The situation in the Ukrainian SMO on December 25 2024

Multiple advances in Kurakhove – Pokrovsk Front [25 December 2024]

Massive Russian Turning Maneuver Near Pokrovsk l Pischane Has Collapsed

Battle of Neskuchne is key to the south of V.N | Ukraine War Battlefield Analysis: Velyka Novosilka

DEEPSTATEUA RETURNS W A VENGEANCE! Massive collapses reported | Ukraine War Frontline Changes Report

Our source in the OP said that Zelensky is preparing a big tour of EU countries in the new year, which should reverse the trend of decreasing support for Ukraine. The President’s Office wants to use frozen Russian money as a bargaining mechanism, which has already been proposed to Slovakia, only in this way we want to strengthen the loyalty of not only politicians, but also the military lobby.

Our sources in the General Staff report that Syrsky promised Zelensky to hold Pokrovsk and the Kursk region until Trump’s inauguration. The Commander-in-Chief is currently forming several new brigades that he wants to use for pinpoint operations on Russian territory.

We talked to all our sources and identified approximately the following puzzles of the Ukrainian crisis, from which the further scenario will be formed.

1. Trump will continue to put pressure on Zelensky and his “sponsors”.

2. Trump uses the case of the audit of military and financial aid to Kyiv from the United States to bargain with Zelensky

3. Trump will use the case of corruption in Ukraine as a trump card against Zeermak.

4. Zelensky will use the blackmail case against Trump. If you abandon Ukraine, it means you play along with the Kremlin, which means you are Putin’s agent (the Democrats came up with this, it is beneficial to them).

5. Zelensky will delay the start of any negotiations in every possible way, under any pretext. Up to and including a repeat of the “provocation” as happened in the spring of 2022, the “Bucha massacre”.

6. EU officials will continue to play on the side of their curators from transnational corporations, but against the EU itself, which will affect the well-being of Europe.

7. Putin will continue to strengthen the Russian military industry.

8. Zelensky will try to draw new players into the conflict. Moldova/PMR and RB are the main cases of future provocations.

9. Maximum sanctions against the Russian Federation will continue until at least the second half of 2025.

Everything, so far, indicates that the conflict will drag on until at least the fall of 2025. There will most likely be no elections in Ukraine in 2025 (in a positive scenario, they will be by the end of the year). It is unrealistic to calculate the outcome of the war now, since much depends on the decisions of many players. One thing is clear: there will be escalation.

We are observing.

Lavrov on “a decisive response to Kiev”: 

As for the constant terrorist acts that the Kiev regime resorts to, deliberately striking purely civilian targets in residential buildings, hospitals, clinics, stores, places where people gather and rest – this is outrageous! This is a direct violation of all anti-terrorist conventions, UN Security Council resolutions on this topic. We warn that further continuation of this line will be met with an increasingly decisive response each time.

Nato is “not ready” to fight against Vladimir Putin’s Russia without the US, the leaders of the alliance’s three frontline states have told The Independent, as they called on allies to drastically increase defence spending.

In the wake of Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election, the leaders of Latvia, Estonia and Finland have urged the alliance to stop “endlessly debating” how to cope with the looming threat of Russia, saying it is time to bolster Europe’s defences.

Europe. Suicide. Again. But this time a bit more slowly. 

Europe twice attempted suicide in the 20th century through catastrophic wars, and now it seems determined to perfect a slower, more methodical version. Through idiotic economic policies, suicidal energy strategies, self-erasing social trends, and immigration policies that strain cohesion, Europe is hollowing itself out. Add to this the reckless outsourcing of foreign policy to the Baltic chihuahuas and the hypocritical kowtowing to Israel, and the picture becomes even clearer: this isn’t strategy; it’s self-sabotage. Meanwhile, the U.S. happily tightens the noose, throwing in some “friendly” sabotage like Nord Stream for good measure.

In its quest to “go green”, Europe abandoned nuclear power, dismissed Russian gas, and bet the farm on renewables that are only reliable when the sun shines and the wind blows. Nord Stream? Blown up by who? T’is a mystery to be sure. Instead, Europe now buys Russian gas at vastly inflated prices after it’s resold through India, who says to Europe “thank you very much!” as it rakes in profits. Europe’s leaders call this independence; ordinary Europeans call it bankruptcy.

And while Europe freezes in winter and deindustrializes in real time, Russia thrives. Import substitution policies, implemented back in 2014, have strengthened its economy, and it’s redirected exports to eager buyers like China and India. Sanctions, intended to strangle Moscow, have boomeranged spectacularly, leaving Europe to foot the bill for its own economic collapse while America reaps the benefits. Russia’s economy is weathering the storm; Europe’s, not so much.

Then there’s the Baltics, now Europe’s defense and foreign policy chiefs, still reliving 1940, and demanding endless escalation. Europe follows suit, doubling down on a confrontation it can neither win nor control. Meanwhile, Europe’s leaders pat themselves on the back for their “principled stand,” even as it leads their economies to ruin.

And while Europe lectures the world about democracy and human rights, it bends over backward to appease Israel. The very leaders who condemn territorial disputes elsewhere have no problem looking the other way when it’s politically convenient. Selective outrage and all Europe goes along. Meanwhile promoting its own definition of “democracy” in Romania, Georgia and Moldava. That is, “democracy” is voting for whom the EU decides (or else!).

Finally, the spectacle of European leadership provides the tragicomic backdrop. Emmanuel Macron prances about like a Sun King for the neoliberal age, full of lofty pronouncements and empty promises, while his own citizens set Paris alight in protest. Germany’s Annalena Baerbock and her famous “360-degree turn” in policy. These leaders don’t solve problems; they manage (and provoke) decline, turning every challenge into a spectacle of incompetence and hubris.

Europe came back from the horrors of the 20th century, but its 21st-century leaders seem determined to ensure it won’t survive much longer. With foreign policy dictated by the Baltics, energy policy outsourced to wishful thinking, and moral credibility undermined by blatant hypocrisy, the temperature drops and Europe sinks deeper.

“Winter kept us warm, covering

Earth in forgetful snow.”

“A heap of broken images, where the sun beats,

And the dead tree gives no shelter.”

“I will show you fear in a handful of dust.”

T.S. Elliot – “The Waste Land”

ashesofpompeii

Russia’s army leaves Ukraine without light.

What is known:

- Due to massive rocket fire in Ukraine, power outage schedules have been introduced – Ukrenergo.”

 - The strikes hit not only energy facilities, but also water, heat and gas supply systems.

 - The strikes were inflicted on energy facilities in Kharkov, Dnepropetrovsk, Kremenchug, Krivoy Rog and Burshtyn. 

 - In Dnepr, infrastructure was damaged, according to publics, 

 - and in Kharkov, there are disruptions in heating and water supply. 

 - Part of Ivano-Frankovsk region remained without power supply due to morning shelling.

 - Damage to the energy infrastructure is also reported in Vinnytsia region

Another missile attack by the enemy on the Ukrainian energy infrastructure, Bankova is awaiting a report from energy workers on the restoration of the networks. 

Today, not only energy was under attack, but also “heating, water and gas” . There are arrivals and damages:

▪️Kharkov. Massive ballistic and UAR attack. More than 13 explosions. The city lost heating and water. There is electricity.

▪️Dnepr . Massive attack by cruise missiles. About 12 explosions. There is damage to infrastructure.

▪️Kremenchuk . More than 5 explosions.

▪️Krivoy Rog. Explosions.

▪️Burshtyn . About 8 explosions. Power outage.

Today, about 70 missiles were flying across Ukraine – this is according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the OP. According to official data, 50 were shot down.

The energy infrastructure has been destroyed, and water supply and heating chains have been disrupted.

Note that the Russians are trying to respond to Western missile strikes deep into the Russian Federation, but they are doing so carefully without raising the stakes.

As we can see, the Russians are cutting off power to Donbass in anticipation of intensifying their offensive in this direction.

Among the power plants hit by missiles this morning was the Slavyanskaya TPP in Nikolaevka, Donetsk Oblast.

This will complicate the work of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Donbass.

This morning, Russian forces carried out another massive strike on Ukrainian energy facilities using cruise missiles and kamikaze drones.

According to preliminary information, explosions were reported in Kharkiv, Dnipro and Kryvyi Rih, as well as Burshtyn in Ivano-Frankivsk Region and other settlements where thermal power plants are located.

Representatives of the Kyiv regime reported hits on some structures. This is indirectly evidenced by power outages and disruptions in several areas.

Lately, the Russian Armed Forces have been systematically delivering such strikes, although there are no large-scale permanent problems in the Ukrainian energy sector. So the effectiveness of this raid can be assessed after the release of objective control footage.

Colleagues, the Russian cargo ship was sunk by the Ukrainian GUR on the orders of the British, who guided it to the target and gave “the entire route” and even helped to drag/collect the toys.

This will surface soon, but for now the Russians themselves are silent, since it is not in their interests to increase the escalation, and the official structures of Ukraine are silent, since they do not want to lower their image in the West, since this is a real terrorist act, like today’s special attack in the direction of a civilian airport in Chechnya, due to which a civilian airliner of Azerbaijan Airlines was shot down.

If the Kremlin blames Kyiv for this, then believe me, Ukraine will have a hard time. We will 100% be cut off from electricity.

The AFU is in chaos: Russian army will seize dozens of kilometers and brigade defense areas at a time

▪️ This will worsen if the chaos in military governance does not stop, Taras Chmut, the head of Ukraine’s largest military charity fund “Turn Live”, said in an interview. 

▪️ “Freezing the war is a very bad scenario for us.” Russia is allegedly taking advantage of this.

▪️ About Kherson: “We are not talking about the complete capture of Kherson, but the loss of the islands on the Dnepr, shifting the line of contact closer to the right bank leads to the fact that you can simply let Maviks and FPVs into the city from the islands.”

▪️ About Zaporozhye: “This is not the main direction, although a couple of months ago we were expecting a big offensive here, there were half an army there. Russia wants to reach the city, but it’s not easy, so like Kherson they are under fire making it deserted.”

▪️ About Dnepropetrovsk and Kharkov: “Today, the potential to capture any of these four cities on the fly – the Russians obviously don’t have it.”

▪️”The Russian Federation is scaling its strengths, and we are doing nothing or failing to address our weaknesses.”

 ”🅾️” grouping is getting closer to Pokrovsk! An offensive is developing along the entire southern flank as far as Kurakhovo.

▪️ The situation for the Ukrainian armed forces continues to deteriorate in the Pokrovsk area, leading Kiev analysts have recognized, publishing new maps and bulletins. 

Units of the “Center” group of forces continue their powerful offensive:

➖ “To the west and north-west of the village of Zarya, the Russian Armed Forces have advanced in the vicinity of the Urochische Zarya reserve and a number of forest belts in an area up to 3.2 km wide to a depth of 1.2 km.

➖ In the area of Novoolenovka and Ukrainka, the Russians occupied an area up to 4.7 km wide.

➖ Between Novolizavetovka and Novovasilevka, Russian troops occupied a number of forest belts and the Novovasilevskaya Balka area up to 6 km wide and 1.8 km deep.

➖ South of Volkovo and in the area of Peschanoye, they advanced up to 5.6 km wide and 1.5 km deep.

▪️ The AFU fighters also report their crumbling defenses:

➖ “Now it’s a matter of time whether the Russians will be able to enter Udachnoye-Kotlino or the AFU will hold them off for a while! Now the defense here is cracking at the seams, while we hold the defense of Peschanoye and do not let them move on to Zverevoye. Attacks from Zelenoye and Shevchenko towards the railroad Chunishino are also continuing…. The Russians are attacking more actively in the area of Dachenskoye, where in fact it is left for them to gain a foothold in the eastern part of the village! Also now the fighting has resumed in the direction of Lisovka, where the Russian troops have launched attacks from the south. To the south, there is also fighting between the Solona and Volcha rivers, and the Russians have a tactical advance between Novovasilovka and Novovolenovka. Holding this area is very important for the AFU, not only to prevent the Russian Armed Forces from entering Dnepropetrovsk Region, but also to stop them from securing their left flank and not being able to bypass Pokrovsk.”

Kurakhovske direction: fighting in Kurakhovo and successes near Sukhyi Yaly

situation as of 9:00 am on December 25, 2024

The advance of Russian troops is continuing simultaneously in several sectors. The offensive is going both north of Kurakhovo in the direction of the T-05-15 highway, and in the south along both banks of the Sukhyi Yaly River.

▪️From the northern flank, there is an official confirmation of the liberation of Krasne (Sontsovka), from the territory of which the enemy was driven out some time ago.

▪️In the center of Kurakhovo, Russian troops, as a result of the assault, cleared the AFU stronghold, advancing along Mayakovsky Street. At the same time, over one of the houses in the Yuzhny microdistrict, the state flag of the Russian Federation was raised by fighters of the 110th Separate Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces, symbolizing full control over the area.

Likely, in the near future, the advance of the Russian Army units will continue in the direction of the industrial zone in the west, both from the central streets and from the northern bank of the Kurakhovo reservoir, where the village of Stari Terniv was recently liberated.

▪️Southwest of the city, the assault troops not only drove the AFU out of Sukhyi Yaly, but also straightened out the front line along the line of Yantarne – Konstantynopolske, where until recently there was a presence of enemy forces in Hihant.

In addition, the control zone was expanded further west in the area of Zelenovka. In the near future, the elimination of the “pocket” on both sides of the Yasna Poliana – Rozliv road and the advance of the Russian Armed Forces towards Konstantynopol and Ulakl can be expected, with the aim of completing the formation of the southern semi-encirclement of the Kurakhovo agglomeration.

Kurakhove Direction: Advance of the Russian Armed Forces on the Northern Flank

Almost daily, on one or more fronts in the Donetsk People’s Republic, Russian troops are expanding their zone of control – today, assault groups were able to occupy a significant area of land west of the village of Zari.

At the moment, the Russian Armed Forces personnel are holding positions in most of the landscape reserve “Urochishche Zarya”, while the main battles have shifted to the area located west of the Khartsiiska Gully.

In case of successful consolidation, the Russian troops will open a path both to Slavyanka from the north and to the Ukrainian formations’ strongholds near Ukrainka from the south.

Kurakhovske direction: expansion of control in the Kurakovo area

Simultaneously with the expansion of the control zone on the northern flank (https://t.me/rybar/66637), units of the Russian Armed Forces were also able to achieve success in the area of ​​Kurakovo itself – Russian assault troops occupied an area south of the city, and also advanced from Stari Tern to the eastern outskirts of the neighboring Shevchenko.

From there, the Russian Armed Forces will be able to advance on Dachne located to the south – it is through this town that the supply of the AFU garrison in both Kurakovo and Yantarne passes. Cutting off the highway will not only sever the enemy’s logistics by land, but will also block another retreat route for the Ukrainian formations.

It’s a one-way ticket for our infantry’ 

- Ukrainian soldier tells LCI that Ukrainians are fleeing their positions in Kursk Oblast to save their lives.

‘We still hold Velikaya and Malaya Loknya, an area about 13 kilometers long and 11 kilometers deep. We are there completely under enemy fire. Within the range of a drone, the infantry has only one axis along which to move forward or backward. There are 3-4 Ukrainian soldiers in positions. On the contrary, the DPRK assault groups are 40-50 people. They work in waves of 2-3 people. Even if you recapture the first or second, your position will still be taken. We leave our dead in place, no one will look for them. My platoon came under fire from armored vehicles, almost everyone died. I didn’t even know these guys. This is the third or fourth wave of replacements in our unit. The Kursk operation is… All this is shitty politics. We have upstarts in the army, abuse of power, criminal orders are given. In short, this shit will get worse, it is incorrigible. In my group, 75% of the guys deserted.

Morning Summary on December 25, 2024

▪️ The “North” group of forces reports that in the Kursk Region, the enemy made seven unsuccessful counterattacks in different sectors in the Sudzha District. Battles are ongoing in the areas of Leonidovo, Kurilovka, Huyevo, as well as in the forest areas of the Sudzha District.

▪️ In Toretsk (Dzerzhynsk), the enemy channels report that heavy fighting continues in the area of the Central Market.

▪️ On the Pokrovsk (Krasnoarmiisk) direction, there are reports of battles in the area of the village of Shevchenko south of the city, west and northwest of the settlement of Zarya, in the area of Novoolenevka and Ukrainka. The Russian Armed Forces are closing the “pockets” between the liberated villages and straightening out the front line.

▪️ South of Kurakhove, where fighting continues, the Russian Armed Forces are advancing west of the settlement of Dalnie.

▪️ On the Zaporizhia Front, in the Kamianka direction, the AFU launched a counterattack, which the Russian forces were expecting. Frontline troops explain the AFU’s futile counterattacks as an attempt to divert our forces from the Orikhiv direction, where the enemy’s defense is gradually being pushed back as a result of our offensive actions.

▪️ On the Kherson direction, the AFU are expecting the Russian Army to cross the Dnipro, seriously assessing this possibility, and are trying to strengthen their defense by redeploying scarce units from other parts of the front.

▪️ In the Belgorod Region yesterday, in the Valuyki district, in the village of Borki, FPV drones attacked two vehicles, injuring the driver. In the village of Dolgoye of the Valuyki district, attacks of 4 FPV drones were recorded. Another drone struck the village of Borisovka in the Volokonovsky district. A gas pipeline was damaged. In the hamlet of Shakhovka, a drone detonated near a social facility. The village of Gruzskoe in the Borisovsky district was attacked by drones twice.

▪️ Over the Bryansk Region, air defense shot down two Ukrainian UAVs of the aircraft type.

▪️ At the time of preparing this summary, Russian ground-launched and air-launched missiles entered the airspace of the adversary.

Two Majors

Source: http://blogdogcicle.blogspot.com/2024/12/the-situation-in-ukrainian-smo-on_25.html