AIR DEFENSE: KYIV ALL-CLEAR (1550Z, KMVA, HIGH): Air raid alert terminated for Kyiv city and oblast. Interception efficacy remains high, though post-action BDA for the 1500Z wave is ongoing.
WEATHER: CYCLONE "FRANCIS" (1534Z, Новости Москвы, HIGH): Russian aviation authority (Rosaviatsia) warns of a second wave of mass flight cancellations due to severe weather. This will likely degrade Russian VKS (Aerospace Forces) sortie rates and logistical airlifts in the 12-24h window.
TACTICAL THREAT: ZAPORIZHZHIA ENCIRCLEMENT (1532Z, Rybar, MEDIUM): Pro-Russian sources report offensive maneuvers aimed at enveloping Huliaipole via Pryluky. This aligns with the previously reported C2 spike at the 49th Combined Arms Army HQ.
NEW AERIAL THREAT: NORTHERN AXIS (1534Z-1554Z, UAF Air Force, HIGH): New groups of strike UAVs detected in Sumy (moving north of Shostka) and Chernihiv (vectors toward Kholmy, Baturyn, and Lyubech).
ENGAGEMENT: HULIAIPOLE DRG ACTIVITY (1535Z, Voin DV, LOW/UNCONFIRMED): Russian "Vostok" grouping claims to have intercepted a UAF reconnaissance group (allegedly 225th Assault Bn) on the eastern outskirts of Huliaipole.
BDA CONFIRMATION: KUPYANSK (1554Z, Operativnyi ZSU, HIGH): Visual evidence confirms a "slaughterhouse" of Russian personnel and equipment in the Kupyansk sector, validating the 1500Z tactical success report.
Operational picture (by sector)
1. Northern Axis (Kyiv/Sumy/Chernihiv)
Kyiv: Threat temporarily abated; status returned to "Ready."
Sumy/Chernihiv: Active UAV corridors. Current vectors (Shostka, Baturyn) suggest RF is targeting local energy infrastructure or attempting to map mobile AD positions in the northern forests.
Weather: Cyclone Francis is severely impacting visibility and drone operations in the border regions.
2. Eastern Axis (Kupyansk/Lyman)
Kupyansk: Defensive lines holding. High-confidence video BDA shows complete destruction of RF assault columns. Russian paratrooper units (VDV) remain active but are suffering high attrition (1535Z).
Lyman: No significant change in geometry since 1500Z.
3. Southern Axis (Zaporizhzhia)
Huliaipole Sector: This has emerged as the primary RF focus. Russian bloggers (Rybar) are telegraphing an "encirclement" narrative (1532Z). The reported engagement with a UAF DRG (1535Z) suggests RF forces are pushing into the immediate outskirts of Huliaipole to find gaps in the reinforced defense.
Logistics: Zaporizhzhia OVA (1543Z) has cleared air alerts, potentially allowing for the safe movement of the reinforcements reported at 1520Z.
Enemy activity / threat assessment
Operational Maneuver: RF is attempting to exploit the weather-induced collapse of UAF anti-drone screens (reported in 1500Z daily summary) by pushing mechanized/infantry assaults toward Huliaipole.
Air Capabilities: While strike UAVs remain active, the grounding of civilian flights in Russia due to Cyclone "Francis" (1534Z) indicates that tactical aviation (Su-34/Su-35) may also face significant operational constraints, limiting KAB (guided bomb) support for their Zaporizhzhia offensive.
Course of Action: RF is likely using the Huliaipole "encirclement" narrative as psychological pressure to force UAF to commit reserves from other sectors.
Friendly activity (UAF)
Counter-Reconnaissance: UAF forces (potentially 225th Assault Bn) are actively contesting the "gray zone" around Huliaipole to prevent RF from establishing jump-off points for the claimed envelopment.
Air Defense: Effectively neutralized the UAV threat to Kyiv; currently repositioning to address the Sumy/Chernihiv waves.
Information environment / disinformation
Weapon Systems Vulnerability: RU sources (Operation Z) are amplifying German reports (Die Welt) regarding the Arrow-3 system's inability to intercept "Oreshnik" missiles (1544Z). This is a clear attempt to undermine European confidence in strategic AD during the current missile/UAV campaign.
Strategic Distraction: Continued focus on "SMO in Armenia/Central Asia" (1547Z) and US/Greenland (1540Z) serves to mask the scale of casualties currently being sustained in Kupyansk.
Outlook (next 6-12h)
Most Likely Course of Action (MLCOA): RF will intensify ground assaults in the Huliaipole-Pryluky corridor to exploit the logistical disruption. UAVs currently over Chernihiv/Sumy will target regional power substations to further strain the Ukrainian energy grid during the winter storm.
Most Dangerous Course of Action (MDCOA): RF "Vostok" grouping achieves a tactical breakthrough in Huliaipole before the UAF reinforcements (Zaporizhzhia OVA) can be fully deployed, potentially creating a localized collapse of the line.
Intelligence gaps & collection requirements
Huliaipole Geometry: Immediate confirmation of RF presence in the eastern outskirts of Huliaipole is required. Is the 1535Z report a localized skirmish or a foothold?
VKS Sortie Rate: Monitor RF airfields (Voronezh, Rostov) for Su-34 activity to determine if Cyclone "Francis" has effectively grounded the KAB-strike platform.
H-15 Highway Status: Status of the H-15 highway (Zaporizhzhia-Donetsk) given the RF push toward Pryluky.
INTELLIGENCE PREPARATION OF THE BATTLEFIELD (IPB) SUMMARY
SITUATION OVERVIEW: The operational tempo is shifting toward the South (Zaporizhzhia) while the North deals with persistent UAV harassment. Weather is currently the decisive factor in both aerial operations and logistical sustainment.
THREAT ASSESSMENT: The 49th CAA and "Vostok" grouping are the immediate kinetic threat to the Zaporizhzhia defensive line. Information operations are increasingly focused on degrading NATO/European defense morale.
PREDICTIVE ANALYSIS: Expect high-intensity urban/suburban combat in Huliaipole within 6-12h. If the weather continues to grounding RF aviation, UAF has a window to stabilize the sector using ground-based assets.
