File image.
Ukrainian presence in Myrnohrad has been reduced to pockets. Russian forces are working to besiege Kiev forces in Huliapole and have crossed the Haichur River in a new area. Kiev is losing its grip on the situation around Vovchansk. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky is still clinging to the idea of joining NATO.
Vovchansk Sector
The Sever [North] Group of Forces of the Russian military is expanding its control around Vovchanst in Kharkiv at a slow, but steady pace.
Russian troops have cleared out some six square kilometers to the south and southeast of Vovchanst. The troops also made additional gains in Vilcha, right to the south of the Vovchanst, with reports suggesting that at least 70% of the settlement, the entire northern part and most of the center, had been captured.
Advance by the Sever Group of Forces was also reported to the west of Liman and in the small settlement of Prilipka near the Siverskyi Donets River.
Intense air and artillery strikes, especially those carried out with TOS thermobaric rocket launchers, have been critical for recent Russian successes in this sector.
Siversk Sector
Building up on its recent victory in the city of Siversk in Donetsk, the Russian military’s Yug [South] Group of Forces has been expanding its operations to the southwest and northwest.
To the southwest of Siversk, in the Soledar direction, Russian troops managed to secure the trench systems located between Pazeno and Vasyukivka, in addition to the hill north of Fedorivka and west of Pereizne. Ukrainian defenses there were seriously weakened by these advances.
The troops also advanced to the northwest of the city, in what is more known as the north Donetsk direction. The troops took overSviati Hory National Park and the tourist resort of Velykyi Bakai Lake. In addition, the troops stormed the northern part of Ozerne, which is located on a key road leading to the city of Krasny Liman.
Ukrainian formations deployed between these two formations are facing increasing pressure, especially from the drone units of the Yug Group of Forces.
Myrnohrad Sector
The Tsentr [Center] Group of Forces of the Russian military has very much succeeded in reducing the Ukrainian military presence within the city of Myrnohrad in Donetsk to pockets.
Russian troops completely captured the suburb of Svitle and the district of Voenved from the northwest of Myrnohrad. Meanwhile from the southern direction of the city, the troops took all positions south of Likarnianyi Street and began fighting for the Central Hospital.
The Tsentr Group of Forces maintain a strong grip on the area between Pokrovsk and Rodynske. Because of this, Ukrainian troops in Myrnohrad remain under a tight siege. Resupply is only possible through large quadcopters and ground drones, which can’t always reach the pockets within the city, and can carry very limited supplies.
On top of the siege, any Ukrainian position that gets identified inside the city is immediately targeted by air or artillery strikes.
Ukrainian attempts to break the siege are decreasing, and with no orders to withdraw, more Ukrainian troops are surrendering everyday to the Tsentr Group of Forces.
Huliapole Sector
The Russian military’s Vostok [East] Group of Forces has been accelerating its advance in the city of Huliapole in Zaporozhye and along the Haichur River to the north of it.
Russian troops flanked Kiev forces in the northern part of Huliapole, moving directly from the northern outskirts of the city to its western part. The troops also expanded their control in the southern outskirts of the city, moving from the east closer to the T-0401 road.
It’s worth noting that the Vostok Group of Forces already control around half of the city, including most of its eastern and southern parts and several areas in its center.
To the north of Huliapole, Russian troops crossed the Haichur in a new area, to the west of Dobropillya. The troops seized some 11 square kilometers of territory on the left bank of the river. They also reached Kosovtsevo. It is unclear, however, if fighting for the city has begun.
The drone units of the Vostok Group of Forces played a key role in recent successes in this sector by paralyzing the movements of Kiev forces along key routes. This is now especially clear around Huliapole. Meanwhile, Ukraine does not seem to have enough manpower to keep fighting in this sector.
Conclusion
On December 18, the Russian military made notable gains in several sectors. In Vovchansk, the Sever Group of Forces will likely capture Prylipka, to the west of the settlement, within a few days and begin advancing south along the Siverskyi Donets. Vilcha could also come under control soon, that’s if Ukraine failed to mount a meaningful counterattack. The next big battle in this sector will likely take place in Vovchanski Khutory. Kiev forces will likely attempt to hold onto the settlement for as long as possible.
Meanwhile in Siversk, the Yug Group of Forces will likely continue to push west. Steady local gains could cause a complete collapse in Ukrainian defenses to the south and east of the city of Slovyansk within a few months. The situation in Myrnohrad also seems to be in favor of the Russian military. The Tsentri Group of Forces could clear the city within a few weeks. Once this is done, an offensive north towards Dobropillya will likely begin.
Finally in Huliapole, the Vostok Group of Forces is solidly on its way to score a decisive victory. Within a few weeks, the city and most of the left bank of the Haichur will likely be secured. Advance will then begin towards the city of Orikhiv.
Despite suffering one defeat after another on the battlefield and facing pressure from the United States over this, Ukraine is still clinging to the idea of joining NATO.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky admitted during a press conference in Brussels on December 18 that former U.S. President Joe Biden indicated that NATO would not bring Ukraine into the alliance even before the Russia conflict broke out.
Zelensky noted that he repeatedly raised the issue with the White House, becoming a kind of running joke among U.S. officials. They told Zelensky that “he is difficult to deal with.”
He also acknowledged that the U.S. position on this matter has not changed. Still, he said that this could shift in the future and renewed commitment to the NATO membership goal set out in Ukraine’s Constitution.
These remarks could severely damage the ongoing peace talks, especially the credibility of any commitments the U.S. may have made to Russia with regard to Ukraine’s position from NATO. Of course, this may be exactly what Zelensky is looking for.
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