Military Situation Update: December 26, 2024, 04:11 UTC
Key Developments
Donetsk Oblast
Kurakhove: Russian forces have liberated an additional 5 square kilometers, 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. Russian forces are also advancing in the western part of the high-rise buildings and have placed a flag on the roof of the sanatorium.
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. Heavy fighting is ongoing in Shcherbynivka (southwest of Toretsk).
Chasiv Yar: Ukrainian forces have retaken positions at the fire-resistant compound. There are currently about 150 Ukrainian soldiers at the plant. Drone operators from the Ivanovo Airborne Forces destroyed a Ukrainian tank near Chasiv Yar.
Pokrovsk: Russian forces are developing success from the southwest, attacking from the side of Dachenske. Russian forces liberated Novyi Trud. Fighting is ongoing in Dachenske. Russian forces are advancing west on a broad front south of Pokrovsk, making progress near Novooleenovka and Novoyelizavetivka.
Kharkiv Oblast
Starytsia: Russian forces have broken through the Ukrainian defense in Starytsia and are advancing along the Seversky Donets River.
Kursk Region
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 "Grad" MLRS crew of Tula paratroopers destroyed a concentration of Ukrainian infantry in the 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.
Fighting occurred near Leonidovo, Cherkasskaya Konopelka, and Kurilovka. Ukrainian forces attempted two unsuccessful counterattacks.
Ukrainian forces shelled Lgov, killing four people.
Paratroopers from the 98th Airborne Division shot down a Ukrainian drone.
Belgorod Region
Ukrainian forces attacked the Grayvoron district with drones, damaging power lines.
A drone attacked a truck on the Belgorod - Shebekino highway.
A car traveling on the Murom - Nechaevka highway was attacked by a kamikaze drone.
A drone attacked a car in Dolgoe, Valuysky district.
A drone attacked Nechaevka, Belgorod district.
Voronezh Region
A Ukrainian drone was destroyed over the region.
Drone Warfare
An air alert has been announced in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, and was subsequently called off.
Russian drones "Orion/Inokhodets" are being used successfully in the special military operation zone and are being prepared for export. A delegation of customers from an Asian country visited the manufacturer's facility in the "Rudnevo" industrial park.
Geopolitical Developments
Russian companies are increasingly using Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies for international transactions to circumvent Western sanctions.
The appearance of the "Mir" card in Cuba has attracted more tourists from Russia, according to the Russian ambassador to Havana. The card can now be used throughout the republic.
Other Key Developments
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.
Massive strikes were carried out against Ukrainian energy infrastructure, damaging the Zmievskaya, Burshtynskaya, and Slavyanskaya thermal power plants. However, it is still too early to talk about the complete destruction of the enemy's generating capacity.
On the Kherson direction, according to the enemy, Russian forces are creating conditions for fording the Dnieper. Such emotional statements by the enemy about the impending offensive of our troops may indicate a low readiness and insufficiency of enemy forces in the direction, while the statements themselves serve as an "information cushion" for local commanders of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and Kiev authorities. It is reliably known only about the intensified strikes of the Russian Armed Forces on the enemy coast, which, however, may be the work to reduce the threat to the civilian population of our coast in the conditions of constant terrorist attacks of the Nazis.
Analysis of Changes
The liberation of an additional 5 sq km in Kurakhove and the capture of Novyi Trud signifies further progress for Russian forces in the Donetsk Oblast. Russian forces are making progress in street fighting in Toretsk and advancing south of Pokrovsk.
The destruction of a Ukrainian stronghold by a Ka-52M helicopter, the use of "Grad" MLRS, and the downing of a Ukrainian drone by paratroopers highlight the continued intensity of fighting in the Kursk region. The reported Ukrainian shelling of Lgov that resulted in civilian deaths is a significant escalation.
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.
The reported damage to power lines in the Belgorod region due to Ukrainian drone attacks indicates a continued focus on targeting infrastructure.
The successful use of Russian "Orion/Inokhodets" drones and their preparation for export is a notable development in Russia's drone warfare capabilities.
The reported increase in Russian tourists to Cuba due to the "Mir" card's availability is a minor economic development.
The reported damage to Ukrainian thermal power plants, while significant, does not yet indicate a complete destruction of Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
The Ukrainian claims of a potential Russian offensive across the Dnieper River on the Kherson front should be viewed with caution, as it could be an attempt to justify their own lack of preparedness. However, the increased Russian strikes on the Ukrainian side of the river are confirmed.
