Russian forces fighting in Ukraine (Illustration: Sky News).
Battle of Avdiivka: Russia advances deep into fortified area
Rybar channel reported that in the Avdiivka area, the Russian army is continuously breaking through the defenses of the Ukrainian army.
On the northern flank, the main battles are taking place near the railway line in the Stepovoy area, where Kiev forces recently counterattacked and pushed the Russians back from the outskirts of the village. However, after several counterattacks by Moscow forces, the enemy withdrew to their original positions.
Fighting also continued near the Avdiivka coal and chemical plant, where the main Russian focus was on shelling a powerful stronghold to avoid casualties.
In addition, the Russians successfully advanced south of Novokalynov, capturing strongholds along the reservoir. By advancing across the railway, the Russian position was significantly improved in the context of the attack on Novokalynov.
West of Avdiivka, Russian assault units, with artillery and air support, captured key positions on the hills east of Severny. Similarly, the lost strongholds in the west worsened the situation for Ukraine not only in Severny but also in the south in Pervomaisky.
Thanks to the successful breakthrough, Russia has advanced along the reservoir. At the same time, the enemy in this area is offering less resistance than before. The loss of manpower and the successes of Russia are affecting the morale of the Ukrainians, which makes the offensive easier. At the moment, the main problem is the mines scattered in the fields around the settlements.
Map of the Ukrainian war in the Avdiivka area as of December 1 (Photo: Rybar).
Russian flag appears on the roof of a house in the westernmost city of Marinka
The front began to move quickly, on the morning of December 1 a video appeared showing a Russian flag hanging on a house on Komsomolskaya Street in the westernmost suburb of the city.
However, it is too early to talk about Russia's complete control of Marinka, Kiev forces still hold positions in the northwest. To completely eliminate the enemy in this area, Russia still has a lot of work to do.
The difficulties of conducting offensive operations remained the same: the city was now in ruins, perfectly visible from the air in all directions. The fighting was literally from basement to basement, there was simply no other shelter in this area.
This makes it difficult for Russia to bridge the lines it has controlled. However, the enemy also faces similar problems with replenishment, as Russia advances slowly it becomes increasingly difficult for them to supply their defensive positions in the ruins of Marinka.
On the evening of December 1, a video appeared showing soldiers of the 103rd Motor Rifle Regiment of the 150th Motor Rifle Division of Russia reporting full control of the city of Marinka near Donetsk.
Russian flag flies in the westernmost city of Marinka (Photo: RezervSVO).
According to some reports, over the past day, the Russian army has actually crushed the enemy's defense line in the southwest of the city. It was there that the Russian flag was raised on one of the tallest houses.
According to other sources, Kiev forces still hold positions in the northwestern part of the ancient settlement, which has almost completely collapsed.
However, if the information about Russian armed forces moving south is correct, then the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops is only a matter of the near future.
Map of the Ukrainian war in Marinka as of December 1 (Photo: Rybar).
Mr. Zelensky: The conflict is entering a new phase
President Volodymyr Zelensky told the Associated Press in an interview published on December 1 that the Russia-Ukraine conflict has entered a new phase, with winter expected to complicate fighting and global attention shifting to the Israel-Hamas war.
He admitted that Kiev's latest counterattack had fallen short of expectations due to a lack of weapons and soldiers.
"There is not enough strength to achieve the desired results faster. But this does not mean that we should give up, we must surrender," Mr. Zelensky said.
Despite all the obstacles, Ukraine has managed to regain much of the territory controlled by Russia since the start of the special military operation and degrade Russia's capabilities in the Black Sea, Mr. Zelensky said.
"Look, we are not backing down, I am satisfied. We are fighting the second (powerful) army in the world, I am satisfied," Mr. Zelensky said.
ISW: Russia's hidden meaning when talking about "active defense" in Avdiivka
According to experts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the Russian leadership talks about "active defense" of Avdiivka to hide the "absence of any significant Russian advances around the city," Ukrainska Pravda reported.
Analysts note that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu continues to mischaracterize Russia's offensive actions in Ukraine as part of "active defense" in order to reduce expectations about the Russian military's ability to achieve key operational goals.
Mr. Shoigu said on December 1 in a phone call with Russian generals that the military was conducting "active defense" and was holding more advantageous positions in each direction of operations.
According to experts, the Russian minister noted that the Russian military is conducting offensive operations in eastern Ukraine, instead of defending against Kiev's counteroffensive in the Zaporizhia region.
“Active defense” allows Russian military leaders to claim success until their forces have made significant gains.
Map of the war in Ukraine as of December 1 (Photo: ISW)
Russian Armed Forces increase by nearly 170,000 people
On December 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to increase the number of military personnel by nearly 170,000 people, Ukrainska Pravda reported.
Kiev attacks 5 Russian ammunition depots
Ukrainska Pravda reported that the evening report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on December 1 said that during the past day, missile force units attacked three areas of concentration of Russian personnel and weapons as well as five ammunition depots.
The 79th Air Assault Brigade of Ukraine defending Marinka said that the Russian troops have become significantly more active, attacking the positions of the defense forces from several directions at once - both in Marinka and in the surrounding areas. The situation is very difficult.
The General Staff report said: "During the day, 67 military clashes took place. Russia launched 2 missiles and 17 air strikes, carried out 46 attacks from multiple launch rocket systems.
In the Kupyansk direction, the enemy attacked near Sinkovka in Kharkov and Stelmakhovka in Luhansk, where the defense forces repelled nine attacks.
In the Liman direction, Ukraine repelled seven attacks in the Serebryansky forest of Lugansk.
In the direction of Bakhmut, the enemy attacked in the areas of Grigoryevka, Bogdanovka, Ivanovsky, Kleshchiivka and Andriivka in Donetsk. Ukraine repelled 18 attacks.
In the direction of Avdiivka , Russia unsuccessfully attacked south of Novokalinovoy, Stepnoy, Avdiivka, Severny, Pervomaisky Donetsk, where Ukraine repelled 16 attacks.
In the Marinka direction, with the support of the air force, Russia carried out unsuccessful offensive operations in the Novomikhailovka area of Donetsk.
Ukraine's First Lady Says She Doesn't Want Her Husband to Have a Second Term
First Lady Olena Zelenska told The Economist that she does not want President Volodymyr Zelensky to serve another term and that he needs to find something new in life.
"I don't want him to be president for another term or two," she told reporters.
When asked how she envisions her future, she said, "Our family will be together. We will live together all the time. Then we will go on vacation."
There has been heated debate over whether Ukraine should hold national elections in March next year as originally scheduled.
Mr Zelensky said in November that it was “not the right time” for elections.
First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska (Photo: Sky News).
Mediazona confirms identities of more than 38,000 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine
The Kyiv Independent reported that through open-source research, the independent Russian media outlet Mediazona, together with BBC Russia, on December 1 confirmed the names of 38,261 Russian soldiers who have died in Ukraine since the conflict began in February 2022.
Since the previous update in November, the names of more than 1,200 Russian soldiers have been added to the casualty list.
Journalists point out that the actual number could be significantly higher because the information they have verified so far is based on public sources, including obituaries, posts by relatives, news reports in regional media and reports from local authorities.
Mediazona added that "the volume of data coming in is huge, exceeding our processing capacity".
As in the previous update, the increased casualties largely stem from the deaths of Russian soldiers near Avdiivka, where fighting has been fierce since early October.
Mr. Lavrov: There is no reason for Russia to change its goals.
Speaking in Skopje today, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow saw no signs that Kiev was ready to move towards a political solution and there was no reason for Russia to change the goals of its "special military operation", Reuters reported.
Russia destroys 1 Ukrainian drone boat attacking Crimea
The Guardian reported that the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday, December 1, that the Russian navy had destroyed an unmanned Ukrainian naval ship heading towards Crimea.
"At approximately 08:00 Moscow time, a Ukrainian naval drone was detected in the western part of the Black Sea heading towards the Crimean peninsula... The detected target was destroyed," the Russian Defense Ministry said.
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