Military Situation Update: December 26, 2024, 03:41 UTC

Key Developments

Kurakhove: Russian forces have liberated an additional 5 square kilometers in Kurakhove, advancing south of the Ukrainian positions in the industrial zone. Clashes continue in the central part of the city for the remaining high-rise buildings.
Vremivka Direction: Russian forces captured Storozheve and advanced towards Velyka Novosilka, forming a new "pocket" and capturing Novyi Komar and Novopustynka.
Toretsk: Street fighting continues. Russian forces continue attacks along Fabrychna, Rynkova, Svitla, Lesi Ukrainky streets and in the direction of the "Toretska" mine.
Chasiv Yar: Ukrainian forces have retaken positions at the fire-resistant compound. 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.

Starytsia: Russian forces have broken through the Ukrainian defense in Starytsia and are advancing along the Seversky Donets River.

The crew of a Ka-52M helicopter destroyed a Ukrainian stronghold in the Kursk border area.
"Grad" MLRS destroyed Ukrainian strongholds and infantry in the Kursk border area.
A Ukrainian soldier from the 47th Mechanized Brigade, currently positioned in Sudzha, made threatening statements in voice messages to a Russian soldier.
The 47th Mechanized Brigade reportedly suffered significant losses near Leonidovka.
Ukrainian forces reportedly mined civilian objects in Plehovo with explosives placed inside of toys marked with a black triangle.

Russian companies are increasingly using Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies for international transactions to circumvent Western sanctions.

Flooding affected 64 regions of Russia in 2024.
Criminal cases related to online fraud have been opened in the city of Yunosti.
Criminal investigation is ongoing in Khabarovsk in relation to the storage and selling of synthetic drugs.

The liberation of an additional 5 sq km in Kurakhove signifies further progress for Russian forces in the Donetsk Oblast.
The destruction of a Ukrainian stronghold by a Ka-52M helicopter and the use of "Grad" MLRS highlight the continued intensity of fighting in the Kursk region.
The reported mining of civilian objects, including children's toys, by Ukrainian forces in Plehovo is a grave development and a potential war crime. This tactic poses a significant threat to civilians and returning residents.
The destruction of a Ukrainian drone over Voronezh Oblast indicates the ongoing threat of drone attacks within Russian territory.