Ukrainian defense forces advance near Bakhmut - ISW

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports.

"Ukrainian forces continued offensive operations northeast and south of Bakhmut on December 12 and recently advanced south of Bakhmut," the report says. It recalled that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy published footage of Ukrainian troops raising a flag over the Horlivka spoil tip, signaling that they were in control of the territory.

According to Russian bloggers, Ukrainian forces are using strong winds that affect Russian reconnaissance drones to conduct reconnaissance along the Horlivka-Maiorske line (20-24 km southwest of Bakhmut). Geolocation footage released on December 12 showed Russian troops advancing southwest of Avdiivka. Russian bloggers claimed that Russian troops were also allegedly advancing in the direction of Novokalynove and on the outskirts of Tonenke.

On December 12, a spokesperson for a Ukrainian unit in the Avdiivka direction said Ukrainian forces counterattacked and pushed back Russian forces from positions near Stepove. At the same time, geolocation footage released on December 11 showed Russian troops allegedly advancing northwest of Marinka. Russian bloggers claimed that Russian troops had advanced in northern Marinka and near Novomykhailivka, but noted that the Russians did not fully control the city.

• According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 95 combat engagements between Ukrainian and Russian troops took place on the frontline over the past day. Defense forces continue to hold back the occupiers in the Avdiivka direction and eliminated another 850 Russian servicemen over the day.