Updated Operational Situation Report: December 24, 2024, 05:25 UTC

Executive Summary

Russian forces maintain significant advancements, especially in the Donetsk Oblast, with notable progress in Kurakhove, Pokrovsk, Toretsk, and the Vremivka direction. The capture of Storozheve and the development of a new "pocket" near Velyka Novosilka mark a substantial shift in the Vremivka direction. Drone warfare remains a dominant feature, with both sides utilizing drones for reconnaissance, targeting, and direct attacks. Ukrainian forces report widespread drone activity across multiple regions, including new reports of drones near Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk, Vinnitsa, Zaporizhzhia, Khmelnytskyi, and Zhytomyr. Air raid alerts have been issued in Kyiv city due to reports of drones heading towards the city, but alerts have been lifted in the surrounding oblast. New alerts have also been issued for Mykolaiv, Vinnitsa, Khmelnytskyi, and Zhytomyr. The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, with civilian casualties and forced evacuations. Allegations of war crimes, including the shooting of Ukrainian POWs, further escalate the conflict's severity. The situation in the Kremennaya-Terny area, the Kharkiv, and the Kursk region also indicates an intensification of fighting and strategic repositioning of forces. Russian forces have reportedly completed the clearing of Lozova in Kharkiv Oblast. A Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber was shown conducting operations in the Kursk region, highlighting ongoing airstrikes.

Changes to the Situation - December 24, 2024, 05:25 UTC

Military Developments

Drone Warfare:
- Drone (likely Shahed drones) movement has been detected in Khmelnytskyi region.
- A Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber was shown conducting operations in the Kursk region, highlighting ongoing airstrikes.
Donetsk Oblast:
- Kurakhove: Clashes continue in the central part of the city for the remaining high-rise buildings.
- Vremivka Direction: Russian forces advanced towards Velyka Novosilka.
- Toretsk: Street fighting divides the city. Russian forces continue attacks along Fabrychna, Rynkova, Svitla, Lesi Ukrainky streets and in the direction of the "Toretska" mine.
- Ukrainian forces have retaken positions at the fire-resistant compound in Chasiv Yar. There are currently about 150 Ukrainian soldiers at the plant.
- Pokrovsk: Russian forces are developing success from the southwest, attacking from the side of Dachenske.
Kremennaya-Terny:
- Active combat operations near Kremennaya.
Kursk Region:
- Russian forces made advances in the northern Sudzha district and near Cherkasskaya Konopelka. Russian forces are advancing in the wooded areas of the Sudzhansky district and up to 1200 meters in the vicinity of Nikolaevo-Daryino, Leonidovo, Russkaya Porechnaya and Kurilovka.
- Heavy fighting continues in Kursk Oblast. The enemy is carrying out counter-attacks. In the Sudzhansky district, the Ukrainian Armed Forces carried out 5 unsuccessful counterattacks using "Bradley" BMPs and "M-113" APCs.
Kupyansk Direction:
- Russian troops, supported by armored vehicles, are fighting near Zahryzove. In the northern part of the village, Russian infantry occupied positions in a forest plantation and in a number of buildings.
Kharkiv Oblast:
- Russian forces have reportedly completed the clearing of Lozova and are advancing in two directions on the Kupyansk front.

Axis Clashes

Kharkiv Axis: Clashes near Hoptivka, Hlybokoht, Vysoka Yaruhya, Buhruvatka, and Starytsa.
Kupyansk Axis: Clashes near Kucherivka, Stepova Novoselivka, Bohuslavka, Zahryzove, and Nova Krystynivka.
Lyman Axis: Clashes near Zelenyy Hay, Novoserhiyivka, Novoyehorivka, Hrekivka, Makiyivka, Nadiya, Ivanivka, Terny, Toretsk, Hryhorivka, Druzhelubivka, Dibrovy, and Serebryanka.
Sieversk Axis: Clashes near Bilohorivka, Verkhnokamyanske, Ivano-Daryivka, and Vyyimka.
Kramatorsk Axis: Clashes near Vasukivka, Chasiv Yar, and Stupochky.
Toretsk Axis: Clashes near Toretsk and Druzhba.
Pokrovsk Axis: Clashes near Lysivka, Sukha Balka, Promin, Zelene, Ukrayinka, Dachenske, Shevchenko, Novoukrayinka, Pokrovsk, Novovasylivka, Novoyelizavetivka, Novotroitske and Novoolenivka.
Kurakhivka Axis: Clashes near Sontsivka, Stari Terny, Kurakhove, Yasenove, Dachne, and towards Andriyivka. Clashes continue in Kurakhove. To the southwest, Russian forces are advancing on Konstantynopil and expanding the zone of control near Zelenivka.
Vremivka Axis: Clashes near Velyka Novosilka, Kostyantynopilske, Yantarne, Uspenivka, Rozlyvu, Rozdolne, Novosilka, Blahodatne, and Vremivka.
Orikhiv Axis: Clashes near Novoandriyivka.
Kherson Axis: Ukrainian forces repelled 4 Russian assaults.
Kursk Region: Ukrainian forces repelled 27 Russian assaults.

Non-Military Developments

Other Incidents:
- In Khakassia, the head of the workshop of the enterprise where two people died from the explosion was detained, the TASS news agency reported in the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the region.
- Almost 4.4 thousand civilians in Russia have been injured since January as a result of attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and almost 800 people, including 50 children, have died.
- The Russian government has banned mining in 10 Russian regions in the North Caucasus, Donbas and Novorossiya. The ban will be in effect until 2031. In a number of districts of the Irkutsk Oblast, Transbaikalia and Buryatia, a ban on mining is introduced during peak energy consumption periods.
Propaganda and Information Warfare:
- A quiz is being held among the paratroopers to identify an object and a settlement in a photo of a memorial to Russian airborne troops.
Naval Activity:
- The Russian cargo ship "Ursa Major" sank off the coast of Spain after an explosion. It was initially believed that the ship was sailing to Syria, but analysts found that it was transporting hatches for the nuclear reactor of a nuclear icebreaker and two port mobile cranes with a lifting capacity of up to 120 tons each to Vladivostok.
- The Russian Navy is not recorded either in the Black Sea or in the Azov Sea. In the Mediterranean Sea there are 8 enemy ships, of which 3 are Kalibr missile carriers, with a total of 25 missiles.
Space Activity:
- Roscosmos and NASA have synchronized the estimated dates for the completion of the flight of the International Space Station, said Yuri Borisov.
Other:
- Germany, together with Denmark, transferred another 15 Leopard tanks to Ukraine, and Berlin also sent another IRIS-T air defense system.

Updated Situation - December 24, 2024, 05:25 UTC

The conflict in Ukraine intensifies with significant Russian advances in the Donetsk region, particularly in Kurakhove, Pokrovsk, Toretsk, and the Vremivka direction. The capture of Storozheve and the advance towards Velyka Novosilka, along with the destruction of a bridge over the Mokri Yaly river, represent a substantial shift in the Vremivka direction. Drone warfare continues to be a defining feature, with widespread drone activity across multiple regions. New drone threats are reported in Khmelnytskyi. The humanitarian situation is worsening, with reports of civilian casualties and forced evacuations. Allegations of war crimes, including the shooting of Ukrainian POWs, further escalate the severity of the conflict. The situation in the Kremennaya-Terny area, the Kharkiv, and the Kursk region indicates an intensification of fighting and strategic repositioning of forces. Also, Russian forces liberated Novopustynka and have reportedly completed the clearing of Lozova in Kharkiv Oblast. Diplomatic efforts and discussions are ongoing, with internal tensions within NATO and warnings from the US State Department regarding Belarus. The cyberattack on the Ukrainian Ministry of Justice and reports of inadequate burial practices for Russian soldiers add to the complexity of the situation. The reported increase in arms shipments from North Korea to Russia and the potential targeting of Ukrainian call centers reflect the evolving tactics and alliances in the conflict. Air raid alerts across multiple regions signify a persistent and widespread threat, particularly from drones and missiles. The explosion in Abakan and the financial support from the IMF to Ukraine highlight the broader impacts of the conflict. The overall situation suggests a significant escalation in multiple areas, with both sides adapting their strategies and tactics in response to the evolving battlefield dynamics. The conflict's impact on civilians, the extensive use of drone warfare, and the allegations of war crimes highlight the severe and multifaceted nature of the ongoing hostilities. The potential for further escalation, particularly in the southern front, and the involvement of international actors underscore the complex and volatile nature of the conflict. A Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber was shown conducting operations in the Kursk region, highlighting ongoing airstrikes. The sinking of the Russian cargo ship "Ursa Major" off the coast of Spain after an explosion adds another layer of complexity to the maritime aspect of the conflict.