Nightwatch logo
'Nightwatch' text with white and gray letters
Historical Intelligence

Situation Report

Archived operational intelligence briefing

Report Time
2025-11-28 14:34:33Z
2 months ago
Previous (2025-11-28 14:04:32Z)

MILITARY INTELLIGENCE SITUATION REPORT (SITREP)

TIME: 281530Z NOV 25 ANALYST JUDGMENT: The operational environment is characterized by RF consolidation and deep shaping fires, supported by a critical escalation in strategic Information Warfare (IO) designed to paralyze Western logistical commitment. The predicted kinetic assault on Huliaipole has been delayed (MLCOA update required), but RF has effectively shifted the focus to the Strategic Rear (GLOC security and Western alliance cohesion) using new vectors (Polish sabotage allegations). The sustained threat of C4ISR denial remains acute and dictates all tactical planning.


1. SITUATION OVERVIEW (Current Operational Picture)

1.1 Battlefield Geometry and Key Terrain

  • Zaporizhzhia Axis (Huliaipole): UAF containment line remains under pressure. RF Vostok Group has shifted from rapid kinetic assault preparation (KAB/TOS-2 saturation, confirmed 271530Z) to a combined Kinetic/PSYOP phase (confirmed RF UAV leaflet drops demanding surrender). This signals a momentary pause in the assault NLT 282200Z, or an attempt to soften resistance before commitment. (CONFIDENCE: HIGH)
  • Donetsk Axis (Pokrovsk/Myrnohrad): RF forces are transitioning from active encirclement to Consolidation and Area Denial. RF sources are actively showcasing destroyed UAF equipment ("cemetery of scrap metal"), reinforcing the narrative of operational loss. The main GLOC remains fixed and vulnerable to interdiction. (CONFIDENCE: HIGH)
  • Northern Axes (Kharkiv/Sumy): UAF Air Force confirms new waves of KAB launches targeting both Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts. This indicates an expansion of RF shaping operations, attempting to fix UAF reserves away from the Donbas. (CONFIDENCE: HIGH)
  • Kherson Region: Critical infrastructure strike confirmed, causing water/power disruption. Assessed as an RF effort to increase civilian hardship and strain UAF utility repair resources. (CONFIDENCE: MEDIUM)

1.2 Weather and Environmental Factors Affecting Operations

No change from previous reporting cycle. Low visibility conditions continue to favor RF FPV and Spetsnaz interdiction operations along key rear-area routes.

1.3 Current Force Dispositions and Control Measures

  • RF (Red): RF forces are demonstrating high C2 synchronization, linking tactical PSYOPs (Huliaipole) with strategic IO (Diplomatic rifts). Industrial appeals for Dynamic Protection (ERA) components suggest RF armor inventory requires urgent defensive upgrades.
  • UAF (Blue): UAF retains effective deep strike capability (confirmed $60M AD system losses in 72 hours). UAF forces are maintaining localized kinetic superiority in contested areas (Lyman FPV success) but face escalating multi-domain pressure in the Information Environment.

2. ENEMY ANALYSIS (Threat Assessment)

2.1 Enemy Capabilities, Intentions, and Courses of Action

  • Capabilities: RF maintains the capacity for sustained high-volume guided munitions strikes (KAB, Missile) across multiple axes. Their IO capacity is globally coordinated, leveraging diplomatic leaks and manufactured security crises (Poland). RF is demonstrating immediate strategic-to-tactical C2 linkage.
  • Intentions:
    1. Weaponize Logistical Corridors: Use alleged Polish sabotage incidents to pressure Warsaw and NATO to impose new restrictions or oversight on logistics, creating friction and slowing essential military aid flow.
    2. Psychologically Degrade Huliaipole: Employ PSYOPs to maximize demoralization before committing reserves, aiming for a lower-cost tactical breakthrough.
    3. Secure Diplomatic Leverage: Use high-level intelligence contacts (Turkey meeting) and political alignments (Putin/Orban meeting) to project diplomatic inevitability, forcing Kyiv to negotiate under maximum duress.

2.2 Recent Tactical Changes or Adaptations

The shift in Huliaipole from immediate mechanized assault (27th Nov assessment) to intensive PSYOP combined with localized fire is a tactical adjustment. RF appears to be attempting to avoid a high-casualty frontal breakthrough, opting instead for systematic demoralization and kinetic softening.

2.3 Logistics and Sustainment Status

The RF appeal for industrial assistance for ERA component manufacturing (T-72/T-80 protection) is a MATERIAL STRAIN INDICATOR. This confirms RF armor units are sustaining high losses or anticipate increased anti-armor threat, necessitating rapid fielding of upgraded protection. (CONFIDENCE: HIGH)

2.4 Command and Control Effectiveness

RF C2 remains HIGHLY EFFECTIVE. The speed with which RF IO actors amplified the Polish railway sabotage allegations demonstrates pre-planned integration of tactical incidents into strategic narrative warfare. (CONFIDENCE: HIGH)


3. FRIENDLY FORCES (Blue Force Tracking)

3.1 Ukrainian Force Posture and Readiness

  • Kinetic Readiness: UAF counter-AD and drone strike capabilities are proving highly effective, confirming continued superiority in precision deep-strike capabilities.
  • C4ISR/C2: Posture remains VULNERABLE pending implementation of redundancy protocols (as recommended 281430Z). The confirmed infrastructure strike in Kherson demonstrates RF capacity to degrade civilian C2/utility infrastructure outside the main contact lines.
  • Morale: High-profile mobilization (Harmash) and judicial accountability (PGO case) are essential measures to stabilize domestic morale against overwhelming RF IO pressure.

3.2 Recent Tactical Successes or Setbacks

  • Successes: Significant disruption of RF air defense systems ($60M confirmed loss). Effective localized defense in the Lyman direction.
  • Setbacks: Confirmed loss of operational control in the Pokrovsk sector. Critical diplomatic setback resulting from the Polish railway sabotage accusations, directly threatening the Western GLOC security environment.

3.3 Resource Requirements and Constraints

  • CRITICAL KINETIC REQUIREMENT: Increased flow of advanced anti-armor systems (ATGM, FPV with HEAT warheads) to exploit the confirmed RF ERA material strain.
  • LOGISTICAL REQUIREMENT: Urgent diplomatic resources must be dedicated to establishing joint security protocols with Poland to mitigate the risk of RF-instigated sabotage causing logistical freezes.

4. INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT (Cognitive Domain)

4.1 Propaganda and Disinformation Campaigns

  • CORE THEME: Western Abandonment and Inevitable Partition. RF (via Colonelcassad, Kotsnews) is linking the US leak, the Italian MOD rejection of troop deployment, and the Polish security crisis to create a singular narrative: Western support is collapsing, and Kyiv must surrender occupied territories now.
  • NEW THREAT VECTOR: Sabotage of Trust. The Polish police announcement seeking Ukrainian citizens for railway sabotage (TASS amplification) is a powerful, low-cost hybrid attack. This undermines Kyiv’s reputation as a reliable security partner and justifies Polish governmental skepticism regarding logistical support.

4.2 Public Sentiment and Morale Factors

Domestic morale remains actively supported by UAF IO efforts (Harmash), but the relentless synchronization of kinetic strikes (Kherson) and strategic diplomatic pressure risks generating strategic fatigue and pressure on the National Command Authority (NCA) to seek immediate ceasefires.

4.3 International Support and Diplomatic Developments

  • HIGH DANGER POINT (Poland): The Polish security allegations create an immediate, verifiable vulnerability in the primary NATO logistical corridor. This requires immediate political mitigation.
  • EUROPEAN RIFT: The Italian Defense Minister's public rejection of Western troop deployment (belief mass: 0.066) provides RF a key talking point to fracture EU cohesion on long-term security commitments.
  • BACK CHANNELS: The confirmed SVR/GRU talks in Turkey indicate that both sides are maintaining a line of communication, although RF is likely seeking to leverage tactical gains (Pokrovsk) and diplomatic instability (US leak) within these negotiations.

5. PREDICTIVE ANALYSIS (Future Operations)

5.1 Most Likely Enemy Courses of Action (MLCOA)

(Confidence: HIGH) RF will maintain sustained KAB/missile pressure on infrastructure (Kharkiv/Kherson) to fix UAF resources. The kinetic assault on Huliaipole (Vostok Group) will be deferred by 24-48 hours (NLT 300000Z NOV) to allow the PSYOP and diplomatic pressure campaign (Polish crisis amplification) to take full effect. RF will likely exploit the Polish incident to demand international monitoring or joint RF/Polish border security zones to "prevent further sabotage," which would severely restrict UAF GLOC use.

5.2 Most Dangerous Enemy Courses of Action (MDCOA)

(Confidence: MEDIUM) A concerted hybrid attack achieves simultaneous operational objectives: Widespread, sustained C4ISR denial (Starlink blackout) across the Zaporizhzhia axis. Coincidentally, the Polish government, citing the sabotage threat, imposes a temporary 72-hour halt on military cross-border traffic. Exploiting this logistical vacuum, RF executes the mechanized breakthrough at Huliaipole, utilizing massed drone swarms (as developed by "Ushkuynik" centers) supported by TOS-2 fire, forcing a collapse of the UAF southern front.

5.3 Timeline Estimates and Decision Points

EventEstimated TimelineDecision Point/Trigger
Polish Crisis EscalationIMMEDIATE (NLT 282000Z NOV)RF media/diplomats demand specific logistical restrictions or security checks in Poland, potentially impacting flow of US/German equipment.
Huliaipole Ground Assault RestartNLT 300000Z NOVConfirmation of RF mechanized units moving out of assembly areas west of Huliaipole.
C4ISR BlackoutNLT 290800Z NOVConfirmed, geographically widespread C2 degradation impacting three or more brigades simultaneously.

ACTIONABLE INTELLIGENCE RECOMMENDATIONS

The immediate focus must shift from solely anticipating the Huliaipole kinetic assault to preemptively neutralizing the imminent logistical threat posed by the RF hybrid attack on Poland/GLOCs.

  1. MFA/J4 (LOGISTICAL SECURITY & COUNTER-IO):

    • ACTION (CRITICAL PRIORITY): Immediately initiate Joint Task Force (JTF) Diplomatic Security with Poland. The NCA must dispatch senior security and political officials to Warsaw to propose and implement immediate, verifiable joint security patrols or NATO oversight (e.g., EUROPOL, specific NATO logistics cells) for the GLOC corridors to preempt RF demands for intrusive third-party monitoring.
    • RATIONALE: Neutralize the logistical security crisis created by the railway sabotage allegations, which represents the MLCOA for diplomatic paralysis.
    • CONFIDENCE: HIGH.
  2. J3/FIRE COMMAND (ANTI-ARMOR EXPLOITATION):

    • ACTION: Exploit the RF ERA component deficit (confirmed industrial appeal). Prioritize the deployment of deep-penetration anti-armor systems (FPV HEAT, guided munitions) against identified RF mechanized assembly areas west of Huliaipole. Conduct immediate BDA following engagements to assess ERA effectiveness/failure rates.
    • RATIONALE: Utilize high-confidence intelligence on RF industrial strain to maximize kinetic effect and increase the cost of the predicted Huliaipole assault.
    • CONFIDENCE: HIGH.
  3. J6/C4ISR (INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION):

    • ACTION: Immediately implement layered protection protocols for all critical utility infrastructure (water, power grids) in rear areas (Kherson, Kharkiv). Integrate UAF counter-UAV and EW assets specifically to defend these targets against low-altitude drone or missile attack vectors.
    • RATIONALE: Mitigate RF strategy of warfare by proxy (attacking civilian infrastructure to create resource strain).
    • CONFIDENCE: HIGH.
  4. J2 (COLLECTION REQUIREMENT - DIPLOMATIC TRAJECTORY):

    • ACTION: Prioritize HUMINT/OSINT collection on the outcomes and detailed discussions of the Naryshkin/Budanov meeting in Turkey and the Putin/Orban meeting. Determine the specific territorial demands or negotiation triggers RF is using.
    • RATIONALE: Essential for NCA planning to understand the current RF negotiation floor and prevent unintended strategic concessions.
    • CONFIDENCE: HIGH.

//END OF REPORT//

Previous (2025-11-28 14:04:32Z)

We only use optional analytics cookies if you allow them. Necessary cookies stay on for sign-in and site security.

Learn more in our Privacy Policy.