Russian efforts to start the battle for the Fortress Belt — Ukraine’s main fortified defensive line in Donetsk Oblast since 2014 — will likely further stretch Russian resources.
Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Kupyansk direction on December 14 but did not advance.
Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Slovyansk-Lyman direction on December 14 but did not advance.
Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Dobropillya tactical area on December 14 but did not advance.
Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Pokrovsk direction on December 14 but did not make confirmed advances.
Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Siversk direction on December 14 but did not make confirmed advances.
Russian forces attacked near Novopavlivka itself; northeast of Novopavlivka near Novomykolaivka; and south of Novopavlivka near Dachne on December 13 and 14 but did not advance.
Russian forces attacked east of Oleksandriivka near Oleksandrohrad and southeast of Oleksandrivka near Novoselivka, Sosnivka, Oleksiivka, Verbove, and Krasnohirske on December 13 and 14 but did not advance.
Russian forces continued offensive operations in western Zaporizhia Oblast on December 14 but did not advance.
Russian forces continued limited ground assaults in the Kherson direction on December 14 but did not advance.
Russian forces continued offensive operations in northern Sumy Oblast on December 14 but did not advance.
Russian forces continued offensive operations in northern Kharkiv Oblast on December 14 but did not advance.
Key Takeaways
- The Kremlin is setting conditions to reject the Ukrainian and European peace plan drafts after it previously rejected key points of the US-proposed 28-point peace plan that overwhelmingly benefitted Russia.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with US negotiators in Berlin, Germany on December 14 to continue negotiations to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
- Russian forces will likely continue to struggle to maintain the Kremlin’s desired multi-pronged offensive operations in different operational directions due to the long-term materiel and manpower costs of such operations.
- Ukraine’s long-range strike campaign continues to degrade Russia’s oil refining and military capabilities in Russia and occupied Ukraine.
- Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Kostyantynivka direction. Russian forces recently advanced in the Hulyaipole direction.
