December 18 20224

The UK has sanctioned 20 additional tankers that carry Russian petroleum production in violation of sanctions. These ships are part of Russia’s “shadow fleet,” rickety, dangerous ships tasked with violating these sanctions. Some of the ships being sanctioned in this new batch are Ocean Faye, Andaman Skies, and Mianzim. PM Keir Starmer said that each of these ships transported at least 4 million barrels of Russian oil in 2024. The UK has sanctioned more than 100 Russian ships, 93 of which are oil tankers.


Rheinmetall announced that it will provide Ukraine with 20 additional 1A3 Marder IFVs in 2025. They received an order for them in December, with a delivery date of early 2025. The value of the contract was in the "double-digit million euro" range and is being paid for by the German government.


The UK’s Ministry of Defense reported that Russia has lost more than 3,600 tanks and “nearly 8,000 armored vehicles” since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb said that before discussing sending peacekeepers to Ukraine, Ukraine must be fully armed. He said that a peacekeeping mission to Ukraine would require a UN mandate.


Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that Poland is preparing its 46th batch of military aid to Ukraine. He also said that the value of the 45th batch was about $100 million.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk discussed a possible project in which the Nordic, the Baltic countries, and Poland work together to equip brigades of Ukrainian troops. He said that Poland cannot provide all of its weapons to Ukraine, because it too is a frontline country, dealing with potential threats from Russia and Belarus. He also called for an end to politicians speculating about the defeat of Ukraine. He said that Russia’s war with Ukraine is part of a “broader civilizational clash.” Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said that the pressure should be focused on Russia instead of pressuring Ukraine to go to the negotiation table. He said that Europe and the US should concentrate on making Ukraine’s hand at the bargaining table as strong as possible.

A poll conducted by The Polish Centre for Public Opinion Research showed that 55% of Poles support the idea that peace in the war must be achieved quickly, even if that means territorial concessions on the part of Ukraine. In September 2024, the same poll showed that only 39% supported this position. 31% of Poles said that Ukraine should continue to fight and not make any concessions to Russia, down from 46% in September 2024. “Peace talks" between Ukraine and Russia are more likely to be supported by Poles in the 18-24 age group, residents of small cities, less educated people, those with a poor financial situation, religious people, and those with right-wing views.”


Andrii Yermak, Head of the President's Office of Ukraine said that negotiations should not begin until Russia no longer has the resources to continue prosecuting the war. He said that peace must be attained through strength. Zelenskyy stated that people pushing for peace- he specifically named Viktor Orban, have no leverage over Russia. They cannot coerce Russia into doing anything that Russia is not inclined to do; their peace overtures are either doomed to fail or just wind up as demands for Ukraine to capitulate to Russia’s stipulations.

Reuters reported that NATO has taken over the coordination of Western support for Ukraine, taking over the responsibility from the US. The NATO Security Assistance and Training Centre for Ukraine is “fully operational” and is situated at a US military base in Wiesbaden, Germany. The NSATU has about 700 dedicated NATO troops around Europe working to coordinate donations and the logistics of donated supplies and equipment.


The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine has allocated another $45 million to purchase combat drones for the military. This is in addition to the $2.4 billion it was already planning to spend on drones.


Residents of Crime were warned that mobile internet shutdowns may begin on December 17, affecting all operators and potentially occurring at any time. There are some reports that say that this is being done to help protect against drone strikes.


Roman Mrochko, Head of Kherson City Military Administration reported that Russian drone attacks in Kherson Oblast have resulted in 30 deaths and 350 injuries over the past three months, primarily targeting civilians. The Russians hunt civilians in the Kherson area, calling it a “safari.” It has also been reported that Russians use civilians as target practice, so they can hone their drone operating skills before going onto the battlefield.


Gloria Jeans, Russia’s largest clothing manufacturer, is planning to close some of its factories in Russia, mostly in Rostov Oblast. One in Salsk has already shut down, and workers have been offered jobs at other factories. The company is considering moving production to countries like Vietnam, Bangladesh, or Uzbekistan, where raw materials like cotton are cheaper.


Ukraine published a video showing the testing of a tracked, fiber-optic ground drone. Fiber optics allow for the transmission of higher-quality video, and communication with the drone that cannot be detected and cannot be jammed.


Polish Vice Admiral Krzysztof Jaworski said that Russia is waging a hybrid war in the Baltic Sea by disrupting communications and ship tracking, which could endanger ships and threaten energy supplies.


Moldova declared a state of emergency on December 16, 2024. The country faces the risk of Russia completely stopping its free gas supplies to Transnistria by January 1, 2025, when the contract between Gazprom and Naftogaz for the transit of Russian natural gas through Ukraine expires. While Moldova itself is not facing an immediate gas shortage, if gas to Transnistria is cut off, Moldova’s main power plant could shut down, leading to widespread blackouts and rising electricity prices. Moldova has been working on an alternative power supply through a new high-voltage line from Romania, which will be completed sometime in 2025.

There may be a complete, long-term cessation of gas deliveries to Transnistria, potentially leading to its economic collapse and a humanitarian crisis. It’s more likely that the supply of gas will just simply be reduced, which would still destabilize the region while maintaining Transnistria’s dependence on Russia.


Footage has been published showing that North Korea has transferred D-74 artillery guns to Russia, which are now being used in the Kurakhove region. The unit they were provided to has been retrained to operate these 122-mm cannons, replacing the 152-mm Msta-B howitzers they originally had. These soldiers were provided Korean-made OF-472 shells, which are copies of Soviet 122mm shells.


The Czech defense company PBS, in collaboration with Ukraine's KB "Progress," has completed the development of the AI-PBS-350 jet engine. The engine produces a thrust of 3400 N, making it suitable for use in missiles. For comparison, the American AGM-158 JASSM missile uses a 2900 N engine, while the Tomahawk missile has a 3100 N engine. The companies plan to produce dozens of these engines initially, with plans to scale up production to produce hundreds of them in the future.

By the end of February 2025, the EU will finish training an additional 12,000 Ukrainian soldiers, bringing the total number of Ukrainian soldiers trained in the EU to 75,000.

Ukraine published a video showing the destruction of a Russian Russian Osa-AKM air defense system. The air defense system was driving into a building to conceal it, but the building was hit by a large precision-guided munition, leading to a catastrophic destruction of the building.


The Russian oil tanker accidents in the Kerch Strait on December 15 have caused an estimated $14 billion in damage to the Black Sea ecosystem, according to Ukraine's Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Minister, Svitlana Hrynchuk. Two Russian tankers, Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239, sank during a storm, leaking an estimated 4,300 tons of fuel oil and possibly other oil products.


For the first time ever, on December 16, 2024, the European Union imposed sanctions targeting individuals and entities responsible for Russia’s hybrid warfare directed toward the West.

The sanction targets include Military Unit 29155 of the Russian GRU, known for its assassinations, bombings, and cyberattacks across Europe. In 2021, the Czech Republic filed charges against the unit’s commander, Colonel General Andrei Averyanov, for orchestrating the blowing up of an ammunition depot in Vrbetice, Czech Republic in 2014. The explosions killed two people and caused widespread damage. Czech officials believe the unit also orchestrated the attack on Bulgarian arms dealer Emilian Gebrev who was poisoned with Novichok.

The EU sanctions also targeted the Pan African Trade and Investment Group, which was involved in pro-Russian disinformation in Africa, and the African Initiative, a “news agency” that spreads Russian propaganda.

Other targets include Sofia Zakharova, a member of Putin’s administration, and Nikolai Tupikin, the founder of the state corporation Struktura, for their roles in spreading Russian disinformation and propaganda.

Additionally, individuals who were involved in a Russian intelligence operation against Germany's Federal Intelligence Service were also sanctioned. These people include Vladimir Sergienko, a former assistant to a Bundestag member, and Russian businessman Viza Mizayev and his partner.


As of December 17, 2024, more than $1 billion has been donated to Ukraine’s Energy Support Fund. The Fund’s goals include repairing damage to electrical infrastructure caused by Russia and helping Ukraine get its energy needs met.


A Russian medic posted a photo on telegram showing the wound of a Russian soldier. He suffered a mine injury to his foot. According to the medic, it took 60 days for him to be medically evacuated and get onto a surgical table. He was being dropped medical supplies from a drone and was the one administering care for himself during this time.


Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, Chief of Russia's Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Protection Troops, was killed in an explosion in Moscow on December 17, 2024. He was killed by a bomb planted on an electric scooter that was left outside of his apartment building. The general and his assistant were killed, and the explosion caused damage to the building and nearby vehicles. Ukraine’s Security Service accused Kirillov of ordering the use of chemical weapons against Ukrainian troops. Ukraine reports that there have been over 4,800 documented chemical attacks on its soil since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Kirillov had previously been sanctioned by the UK for his role in chemical weapons use. Russian media outlet Baza reports that a 29-year-old Uzbek citizen living in Russia named Akhmad Kurbanov was arrested for the death of the general. According to Russian media outlet Cheka-OGPU, the assassins planted the bomb on the scooter and were monitoring the entranceway to the general’s building via a camera installed in a car parked near the entrance. They detonated the bomb when they saw him leave. Afterward, they changed outfits to be harder to track through surveillance cameras and witnesses. Cheka-OGPU said they do not know what happened to the second assassin.

Battlefield Reports. 

These come from mostly Ukrainian soldiers and Ukrainian mapper IHS_Petrenko. 

Kursk Region

Kursk Region
On the northern flank of the Sudzhansky direction, Russian infantry units continue to advance in several directions. The enemy advanced along the Strannye Loga tract and reached the northern and eastern outskirts of the Naydenov tract, where they came under attack from Ukrainian drone operators. On the left flank, clashes of varying intensity continue in the area of the settlements of Darino, Nizhny Klin, and Novoivanovka. -Petrenko

Northern Regions

On the northern flank, Russian troops have occupied Krucheny Les, Mochilny Log Gully, and Novoivanovskaya Gully.

Advancement in a section up to 5.04 km wide and up to 2.85 km deep. -Petrenko

In the direction of Kolisnykivka (Kupiansk), the scoundrels have gone in with equipment and infantry.
A few units have already been destroyed, and the two-legged ones are crawling like pests. -Stanislav Osman

Pokrovsk Direction

Pokrovsk direction

On the northern flank, the enemy continues to press in the area of the settlement Shevchenko, in the direction of the settlements Peschanoye, Solenoye, and Novovasilevka. East of the latter, Russian troops occupied part of the forest belt and continued to attack the settlement.
South of Dachenskoye and in the area of Lysovka, the Ukrainian Armed Forces repelled a number of enemy attacks. -Petrenko

Pokrovsky direction evening
The enemy is building up its forces in order to break through our defenses in the direction of the village of Solone-Novovasylivka-Pishchane-Zvirovo. The enemy aims to directly control all the roads leading to Pokrovsk from the south. At the same time, the enemy has already managed to enter Novovasylivka and is crawling towards Pishchane on a wide front, the podars are already preparing to storm this village! Now we are confidently holding on in the area of Lysivka and Dachenske. Here the enemy cannot break through our defenses yet, it is very difficult to restrain the boars! I believe in my brothers that we will succeed! -Muchnoy Jugend

Pokrovsk direction: After unsuccessful, counterattacks, our Cossacks have started a deep defense!
The enemy is making progress south of Lysivka. Here, small groups of peasants are trying to enter Dachenske from the east, attacks on the village are not stopping. Also, the Rusnya has resumed offensive operations on Pishchane! Similarly, a sabotage and sapper group has set up minefields on the northern exit from Shevchenko in the direction of Zvirovo, our tank was blown up during the withdrawal. Northwest of Novotroitsky, the enemy has started to roll on Solone and Novovasylivka. Plus, battles are ongoing in the area of Slovianka and Petropavlivka. ☠️ Long live the Cossacks! -Muchnoy Jugend

Pokrovsky direction: The enemy has begun an assault on Pishchanye and has already managed to reach its outskirts, now this area is the main direction of the pig bastards' attack.
Similarly, the Russians are attacking on the flanks and the battle for Novovasylivka has already begun. The boars are also counterattacking and flying into the northern part of the Dachenske village and already have a foothold! Additional reserves are needed to stabilize the Pokrovsky direction, not those unloaded from the bus, but trained ones who will be able to hold the defense. At the same time, further south, the enemy has made a breakthrough, which is the coverage of Novoolenivka from the south and Ukrainka from the north. The Russians have reached the outskirts of both of these villages, now the battles will begin for them. The enemy will attack here hard, for this he has restored his forces and is already setting the goal of capturing these 2 settlements! -Muchnoy Jugend

Pokrovsk direction
On the northern flank, the enemy has advanced in the northern part of the Shevchenko settlement. Heavy fighting continues.
West of Zarya and Sontsovka, the enemy is pressing in the direction of Slavyanka and Petropavlovka. -Petrenko

The brothers from the Pokrovsk direction got in touch. The Pidars are already on the outskirts of Vovkove. They are trying to bypass Pokrovsk and get on the highway to Kotlyno.... They transferred us to the Novotroitsky direction, there they are also climbing through the fields, in two days we have covered 3 km.... There is no one to hold us, there are no people, mortarmen and pilots are entering the battle..... This is just some kind of shit happening..... There are no prepared lines for defense...-Bakhmutskyy

Kurakhiv Direction

In the Kurakhovo direction, the enemy advanced along the road near Kurakhovo in a section up to 1 km wide, southwest of Dalniy to a depth of 930 m, in the area of Uspenovka and Trudovoye in a section up to 1.9 km wide, southeast of Konstantinopolskoye, occupied a strong point and advanced in Konstantinopolskoye in a section up to 3.38 km wide to a depth of 1.44 km and continues to put pressure in the area of Zelenovka, Sukhiye Yalov, Trudovoye, and Kurakhovo.
-Petrenko

Kurakhiv direction: The enemy is expanding its breakthrough around Zelenivka!
The enemy has also captured several landings and already has some control over the village itself, thus creating a bridgehead for a further breakthrough to the Razlyv and Ulakly villages. If one of the villages is occupied by the enemy, this will lead to the physical cutting of the Zaporizhzhia-Kurakhove highway and the operational encirclement of this area! A little higher up, the entire southern bank of the Sukhyi Yaly River has also been cleared. Our Cossacks will also have to withdraw from Uspenivka and very soon the village will come under enemy control. The time to withdraw from the pocket and the city in general has long been lost, I don’t understand what their heads are thinking? It will now be easier for the peasants to move through the fields, because there is artillery and drone cover on all sides, but our soldiers will have to withdraw with losses! If there is no order to withdraw, we may lose combat-ready brigades and even those that are partially replenished. -Muchnoy Jugend

At the bottom of the Kurakhiv pocket, in the Uspenivka area, the podars have quieted down, the LBZ is now on the edge of the Uspenivka settlement, but the main movement is now on the flanks of the pocket. -Officer Alex

Kurakhiv direction:
The enemy is expanding its breakthrough around Zelenivka. The enemy has also captured several landings and already has some control over the village itself. - Bakhmut Demon

Velika Novoselka Direction

Direction of Velika Novoselka:

The threat may gradually increase when the enemy tries to break through our defenses west of the Mokry Yala River along the hills, here the enemy is actively attacking Neskuchne and Novopil. Also, fighting continues in Novy Komar and Storozhevo, where the Rusnya is using maximum forces to knock us out of there! Assaults on Velika Novoselka have also resumed, the enemy was able to enter the outskirts of the village from the south and east. The boars also advanced north of Makarivka and took up new positions on the western bank of the Mokry Yala River. -Muchnoy Jugend

Quite tense events are taking place in the area of Velyka Novosilka, in the north (Novyi Komar district) there is a mix between ours and the [Russians] in the settlement itself; in the south (Blahodatne district) the [Russians] have intensified their activity and are making progress.
The trouble is that the enemy may soon take full control of the flanks around the city, and then everything will be as we have seen before, not a very good prospect… -Officer Alex

The Pidarnyavi storm Velika Novoselka, trying to penetrate in groups to the outskirts. There are difficult battles there. -Bakhmut Demon

Other Reports

Let's not make the Koreans into just another bunch of schmucks

Yes, they are quite incompetent on the modern battlefield of our war; I can also tell you a lot of things, for example, that there are no radio intercepts in Korean, obviously, they are being unloaded for an assault without any means of communication at all. Only in the intercepts of the [Russians] are they referred to as “foreigners,” “dog-eaters,” etc. However, I would like to note that some groups of podars still managed to shoot down our drones with small arms, both FPV and mavic, and they did not shoot down 1-2 drones, in particular, their SSOs worked decently and sometimes even quite bravely. Yes, the Russians use them as meat, that's undeniable, but let's just work on disposing of them as much as possible without unnecessary shouting and joy, I'm sure that when they adapt to our battlefield, the picture will be different and then everything will fall apart, like fairy tales about the chmony, [weaklings, cowards] I remember how everyone was surprised in 2023 that the Russians could fight. -Officer Alex

A couple of days ago, there was a large-scale offensive in the Belogorivka area, and the Podarys suffered heavy infantry losses. -Stanislav Osman

We are waiting for the podariv in the Kramatorsk direction with the onset of frost.
It is important for the enemy to make a quick mechanized breakthrough and bring the infantry as close as possible to Kostyantynivka, now the mud will make them targets. The priority for the Rusaks is not to preserve the equipment, but to consolidate the infantry, because it is the infantry that determines the boundaries of the front. -Stanislav Osman

In Chasiv Yar there are positions that have returned to our control, we continue to hold the defense. The returned positions were without 200 [dead] and 300 [wounded] brothers. Your birds [drones bought with donated funds] also participated in this. -Bakhmutskyy

Minus the chief of the [Russian] CBRN troops, but now he won't be making a fuss))
As for chemical weapons as they are currently used by [Russians] at the front, they are mainly grenades that are thrown at our infantry positions by mavic drops, often 200 and 300 of them lately due to such incidents.
It is clear that this will not stop with the death of one [Russian], but every motherfucker gets what he deserves. -Officer Alex

Quote of the Day:

"Wisdom comes from hedgehogs. Experience is often a result of lack of hedgehogs."

— Terry Pratchett