Bob Homans December 8
20221209
Ukraine – 12/8 Sitrep
Compiled by: Robert Homans
December 8, 2022
News From the Battlefield
Yesterday there was a strike against Kurakhove, in Donetsk Oblast, as well as Vinnytsa in Central Ukraine. Russia might be shifting their attacks on civilian infrastructure away from the recent strikes throughout Ukraine, attempting to shut down electrical service for the entire country, back to the strategy that they pursued last summer, attacks on civilian infrastructure in individual cities. For example, last summer there were attacks against the railroad station in Krematorsk, and a shopping center in Kremenchuk.
It isn’t clear of this is going on, but Russia suffered a major setback last Monday, losing several Tu-94 bombers on the tarmacs of 2 Russian airfields, and around 80 cruise missiles that were never fired in anger. This doesn’t include the additional 60 missiles that Ukraine shot down. Forbes/Ukraine estimates that the botched attack cost Russia between $400 & $500 million, in lost aircraft that cannot be replaced and 140 cruise missiles that never reached their targets. If this is indeed a change in Russian strategy, possible reasons may include:
· Russian may be focusing on cities where the NASM and IRIS-T missile systems, supplied by the U.S. and Germany respectively, aren’t located. These two missile systems have a close to 100% success rate. At the same time, Ukraine doesn’t have enough of these systems to cover the entire country.
· Russia may be running low on missiles. Indications are that Russia is now using missiles that have recently been produced, perhaps indicating that their inventory is low. Applying accounting terminology to the possible use of Russia’s missile inventory, Russia may be shifting from “First in – First out” (“FIFO”) to “Last in – First out” (“LIFO”) accounting for inventory expense. Businesses make this shift to reduce income taxes. Somehow, I doubt this is the intent of Russian arms producers.
· Attacking individual cities brings more of a randomness to Russia’s attacks, that perhaps they believe increases the fear factor.
“Reporting From Ukraine” focuses on the Bakhmut meat grinder. Russia’s use of prisoners as cannon fodder reminds me of the scene in the Russian movie, “Barber of Siberia,” where the Russian Orthodox priests are seen blessing the prisoners, as they’re sent off to internal exile in Siberia. I wonder of Russian prisoners fighting in Bakhmut get the the same consideration. Also, in the case of the movie there is sort of a happy ending.
More Tucker Carlson Drivel
Last night, Fox News talk show host Tucker Carlson roundly criticized Ukraine’s decision to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Moscow Patriarchate, an organization that is nothing more than an organ of the Russian State, as Ukraine banning a religion and preventing Christians from worshipping in Ukraine (I assume, lurking behind this remark of Tucker’s, is the fact that Pres. Zelenskyy is Jewish).
Patriarch Kirill, the Head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Moscow Patriarchate, is one of Russia’s leading propagandists. Kirill has been sanctioned in both the U.S. and the U.K. for his activities on behalf of the Russian State.
Tucker said “the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Moscow Patriarchate, is not Russian. It has no connection to the Russian Government.” That is an absolute lie, and the recent raids by Ukraine’s Security Service, the SBU, proves as much by finding large quantities of Russian propaganda on church grounds. In my opinion the decision to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Moscow Patriarchate is long overdue. Meanwhile, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine is an independent Eastern Orthodox Church where, along with the Greek Catholic Church, any Christian can worship freely.
Tucker goes on, and he digs himself an even deeper hole of lies. He describes Ukraine shutting down a opposition parties. The only opposition party I’m aware of that has been shut down is the “Opposition Party – For Life” that was led by Viktor Medvedchuk who for years has been Putin’s man in Ukraine. Medvedchuk is now in Russia, having been traded for Ukrainian servicepeople who were taken prisoner after defending the Azovstal Steel Plant in Mariupol. European Solidarity Headed by former President Petro Poroshenko who is Zelenskyy’s political opponent, is still active in Parliament.
The situation with Ukraine’s broadcast TV networks is very complex. Tucker can likely get away with arguing that opposition TV networks are banned, because Channel 5, owned by Petro Poroshenko, is not part of the “United Channel” that is allowed access to the transmission tower that was damaged early in the war. On the other hand, all the broadcast networks that existed prior to the war were all owned by oligarchs, including 1+1 that carried Zelenskyy’s comedy show. Ironically, the only network that carried news that could be considered independent of their oligarch owners was Channel 5. As usual, Tucker is twisting a very complex set of facts to fit his own narrative.
I’m embarrassed to say that I went to the same secondary school as Tucker (although over 20 years apart). Tucker sometimes refers to it as his “high school,” I suppose to make him more relevant to his viewers. I went to two alumni events held at his house in Washington. He was very generous to host them (I found him very personable, that is when he’s not in front of a camera). At one of them we brought him and his wife a box of Roshen chocolates, made by the company owned by Petro Poroshenko, one of Zelenskyy’s political opponents who is still very much free. It was a very bad use of good Ukrainian chocolate.
12/8 Sitrep (my comments in bold face)
Russian Invasion of Ukraine 12:00 noon December 7 to 12:00 noon December 8, 2022
Abbreviations:
RMA = Regional Military Administration SBU = Security Service of Ukraine
INTERNATIONAL
December 8
10:44: Politico recognizes Putin as 'loser of the year'
· The reason for this was his failure in Ukraine, which led to the loss of reputation not only in the world, but also in Russia itself.
· "Vladimir Putin's dream of a great Russia is unlikely to come true. His full-scale attack on the Ukraine began to fall apart almost as quickly as it began... The troops, which briefly threatened Kiev, are barely held in the east of the country. His decision to call on hundreds of thousands of new soldiers forced men of draft age to leave the country," politico said.
10:09 State Department spokesman said: The U.S. condemns Putin's "empty threats" of nuclear weapons after he stated in his speech the new risks of atomic war.
· "We believe that any chatter is completely irresponsible. If (country - ed.) does not apply the first under any circumstances, then the second will not apply either. Because the possibilities of using a nuclear strike on our territory are severely limited."
09:27 CNN: The Biden administration is thinking about supplying Ukraine with cluster munitions.
· The White House considered Ukraine's request for the supply of such ammunition for several months and did not reject it, writes CNN. The Biden Administration is not removing this option from consideration as a last resort if stocks begin to be dangerously depleted.
09:08 OP Chairman: The US Senate Committee has approved a resolution recognizing Russia's actions against the Ukrainian people as genocide.
08:35 Politico: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has become the most influential person in Europe.
08:44 The Washington Post: There will be no audit over the suspension of military assistance to Ukraine from the United States.
· The U.S. Senate blocked a bill for Republicans seeking to cut military aid to Ukraine.
08:10 Czech Foreign Minister: The Czech Republic will transfer to Ukraine another tranche of assistance in the amount of EUR 2 million - they will be sent to the medical sector and housing for displaced persons.
00:04 Voice of America: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee supported a resolution recognizing Russia's actions in Ukraine as genocide.
December 7
22:43: Ukrainian volunteers speak at a meeting of the Helsinki Commision (Commission on Cooperation and Security in Europe) in the US Congress. In particular, the Serhiy Prytula Foundation, "Come Back Alive", "Razom for Ukraine" and "Blue/Yellow for Ukraine"
22:33: Germany sends additional equipment and weapons to Ukraine as part of military support
· Germany provides more howitzers and drone protection sensors, the German government said in a statement.
· Ukraine has already received 20 Dingo armored personnel carriers and two M1070 Oshkosh heavy-duty semi-trailers.
· 18 wheeled howitzers RCH 155;
· 80 pickups;
· 90 sensors of protection against drones and mufflers;
· two hangar tents;
· seven 8x6 trucks with a variable loading system.
21:45: Canada and the Netherlands joined Ukraine's claim to the International Court of Justice regarding genocide by the Russian Federation.
· "We reiterate the importance of these proceedings and once again call on Russia to immediately suspend its military operations in Ukraine, as the court ruled in its legally binding order on interim measures of March 16, 2022," the Ministry of Global Affairs of Canada said.
21:05: The delegation of Ukraine did not allow the approval of Russian representative Mikhail Emelianov as Deputy Secretary General in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation.
· "This year we have protected the organization from Russia's influence. We are building our subjectivity in the international arena," deputy Oleksandr Marikovskyi said.
20:55 Bloomberg: The United Kingdom will announce a new package of sanctions against Russia.
19:45: The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced the ninth package of sanctions against Russia.
· Main:
o almost 200 individuals and legal entities, as well as 3 Russian banks, fell under the sanctions;
o restricting Russia's access to UAVs through potential suppliers from third countries;
o new export control measures, including dual-use goods;
o removal of four more propaganda channels from the air.
19:33: Real Madrid announces the transfer of 20 generators to Ukraine amid the destruction of the country's energy infrastructure because of Russian rocket attacks.
· "The electricity shortage in Ukraine caused by the Russian bombing of energy facilities in the country is affecting the lives of millions of Ukrainians. The lack of central heating means that they are experiencing the effects of a sharp drop in temperature in the country," the Spanish top club said in a statement.
19:25 Financial Times - NATO Secretary General: Ukraine has the right to defend itself against Russia's attacks on its cities and critical infrastructure.
· Currently, conditions are "not ripe" for peace talks. "Russia has shown no signs of participating in negotiations that respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity."
19:05: French President Emmanuel Macron believes that Russians and Belarusians should participate in the 2024 Olympics in Paris, despite the war in Ukraine.
· This was announced during a press conference by the President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach.
· He also added that the Olympic movement "should be a unifying, not a divisive force."
18:40 Bild: Commenting on the recent strikes on military installations in Russia, German federal government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit noted that Ukraine has the right to defend itself not only on its own territory.
18:13: The United States has blacklisted ten Russian companies, according to the electronic database of the US Federal Register.
· For companies on the list, there will be a "presumption of refusal" when considering applications for export licenses.
18:03 Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Korea: Ukraine received humanitarian aid from South Korea in the form of 100 pickups and five mini-excavators.
16:54 CEO of Karpowership: Turkey can supply Ukraine with electricity using floating stations in Romania and Moldova.
· According to her, the company can supply a volume of electricity, which is enough to provide about a million households. Negotiations on this issue have already begun.
16:30 Politico: Ukraine can receive $3 billion from the Afghan NATO Fund.
· The publication notes that we are talking about a trust fund created to support and train the National Army of Afghanistan. NATO countries are ready to consider redistributing part of the $ 3.4 billion, and such an initiative is mostly not controversial.
14:58: American Time magazine recognized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and "Ukrainian spirit" as the person of the year.
14:38 Politico: Lithuania has called on the United States or European countries to provide Ukraine with long-range missiles, like an American-made ATACMS or a European counterpart.
· According to Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrid Šimonytė, the Ukrainian military can quickly master any of these systems and needs these weapons to better attack the positions of Russian troops.
13:47 Foreign Minister of Ukraine: Ukrainian diplomats and diplomatic missions continue to receive threats.
· A total of 31 cases have already been recorded in 15 countries, including Austria, Romania, Hungary, Spain, the United States and Poland.
13:38 British government website: The U.S. and Britain have announced an energy partnership to end Europe's dependence on Russia.
· The US and UK intend to improve energy efficiency, support the transition to renewable energy, accelerate the development of hydrogen technologies around the world, and work to promote civilian nuclear energy.
12:19 The New York Times: Russia may produce cruise missiles despite sanctions - a report by British arms research group Conflict Armament Research.
· After examining the markings on the wreckage of Kh-101 cruise missiles found in Kyiv after the November 23 attack, experts concluded that one of them was manufactured this summer and the other completed after September.
NATIONAL
December 8
11:40: The President of the Red Cross arrived in Ukraine
· ICRC chief Mirjana Spoliarić-Egger announced her four-day visit to the Ukraine on Twitter.
· "Today I will meet people in Mykolaiv and Kherson region who are going through a terrible winter and meet the ICRC teams in Ukraine and the Ukrainian Red Cross Society who are working to help," Egger said.
11:16: There is a significant shortage of electricity in the Ukrainian energy system, Ukrenergo said.
· The most difficult situation is observed in the east. In Kyiv and Odessa regions, round-the-clock work is underway to restore the network.
11:08 Institute for the Study of War: Russians probably modified the Iranian Shahed drones to operate in cold weather.
· Russian troops used Iranian-made drones to strike Ukrainian cities for the first time in three weeks, probably because they modified drones for colder weather.
10:58: The President conferred the title of Hero of Ukraine on military pilot Vadym Voroshilov with the call sign "Karaya", who shot down kamikaze drones "Shahed-136" over Vinnytsia region and withdrew his damaged plane to the settlement.
10:36: Civilian casualties because of Russia's armed aggression on 07.12.2022 according to regional military administrations
· Donetsk – 9 killed and 15 wounded
· Zaporizhia – 1 wounded
· Kherson – 2 killed and 1 wounded
08:26 DTEK: As of December 8, emergency blackouts continue to operate in Kyiv, Odesa and Dnipro.
· "This is a necessary step to balance the power system and avoid equipment accidents."
08:10: The UN monitoring mission documented 441 killings of civilians by Russian troops in the villages of Kyiv, Chernihiv and Sumy regions from February 24 to April 6, 2022. This is stated in the report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
08:10: Ukraine received the original UNESCO certificate on the inclusion of borscht in the list of world intangible heritage - the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
07:48: Operational information from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of 06:00 on December 8:
· "Over the past day, the enemy has inflicted 7 missile and 16 air strikes, carried out more than 40 attacks from multiple launch rocket systems.
· The threat of Russian missile strikes on objects of the energy system and critical infrastructure throughout Ukraine remains in the future."
· "According to available information, in the temporarily occupied city of Yasynuvata, Donetsk region, during the transportation of one of the units of the occupying forces, about 20 people with weapons from among the previously imprisoned persons fled to combat positions.
· As a result of the search actions, three fugitives were destroyed. Events continue. As they say, beat your own, so that strangers are afraid."
· "In the temporarily occupied territory of the Zaporizhia region, in order to replenish the current losses, the Russian occupiers plan to mobilize local residents.
· In the city of Melitopol, Zaporizhia region, the issuance of summonses to men of draft age was noted with a demand to arrive at the military commissariat in the near future."
· "At the same time, our soldiers shot down an attack UAV of the "Shahed-136" type and a reconnaissance drone "Orlan".
· During the past day, the Aviation of the Defense Forces inflicted 17 strikes on areas of concentration of personnel, weapons, and military equipment, as well as 2 strikes on the positions of enemy anti-aircraft missile systems.
· "Over the past day, units of the missile forces and artillery of the Defense Forces of Ukraine hit 6 control points, 5 areas of concentration of personnel, artillery position and 2 enemy ammunition depots."
07:19 Member of the Parliament's Committee on National Security: Since February 24, Russia has destroyed 38 thousand residential buildings in Ukraine.
· Also, according to him, the Russians destroyed 2,719 educational and more than 1,250 medical institutions.
07:08: Within three days, 5 munitions warehouses and 1 Russian base were demilitarized.
00:25: "Soil" made a translation of an article from TIME, which justifies why the President of Ukraine and each of the Ukrainians today became the Person of the Year.
· "One of the soldiers took a nap of our whole visit, and then he sat down on the bed, pulled on his uniform and went on business. No one gave honor or got up during the visit of the commander-in-chief. Lunch was served in the dining room in plastic plates and glasses: stew with rice, soup with sausages and bread," the journalist tells his impressions of the meeting with the President of Ukraine.
08:47 Social Networks: Explosions are heard in Kherson.
00:36: In the Kherson region, the head of the Main Department of the National Police of Cherkasy region Mykhailo Kuratchenko and 3 other police officers blew up on an enemy mine
· Their group was engaged in stabilizing measures in de-occupied settlements.
00:11 Social Networks: Explosions are heard in Kherson.
December 7
23:47 Ministry of Justice: Oschadbank sues Russia $1.1 billion for Crimean assets
· The French Supreme Court ruled in favor of Ukraine, Deputy Minister of Justice Iryna Mudra said on Wednesday.
· "This is more than a victory for Ukraine. This is one of those stories that inspires us to fight on and proves that justice is possible," the deputy minister wrote on Facebook.
11:35: Chernihiv Mayor Vladislav Atroshenko accused officials of the President's Office of ouster: "It's hard to see the law from Porsche's window."
· He also noted that disrespectful attitude towards the people of Ukraine would be an even greater mistake than a frivolous attitude towards Russia. "I will definitely appeal. I consider this a matter of honor. The struggle for all local self-government. Against its destruction."
20:04 Center for National Resistance: Russians are taking away the property of Ukrainians who evacuated from the southern regions.
· In the temporarily occupied Primorsk, Zaporozhye region, an ad was posted around the city with the message that property owners should apply to the Russian "administration" for documents or the property will be recognized as mismanaged and taken away.
19:54 Ukrenergo: Russian troops fired more than 1000 missiles and shells at Ukraine's energy facilities.
· According to the Chairman of the Board, Ukraine has a large shortage of generating capacities.
19:15 National Anti-Corruption Prosecutor press service: Yavoriv district court of Lviv deprived Chernihiv mayor Vladyslav Atroshenko of the right to hold the post of mayor for a year.
18:50: Ukraine has already received UAH 2.2 billion in revenues from seized Russian and Belarusian property, the press service of the BEB said.
· It is reported that we are talking about rolling stock and inventory.
18:20: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: During the day, residential buildings, and other civilian objects of the city of Korosten, Zhytomyr region, and a number of settlements in the Zaporizhia region were damaged by enemy missile strikes and UAVs.
· In addition, residential areas of the city of Kurakhove, Donetsk region, were shelled from the MLRS.
· During the current day, Ukrainian aviation has inflicted 11 strikes on areas of concentration of personnel, weapons and military equipment, as well as a strike on the positions of anti-aircraft missile systems of the Russian Federation.
· During the day, Ukrainian soldiers shot down a shock UAV of the "Shahed-136" type.
· Units of the missile forces and artillery of the Defense Forces of Ukraine for the current day hit 3 control points, 2 areas of concentration of personnel, the area of concentration of artillery and 2 ammunition depots of the Russian Federation.
17:33 Minister of Digital Transformation: Ukrainians will be able to obtain a driver's license electronically.
· Upon receipt of the document, it will be possible to abandon plastic altogether, and get only digital documents.
· It will be possible to issue a plastic certificate at any time, it will be sent by mail in case of application.
16:39 Chairman of the Board: Russia's missile strikes on the territory of Ukraine damaged 350 facilities of Naftogaz.
· "Since the beginning of the Russian aggression, more than 350 facilities of Naftogaz Group enterprises have been damaged. These are gas and oil infrastructure facilities. In addition, more than 450 km of gas pipelines were damaged," Chernyshov said.
15:45 press service of the National Guard: During Russia's massive rocket attack on the territory of Ukraine on December 5, fighters of the National Guard shot down an Kh-101 cruise missile with small arms.
14:47 press service of the CCU: The Constitutional Court of Ukraine dismissed 3 judges Iryna Zovgorodnya, Serhiy Sas and Ihor Slidenko. They independently submitted a letter of resignation.
· The relevant decision was made at a special plenary session of the Constitutional Court today.
13:57 Financial Times: "Soon we will be able to hit all targets, including in Siberia. Soon, Russia will not have safe zones," the Ukrainian government's defense adviser said on condition of anonymity.
14:28: Civilian casualties as a result of Russia's armed aggression for 06.12.2022 according to regional military administrations.
· Dnipro – 1 wounded
· Donetsk – 3 wounded
· Zaporizhia – 1 killed and 6 wounded
· Sumy – 1 wounded
· Kharkiv – 1 killed, 2 wounded
· Kherson – 2 killed, 3 wounded
14:20 SBU press service: According to the SBU, a priest of the UOC (MP) who "merged" the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Severodonetsk was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
· The security service has gathered indisputable evidence of the guilt of two more Russian agents. One of the enemy's henchmen is the abbot of the UOC (MP) temple in Lysychansk.
· Another priest of the UOC (MP) was exposed by the SBU in the Luhansk region, he handed over to the Russians the places of stay of participants in the resistance movement, including former ATO fighters.
12:35 President: Thousands of dead dolphins have been thrown onto the Black Sea coast. The Russian war has a huge impact on the wildlife of our country.
· Employees of one of the national parks collect evidence of crimes and intend to hold Russia accountable for ecocide in Ukraine.
12:09 Ukrenergo: There is a significant shortage of electricity in Ukraine.
· Russian troops last night re-shelled several energy infrastructure facilities at once. Now repair work is underway in the east of the country, in the Odessa and Kiev regions, the company said.
MORDOR (russia)
December 8
08:50 Social Networks: Explosions are heard in the Belgorod region, Russia.
07:38 Social Networks: In the temporarily occupied Sevastopol, explosions were heard in the morning.
07:28 Institute for the Study of War: Putin is preparing the population for a protracted, exhausting war with Ukraine, which is still aimed at conquering additional territories.
· Analysts noted that during a meeting with the Council under the President of the Russian Federation for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights (RPL), a contradiction in terms if I ever saw one, Putin noted that the war in Ukraine could be a "long process", and the seizure of new territory was a significant result for Russia.
December 7
21:25 CNN: Belarus has begun moving military and equipment along the Ukrainian border.
· The other day, Russian Defense Minister Shoigu flew on an unannounced visit to Belarus, according to US media.
16:45 putin: The so-called "special operation" (full-scale war) can be a lengthy process.
15:57: The governor of the Kursk region published a photo from the construction site of a defensive line on the border with Ukraine.
15:19: Belarus plans to introduce the death penalty for the state council for officials and the military, the press service of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus reports.
· The draft law also proposes to introduce responsibility for the dissemination of deliberately false information that discredits the Armed Forces.
15:14: In the temporarily occupied Shakhtarsk, a Russian truck crashed into a minibus. 16 people died.
· The driver of the minibus, who also died, was found guilty, said Petro Andryushchenko, adviser to the mayor of Mariupol.
14:08 Russian Media: Iran and Russia will soon sign a comprehensive cooperation agreement, ambassador to Moscow Kazem Jalali said.
13:27 Zeit: Russia has again ordered hundreds of drones and ballistic missiles from Iran.
· "We don't think they've already been shipped, but they're definitely in the order books. Thus, the Kremlin wants to counter the acute shortage of weapons for attacks," the publication writes, citing UN sources in New York.
12:46 British intelligence: Russian authorities are advancing defensive preparations on their internationally recognized territory, particularly in the Belgorod region, to ignite patriotic feelings of citizens.
· Trench digging in Belgorod has been reported since at least April 2022, but the new structures are likely more complex systems designed to repel a mechanized attack, the review said.
It seems that there are no long-range weapons in Ukraine (???), but someone is attacking the Russian airbases, which are located almost 500 km away from the borders of Ukraine.
Therefore, either Ukraine has such a weapon, Ukrainian saboteurs can reach such a distance unnoticed 🥂, or Russian soldiers consistently disobey orders not to smoke in areas where ammunition and flammable liquids are being handled.
By the way, the Kremlin is 451 km away from the border of Ukraine
KHARKIV
December 7
19:09 Social Networks: Explosions are heard in the Kharkiv region.
13:06 Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor: Yesterday, Russian troops, using artillery and S-300 systems, shelled the Kharkiv region.
· The city of Kupyansk, the village of Borivske and the villages of Chuhuiv district were under attack. As a result of the shelling of the Russian Armed Forces, a 71-year-old man and a 43-year-old woman were killed.
LUHANSK
December 7
12:56 Luhansk RMA: The Russians are preparing an offensive on Kupyansk, Kharkiv region.
· According to him, Russian troops pulled a lot of forces and equipment into the Svatove area.
DONETSK
December 8
11:26 Donetsk RMA: At night, the Russians continued to shoot in different sections of the front line.
· In Donetsk sector, periodic shelling of the outskirts of the Mariinsky and Ocheretynska communities took place at night , and in the morning Avdiivka was shelled three times — without casualties.
· In the Horlivka direction, 2 people died — in Bakhmut and Ivanovo. Another 2 people in Bakhmut were injured. Isolated shelling was recorded on the outskirts of the Soledar community, where there were no casualties.
· In the Lysychansk direction, 3 people were injured and 7 houses were damaged in Yampol of the Liman community.
December 7
22:58 President Zelenskyy: As a result of the strike on Kurakhove in the Donetsk region, 10 people were killed, there are also many wounded.
21:35 Mariupol City Council: In the apartments of Mariupol residents, water turns into ice.
· "This is the conditions in which the inhabitants of the city live under occupation. The tap water just froze, just like in a cat bowl. There is still no heating in the apartments, so people just survive. Complaints and requests for help do not give anything." - the message says.
21:15 Social Networks: Russian troops are shelling Avdiivka with phosphorus bombs right now. Video from social networks.
16:20 Advisor to the Mayor of Mariupol: The Russians have turned the temporarily occupied Mariupol into their rear military and logistics base.
· According to Andryushchenko, the Russians are bringing so-called "dragon teeth" — concrete fortifications for the defense of the city — to Mariupol. The first such batch arrived on December 6.
16:06 Donetsk RMA: At least 6 people were killed and 5 others injured as a result of the strike on the city of Kurakhove in the Donetsk region.
· The market, bus station, gas stations and residential buildings in the city center came under fire.
· 4:14: The death toll from the Russian strike on the city of Kurakhove has risen to 8 people, the OP said.
ZAPORIZHIA
December 7
22:25 Social Networks: Explosions are heard in the temporarily occupied Tokmak, Zaporizhia region.
DNIPRO
December 8
09:38 Dnipro RMA: The Russians shelled the Chervonohryhorivska, Nikopolska and Marganets communities 7 times during the night from "grads" and heavy artillery.
· "More than 70 deadly shells have arrived in peaceful cities and villages. It passed without the dead and wounded."
· 11:01 a.m. Social Networks: Explosions are reported in the temporarily occupied Hola Prystan, Kherson region.
December 7
22:19 Local Media: On December 6, a trident was installed on the roof of one of the high-rise buildings in the Dnieper – earlier there was a five-pointed Soviet star.
KHERSON
December 8
10:28 Kherson RMA: Russians shelled the territory of Kherson region 30 times.
· Last day, due to shelling by Russians, 2 civilians were killed and another 1 resident of the Kherson region was injured.
December 7
19:06 Social Networks: Explosions are heard in Kherson.
16:47 Social Networks: Explosions are heard again in Kherson.
15:59 Social Networks: Explosions are heard in Kherson.
15:08 SBU press service: The SBU detained a former law enforcement officer in Kherson who helped the enemy create a "branch" of the FSB in the city.
· This occupation body, called the "sovereign security service", was to carry out Moscow's tasks to suppress the resistance movement and spread russian rule in the region.
14:46 Social Networks: Explosions are heard again in Kherson.
14:05 Social Networks: Explosions are heard in Kherson.
MYKOLAIV
December 8
09:52 Mykolaiv RMA: At night, Mykolaiv was hit by a Russian rocket attack, according to preliminary information from the S-300 anti-aircraft missile system. No casualties or casualties.
· Also yesterday, shelling took place outside one of the settlements of the Kutsurub community. There are no casualties or destruction.
· At night, the Russians struck from the MLRS on the port territory of the Ochakov community. There are no casualties.
December 7
23:53 Social Networks: An explosion is heard in Mykolaiv.
13:17 Mykolaiv RMA: Russian troops cannot bring additional equipment to the Kinburn Spit or increase the number of personnel there.
· He noted that all races to the spit are under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. However, the occupying forces of the Russian Federation still remain on the Kinburn Spit .
ODESA
December 7
20:13 Odesa RMA: Tomorrow in Odessa and the region the lights will not be turned off. This is necessary to adjust the heating system.
· "DTEK and Ukrenergo have the opportunity to reconnect the power scheme in order to provide electricity to all consumers of the city of Odesa and the Odesa district that night in order to warm up the city during the day without shutdowns," he said.
17:43 NABU: The High Anti-Corruption Court arrested Odesa businessman Borys Kaufman with the possibility of making a deposit of UAH 129 million.
· Kaufman is suspected of involvement in the creation of a criminal organization that controlled all significant budget expenditures of Odesa and coordinated the main issues on the agenda of the sessions of the Odessa City Council.
18:13: The SBU detained a Russian agent in Odesa who was "hunting" for Ukrainian Neptune anti-ship complexes.
· The attacker collected intelligence about the locations and movements of units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the territory of Odesa.
KYIV
December 7
18:23: Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko posted a video of what a renovated high-rise building on Chernobyl Street in Kyiv looks like. The high rise was damaged by a missile strike.
· Then, out of 126 apartments, 64 burned out completely, 62-partially.
SUMY
December 7
22:08 Sumy RMA: At about 14:30, Russian troops fired mortars at the Znob-Novgorod community. 11 mines exploded on the outskirts of one of the border villages.
15:29 Sumy RMA: Consequences of yesterday's shelling of the Khotyn community.
· Russian troops simultaneously struck from self-propelled guns and mortars. The village outpatient clinic was completely destroyed. At the local farm, the arrivals were in the barn.
Comparing Soviet invasion of Afghanistan to Russian invasion of Ukraine using Wikipedia and Ukraine Ministry of Defense Daily Bulletins. Soviet and Russian military losses not including captured equipment.
SOURCES
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/
https://euromaidanpress.com/
https://cutt.ly/Blyskavka