Russia's war on Ukraine. 01.12.24
Operational situation
On the Kursk direction, Russian forces attempted to advance near Martynovka, Daryino, and the eastern outskirts of Tolstyi Lug. Fighting occurred near Novoivanovka, Nikolaevo-Daryino, Nizhniy Klin, Sverdlivkovo, and Plekhovo.
On the Kharkiv direction, units of the Ukrainian "Siversk" OTG regained control over previously lost positions southeast of Hlyboke and conducted counterattacks between Lyptsi and Hlyboke. The enemy uses drone strikes to prevent Ukrainian forces from crossing the Vovcha River in Vovchansk.
Russian forces advanced near Kudiyivka, Hoptivka, Kozacha Lopan, Hlyboke, Vovchansk, and Tykhe.
On the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces advanced near Novomlynsk, northwest of Kolisnykivka, near Lozova, and in the areas of Kolisnykivka, Pishchane, Lozova, Zahryzove, Pershotravneve, Zelenyi Hai, Vyshneve, Druzhelyubivka, Hrekivka, and Novoyehorivka.
On the Lyman direction, Russian forces advanced on Yampolivka, the eastern outskirts of Terny, Torske, Zarichne, Dibrova, the Serebriansk Forestry, and Hryhorivka.
On the Kramatorsk direction, Russian forces are advancing in the center of Chasiv Yar, attempting to outflank Ukrainian positions by advancing from the north and south of the city, and assaulting Ukrainian positions near Kalynove, Predtechyne, Stupochky, and Bila Hora. The enemy does not have stable positions on the western bank of the "Siverskyi Donets–Donbas" canal within Chasiv Yar.
Ukrainian forces hold their positions in the "Novyi" district and counterattacking near Mine No. 9.
On the Toretsk direction, Russian forces have deployed additional units in the Toretsk area to break through Ukrainian defenses. They assaulted in the areas of Druzhba, near Toretsk, and in the vicinity of Nelipivka and Shcherbynivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian forces advanced along the E50 highway northeast of Hryhorivka, west of Pushkyne, toward Ukrainka, and the outskirts of Novopustynka. They fully captured Yuryivka and Zhovte. Fighting continues near Myrolyubivka, Myrnohrad, Promin, Lysivka, Krasnyi Yar, Krutyi Yar, Novyi Trud, Pustynka, Dachenske, Chumatske, and Zhovte.
On the Kurakhove direction, Russian forces made slight advances north of Novodmytrivka, entered Stari Terny, and continued unsuccessful attacks near Kurakhove, Sontsivka, Zoria, Novodmytrivka, Dachne, Berestky, and Dalnie.
Units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces gradually retreat from positions south and southeast of Novoselydivka, north of Illinka, and northeast of Berestky.
On the Vremivka direction, the 37th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 36th Army advanced southeast and east of Blahodatne. The 139th Separate Assault Battalion of the 29th Army cut the T0518 highway between Kurakhove and Velyka Novosilka near Rozdolne. Russian forces advanced southeast of Urozhayne, northwest and west of Trudove, near Konstyantynopolske and Yasna Poliana, and advanced near Velyka Novosilka, Rivnopil, Novodarivka, Novopil, Rozdolne, Veselyi Hai, Romanivka, Yelyzavetivka, Hannivka, Katerynivka, Antonivka, Rozlyv, and Sukhyi Yaly.
On the Orikhiv direction, Russian forces continued to assault Ukrainian defensive positions near Novodarivka but made no progress.
General conclusion:
On the Kursk direction, Russian forces concentrate tactical reserves 5-7 km from the front line, but strikes by Ukrainian Defense Forces disrupt enemy rotations.
On the Kupyansk direction, the command of the Russian "Zapad (West)" Operational Grouping aims to fully eliminate the northern part of the Ukrainian Defense Forces' bridgehead on the left bank of the Oskil River, capture Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi and the left-bank part of Kupyansk, and create conditions for further advances toward the main part of Kupyansk on the right bank of the Oskil River.
In the Kupyansk direction, enemy forward units have crossed the Oskil River south of Dvorichna and established a second company-level bridgehead in the general direction of Masyutivka–Zapadne. These tactical actions, despite challenging weather conditions that hinder river crossings, highlight the significant focus on this section of the front within the broader context of the "Zapad (West)" Operational Grouping's plan to advance toward Kupyansk.
South of Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi, in the Kolisnykivka–Kruhlyakivka sector, the 2nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 1st Tank Army has been unable to significantly expand the area where the enemy has reached the Oskil River, particularly toward Hlushkivka and Zahryzove. This is stalling the advance on Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi from the south.
The Russian military command in this theater lacks sufficient reserves to conduct a successful offensive in the Kupyansk direction due to its secondary importance. Priority remains on the groupings in the Kursk Oblast and those advancing in the areas of Kurakhove, Pokrovsk, and Velyka Novosilka. The development of the situation will depend more on the combat readiness of the Ukrainian Defense Forces' "Khortytsia" OSG than on the Russian "Zapad (West)" Operational Grouping.
Change in the line of contact (LoC):
There were 224 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Kharkiv direction, the enemy attempted to advance 9 times in the areas of Vovchansk, Kozacha Lopan, and Hoptivka.
On the Kupyansk direction, there were 7 Russian attacks. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled enemy assaults near Pishchane, Kolisnykivka, Lozova, and Zahryzove.
On the Lyman direction, the enemy attacked 20 times, attempting to advance near Hrekivka, Druzhelyubivka, Novoyehorivka, Zarichne, Terny, and Torske.
On the Kramatorsk direction, the enemy carried out 17 attacks in the areas of Chasiv Yar, Predtechyne, and Stupochky.
On the Toretsk direction, there were 16 clashes near Toretsk, Nelipivka, and Shcherbynivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Ukrainian defenders stopped 47 assault and offensive actions by the aggressor in the areas of Myrolyubivka, Promin, Myrnohrad, Lysivka, Krasnyi Yar, Dachenske, Zhovte, Chumatske, Yelyzavetivka, and Novyi Trud.
On the Kurakhove direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 54 attacks on their positions near Sontsivka, Berestky, Zorya, Novodmytrivka, Kurakhove, Dachne, Dalnie, Katerynivka, Romanivka, Antonivka, Hannivka, Yelyzavetivka, and Uspenivka.
On the Vremivka direction, the enemy conducted 18 assaults in the areas of Veselyi Hai, Konstyantynopolske, Rozlyv, Velyka Novosilka, Novodarivka, and Novopil.
On the Prydniprovskyi direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 4 enemy assaults.
An operation in the Kursk region is ongoing, with 22 clashes reported.
In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, the enemy naval group on combat duty consists of:
Black Sea: 2 ships, including 2 cruise missile carriers; the total salvo is 0 cruise missiles.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
In Kursk Oblast, units of the 40th Separate Marines Brigade of the Pacific Fleet have been observed, with its main forces engaged in combat near Velyka Novosilka on the Vremivka direction.
In the Dvorichna area, the 344th and 350th Motorized Rifle Regiments of the 69th Motorized Rifle Division, which were redeployed from the Vovchansk direction, are advancing. The assault echelon intended for crossing the Oskil River and capturing bridgeheads in the Dvorichna area consists of small infantry groups from the 9th BARS "Oryol" detachment, the "Veter" sabotage-reconnaissance group, the 96th Separate Reconnaissance Brigade, and the 16th Separate SOF Brigade.
The 102nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 150th Motorized Rifle Division under the 8th Combined Arms Army continues operations near Dalnie, while units of the 5th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 51st Combined Arms Army operate in the Kurakhove area.
The 33rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division, of the 8th Combined Arms Army, is advancing near Illinka.
The 143rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 127th Motorized Rifle Division of the 5th Combined Arms Army is operating near Novodarivka.
The enemy is preparing for an offensive operation in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, accumulating and regrouping forces on this direction.
Possible operation situation developments:
On the Kupyansk direction, the enemy will try to break through the "Khortytsia" OSG defense near Kruhlyakivka and advance southward toward Bohuslavka and Nova Kruhlyakivka; attack Lozova and move toward Nova Kruhlyakivka; breach the "Khortytsia" OSG defense at Pershotravneve toward Kopanky and Novoserhiyivka, forcing Ukrainian Defense Forces to retreat from positions near Novoyehorivka under the threat of encirclement.
The enemy activity in the Dvorichna area is likely an attempt to distract attention and draw reserves of the "Khortytsia" OSG’s Kupyansk group to a secondary section ahead of the start of the next phase of the offensive by the 1st Tank Army of the enemy's "Zapad (West)" Operational Grouping on Kupyansk itself. The enemy is attempting to establish a threatening bridgehead, forcing the "Khortytsia" OSG command to allocate resources to eliminate it. Simultaneously, the 2nd Motorized Rifle Division, 4th and 47th Tank Divisions of the 1st Tank Army may launch an offensive from the east, southeast, and south toward Kupyansk, supported by the 25th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade and the 11th Army Corps from positions in Synkivka.
On the Kramatorsk direction, if the enemy manages to advance to the Chervone–Stupochky line and simultaneously begins intensive northward attacks at the junction of its 41st and 51st Armies from the Novooleksandrivka–Arkhanhelske line, reaching the Yablunivka–Oleksandro-Kalynove line on the Toretsk direction, then the "Khortytsia" OSG will be forced to withdraw towards Kostyantynivka. The operational situation is deteriorating, and if it develops negatively, with the loss of the refractory materials plant in Chasiv Yar, it will be lost by the end of December.
The enemy continues advancing westward along the H15 highway toward Andriivka while simultaneously attacking the Defense Forces' bridgehead northeast of Vuhledar along the Uspenivka–Hannivka–Romanivka line, aiming to force "Tavriya" OSG units to withdraw westward under the threat of encirclement. Such a maneuver could allow Russian forces to seize advantageous tactical positions in this area and align the frontline from Sontsivka to Konstyantynopil, positioning Russian troops approximately 23 km east of the Donetsk–Dnipropetrovsk oblast border.
By the end of the current year, the enemy will not succeed in seizing the "belt of fortresses" Kostyantynivka – Druzhkivka – Kramatorsk – Sloviansk or occupying Donetsk Oblast. The upcoming battle for Pokrovsk will mark the apex of the enemy’s offensive operation in the Southwestern Theater of Operations in 2024.
The expected sequence of enemy actions for capturing Pokrovsk is as follows: first, the 90th Tank Division of the 41st Combined Arms Army and the 27th Motorized Rifle Division of the 2nd Combined Arms Army will break through to the area south of Pokrovsk. Afterward, the main forces of the 2nd and 41st Combined Arms Armies will advance from the direction of Mykolaivka toward Myrnohrad (via Promin). Another possible maneuver could involve an advance from Hrodivka toward Novoekonomichne, with attempts to break through along the railway directly to Pokrovsk from the direction of Novohrodivka.
The enemy's military command in the theater of operations until March 2025 will be creating conditions to achieve the military-political goal of the Special Military Operation: reaching the administrative borders of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts and the junction of Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk Oblasts near the village of Temyrivka.
Russian operational losses from 24.02.22 to 01.12.24
Personnel - almost 742,130 (+1,730);
Tanks 9,469 (+6);
Armored combat vehicles – 19,369 (+14);
Artillery systems – 20,923 (+14);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,253 (0);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,019 (0);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 30,507 (+76);
Aircraft - 369 (0);
Helicopters – 329 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 19,803 (+11);
Intercepted cruise missiles – 2,852 (+1)
Boats/ships – 29 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
Over the past week, Russia attacked Ukraine with 500 aerial bombs, 660 attack drones, and 120 missiles, President Zelensky said.
During the night of December 1 (starting from 8:00 PM on November 30), the enemy attacked Ukraine with 78 Shahed-type attack drones and other unidentified drones. As of 9:00 AM, 32 enemy drones were confirmed to be shot down. Another 45 Russian drones were lost in action, likely due to electronic warfare countermeasures by the Defense Forces. One drone was neutralized in mid-air.
In Kyiv, debris from Russian drones fell in the Holosiivskyi district of the capital. A multi-story residential building sustained damage, with windows shattered by the blast wave. Ukrainian Defense Forces identified and neutralized about a dozen attack drones threatening the city.
Around 8:15 AM, Russian forces attacked public transport in the Dnipro district of Kherson using drones, killing at least three people and injuring eight more city residents. Around 3:40 PM, the occupiers again attacked a passenger bus in Kherson using a drone, injuring two women.
As a result of a Shahed drone strike on the morning of December 1, a private house was destroyed in the Pryluky district of Chernihiv Oblast. A 58-year-old local resident managed to escape the burning house in time.
Over the course of November 30, two people were killed and 15 others injured in Kherson Oblast. Russian forces targeted educational institutions and residential areas in various settlements. They also damaged 11 private houses, a gas pipeline, storage and garage facilities, a bus, and private vehicles.
In most towns and villages of the Russian-occupied Sievierodonetsk district of Luhansk Oblast, centralized water supply and heating are unavailable. The population in the district decreases during the winter and increases in the summer. There are no signs of mass returns to the area.
On Monday, December 2, from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM, energy companies plan to implement two stages of electricity shutdowns.