Photo : Sputnik/Sergey Bobylev
Photo : Sputnik/Sergey Bobylev
By Neha Tresa George
WAR ON GROUND
On 16 December, The Kyiv Independent reported on the reforms in Ukraine’s army under the newly appointed Commander of Ground Forces General Mykhailo Drapatyi. He said the efforts aimed to enhance the recruitment system without tolerance for corruption. The revamp in the recruitment system was intended to improve the training and integrate advanced technology into training and operational purposes. He suggested that the Ground Forces transform into an “elite” military unit, focussing on personnel, technology, and transparent management. He called for better training to prepare soldiers on the frontline and improved social support for the service members. These developments came amidst speculations on personnel shortages in Ukraine’s military.
On 14 December, Ukraine’s military reported on targeting an oil terminal in Oryol, in the western Russian region. The drone attack resulted in a fire at the facility. On this, Ukraine’s chief of staff said that the targeted facility was one of the largest oil terminals in the city, which was part of a “military-industrial complex providing the Russian army. In addition, the governor of Oryol reported that the Russian air defence forces had intercepted the drones during the attack. He also added that there were no casualties.
On 15 December, Politico reported on the statements made by Zelenskyy over the deployment of North Korean troops in the Kursk region. He believed that Russia had deployed a “considerable amount” of North Korean troops in the Kursk region. He said: “We already have preliminary data that the Russians have begun to use North Korean soldiers in their assaults. A significant number of them.” He added that the Russians put them in combined units to work for operations, especially in the Kursk region. He also stated that the troops could extend to other areas of the front line. Further, he emphasised that Ukraine would defend itself against these forces and their Western partners through coordinated actions.
On 15 December, the Associated Press reported on the Ukrainian drone attack on a campus that belongs to Russia’s National Guard in Chechnya. The Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said that the drone had also struck a site of the Akhmat Grozny riot police battalion, while the defence forces shot down two other drones. In retaliation, he promised to order a missile strike upon the military facilities in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine. However, these claims could not be verified independently.
On 15 December, Ukrinform reported that the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine had shot down over 56 Russian drones in the Chernihiv, Sumy, Kyiv, Poltava, Cherkasy, Khmelnytskyi, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Dnipropetrovsk regions. According to them, the Russians attacked with S-300 anti-aircraft guided missiles and Shahed-type combat drones, along with other types of drones, from the Kursk, Orel, Bryansk, and Millerovo areas. Three of the 56 drones returned to Russia, while the other 49 were invisible. The interception of these drones resulted in damage to apartments, houses, vehicles and other properties in various regions of Ukraine.
On 15 December, The Kyiv Independent reported on the destruction of a Russian locomotive carrying fuel tanks in the Zaporizhzhia region. The operation was carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the Ukrainian Army’s Tavria Group, the Military Intelligence Agency (HUR), and the Special Operations Forces (SSO). The train, moving with 40 fuel tanks was obstructed by an explosion planted by the SBU in the railroad track near the village of Oleksiivka in the Bilmak district. Meanwhile, HIMARS rockets were shot against the train and the outermost cars, igniting the fuels and preventing the Russians from separating the tanks and thus save some fuel. The operation led to the destruction of a supply line to the Russian army in the region. The targeted railway line turned out to be inoperable.
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims by Russia
On 14 December, RT reported on the statements of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin at the United Russia Party plenary session. He said that Russia would not cease to develop despite international threats or sanctions. Till now close to 22,000 sanctions have been imposed since 2014 by the West while Russia has condemned them as illegal, it has continued to maintain its strong presence on the group. Putin added that the country was growing amidst “unprecedented sanctions, blunt interference, and pressure from the ruling elites of certain states.” He highlighted: “No blackmail or attempts from outside to hinder us will ever yield results.” The party aimed to change its program, charter, and high and general councils. Putin also confirmed that Russia would achieve its “long-term objectives.”
On 16 December, The Express Tribune reported on Russia’s claims to have seized the eastern Ukrainian villages of Vesely Gai in the south of Kurakhove and Pushkine in the south of Pokrovsk, located in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR). These “frontline villages” were captured amidst Russia’s continued advances to capture Kurakhove and Pokrovsk. The troops were reportedly stepping up their advances in November 2024 than any other month since 2022.
On 15 December, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported that the Russian force had intercepted four Patriot anti-aircraft missile launchers provided by the West to Ukraine. Its statement read: “Russian Air Force jets, along with drones and artillery groups, destroyed a combat control vehicle, an AN/MPQ-65 radar station and four launchers of the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system made in the US.” The troops claimed to have captured two villages in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR)- Vesely Gai and Pushkino, located south of Kurakhovo and Pokrovsk. Those are a few of the locations still under Ukraine’s control. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has referred to these areas as “the most difficult” for Ukrainian forces as Russian troops have rapidly advanced over months.
On 14 December, RT reported on the Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s Belgorod region. According to the region’s governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, the attack resulted in the death of a nine-year-old child and injury of his mother and sister. Gladkov said: “The UAV targeted a residential area in the village of Maysky, located 15 miles from the border with Ukraine.” The injured were hospitalised following the event. The governor also circulated pictures of the building to showcase the large-scale damage caused by the artillery and the UAVs. Gladkov further highlighted that around 30 shells and a dozen drones were used by Ukraine’s forces in these attacks.
References
“Russian forces destroy more Ukrainian Patriot launchers – MOD,” RT, 15 December 2024
“Child killed in Ukrainian drone strike – Russian governor,” RT, 14 December 2024
“West’s hounding of Russia is futile – Putin,” RT, 14 December 2024
“Ukraine’s new Ground Forces chief announces reforms focused on personnel, tech,” The Kyiv Independent, 16 December 2024
“Ukraine Says It Struck Russian Oil Terminal,” The Moscow Times, 14 December 2024
“‘Significant number’ of North Korean troops in Kursk, Zelenskyy says,” Politico, 15 December 2024
“Ukraine destroys Russian train with 40 fuel tanks in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, source claims,” The Kyiv Independent, 15 December 2024
“Ukrainian forces shoot down 56 Russian drones overnight Sunday,” Ukrinform, 15 December 2024
“Russia claims capture of east Ukraine villages,” The Express Tribune, 16 December 2024
“Ukrainian drone hits Russia’s Chechnya as Kyiv continues pushback after Moscow bombardment,” AP News, 15 December 2024