Major Updates on the Military Situation in Ukraine: December 30, 2024, 05:17 UTC

Strategic Overview

The military situation in Ukraine remains highly volatile, with intense fighting concentrated in the Donetsk and Kharkiv regions. Russian forces are making significant advances, particularly around Kurakhove, Pokrovsk, and along the Vremivka direction. They are leveraging their advantage in drone warfare, with widespread use of FPV drones and confirmed reports of AI integration into Shahed drones. Ukrainian forces are engaged in a fighting withdrawal towards the Dnipro River, employing counter-drone measures and inflicting losses on Russian troops and equipment. The withdrawal is focused on the areas around Novooleksandrivka, Novoselivka Persha, and Sokil.

Several groups of attack drones were detected south of Kyiv, suggesting a potential imminent drone attack on the capital or surrounding areas. Ukrainian air defense systems were likely on high alert. As of 01:30 UTC, the air raid alerts across Ukraine were lifted, indicating a possible de-escalation of the immediate drone threat. However, new explosions were reported in Sumy, with air raid alerts re-activated in the region. This indicates continued and renewed Russian aerial activity.

The presence of North Korean troops in the Kursk region adds another layer of complexity, with reports of significant losses and suicides among these troops. Russian forces have reportedly liberated Novotroitske (DPR), repelling 11 Ukrainian counterattacks. Fighting is ongoing in Chasiv Yar, with Russian forces controlling over half the city. Russian forces are advancing near Dzerzhinsk, with fighting ongoing in the center of the town. Russian artillery disrupted a Ukrainian rotation in the Krasnoarmiisk (Pokrovsk) direction.

A captured Russian soldier's account alleges that Ukrainian command is not providing adequate cover for its troops on the Pokrovsk direction. This could indicate morale issues or tactical deficiencies within the Ukrainian forces in this area.

Slovak Minister of Defense, Robert Kaliňák, stated that Ukraine might have to cede territory to Russia, emphasizing the need for immediate peace talks. This reflects a potentially shifting perspective among some European allies regarding the desired outcome of the conflict.

Ukrainian forces have reportedly been withdrawn to the main defense line near the border with Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

Russian forces have reportedly taken control of a garage cooperative in Kurakhove, advancing from the industrial zone.

In the Kursk region, Russian forces have reportedly secured a foothold in Cherkaska Konopelka and made progress in the wooded areas of the Sudzhansky district. Ukrainian forces have reportedly been redeploying reinforcements to the area in an attempt to prevent further Russian advances.

Key Developments

Drone Warfare

Extensive and increasingly sophisticated use of drones by both sides for reconnaissance, targeting, and attacks.
Russia is confirmed to be integrating AI into Shahed drones to enhance their target recognition capabilities, even when offline.
Ukrainian forces are innovating with shotgun-mounted drones to down enemy drones.
FPV drones are being used extensively by both sides.
Ukrainian forces report a Russian drone strike on the central market in Nikopol, injuring eight civilians.
Ukrainian forces report that a Russian drone control center near Velyka Novosilka was destroyed by drone operators.
New reports indicate a group of Russian Shahed drones are on the border of Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, moving west. Another group of drones is in the north of Donetsk oblast, heading north. A new group of drones is in Dnipro, heading north. A group of drones is in the north of Dnipropetrovsk oblast, heading toward Poltava oblast. A group of drones is in Kharkiv oblast, heading toward Kharkiv.
Ukrainian Air Force reports drone movements in Chernihiv Oblast to the west and towards Kyiv Oblast.
New groups of drones were entering Sumy Oblast from Kursk.
Ukrainian forces report a 19-fold increase in the supply of drones to their units in 2024, compared to the previous year.
Ukrainian forces report destroying a Russian "Baba Yaga" drone near Kupyansk.
Ukrainian air defense forces successfully detected and neutralized about ten hostile drones near Kyiv.
Ukrainian Air Force reports increased drone activity in Poltava and Myrhorod, as well as in Kyivska and Chernihivska regions.
Operators of FPV drones from the 20th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Guards Army detected and destroyed a camouflaged communications repeater of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Video evidence shows Ukrainian forces targeting Russian positions with drones, resulting in multiple explosions and fires.
Ukrainian forces, specifically the "Вовки Да Вінчі" unit, are using drones to target Russian military equipment and personnel in the Pokrovsk direction.
Ukrainian drone operators targeted and killed a Russian soldier in the Pokrovsk direction.
Ukrainian forces report that Russian forces used drones to target the positions of the 33rd Mechanized Brigade in the Kurakhovo direction.
Russian forces report that operators of drones from the 20th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Guards Army discovered and destroyed a disguised Ukrainian communications repeater.
Russian forces are reportedly using FPV drones to target Ukrainian positions in the Kurakhove direction.
Ukrainian forces conducted a successful drone operation, targeting a Russian T-90 tank and an ammunition depot.
Ukrainian forces report destroying 3 Russian BTRs.
Operators of drones from the 95th Air Assault Brigade repelled an attack by North Koreans.
Ukrainian forces, specifically the "Birds of Madyar" unit, used drones to record the bodies of North Korean and Russian troops in Kursk Oblast.
Reports indicate significant losses among North Korean soldiers in the Russian army, with 1,000 casualties in the past week alone.
Ukrainian forces report that North Korean soldiers have been rotated out of the region and replaced with Russian soldiers.
Video shows drone footage from the 80th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces engaging Russian infantry in the Kursk region.
A Russian soldier detonated a grenade near his head after being attacked by a Ukrainian FPV drone in Kursk Oblast.
A Ukrainian drone hit a civilian man walking down the street in Kupyansk.
Ukrainian forces report that a Russian "Baba Yaga" drone was destroyed by a night hunting group.
In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, operators of the 375th OPTADN used drones to destroy an enemy communication tower and a supply depot.
New reports of drone movements in Poltava, Cherkasy, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, and Zhytomyr Oblasts.
A Russian drone operator claims to have destroyed a Ukrainian Baba Yaga drone.
Video allegedly shows a Ukrainian drone strike on a command post of the 810th Marine Brigade at the Lgov sugar factory.
Overnight, Russian forces actively attempted to attack Tokmak, Energodar and Melitopol. Ukrainian air defense successfully shot down hostile objects.
Warning regarding drone activity in Krasnodar Krai.
Ukrainian Air Force reports no threat of attack drones.
A Ukrainian source reports that a drone struck a ship in Crimea that was seized by Russia in 2014.
The Ukrainian Air Force announced the end of the threat of enemy drones.
Ukrainian forces report that their drones can strike targets up to 2000 km away.
Ukrainian Ambassador to the EU, Vsevolod Chentsov, reported that Russia is integrating AI into Shahed drones to enhance their target recognition capabilities, even when offline.
Reports of widespread drone activity across multiple regions, including new drone threats in Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk, Vinnitsa, Zaporizhzhia, Khmelnytskyi, Zhytomyr, Vasylkiv, Brovary, Sumy, Kharkiv, Lubny, Kremenchuk, Kryvyi Rih, Chuhuiv, Pavlohrad, Zlatopil, and Merefa.
Ukrainian forces report a threat of enemy drones approaching Zhytomyr and Ozerne from the northeast.
Increased drone activity in Kharkiv and Poltava regions, with drones moving west/southwest.
Ukrainian Air Force reports updates on the movement of Russian drones.
Reports of drone movements in various regions, including Chernihiv, Poltava, Cherkasy, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Zhytomyr, and Kirovohrad.
Reports of drone movements in Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Chernihiv Oblasts.
Ukrainian air defenses reportedly shot down 7 drones over Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
Ukrainian forces report a Russian drone strike on the central market in Nikopol, causing damage to the market and injuring 8 civilians, 7 of them being hospitalized.
Latvia plans to transfer 1000 drones to Ukraine by the end of 2024 and allocate 20 million euros for drone procurement in 2025.
Ukrainian forces report shooting down two more Russian drones over the Belgorod region.
Video footage shows the destruction of a German Leopard 1 tank by Russian FPV drones "VT-40".
Footage shows the destruction of a Ukrainian tank by an FPV drone.
Footage shows an FPV drone shooting down another enemy UAV.
Video shows a systematic process of preparing aerial bombs, specifically focusing on the installation of guidance fins or wings.
Ukrainian forces report shooting down 15 out of 16 drones, with one drone "lost."
Ukrainian forces report that their drones can strike targets up to 2000 km away.
Video evidence shows Ukrainian forces targeting and destroying Russian military equipment and personnel near Novoelizavetivka.
Ukrainian drone operators conducted a mass drone attack on Russian positions in the Pokrovsk direction.
Ukrainian forces repelled one of the largest recent assaults in the Bakhmut direction near Klishchiivka.
Video evidence of drone attacks on Ukrainian forces personnel.
Ukrainian forces used drones to destroy a Russian command post near the Toretsk mine.
Russian forces used approximately 100 Geran drones to deplete Ukrainian air defenses overnight.
Footage showing the destruction of an enemy UAV control point by drone operators of the 36th Army.
Ukrainian forces report that the Russian military is executing North Korean soldiers.
Reports indicate significant losses among North Korean soldiers in the Russian army.
Ukrainian forces are transferring reinforcements to Krasnoarmiisk (Pokrovsk).
Video evidence of Ukrainian forces dropping a flag on Russian positions near Robotyne.
Photo message shows a severely wounded individual on a makeshift stretcher.
Video evidence shows the destruction of a Ukrainian UAV control point by the 1194th Motorized Rifle Regiment.
Ukrainian Air Force reports a threat of enemy drone attacks from the east in Sumy Oblast and from the south in Mykolaiv Oblast.
Photo message depicts a map of Ukraine with several regions highlighted in red, indicating active air raid alerts.
Video evidence shows a masked individual setting fire to a shop.
New enemy drone attacks reported in Ochakiv, Mykolaiv Oblast, from the Black Sea.
Video evidence shows a mobile, vehicle-mounted "Repellent-Patrul" anti-drone system.
One drone north of Cherkasy, moving towards Kyiv Oblast. Two drones west of Poltava, moving northwest. Five drones near Konotop, moving southwest.
1 drone is approaching Boryspil. 2 drones are flying from Poltava region to Cherkasy. 1 drone is flying from Kirovohrad region to Vinnytsia. 3 drones are in Pryluky area, heading southwest. 3 new drones are flying through Shostka area, heading southwest.
A new group of drones from Sumy Oblast is moving towards Poltava Oblast.
Within an hour, explosions were heard in the occupied part of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast, in the suburbs of Kharkiv and Cherkasy.
Several villages in the Grayvoron district of Belgorod Oblast were left without electricity after a Ukrainian drone attack.
Ukrainian drone units reported successful strikes on a Russian armored vehicle in the Sumy region, near the Kursk border.
Video allegedly shows a Ukrainian drone strike on a command post of the 810th Marine Brigade at the Lgov sugar factory.
Video shows a drone strike on a US-made M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle near Sudzha.
Video from Sudoplatov shows Russian forces towing a captured American M113 armored personnel carrier in the Kursk region.
Video shows drone footage from the 80th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces engaging Russian infantry in the Kursk region.
Operators of the 80th Airborne Assault Brigade destroyed an enemy along with equipment in the Kursk region.
Code 9.2 unit drops "goodies" on communists and Jucheists in the Kursk region.
Russian operators destroyed a Ukrainian "Baba Yaga" drone near Kupyansk and an armored vehicle in the Kharkiv region.
A Leopard tank was destroyed in the Kupyansk Direction.
A Russian attack drone unit successfully eliminated Ukrainian troops in a forested area in the Kharkiv region.
Ukrainian forces were reportedly killed by Russian drones near Kharkiv.
Russian forces reportedly used drones to eliminate a Ukrainian special forces group near Kupyansk.
Russian forces have used drones to destroy a Ukrainian armored vehicle in a wooded area.
Russian forces have used FPV drones to destroy a Ukrainian armored vehicle in a forest.
Pilots of the "ACHILLES" battalion of the 92nd brigade are reported to have destroyed enemy personnel and a truck in the Kharkiv region.
Ukrainian forces used a drone to attack a Russian position near a road, resulting in a fire.
Ukrainian forces used an FPV drone to destroy a Ukrainian T-64BV tank near Kupyansk.
In the Kupyansk area, fighters of the 16th Special Forces Brigade destroyed an enemy T-64BV tank with two FPV drones.
FPV of the Third Assault Brigade destroys enemy weapons, shelters, and warehouses in the Kharkiv direction.
Ukrainian forces repelled a powerful Russian assault in the Kupyansk direction, destroying 5 armored vehicles.
One Ukrainian soldier was killed, and another injured in Kupiansk due to shelling by Russian forces.
A Ukrainian drone hit a civilian man walking down the street in Kupyansk.
Explosive strikes were reported in the region.
Operators of FPV drones from the 20th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Guards Army detected and destroyed a camouflaged communications repeater of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Russian forces report needing more Mavic drones to break through enemy defenses on all fronts, from Kursk to Kurakhove.
In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, operators of the 375th OPTADN used drones to destroy an enemy communication tower and a supply depot.
Attack FPV drone teams of the Yug Group of Forces eliminated a stronghold and a mortar position of the AFU in Kurakhove direction.
Operators of drones from the 110th Brigade, operating in the Kurakhove direction, spotted moving Ukrainian soldiers and dropped a munition, killing one.
Ukrainian forces report that Russian forces used drones to target the positions of the 33rd Mechanized Brigade in the Kurakhovo direction.
Aerial reconnaissance from the "Mad Dogs" brigade detected a night raid by Ukrainian forces from the 32nd Brigade. A Russian FPV drone operator, "Dolgiy," reportedly destroyed four Ukrainian soldiers and wounded two during this raid in the Pokrovsk direction.
Operators of drones from the 20th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Guards Army discovered and destroyed a disguised Ukrainian communications repeater, thereby ensuring the security of Russian positions from enemy drone strikes.
Russian forces are using FPV drones to target Ukrainian positions in the Kurakhove direction.
A Ukrainian drone "Vampir" of the "Hydra" unit of the 137th Separate Marine Battalion remotely mined Russian logistics routes near Zoria, Donetsk Oblast.
Fighters of the 16th Special Forces Brigade destroyed an enemy mortar with an FPV drone.
Russian forces are reportedly pressing Ukrainian forces on all fronts in the Kursk region.
Ukrainian Air Force reports updates on the movement of Russian drones:
- New drones entering Sumy Oblast from Kursk, moving southwest.
- Drones in eastern and western Poltava Oblast, moving west.
- Drones in northeastern Cherkasy Oblast, moving west/northwest.
- Drones are reported in the center of Poltava Oblast, moving northwest, and on the west of Sumy Oblast, moving southwest. A drone is reported on the northeast of Cherkasy Oblast, moving west/northwest.
One drone north of Cherkasy, moving towards Kyiv Oblast. Two drones west of Poltava, moving northwest. Five drones near Konotop, moving southwest.
City of Pryluky (Chernihiv Oblast) is under threat from enemy drones approaching from the northeast.
The Air Force reports the movement of enemy drones:
- Drones in the west of Poltava region, course - west / southwest;
- Drones in the north of Sumy region, course - south-west;
- Drones in the center of Chernihiv region, course - south / south-west;
- Drones in the east of Kyiv region, course - west / north-west;
- Drones on the border of Kirovohrad and Odesa regions, course - west.
Enemy drone is moving in the direction of Cherkasy from the southeast.
1 drone is approaching Boryspil. 2 drones are flying from Poltava region to Cherkasy. 1 drone is flying from Kirovohrad region to Vinnytsia. 3 drones are in Pryluky area, heading southwest. 3 new drones are flying through Shostka area, heading southwest.
The Ukrainian Air Force reports the movement of drones in Kharkiv Oblast towards Poltava Oblast, in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast to the south-west and west, in Chernihiv Oblast to the west, and new groups in the east of Kharkiv Oblast to the west.
Drone movement has been detected in the Khmelnytskyi, Poltava, and Chernihiv regions, specifically near Nizhyn.
Ukrainian forces conducted a successful drone operation in the Kursk region, targeting a Russian T-90 tank and an ammunition depot. The operation involved a group of attack drones, including "Baba Yaga" heavy bombers and FPV drones. The T-90 tank was destroyed by a direct hit from an FPV drone, while the ammunition depot was destroyed by a "Baba Yaga" drone.
Ukrainian forces, specifically the "Birds of Madyar" unit, used drones to record the bodies of North Korean and Russian troops in Kursk Oblast.
Operators of drones from the 95th Air Assault Brigade repelled an attack by North Koreans in the Kursk region.
Several Shahed drones detected moving from the Black Sea towards Chornomorske and Pivdenne.
A group of Shahed drones is moving north in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Several Shahed drones are in the center, north, south, and east of Kharkiv Oblast, moving northwest.
Mykolaiv Region:
- Up to 10 drones and several FPV drones were involved in the recent attack.
- Ukrainian air defense systems engaged multiple Russian drones near Nechaiane, Ochakiv, and Velyka Korenykha.
- Russian drones were launched from Crimea.
- Russian drone strike on the central market in Nikopol caused damage and injured 8 civilians, one woman is in critical condition and 3 are in severe condition.
- Up to 10 drones were reported over Ochakiv, with some shot down. One drone was reported near Parutino.
- New enemy drone attacks reported in Ochakiv from the Black Sea.
- FPV drones of the "Center" group continue to hunt for the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Pokrovsk direction.
Voronezh Region:
- Over 10 drones detected and destroyed in the suburbs of Voronezh.
- Debris from downed drones caused damage to railway infrastructure.
Donetsk Oblast:
- Ukrainian drone attack on the Makeevsky Machine-Building Plant prevented.
- In Horlivka, a man was killed and two others were injured in a Ukrainian drone attack.
- Russian forces report operators of drones from the 110th Brigade spotted moving Ukrainian soldiers and dropped a munition, killing one.
- Remote mining by Ukrainian "Vampir" drone near Zoria.
- Drone strikes on assault columns near Kurakhove.
- Video evidence of military engagement near Kurakhove.
- Russian forces used FPV drones to target Ukrainian positions in the Kurakhove direction.
- Ukrainian forces report Russian forces used drones to target positions of the 33rd Mechanized Brigade in the Kurakhovo direction.
- Operators of FPV drones from the 20th Motorized Rifle Division destroyed a camouflaged communications repeater.
- Ukrainian drone "Vampir" remotely mined Russian logistics routes near Zoria.
- Ukrainian forces repelled a Russian assault using drones in the Siversk direction.
- Video evidence confirms ongoing engagements, with soldiers from the 68th tank regiment advancing and capturing enemy positions.
- Drone strikes remain a significant feature of the fighting near Kurakhove.
- The 425 ОШБ "Скала" conducted a drone strike operation on the Pokrovsk direction.
- Video footage shows the destruction of a Starlink station by the "Southern Front" group.
- Video evidence of a Russian FPV drone attacking a building with a modified munition.
Orlov Region:
- 3 Storm Shadow missiles attacked a military facility, killing 2 soldiers and injuring 7.
- Ukrainian forces struck a fortified military facility of the Russian Armed Forces, destroying a storage, maintenance, and repair facility for "Shahed" drones.
Drone attack near Volchansk
"Ronin" unit of the 65th Mechanized Brigade used drones to destroy three Russian field howitzers of different calibers.
A "wedding" Mavic drone acting as an inspector stops a pair of Russian vehicles, followed by FPV drone strikes.
New Update: Three drones are moving from Kharkiv Oblast to Poltava Oblast.
New Update: Four drones are approaching Chuhuiv/Kharkiv. Anti-aircraft operations may be active.
New Update: Two drones are moving from the east of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast to Kharkiv Oblast.
New Update: One drone is in the Zlatopil area and has turned towards Lozova in Kharkiv Oblast.
New Update: New Shahed drones from the Black Sea are heading towards the south of Odesa Oblast.
New Update: Shahed drones are present in the south of Sumy Oblast, the east of Poltava Oblast, and the west of Kharkiv Oblast, moving northwards.
New Update: A new group of Shahed drones is heading from the Black Sea towards the south of the Odesa region.
New Update: New Shahed drones are heading towards Odesa Oblast, specifically towards the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi district.
New Update: Three Shahed drones are approaching Bilyaivka either through or near the town. Three new Shahed drones are moving from the Black Sea towards the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi district, with one potentially heading towards Ovidiopol.
New Update: The Air Force reported:
- A new group of Shahed drones from the Black Sea heading towards the south of the Odesa region.
- Shahed drones in the south of the Odesa region heading north.
- Shahed drones in the south of the Kharkiv region heading northwest.
- Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from the north of the Kharkiv region heading towards the Poltava region.
- Drones in the east of the Poltava region heading towards Myrhorod.
- Shahed drones in the east of the Sumy region heading towards the Chernihiv region.
New Update: Three Shahed drones are heading towards Kurortne through Bilyaivka. One Shahed drone is circling at the intersection of the Sumy and Poltava regions. Two Shahed drones are moving from the Kharkiv region to the Poltava region. Three Shahed drones are in the Lozova area of the Kharkiv region, heading north.
New Update: 3 drones are moving through Bilyaivka towards Kurortne. 1 drone is circling around the border of Sumy and Poltava oblasts. 2 drones are moving from Kharkiv to Poltava. 3 drones are in Lozova area, heading north.
New Update: Operators of the FPV group "Sever" hit three Ukrainian Armed Forces dugouts with three kamikaze drones in the Kharkiv direction.
New Update: Burning foreign equipment warms the soul like nothing else! The ATGM crews of the 68th Army Corps brigade destroyed a French-made AMX-10 RC wheeled tank in the area of the Sukhi Yaly River. Equipment from the West continues to be turned into scrap metal by the efforts of guys from the Far East!
Update: 3 drones via Rozdilna are heading towards Odesa Oblast.
Update: 2 drones via Bilyaivka are heading towards Odesa.
Update: 1 new drone from the Black Sea is heading towards Ovidiopol.
Update: 1 drone north of Nizhyn, moving towards Chernihiv.
Update: 1 drone is heading via Konotop towards Sumy.
Update: 1 drone near Pryluky, moving northwest.
Update: 1 drone turned towards Odesa, expect loud activity.
One drone from the Odesa region is flying towards the Vinnytsia region. One drone is approaching Rozdilna. One drone is flying towards Odesa. The northern direction is being clarified.
One drone is flying from the Mykolaiv region towards the Odesa region, to the north of the region.
Operators of FPV drones from the 20th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Guards Army detected and destroyed a camouflaged communications repeater of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in a forest plantation, ensuring the security of Russian positions from enemy drone strikes.
Video shows a drone observation of Russian forces ambushing and engaging enemy personnel in a wooded area.
A Russian propaganda video depicts the Russian air defense shooting down Santa Claus over the Kremlin.
Video evidence shows a military engagement near Kurakhove where soldiers from the 68th tank regiment advanced, taking an enemy position.
Ukrainian forces report that one Russian warship is present in the Black Sea, but it is not equipped with "Kalibr" missiles. No Russian warships were detected in the Azov Sea.
Ukrainian air defenses reportedly shot down a Ukrainian missile over Kursk Oblast.

Ground Operations

Donetsk Oblast