Archived operational intelligence briefing
TIME: 021000Z DEC 25 OPERATIONAL PHASE: CRITICAL KINETIC PHASE // STEPNOHORSK BREACH IMMINENT // DIPLOMATIC BLACK SWAN WINDOW OPENING
SUMMARY: The RF kinetic main effort in Zaporizhzhia is validated by confirmed RF claims of capturing Zelenyi Hai. This puts the 5 OShB sector of the Stepnohorsk Main Line of Defense (MLD) under direct, immediate threat. Operationally, RF deep strike capability is confirmed effective, with UAF Ministry of Energy reporting widespread power outages across four oblasts following the mass-UAS attack. Strategically, the diplomatic timeline has accelerated: the Putin-Witkoff meeting is confirmed to begin NLT 021400Z DEC, creating the immediate pressure window for the anticipated kinetic breakthrough. UAF must prioritize decisive counter-fire on Zelenyi Hai and synchronized strategic communications regarding the 1400Z Moscow talks.
| Location | Status | Assessment | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zelenyi Hai (Zaporizhzhia) | RF Claimed Control (FACT) | RF Vostok Group is consolidating Zelenyi Hai. This village is the critical immediate objective, serving as the required fire base and launch point for the main assault on the Stepnohorsk MLD. UAF counter-fire denial is mandatory. | HIGH |
| Stepnohorsk MLD (Zaporizhzhia) | Imminent Threat | Under maximal duress. A mechanized assault is expected NLT 021400Z DEC, timed to coincide with diplomatic leverage windows. | HIGH |
| Odesa, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk | Partial Power Outages (FACT) | Confirms the success of the overnight RF AD attrition strategy against UAF critical infrastructure (CRI). AD assets remain overstretched and vulnerable. | HIGH |
| Black Sea/Midvolga 2 | UAV Strike Confirmed (FACT) | UAF assets successfully executed a UAV strike on the RF commercial vessel Midvolga 2. Confirms continued UAF capacity for deep naval projection and economic attrition. | HIGH |
Weather remains cold, clear, and conducive to high-altitude ISR, UAS operations, and continued KAB employment. RF Air Force continues saturation strikes using Guided Aerial Bombs (KABs) targeting Zaporizhzhia, Eastern Kharkiv, and Southern Sumy (confirmed multiple Air Force alerts 08:36Z - 08:46Z).
UAF: Defensive posture across the Southern and Eastern Axes. AD resource triage is critical following the confirmed power outages. Key maneuver units (5 OShB) are required to hold the Stepnohorsk MLD under high threat conditions. UAF C2 has demonstrated strong anti-corruption capability (Sheyko arrest), which mitigates internal risk but does not address kinetic shortfalls.
RF: RF is committed to a maximally leveraged synchronization strategy: kinetic advance (Zelenyi Hai consolidation) timed precisely with the opening of a high-stakes diplomatic channel (Moscow 1400Z). This forces UAF National Command Authority (NCA) to manage a kinetic crisis and a potential strategic diplomatic rupture simultaneously.
INTENTION (IMMEDIATE): RF intends to secure a tactical breakthrough at Stepnohorsk and use the resultant battlefield leverage to anchor the Putin-Witkoff 1400Z talks. The goal is to force the US special envoy to accept a conditional ceasefire based on the newly advanced Forward Line of Troops (FLOT). (CONFIDENCE: HIGH)
CAPABILITY (CRI Attack): RF demonstrates confirmed and sustained capability to target and degrade UAF energy infrastructure across four major regions, successfully diverting AD resources away from frontline defense and maintaining strategic pressure on population centers. (CONFIDENCE: HIGH)
COA: Vostok Group will commence final preparation fires on the Stepnohorsk MLD NLT 021300Z DEC, aiming for armor-led breach NLT 021400Z DEC.
Logistics remain sufficient to sustain high-volume KAB and UAS attacks across the theater. The confirmed power outages (Odesa, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk) suggest significant sustained resource commitment to AD attrition. The domestic focus on veteran support ensures stable morale and recruitment pools. (CONFIDENCE: HIGH)
RF C2 effectiveness is assessed as HIGH. The rapid, synchronized timing of the Zelenyi Hai kinetic capture claim, the confirmation of the Midvolga 2 UAV attack, and the precise scheduling of the critical Moscow diplomatic talks demonstrate excellent cross-domain synchronization designed to maximize pressure on the UAF NCA within a tight 5-hour window.
Posture is highly challenged due to confirmed AD exhaustion and consequent power grid degradation. The necessary dispersal of AD assets to protect population centers (confirmed by outages) directly reduces readiness to defeat the expected mechanized assault on Stepnohorsk. Units in the Kupiansk sector (15 NGU "Kara-Dag") report continued successful defense against "meat assaults," maintaining localized morale.
Successes:
Setbacks/Challenges:
Constraint: Time and Kinetic Fire Superiority. The 5 OShB requires immediate, high-volume counter-fire support to dislodge/attrit the RF forces consolidating in Zelenyi Hai NLT 021130Z DEC. Failure to achieve this denial mission will result in high probability of MLD breach.
RF is leveraging the Zelenyi Hai capture claim to project an image of operational momentum ahead of the 1400Z talks. Internal RF IO is focused on stability (veteran benefits) and counter-UAF maritime narratives (TASS and military bloggers discussing responses to Midvolga 2). Pro-Russian disinformation includes the claim of capturing Vovchansk (Rybár 08:37Z), likely to distract from operational reality.
Domestic morale is supported by the highly publicized anti-corruption sweep against the energy sector official (Sheyko), reinforcing public trust in governance during a critical military phase. Military morale is bolstered by tactical success reports (Kara-Dag Brigade video). However, the widespread confirmed power outages will inevitably test civilian resilience.
The immediate strategic priority is the Putin-Witkoff meeting at 1400Z. This meeting frames the entire operational picture for the next 24 hours. The potential for RF to demand a ceasefire based on current kinetic gains (Pokrovsk GLOC severed, Stepnohorsk MLD breached) is the central diplomatic risk. The later Trump statement (2100Z) remains a major factor but is now secondary to the immediate Moscow talks.
MLCOA: KINETIC PUSH SYNCHRONIZED WITH DIPLOMATIC ULTIMATUM (CONFIDENCE: HIGH) RF Vostok Group completes consolidation of Zelenyi Hai by 021200Z DEC. Between 021400Z and 021600Z DEC, RF launches the maximum effort mechanized assault on the Stepnohorsk MLD. This breakthrough, even if localized, will be immediately amplified by RF media channels and used by the Russian delegation at the Moscow talks (1400Z start) to demand an immediate "de-escalation" (read: ceasefire on advanced lines), attempting to paralyze UAF and allied NCA response.
MDCOA: CASCADING AD FAILURE AND STRATEGIC CAPITULATION DEMAND (Risk Level: CRITICAL/HIGH) RF launches a localized, high-precision electronic attack (EA) against remaining UAF C2/MRAD assets defending the Southern Axis, immediately following the confirmation of the widespread power outages. This opens a decisive air corridor, allowing heavy KAB saturation and close air support (CAS) that collapses the 5 OShB defense in the Stepnohorsk sector. Simultaneously, the Putin-Witkoff meeting leads to an ultimatum that, if rejected, is immediately backed by a strategic policy negative shift announced by the Trump 2100Z statement, maximizing strategic isolation and forcing UAF internal paralysis.
| Event | Estimated Timeline (ETA) | Confidence | Decision Point/Trigger |
|---|---|---|---|
| RF Consolidation in Zelenyi Hai | NLT 021200Z DEC | HIGH | Confirmation of RF engineer/logistics elements in Zelenyi Hai (IMINT/ISR). |
| Putin-Witkoff Talks Begin | 021400Z DEC | HIGH | Strategic decision threshold for diplomatic messaging. UAF must respond immediately to RF framing. |
| Peak Stepnohorsk Assault | 021400Z - 021800Z DEC | HIGH | Detection of massed armor formations breaching the FLOT east of Stepnohorsk. |
| Trump Statement | 022100Z DEC | HIGH | Secondary strategic decision threshold requiring pre-planned NCA response. |
| Priority | Gaps/Unresolved Questions | Collection Requirement (CR) |
|---|---|---|
| PRIORITY 1 (KINETIC VALIDATION) | RF Unit Identification and Density in Zelenyi Hai. What specific BTGs/units are consolidating Zelenyi Hai? What is the projected vector of the main assault (North/West of Zelenyi Hai)? | IMINT/ISR (Stepnohorsk Salient): Continuous SAR/EO/IR surveillance of Zelenyi Hai and approach vectors. Priority on identifying armor staging and C2 vehicle signatures. (Timeline: IMMEDIATE/CONTINUOUS). |
| PRIORITY 2 (STRATEGIC UNCERTAINTY) | Content and Demands of Putin-Witkoff Meeting. What specific ceasefire terms or operational demands will RF present? | OSINT/HUMINT (Diplomatic Track/Moscow): Immediate monitoring of Russian diplomatic media (TASS/RIA Novosti) for key talking points or early 'leaks' NLT 021300Z DEC. |
| PRIORITY 3 (INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGE) | Assessment of Power Grid Damage. Quantify the operational impact of power outages on military C2, mobilization efforts, and key logistics hubs in the affected oblasts (especially Dnipropetrovsk/Kharkiv). | TECHINT/HUMINT (Infrastructure/CRI): Rapid damage assessment and redundancy reporting from Ministry of Energy and regional military administrations. (Timeline: NLT 021200Z DEC). |
//END OF REPORT//
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