Russia's war on Ukraine. 08.12.24
Operational situation
On the Kursk direction, the "Siversk" OTG units advanced to the center of Pogrebki, liberated Orlovka, Maryivka, Malaya Loknia, Staraya Sorochina, Nova Sorochina, and are counterattacking near Daryino.
Russian forces are attempting to advance on the southern outskirts of Plekhove, near Novoivanivka and Mala Loknya.
On the Kharkiv direction, Russian forces attacked toward Kozacha Lopania, Vysoka Yaruha, near Lyptsi, Vovchansk, and Tykhe. The enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups attempt to infiltrate the Ukrainian rear. Enemy units continue to suffer heavy losses, but they have sufficient forces to maintain their assaults.
On the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces advanced west across the bridge over the Oskil River along R79 Kruhlyakivka – Kupyansk road, to the west of Kruhlyakivka, north of the village, and along the eastern bank of the river. They are trying to advance east of Zelenyi Hai, continuing assaults in the areas of Zakhidne, Masyutivka, Kolisnykivka, Zahryzove, Nadiya, Lozova, Bohuslavka, Kopanka, Tverdokhlibove, Hrekivka, and Cherneshchyna. Positional battles have begun near Kupyansk.
On the Lyman direction, Russian forces attacked near Makiivka, Terny, Yampolivka, Zarichne, and Torske, conducted an assault southeast of Dibrova.
Units of the "Khortytsia" OSG counterattacked near Torske.
On the Kramatorsk direction, Russian forces attacked in the center of Chasiv Yar, near Kalynivka, Bila Hora, and Stupochky. The enemy storms positions with small infantry groups, seeking weak points in the Ukrainian defense.
On the Toretsk direction, Russian forces advanced in the center and southwest outskirts of Toretsk, and attacked near Dyliivka, Shcherbynivka, and Nelipivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian forces resumed the offensive near Pokrovsk, bypassing the city from the south. The 15th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 2nd Combined Arms Army is advancing further west and northwest from Selydove, along the Petrivka – Pustynka – Zhovte line. Russian forces captured Novopustynka, advanced to the southern outskirts of Shevchenkove, north of Novotroitske, along the Pokrovsk – Konstyantynopil highway toward Shevchenkove. The enemy resumed attacks near Hrodivka and Mykolaivka, advanced toward Dachenske, and attacked near Sukhyi Yar, Lysivka.
On the Kurakhove direction, Russian forces advanced to the eastern outskirts of Zorya, captured Novodmytrivka, and are fighting near Sukhi Yaly, having advanced in Kurakhove, near Sontsivka, Stari Terny, Uspenivka. They attacked near Dachne, Dalnie, Yelyzavetivka, Romanivka, Hannivka, Veselyi Hai, Uspenivka, Konstyantynopolske, Sukhi Yaly, and Rozlyv. They attempt to complete the operational encirclement of the "Khortytsia" OSG units in the area of Hannivka. In the Uspenivka area, the enemy conducted a reconnaissance attack.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked northeast of Uspenivka.
On the Vremivka direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces regained lost positions near Velyka Novosilka, and the enemy retreated from Novyi Komar to the line along the T0518 Velyka Novosilka – Bahatyrske highway.
Russian forces attacked in the area of Neskuchne, Novodarivka, Novosilka, towards Temyrivka, near Novyi Komar, and Rozdolne.
On the Orikhiv direction, Russian forces continued localized attacks near Novodanylivka, Mala Tokmachka, and Bilohirya.
General conclusion:
Russian forces have launched the second phase of a counterterrorism operation aimed at expelling the "Siversk" OTG from Kursk Oblast. They attack with mechanized columns but suffer significant losses in armored vehicles.
The enemy's "Zapad (West)" Operational Grouping has significantly increased the use of UAVs on the Lyman direction, from 40-60 flights per day to more than 100.
Over the past 2-3 months, in order to advance on the Pokrovsk direction, the enemy's command has had to maintain high operational troop density not by reinforcements but by regrouping existing forces.
Forward units of the 90th Tank Division, supported from the north by part of the forces of the 27th Motorized Rifle Division of the 2nd Combined Arms Army, have managed to penetrate the tactical depth of the "Khortytsia” OSG's defenses along the Zhovte–Novotroitske direction. They have advanced as far as Novopustynka and have engaged in battles for the southern outskirts of Shevchenkove as well as for the area around Selydove–Dachenske.
The Russian military command intends to advance from the Novotroitske–Novopustynka area toward Udachne and Hryshyne to envelop Pokrovsk from the south and west. The enemy will attempt to cut off highways T0515, T0406, and M30 southwest and west of Pokrovsk to complicate logistical support for Ukrainian Defense Forces defending Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad. This approach is intended to avoid the high losses anticipated in a frontal assault on these cities.
Part of the forces of the 90th Tank Division attempt to break through from the direction of Pushkyne and Novooleksiivka toward Ukrainka and reach the Novoolenivka–Ukrainka line, attacking the positions of Ukrainian Defense Forces while also maneuvering around the village from the south.
On the Kurakhove direction, the enemy conducts combat operations with three Operational Groupings — "Tsentr (Center)," "Yug (South)," and "Vostok (East)" — using light, unarmored vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles, buggies, and pickups to transport personnel. There is a real threat of encirclement for all the "Khortytsia" OSG forces east of the Novotroitske–Bahatyr line. The enemy does not only exert significant pressure toward Pokrovsk through Novotroitske and Shevchenko but also pushes toward Ukrainka and Yasynove with the goal of bypassing Ukrainian Defense Force units defending the Zorya and Sontsivka areas. The enemy’s main strike is being delivered on the flanks of the Kurakhove bridgehead — west of Selydove and Tsukuryne — as well as in the direction of Sukhi Yaly–Shevchenko and toward Velyka Novosilka.
The 5th, 110th, and 114th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades of the 51st Combined Arms Army, which have been introduced into the operation, are completing the expulsion of Ukrainian Defense Forces units from the northern bank of the Kurakhove Reservoir. Their forward units have advanced southwest of Voznesenka and have captured Stari Terny. The hope of holding the Zorya–Stari Terny line with Ukrainian Defense Forces to maintain northern stability of the defenses in Kurakhove failed. The loss of Kurakhove is now unavoidable as the enemy's 150th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Combined Arms Army has broken through into the town.
After advancing to the areas of Konstyantynopolske, Uspenivka, and Sukhi Yaly along highway C051104, Russian forces are now in a position to complete the encirclement of Ukrainian Defense Forces and straighten the frontline along the Dache–Sukhi Yaly line in the upcoming weeks.
On the Vremivka direction, Russian forces typically advance for several weeks before taking a tactical pause to replenish personnel for 3-4 days. The enemy seeks to cut off the logistics of Ukrainian Defense Force units defending Velyka Novosilka and on the Pokrovsk direction. The enemy command has created favorable conditions for itself to continue the operation along self-selected routes in the Novodarivka–Dalnie sector. This has a significant impact on its objective of capturing Velyka Novosilka. The shift from attempting a large encirclement to focusing on the capture of Velyka Novosilka suggests that the enemy lacks the resources to conduct a larger-scale operation.
After heavy rear-guard battles by Ukrainian Defense Forces units in the Trudove area, enemy forces from the 37th and 36th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades have broken through to Konstyantynopolske and Sukhi Yaly, cutting off the logistical routes of the Ukrainian Defense Force tactical group defending in Uspenivka and Hannivka in front of the 39th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade.
Thanks to the breakthrough of enemy forces between Vuhledar and Zolota Nyva a month ago, forward units of the 36th and 5th Combined Arms Armies have managed to deeply flank Velyka Novosilka from the east and northeast. This breakthrough has effectively sealed the fate of the entire defensive system of the "Khortytsia" OSG on the Kurakhove direction.
For the Russian command, restoring a brigade or regiment to a minimally acceptable level of combat readiness requires no less than 1–1.5 months.
Change in the line of contact (LoC):
There were 182 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Kharkiv direction, the enemy unsuccessfully attempted to advance twice in the area of Vovchansk.
On the Kupyansk direction, the occupiers launched 9 attacks. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled enemy assault operations near Lozova, Masyutivka, Hlushkivka, Kolisnykivka, and Zelenyi Hay.
On the Lyman direction, the enemy launched 22 attacks, trying to advance near Tverdokhlibove, Kopanka, Bohuslavka, Hrekivka, Cherneshchyna, Makiivka, Zarichne, Terny, Yampolivka, Druzhelyubivka, and in the Serebriansk Forest.
On the Kramatorsk direction, the enemy conducted 7 attacks in the areas of Chasiv Yar, Stupochky, and Bila Hora.
On the Toretsk direction, there were 7 combat engagements near Toretsk, Dyliivka, and Nelipivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces stopped 35 enemy attacks in the areas of Promin, Lysivka, Dachne, Pushkyne, Zorya, Hrodivka, Sukhi Yar, Myrnohrad, Zhovte, Novyi Trud, and Novotroitske.
On the Kurakhove direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 42 attacks near Sontsivka, Zorya, Kurakhove, Yelyzavetivka, Romanivka, Hannivka, Uspenivka, Rozlyv, Stari Terny, Dachne, and Neskuchne.
On the Vremivka direction, the enemy conducted 30 assaults in the areas of Veselyi Hai, Konstyantynopil, Sukhi Yaly, Novodarivka, Novosilka, Temyrivka, Neskuchne, and Velyka Novosilka.
On the Prydniprovskyi direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 3 enemy assaults.
In Kursk Oblast, the operation continues. 17 engagements took place.
In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, the enemy naval group on combat duty consists of:
Black Sea: 1 ship, including 1 cruise missile carrier; the total salvo is 0 cruise missiles.
Mediterranean Sea: 1 ship, including 1 cruise missile carriers; the total salvo is 16 cruise missiles.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
The 16th Separate SOF Brigade conducts special operations near Kupyansk.
The forces of the 11th Army of the Russian Aerospace Forces and Air Defense strike bridges east of Konstyantynopolske. The 39th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 68th Army Corps attacks on the southern bank of the Sukhi Yaly River. The 14th Separate SPF Brigade is conducting special operations in the direction of Shakhtarsk. Recently, its units suffered significant losses near Velyka Novosilka during an assault on Ukrainian defensive positions.
On the Kurakhove direction, the enemy's grouping consists of up to 97,000 personnel, 620 tanks, 1,460 armored fighting vehicles, 1,120 artillery guns and mortars, and 280 MLRS. A missile brigade also operates in support of this grouping.
The 336th Separate Marines Brigade of the Baltic Fleet, the 37th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, and the 5th Separate Tank Brigade advance in the direction of Velyka Novosilka.
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.
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.
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 will attempt to advance to the Novotroitske–Ukrainka line, which would achieve two operational objectives: bypassing the flank of Ukrainian Defense Forces units holding Zorya and Sontsivka and simultaneously creating favorable conditions for enveloping Pokrovsk from the south.
If the enemy advances to the area where the Vovcha and Solona rivers converge near Dachne from the north, the position of Ukrainian Defense Forces units in Kurakhove will become critically complicated unless they manage to retreat in time.
In the southern part of the Kurakhove bridgehead, Ukrainian Defense Forces units will soon have to abandon Hannivka and Uspenivka to avoid encirclement and retreat in a northwesterly direction.
By controlling Rozdolne (located between Velyka Novosilka and the Zaporizhzhia–Donetsk highway) and having a convenient stronghold for concentrating and deploying additional forces and assets, the enemy command will soon attempt to cut off all "Khortytsia" OSG’s communication lines in Velyka Novosilka. The enemy will once again attempt to break through towards Novyi Komar or in the direction of Dniproenerhiya.
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 08.12.24
Personnel - almost 753,370 (+1,460);
Tanks 9,519 (5);
Armored combat vehicles – 19,571 (+36);
Artillery systems – 21,058 (+3);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,253 (0);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1.023 (+1);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 30,965 (+17);
Aircraft - 369 (0);
Helicopters – 329 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 20,071 (+29);
Intercepted cruise missiles – 2,857 (0)
Boats/ships – 29 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that since February 24, 2022, 43,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed.
Since the beginning of the full-scale war, 3,935 people have been returned to Ukraine from Russian captivity, including 3,767 military personnel.
On the night of December 8, Ukrainian Air Defense Forces shot down 28 of 74 Russian drones, with another 46 lost in different locations.
On the night of December 8, the enemy attacked Dnipropetrovsk Oblast with drones and heavy artillery. One person was injured, and significant infrastructure damage was reported.
During the day on December 8, in Kindiyka, Kherson Oblast, a man was killed and four others were injured due to explosives dropped by a drone. Two people were also injured in Kherson. Another man, seriously wounded on the outskirts of Kherson, was taken to the hospital.
Russian forces carried out 269 strikes on settlements in Zaporizhzhia Oblast in the past 24 hours, resulting in one death.
On Monday, December 9, energy workers will implement a scheduled power outage from 14:00 to 18:00 which is a decrease compared to last week.