Daily Briefing from Ukraine

·      Top 5 Headlines

·      Ukraine Summer Offensive Summary

·      President Zelensky’s Message of the Day

·      Infographic of the Day

Top 5 Headlines

1.     Major financial commitments for Ukraine’s reconstruction were made by its allies at the Ukraine Recovery Conference being held in London, including $1.3 billion from the US for energy and infrastructure investments. Seeking at least $7 billion from the conference, Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal called for the allocation of $350 billion in seized Russian reserves and assets for Ukraine’s rebuilding – which the World Bank has estimated at $411 billion.

1.     President Volodymyr Zelensky said progress in Ukraine’s offensive against Russian forces was “slower than desired,” but that Kyiv would not be pressured into speeding up. “Some people believe this is a Hollywood movie and expect results now,” Britain’s BBC quoted him as saying in an interview. “It’s not. What’s at stake is people’s lives,” Zelensky said. 

2.     “We’re more united than ever,” the US Secretary of State tweeted about the US / China relationship, including in terms of support for Ukraine. He earlier reported that China had committed to not providing arms to Russia.

Other Topics of Interest

‘We Need to End that Horrible, Horrible War’ – Ukraine at War Update for Dec. 23

Over the weekend: Trump says Putin wants to meet ASAP to discuss ending the war; Slovak PM heads to the Kremlin on a surprise visit; and Ukraine appeals to UN after Russia accused of executing 5 POWS.

1.     The US is attempting to expand the pro-Ukraine coalition of nations. Jake Sullivan, the White House’s national security adviser, will attend a Copenhagen meeting with officials from countries including India, Brazil and South Africa, and possibly Turkey and China.

2.     The July NATO summit in Vilnius should end with an invitation for Kyiv to join the alliance “as soon as conditions allow,” said Andriy Yermak, the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, to the Atlantic Council. “We expect that Ukraine will be invited to join NATO with an open date,” he said. “We… need a strong signal: that no one can change the path to Ukraine's membership of NATO – it has been decided, and it will happen,” he said. Yermak also said that before directly joining NATO, Ukraine must receive security guarantees.

Ukraine Summer Offensive Summary

Snapshot

The parry of infantry assaults and artillery duels continued across different sections of the front.  Ukrainian forces conducted counteroffensive operations on at least three sectors of the front, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Ukrainian forces conducted limited ground attacks along the administrative border between the western Donetsk and eastern Zaporizhzhia regions (Zone A).

Russian and Ukrainian forces conducted limited ground attacks in the western Zaporizhzhia Region (Zone B).

 Russian and Ukrainian forces continued to exchange limited ground attacks in the Bakhmut area (Zone C)

Elsewhere, Ukrainian forces made limited assaults along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line and near Kreminna in the Luhansk Region. Russian and Ukrainian forces continued to engage in positional battles along the Kupyansk-Svatove line.

Ukraine’s and Other Claims 

President Zelensky acknowledged that the progress of Ukrainian counteroffensives has been slower than expected, likely due to effective Russian defenses. Zelensky stated that Ukrainian counteroffensive progress has been “slower than desired” and will take time. Zelensky noted that Ukrainian advances are not easy because Russian forces have mined 200,000 square kilometers of frontline territory, ISW reported.

The chief of Russian mercenary army Wagner accused Moscow’s top brass of deceiving Russians about the course of Ukraine’s offensive and pointed to Kyiv’s progress on the battlefield. Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin accused his own defense ministry of not telling the truth and losing territory to Ukrainian troops. “Huge chunks have been handed over to the enemy,” he said, according to an AFP report, and added that Ukrainian troops have already sought to cross the Dnipro River.

Zone A. TO518 / Mokri Yaly River Axis - boundary of the Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions 

The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces continued offensive operations in the western Donetsk-eastern Zaporizhzhia border area, and Russian milbloggers continued to discuss Ukrainian attacks in this area, particularly south of Velyka Novosilka. The southern-most village that Ukraine has claimed in this area remains Makarivka.  ISW also said there was action in this zone.

Zone B. Western Zaporizhzhia

Russian and Ukrainian forces conducted limited ground attacks in the western Zaporizhzhia Region, according to ISW.

A Russian milblogger and renowned propagandist cited by ISW claimed that the “Surovikin Line” constructed in occupied Zaporizhzhia region consists of a forward line of defense with several dozen platoon and company strongholds, and a main defensive line roughly 25 kilometers back with minefields, anti-tank ditches, and other defensive structures in between, though the extent of these defenses along the entire front line is unclear.

According to ISW, “these Russian defensive lines are likely arrayed to enable a first echelon of Russian forces, deployed to the forward defensive line, to slow advancing Ukrainian forces while a second echelon of forces deployed closer to the main defensive line launch counterattacks against any Ukrainian breakthroughs, as well as providing prepared fallback positions for frontline Russian units.”

Zone C. Bakhmut

Russian and Ukrainian forces continued to exchange limited ground attacks in the Bakhmut area, according to ISW.

Other Zones & Activity, including Northern Donetsk and Avdiivka. 

Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar stated Ukrainian troops had partial success during offensive operations near Bilohorivka-Shypylivka (about 10 kilometers south of Kreminna in the Luhansk Region). A Russian milblogger and known propagandist additionally claimed that Ukrainian forces are counterattacking in the areas south and west of Kreminna.

Russian and Ukrainian forces continued to exchange limited ground attacks along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line, according to ISW.

President Zelensky’s Message

Infographic of the Day