Russians advance near Avdiivka – ISW
Russian troops made little progress near Avdiivka on 7 December.
Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW)
Details: Geolocation images released on 5 and 6 December show that Russian troops have made little progress east of Stepove (3 km northwest of Avdiivka) and southeast of Avdiivka.
Russian military bloggers (milbloggers) also claimed on 6 and 7 December that Russian troops had advanced near Stepove, east of Avdiivka, and in an industrial area southeast of Avdiivka. The General Staff of Ukraine reported that Ukrainian troops had repelled Russian attacks east of Novobakhmutivka (9 km northwest of Avdiivka) and near Stepove, Avdiivka, Sieverne (5 km west of Avdiivka), Tonenke (5 km west of Avdiivka) and Pervomaiske (11 km southwest of Avdiivka.)
Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian troops had also attacked near Novokalynove (8 km north of Avdiivka) and the Avdiivka Coke Plant.
In addition, on 7 December, Russian troops continued offensive operations near Bakhmut and advanced.
Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian forces had seized positions during a sudden assault near Bakhmut on 6 December.
The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces had repelled Russian attacks near Bohdanivka (6 km northwest of Bakhmut), Ivanivske (6 km west of Bakhmut), Klishchiivka (7 km southwest of Bakhmut), Andriivka (10 km southwest of Bakhmut).
Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian troops also launched attacks from Khromove (directly west of Bakhmut) and near the Berkhivka water reservoir (2 km northwest of Bakhmut).
On 7 December, Ukrainian troops continued their offensive operations near Bakhmut but did not advance. The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported that Ukrainian troops continued assault operations south of Bakhmut. The Russian Defence Ministry claimed that Russian troops repelled a Ukrainian attack near Klishchiivka.
To quote the ISW’s key takeaways on 7 December:
- Russian forces may be suffering losses along the entire front in Ukraine at a rate close to the rate at which Russia is currently generating new forces.
- Russia does appear able to continue absorbing such losses and making them good with new recruits, however, as long as President Vladimir Putin is willing and able to absorb the domestic consequences.
- The US Department of Defense (DoD) announced a new security assistance package and joint weapons production pledge to Ukraine against the backdrop of the International Forum for Defense Industries (DFNC1) in Washington, D.C. on 6-7 December.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed developing Russian-Iranian economic relations with Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi in Moscow on 7 December.
- Attacks on public figures in Russia have prompted officials to propose increased security measures for Russian political and public figures and some ultranationalists to call for the resurrection of Soviet security organisations.
- The Russian Federation Council adopted a resolution confirming that the upcoming Russian presidential elections will occur on 17 March 2024, amid continued Kremlin efforts to legitimise the elections.
- Russian security organs conducted mass arrests targeting high-profile gangs in Moscow and St. Petersburg, including members and co-conspirators within the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) and other internal security organs.
- Russian forces continued offensive operations along the Kupiansk-Svatove-Kreminna line, near Bakhmut, near Avdiivka, west and southwest of Donetsk City, and in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area and marginally advanced near Avdiivka.
- Russian authorities continue to rebuff appeals from the relatives of mobilised Russian military personnel.
- Ukrainian partisans and residents in occupied territories continue to provide Ukrainian officials with targeting information.
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