Ukraine Conflict: 5-Day Full Frontline Update
Table of Contents 📖
"This has been a really difficult area for the Ukrainians as the Russians are just piling on all over the shop here. And it does look like Kramatorsk's days are somewhat numbered as the Russians are almost certainly going to fill this in as they approach Andriivka."
Hello Team
🎦 00:00-00:17⏩
Jonathan welcomes everyone to the channel and explains that it is a 5 day frontline update as he has been busy doing daily live streams with Jonathan Fink.
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📍 FRONT-LINE UPDATE -🗺️ MAP LEGEND
Map Key
🎦 00:17-00:27⏩
Jonathan points viewers to the map key if they need to familiarise themselves.
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ISW Report Summary
🎦 00:27-01:27⏩
Jonathan refers to the Institute for the Study of War's (ISW) latest report which is from the previous day and therefore slightly out of date. Jonathan takes the key points from the ATP Distilled Website summary. Ukrainian forces have destroyed 90% of Russian TOS-1A thermobaric artillery systems since 1st December.
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Svatove-Kreminna Front
🎦 01:27-02:30⏩
Jonathan highlights the area on the map where the Ukrainians had success in destroying the Russian TOS-1A systems. Further south, Russian forces have had some success. Jonathan notes that the commander of the Ukrainian battalion operating in the Sversk direction reported that Russian forces took advantage of poor weather conditions to conduct an assault involving about 60 personnel, buggies, armoured personnel carriers, and motorcycles on the night of December the 17th and 18th. The Russians have increased the number of guided glide bomb strikes from 14 to 16 per week to over 30 per week. A Ukrainian officer operating in the same area has reported that Russian forces are displaying a higher level of training and coordination between units, which is attributed to recent command changes in the 3rd Combined Arms Army.
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Kursk Oblast
🎦 02:30-04:50⏩
Jonathan notes Substantial Russian gains in the Kursk Oblast over the past 5 days in the northern area where Ukraine is trying to hold on in the area north west of Malaya Luhanya. Russians have taken considerable territory to the west and further to the east around Chukasovia and Poroshenoye. Andrew Perpetua and Suriyak maps show different lines. Jonathan expresses concern about the number of Russian drone strikes, roads of death and equipment that the Russians have had attrited. He acknowledges that it will also have been very painful for the Ukrainians there too. There are reports of continued activity around the Lipsy and Vovchansk areas with Ukrainian attacks in the Kliobukai area.
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Kupyansk-Svatove Front
🎦 04:50-07:40⏩
Jonathan notes that in the Kupyansk-Svatove front, that according to Andrew Perpetua's maps, the Russians have pushed the Ukrainians back to the Oskil River since the initial lightning counter offensive. Jonathan notes that this is a concern for the Ukrainians as is the fact that they have crossed the river further north and are advancing on Zapadny. Jonathan states that he would not be happy about the Russians being that side of the Oskil river at all. Further south, the Ukrainians have had some success pushing the Russians back from the Kolesnikivka area. Deepstate map confirms reports that the enemy has been knocked out of the forest in the area. Ukrainian forces have been securing and repelling Russian attempts to return to the forest. Jonathan notes that this is good news but that further south the Russians are pushing westwards towards the Oskil River south of the area they already control. Jonathan notes that if they have to cross a river, this is the area to do it (from a Ukrainian perspective). Further south, there have been some Russian gains around Turney.
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Chesivyar
🎦 07:40-08:41⏩
Jonathan observes that there has been no change to the frontline in Chesivyar in the past 5 days, although there are some claims that Ukrainians have made some gains in the refractory plant area. Grey Zone has reported that Ukrainians have had some success in that area. Jonathan notes that this is from today (19th December) so it may be that the maps will reflect this in the coming days.
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Bakhmut Front
🎦 08:41-11:29⏩
There has been some push and shove around Turetsk with the Ukrainians pushing back at the tailings heap but the Russians squeezing extra streets out to the south of Turetsk, in the centre and pushing out westwards. North of the tailings heap, there has been no change to the northern part of the Prokrosk frontline. The Russians have made small gains around Krasnaya and Mykolaivka - a couple of small fields north of the railway line. This is worrying because it means they are getting closer and closer to Prokrosk. Some Russian sources are claiming that they are only 3km from Prokrosk. There are some claims that Ukrainians have pushed the Russians back in Shevchenko. Greyskull has reported that Ukrainians are advancing in Shevchenko. The Ukrainians appear to have retaken the field area and are pushing back into Shevchenko. This may be where the French trained and equipped Anne of Kyiv unit are based. There are conflicting reports about whether this unit has been split up and allocated to other units in the area. There is no doubt that the Ukrainians need help as the Russians are making steady and substantial gains. The situation for Prokrosk is looking challenging as the Russians make gains.
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Donetsk Front
🎦 11:29-13:59⏩
Moving south from Prokrosk, the Russians have made gains but there is some stasis in Velikonovosilka itself. North of there, the Russians have retaken Novyi Komar, which the Ukrainians had retaken. South of Velyka Novosilka, the Russians are pushing up the Mokri Yali river which meanders south past Stary Milsky and Urozhine. The Russians are now comfortably past there and are filling in the gaps along the river as they approach Neskuchny. Further east, there has not been too much change but there are some pins around Nestoryanka, which is on the way towards the reservoir. Robotyne is further to the west. Nestorianka is moving ever closer to Orikhiv which is a concern as this is an important staging post for the Ukrainians, despite taking heavy losses.
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Wrap up
🎦 13:59-14:44⏩
That's the end of the 5 day update. In summary, Ukrainians are holding on in Kursk, there are worrying signs across the Oskil River, the Ukrainians are fighting back in some places and keeping it stable in others. However, they are still losing significant ground from Turetsk downwards. The Donbas front is a real challenge for the Ukrainians. Jonathan expresses the hope that they can bring in some reserves to stem the flow of territorial losses.
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