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Historical Intelligence

Situation Report

Archived operational intelligence briefing

Report Time
2025-12-22 09:36:10Z
2 months ago
Previous (2025-12-22 09:06:08Z)

Situation Update (2025-12-22 09:35 UTC)

Key updates since last sitrep

  • (09:20, Colonelcassad, HIGH): Significant logistics disruption reported in Korosten (Zhytomyr Oblast); a freight train derailment has occurred with reported casualties. This impacts a primary rail GLOC for northern and western logistics.
  • (09:31, ASTRA, MEDIUM): Internal security incident in Belgorod (RF); reports of a takeover of a "Promsvyazbank" branch in the city center.
  • (09:11, Operatsiya Z, HIGH): Confirmed Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure; pro-RU sources disseminated infographics allegedly from Ukrenergo confirming regional outages.
  • (09:18, Liveuamap/GSZSU, HIGH): General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (GSZSU) confirms active clashes across 11 sectors, including towards Vilcha and Obukhivka (Kharkiv), and intense pressure in the Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka directions.
  • (09:25, Kotsnews, MEDIUM): RF reports successful test flight of Su-57 stealth fighter with new (likely Stage 2/Izdelie 30) engines, indicating long-term aviation modernization.
  • (09:12, CyberBoroshno, MEDIUM): Public focus on "Fire Point," a key Ukrainian defense manufacturer; potential OPSEC risk regarding domestic drone and missile production sites.

Operational picture (by sector)

Northeastern Axis (Sumy/Kharkiv/Kursk):

  • Vovchansk/Slobozhansky: GSZSU reports ongoing clashes near Vovchansk, Prylipka, Dvorichanske, and towards Vilcha/Obukhivka (Liveuamap, 09:18:07). This confirms the Vilcha sector is the current focus of the RF Northern grouping's efforts to widen the breach.
  • Sumy/Kursk Border: UAF successfully repelled 3 RU assaults in this sector (Liveuamap, 09:18:43). The situation remains fluid as RF attempts to fix UAF reserves.

Eastern Axis (Donbas):

  • Pokrovsk Direction: Most intense ground activity reported. Clashes ongoing near Shakhove, Rodynske, and Pokrovsk, with RF pushing toward Hryshyne and Novopavlivka (Liveuamap, 09:18:26).
  • Kostiantynivka/Kramatorsk: RF pressure continues near Kleban-Byk and Oleksandro-Shultyne, threatening the approach to the Kostiantynivka hub (Liveuamap, 09:18:23).
  • Lyman/Kupyansk: Sustained combat reported near Lyman and Drobysheve, and Petropavlivka (Kupyansk sector), indicating RF is maintaining high tempo across the entire Lugansk-Donetsk border (Liveuamap, 09:18:10, 09:18:13).

Southern Axis (Zaporizhzhia/Kherson/Odesa):

  • Odesa: Fire at Port "Pivdennyi" confirmed following RU strikes (Operativnyi ZSU, 09:18:35). This is part of a systemic effort to degrade grain export capability.
  • Zaporizhzhia: GSZSU confirms clashes in Orikhiv (Stepove, Stepnohirsk) and Huliaipole sectors (Liveuamap, 09:18:33, 09:18:36).
  • Kherson: UAF repelled 2 RF assaults on the left bank/islands (Liveuamap, 09:18:40).

Enemy activity / threat assessment

  • Course of Action (COA): RF is executing a coordinated "Retribution" campaign targeting energy and port infrastructure (Odesa/Pivdennyi) while maintaining high-intensity ground pressure on the Pokrovsk-Kostiantynivka line.
  • Aviation Modernization: The Su-57 engine test (Kotsnews, 09:25:03) suggests RF is nearing the deployment of more capable stealth platforms, which may impact long-term air superiority calculations.
  • Internal Distractions: The Belgorod bank seizure (ASTRA, 09:31:23) may force a temporary reallocation of local RF security forces (Rosgvardia) away from border protection duties.

Friendly activity (UAF)

  • Defensive Resilience: GSZSU reports show UAF is successfully repelling assaults in the North (Sumy) and South (Kherson) despite heavy multi-axis pressure.
  • Industrial Focus: Investigative reports on "Fire Point" (CyberBoroshno, 09:12:05) highlight the importance of domestic production in sustaining the "Drone Blockade" and asymmetric capabilities mentioned in previous reports.

Information environment / disinformation

  • OPU Instability (UNCONFIRMED): No new evidence has emerged to support the 09:01 claim of Andriy Yermak’s dismissal. Confidence remains LOW; likely a RU psychological operation.
  • Kremlin Strategic Signaling: Dmitry Peskov (Kremlin Spokesperson) denied reports of maximalist war aims (ASTRA, 09:26:39), likely an attempt to project a "reasonable" stance to international audiences while kinetic operations escalate.
  • Domestic RF issues: Reports on poverty levels (Новости Москвы, 09:15:18) and education cuts continue to surface, suggesting underlying social friction despite the war footing.

Outlook (next 6-12h)

  • MLCOA: Continued rail disruptions in Zhytomyr/Korosten will likely slow UAF logistics to the Eastern front. Expect RF to exploit this window with intensified assaults in the Pokrovsk sector.
  • MDCOA: Kinetic follow-up to the energy strikes, specifically targeting the Zhytomyr rail junction to permanently sever the northern GLOC.
  • Retaliation: High probability of RU missile strikes on C2 centers following the reported loss of the unnamed Russian General.

Intelligence gaps & collection requirements

  1. Korosten Derailment Cause: Urgent verification needed to determine if the derailment was caused by kinetic strike, sabotage (DRG), or mechanical failure.
  2. Vilcha Control Status: Conflicting reports between RU mil-bloggers (claiming capture) and GSZSU (reporting clashes towards it). Need satellite confirmation of the FLOT.
  3. Fire Point Security: Assess the physical security and obfuscation of Fire Point production facilities following increased media/investigative attention.

ACTIONABLE RECOMMENDATIONS:

  1. Logistics Rerouting: Immediately activate alternate road-based GLOCs for supplies transiting from the west to bypass the Korosten rail bottleneck.
  2. Infrastructure Defense: Intensify Air Defense coverage over energy substations and rail hubs in Central/Western Ukraine, as RF has shifted focus to these strategic nodes.
  3. Counter-Reconnaissance: Increase security patrols near military-industrial sites (ref: Fire Point) to prevent potential sabotage or precision targeting guided by leaked investigative details.
  4. Information Integrity: The OPU must issue a formal statement regarding leadership continuity to prevent the "Yermak dismissal" narrative from degrading military C2 confidence.
Previous (2025-12-22 09:06:08Z)

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