Russia's war on Ukraine. 04.12.24
Operational situation
On the Kursk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces advanced to the southern outskirts of Daryino, counterattacked near Daryino, Nikolaevo-Daryino, Novoivanovka, and Pogrebki.
Russian forces are attempting to advance in Novoivanovka and near Malaya Loknia.
On the Kharkiv direction, Russian forces attacked toward Kozacha Lopan and near Hlyboke, Starytsia, and Vovchansk but were unsuccessful.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked southwest of Hlyboke.
On the Kupyansk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces used artillery and UAV strikes to eliminate the northern enemy bridgehead on the Oskil River near Novomlynsk, taking the village under their control and significantly reducing the southern bridgehead near Dvorichna.
Russian forces advanced near Kopanky. The 27th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 1st Tank Army advanced near Lozova. The enemy established fire control over a section of the R97 highway (Dvorichna–Kupyansk) and assaulted Ukrainian Defense Forces’ positions near Dvorichna, Petropavlivka, Hlushkivka, Kruhlyakivka, Kolisnykivka, Pershotravneve, Zelenyi Hai, Novoyehorivka, Hrekivka, Cherneshchyna, and Druzhelyubivka.
On the Lyman direction, Russian forces advanced near Yampolivka and Terny.
On the Kramatorsk direction, Russian forces advanced near Chasiv Yar, in the city center, and near Hryhorivka.
On the Toretsk direction, Russian forces advanced near the spoil heaps of the "Tsentralna" mine southwest of Toretsk and attacked near Toretsk, Nelipivka, and Shcherbynivka.
Ukrainian Defense Forces are counterattacking near the " Tsentralna " mine.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian forces advanced southeast of Dachenske, west of Mykolaivka, south of Lysivka, north of Petrivka, north and southwest of Zhovte, and north of Novopustynka. They continued attacking near Myrolyubivka, Promin, Lysivka, Krasnyi Yar, Dachenske, Pushkyne, Zhovte, Novyi Trud, and Novopustynka.
On the Kurakhove direction, Russian forces advanced north of Stari Terny and to Prokofiev Street in the western part of Kurakhove, where fighting continues. The enemy attacked near Berestky, Stari Terny, Sontsivka, Zoria, Novodmytrivka, Dalnie, Antonivka, Yelyzavetivka, Katerynivka, Hannivka, Sukhi Yaly, and Konstyantynopolske, attempting to capture Romanivka.
Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled an assault near Maksymivka.
On the Vremivka direction, Russian forces advanced in the northern part of Novyi Komar, attempting to capture Novodarivka. They conduct 20 to 25 assaults daily with small assault groups supported by armored vehicles, aiming to reach the administrative border between Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts. The enemy continues slow advances near Velyka Novosilka, but Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattack in this area.
The enemy attacked near Velyka Novosilka, Novyi Komar, Rozdolne, Novosilka, Novodarivka, and Novopil.
On the Orikhiv direction, Russian forces attacked near Robotyne, Novoandriivka, and Novodanylivka but did not make any advances.
General conclusion:
In the Kursk Oblast, Russian forces are experiencing difficulties in supplying frontline units, transporting armored vehicles to the front line, and amassing forces for large-scale attacks due to poor logistical support.
On the Kramatorsk direction, the pace of Russian assaults and the number of airstrikes have decreased; the enemy is facing logistical challenges due to the lack of natural cover.
Due to high losses on the Pokrovsk direction, the enemy is forced to attack with smaller units.
Russian military command is attempting to encircle or bypass Velyka Novosilka to block the T0518 highway (Velyka Novosilka–Bahatyr), advance toward the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, and move toward Andriivka (west of Kurakhove) from the south.
On the Zaporizhzhia direction, Russian forces continue training new assault units, conducting aerial and engineering reconnaissance, expanding their electronic warfare and air defense groups, and rotating units on the Huliaypole and Orikhiv sectors.
Change in the line of contact (LoC):
There were 180 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Kharkiv direction, Russian occupiers unsuccessfully attempted to assault Ukrainian positions 6 times in the areas of Vovchansk, Hlyboke, and toward Kozacha Lopan.
On the Kupyansk direction, the enemy attacked 13 times. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 10 assaults near Lozova, Stelmakhivka, Kolisnykivka, and Pershotravneve.
On the Lyman direction, Russian forces attacked Ukrainian defenders nine times near Pershotravneve, Novoyehorivka, Hrekivka, Yampolivka, and Terny.
On the Kramatorsk direction, three enemy attacks were repelled as the adversary attempted to advance toward Stupochky, Bila Hora, and in the Chasiv Yar area. Enemy aircraft struck Kostyantynivka.
On the Toretsk direction, in Toretsk and Nelipivka, the enemy attempted three times to improve their positions, but Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled the attacks.
On the Pokrovsk direction, the aggressor launched 44 attacks during the day in the areas of Myrolyubivka, Lysivka, Promin, Dachenske, Chumatske, and Novopustynka.
On the Kurakhove direction, 38 enemy attacks were recorded, with most fighting concentrated in the areas of Sontsivka, Zorya, Dalnie, Kurakhove, Yelyzavetivka, and Hannivka.
On the Vremivka direction, the enemy launched 23 assaults on the front line in the areas of Konstyantynopolske, Sukhi Yaly, Rozdolne, Makarivka, and Novodarivka.
On the Orikhiv direction, the enemy carried out 4 attacks in the areas of Robotyne, Novodanylivka, and Novoandriivka, all of which were repelled.
On the Prydniprovskyi direction, the enemy unsuccessfully attempted to attack 5 times.
On the Kursk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces continue operations. Ukrainian troops repelled 20 enemy attacks.
In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, the enemy naval group on combat duty consists of:
Black Sea: 4 ships, including 4 cruise missile carriers; the total salvo is 24 cruise missiles.
Mediterranean Sea: 6 ships, including 4 cruise missile carriers; the total salvo is 41 cruise missiles.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
The "5th Cossack Reconnaissance and Assault Brigade" of the Russian volunteer assault corps is operating near Chasiv Yar.
The Spetsnaz Reconnaissance and Assault Unit "Sparta" of the 51st Combined Arms Army (CAA) is active in Toretsk.
Assault units of the 3rd Motorized Rifle Battalion of the 255th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Combined Arms Army, artillery reconnaissance units of the 238th Artillery Brigade of the 8th Combined Arms Army, and the 5th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 51st Combined Arms Army operate near Kurakhove.
The 114th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 51st Combined Arms Army is advancing in Stari Terni and has crossed the Terni Dam.
The 39th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 68th Army Corps operates on the southern bank of the Sukhi Yaly River.
The 40th Separate Marines Brigade of the Pacific Fleet is active near Vuhledar.
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 will continue 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 Russian military command is likely to attempt to envelope or bypass Velyka Novosilka and cut off the T0518 highway, creating favorable conditions for further advances toward the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast to envelope Ukrainian Defense Forces in the southwestern part of the Donetsk Oblast. Russian forces may also try to advance toward Andriivka from the south, facilitated by cutting off the T0518 highway.
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 04.12.24
Personnel - almost 747,370 (+1,610);
Tanks 9,493 (+7);
Armored combat vehicles – 19.450 (+31);
Artillery systems – 21.002 (+26);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,253 (0);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,020 (+1);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 30,746 (+80);
Aircraft - 369 (0);
Helicopters – 329 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 19,946 (+29);
Intercepted cruise missiles – 2,855 (0)
Boats/ships – 29 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
During the night of December 4, Russian occupiers launched an X-59/69 missile and 50 Shahed-type attack UAVs, along with drones of other types. Ukrainian forces managed to shoot down 29 enemy drones, while 18 were lost, and one headed towards occupied territories.
On the night of December 4, Russian drones struck private residences in Vinnytsia and Chernihiv Oblasts, causing fires and damage. No casualties were reported.
On December 4, in the outskirts of Kherson, in the settlement of Antonivka, shelling resulted in two injuries and one fatality. In the morning, occupiers dropped explosives from a UAV, fatally wounding a 67-year-old man. Around 11 a.m., a 79-year-old woman was injured by a hostile drone strike and was hospitalized with blast injuries. Additionally, a 60-year-old man was injured in the morning due to shelling.
In the Kherson Oblast, Russians attacked the village of Mylove with a drone, injuring a 42-year-old man. Another UAV attack on the Kherson suburb of Kindiyka injured a 64-year-old man.
On December 4, Russian forces used a precision-guided bomb to strike the city of Kupyansk in Kharkiv Oblast, hitting a residential building and killing a 40-year-old man.
The Russian army attacked the Nikopol district of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast 20 times during the day, targeting Nikopol, the Marhanets, Myrivska, and Pokrovske communities. They used kamikaze drones, artillery, and dropped munitions from UAVs. One person was killed, and another was injured. Six private houses, two utility buildings, three greenhouses, and a gas pipeline were damaged.
Yevhen Matviyev, the mayor of temporarily occupied Dniprorudne in the Vasylivka District of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, died in Russian captivity. He was taken prisoner almost three years ago. His body was returned home during the latest exchange. Matviyev was elected mayor of Dniprorudne in 2020 on the list of the pro-Russian OPZZh party.
At the beginning of 2024, 280,000 infrastructure objects in Ukraine had been destroyed. This number has now risen to 330,000, with a yearly increase of 50,000 objects, according to Oleksiy Kuleba, Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction and Minister for the Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine.