanted to fight is already at the front, in captivity or in graves. There are no volunteers left in the country, and the massive hunt for soldiers on the streets is not enough to close the holes in the Ukrainian ranks. Recently, roadblocks appeared on the streets in cities across the country, where all people are stopped in search of new cannon fodder. Meanwhile, Kiev is ready to return refugees from abroad. Some European countries have already announced their agreement to extradite conscripts who escaped from mobilization. Abroad, Kiev hunts not only on its citizens, but also on mercenaries. Ukrainian officials believe that recruiting should be carried out not in Lviv and Kiev, but “somewhere in Somalia, Congo, Yemen.” There, the Ukrainian army will be able to find many soldiers with rich combat experience. Kiev experts do not bother how the combat experience of these foreign fighters is suitable for Ukrainian battles. However, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have already reportedly lowered the requirements for candidates for their so-called Foreign Legion. Now mercenaries are not required to know Ukrainian or English, as well as have any special skills. All these measures were not enough to man the Ukrainian army. The Government of Ukraine has introduced a bill on “improving mobilization.” Fearing public discontent, information about it was quickly removed from the official website of the Verkhovna Rada. The media spread the main points of how Kiev will strengthen mobilization. As required by the Pentagon, the draft age will be lowered to 25 years. The summonses will be able to find the addressee by e-mail. Those liable for military service who did not report to military units on time will be restricted in their rights. For example, they will be banned from conducting any operations with their property, receive benefits and services from the state, they will be denied loans, etc. According to the new bill, the category of limited fitness for military service will be abolished, and a large category of disabled people could be sent to the front. Even one-eyed and dwarfs will be subject to mobilization, while the deputies of the Verkhovna Rada will remain untouchable. Hundreds of thousands of new soldiers need not only to be caught on the streets, but also trained and equipped. Kiev’s patrons from the West will have to pay for this.

While Zelensky travels the world in search of money and weapons, and Washington allegedly counts the latest aid packages for Ukraine, Europe continues attempts to support the life of the dying Kiev regime. The Daily Telegraph stated that several European leaders are calling on Britain to lead a new coalition of countries that will provide military assistance to the war-torn country. In Europe, interest in supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia is sharply decreasing. Germany and France, which previously were leaders in providing aid to Kiev, have now lost their positions and are not seeking to restore them. The proposal to transfer the leadership to the UK could be a new impetus for the war in Ukraine. So, to strengthen Ukraine’s maritime capability, the United Kingdom and Norway are going to create a new coalition that will supply ships and cargo vehicles to Kiev. In addition, the member countries promise to provide long-term support to Ukraine, including military training to improve security on the Black Sea. The British Ministry of Defense has already promised to transfer two Sandown-type minesweepers to Ukraine. These ships are designed to demine the coastline and ensure the safe passage of large vessels. London also hopes that this will help Kiev strengthen its ability to operate at sea and increase exports of Ukrainian products. The vessels will be purchased by Ukraine through the UK export credit agency – UK Export Finance. Meanwhile, at the end of November, France began the transfer of four FPB 98 MKI patrol boats for the Ukrainian State Border Service. The contract worth 136.5 million euros was signed by the National Border Guard Service of Ukraine with the French company Ocea back in 2019. On November 24, the UHL Fusion cargo ship with four patrol boats on board headed to the Black Sea. On December 4, it reappeared in the Bosphorus Strait, still with its cargo. Real-time vessel tracking sites confirm that Fusion arrived at the port of Constanta on the same day. Considering the risks, four patrol boats were unloaded in Romania. Then the Ukrainian crews will probably take over the controls and transfer them to Ukraine on their own. Earlier, Kiev received four more French boats delivered in May and August this year to the Romanian port of Constanta, after which they were moved to Izmail. In total, according to the contract, the French should supply Ukraine with 20 patrol boats. Currently, Kiev does not have the opportunity to transfer boats to the Dnieper River, as previously planned. However, they also risk becoming an easy target for Russian strikes on the Danube.

The Ukrainian military continues to flee from their positions on different fronts, while Russian strikes finish off Ukraine’s infrastructure, which was working for the needs of the front. Since the evening of December 11, Russian Geran UAVs have been striking targets in the Odessa and Mykolaiv regions. Explosions thundered in the Uman in Cherkasy region. Kamikaze drones were spotted flying over the Kirovograd region. In the early morning, Russian missiles launched precision strikes on targets in Ochakov in the Mykolaiv region and in the Kharkiv region. The Russian offensive does not stop on the frontlines. In recent months, the Ukrainian command has had to hastily transfer reserves from different directions to the area of the Donetsk urban agglomeration, where, the reinforcements are primarily aimed to delay the fall of another Ukrainian fortress – Avdeevka. To date, the actions of the Ukrainian military command have not stopped the advance of Russian units. According to reports from the front, the battle for Avdeevka began on December 11. Having broken through the Ukrainian defenses near the industrial zone in the eastern part of the city, Russian armored groups entered the residential areas along Kolosova Street. Simultaneously with the attacks in the city, the Russians are increasing pressure on Ukrainian fortifications in the villages south of Avdeevka. Meanwhile, Ukrainian troops are losing positions in the northern part of the city, allowing the Russians to get closer to the Coke and Chemical plant. Ukrainian military observers confirm Russian successes in the Bakhmut region. Russian forces launched an offensive towards Ivanovskoye to the southwest of the city. If advancing units manage to take control of the dominant heights in the village area, this will significantly intensify fire on the Ukrainian strongholds in all nearby settlements. The Russian military notes that months ago their attacks on the outskirts of Bakhmut were almost impossible due to heavy fire from Ukrainian artillery. However, now the Ukrainian shelling has significantly decreased, and the enemy infantry often surrenders and retreats. This is largely due to the need for the Ukrainian command to hastily transfer units in order to “patch holes” in the defense in other directions. However, the low morale of Ukrainian soldiers also plays a significant role. There have been occasions where entire Ukrainian units have left their positions at the first opportunity in different areas of the front. Unwilling to fight, some Ukrainian units are surrendering en masse.

On the night of December 8, the Russian military launched another massive attack on Ukrainian military facilities throughout the country. According to the Ukrainian military, 7 Russian Tu-95MS strategic missile carriers launched 19 X-101 and X-555 missiles. Heavy explosions thundered in the capital of Ukraine. At least 5 Russian missiles struck the city of Kharkiv, and another hit a target in the region. An industrial enterprise that served the needs of the military came under attack in the city of Pavlograd in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Russian strikes were also reported in the Mykolaiv region. Meanwhile, Russian forces continue to advance in various directions at the front. In recent days, they managed to achieve new gains in the Bakhmut area. The Russians have straightened the entire front line west of Khromovo. They are surrounding Bogdanovka and approached its northern and eastern outskirts. The town is located in a lowland, so encirclement from several directions gives Russian troops a significant advantage and increases Ukrainian losses. The Russians are finishing the mop up operation on the southwestern outskirts of Bakhmut, in the gardens. They also recently gained a foothold on one of the dominant heights west of Kleshcheyevka and began strikes on the supply routes of the Ukrainian grouping, preparing to expand their zone of control. The Russians begin their offensive towards the large Ukrainian stronghold in Seversk. They are launching attacks along the entire front line in this direction. Russian troops have already entered Veseloye and are attacking Spornoe to the southeast of the city, while approaching the stronghold from the west. The Russians are not stop their assault in Avdeevka. According to recent reports from the front, they entered the territory of the coke and chemical plant from the north. The Ukrainian military are hiding in the fortified underground facilities, while their last supply road came under Russian fire control. Ukrainian units are losing a large amount of equipment in attempts to transfer reinforcements from Orlovka. In the Kherson region, Ukrainian forces attempt not to lose their stronghold in Krynki on the eastern bank of the Dnieper, but they have significantly reduced their operations due to heavy Russian artillery fire.

Things are getting worse for Kiev not only on the battlefield, but also in the political arena. Russian forces have carried out another massive attack on Ukrainian military facilities throughout the country for the fifth night in a row. Several targets were struck in the Zhytomyr region. One of them was a large ammo depot with NATO ammunition near Berdichev. Russian strikes continue pounding the military airfield in Starokonstantinov in the Khmelnitsky region on a daily basis. Due to the lack of alternative options, Ukrainians do not lose hope of deploying the cherished F-16 aircraft there, despite the ongoing Russian shelling, which destroys the infrastructure at the facility. Since yesterday evening, several explosions have sounded in Odessa. One of the targets was reportedly the Shkolny airfield. More Russian drone strikes struck facilities near Kropyvnytskyi. Ukrainian units were also hit near Kharkiv during their rotation to the Kupyansk region. Meanwhile, Russian forces do not stop their advance at the front. On the northern flank of Bakhmut, they cut an important road and began encircling Bogdanovka. Over the past 24 hours, the Russians have also improved their positions on the southern flank. On the southwestern outskirts of Bakhmut, they repelled Ukrainian forces from the dachas district and took control over the road to Ivanovskoe. Their further advance will allow them to reach the rear of the Ukrainian grouping, which is now repelling Russian attacks near Kleshcheyevka. Russian forces maintain their initiative on other directions in the Donbass, although the front lines have not undergone significant changes over the past 24 hours. Another defeat awaited Kiev in its strategic rear, in Washington. On December 5, Zelensky suddenly canceled his video call to U.S. senators who were supposed to vote on President Joe Biden’s request to allocate an additional $106 billion to Ukraine and Israel. It turned out that the senators themselves did not want to listen to the Kiev president. Republicans left the briefing before Zelensky’s speech, as they did not receive a response from the Democrats to their proposals. Republicans insist that U.S. support for Ukraine should be combined with measures to strengthen the US border. Regarding Ukraine, representatives of both parties in the US Congress are concerned about the future of this country as a sovereign and independent state. The senator from the Democrats told the media that some of the US congressmen are not sure that Ukraine will still exist as an independent state in a year, and will not become part of Russia. While the Americans are deciding whether Kiev is a Russian city or a Ukrainian one, Washington has reached the “bottom of the barrel” in the ability to provide military assistance to the war-torn country. According to the US State Department, about 97% of the resources have been exhausted.