Russian military websites reported on December 8 that the Russian Armed Forces (VS RF) had made advances on the outskirts of the city of Artemovsk (Bakhmut). If successful, the Russian army is expected to capture important strategic heights and establish fire control on the way to Chasov Yar.
After capturing the village of Khromovo, the Russian army advanced on the northern flank, capturing the village of Bogdanovka, the Berkhovsky reservoir area, and in the south, the Klesheevka and Andreevka areas.
It is reported that the assault groups of the 119th Guards Air Assault Regiment have approached and attacked the main trenches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (VSU). If successful, the Russian troops are expected to capture important strategic heights and establish fire control on the way to Chasov Yar.
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| Ukrainian soldiers fire artillery toward Bakhmut, Ukraine, November 18. (Source: Getty) |
In addition, the Russian army also made progress in the Soledar area. Paratroopers of the 51st Guards Airborne Regiment advanced nearly 2 km near the village of Veseloye, capturing about 10 VSU strongholds. This allowed the Russians to cut off the spit in the Vesely area and improve their position.
Previously, according to the British Ministry of Defense, the Russian army had captured most of the Marinka settlement. On the social network X , the British Ministry of Defense said that most of the Marinka urban area is now under the control of the Russian army, but at the same time, some areas in the west of this settlement still belong to the VSU. Marinka has been under the control of Kiev since 2014. It is from this place that the VSU regularly shells the city of Donetsk.
* On December 8, the Visegrad Group (V4) consisting of the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary announced that it will continue to support Ukraine in appropriate ways, including mine clearance, medical and humanitarian assistance.
Speaking after a meeting of defence ministers from the V4, the Central European Defence Cooperation (CEDC) and the Western Balkans in Prague, Czech Defence Minister Jana Cernochova stressed that any reduction in support for Ukraine would be a sign of weakness in the West. “We will do everything possible to prevent Ukraine from falling, although we have different views on the agenda, especially within the V4,” she said.
The V4 Joint Statement stressed the importance of defence cooperation between the four countries, cooperation in protecting Slovakia's airspace and strengthening the domestic defence industry. According to the statement, the V4's common priorities also include the preparation of a Polish-led V4 battle group with contributions from the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary.
The meeting in Prague was attended by representatives from 13 countries and territories. In addition to the V4 Group, other CEDC members include Austria, Slovenia and Croatia.
Delegations from Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo also attended part of the meeting.
Currently, the V4 Group has different views on the conflict in Ukraine, including the provision of weapons. After taking office, the new Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, affirmed that the country will not continue to support Kiev militarily.
* Ukraine is set to receive a new batch of US anti-UAV systems. According to a Russian military website, this month Ukraine will receive all 14 Vampire anti-drone systems ordered by the US.
The systems were developed and produced in a short time under the direction of the US Navy. Kevin Raspet, deputy director of foreign sales, noted that the first four systems were delivered in just six months. The US Navy also said that along with the new Vampire system, APKWS missiles equipped with non-contact fuses are expected to be delivered in the coming weeks.
The Vampire anti-UAV system is a relatively new weapon, first tested in 2021. These mobile air defense systems are equipped with a WESCAM MX-10 electro-optical system with a thermal imaging camera and are equipped with launchers and 70 mm APKWS laser-guided missiles. They are mobile and can be mounted on a variety of vehicles, including the US Humvee utility SUVs.
The first Vampire systems were included in the US military aid package to Ukraine in July, although the exact number of systems delivered was not disclosed. In September of this year, it was announced that the VSU had already used these complexes.
* The Russian military announced on December 8 that its soldiers had captured for the first time a modern German-made Ukrainian Leopard-2A4 tank in Zaporizhzhia province.
Specifically, this tank belongs to the 33rd Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (VSU). The Leopard-2A4 mentioned above is said to have been damaged in combat and abandoned by its crew. The tank was captured by soldiers of the 71st Regiment, 42nd Motorized Rifle Division, Southern Military District of Russia. The related video has confirmed this information.
It is worth noting that the tank is equipped with 4S20 Kontakt-1 active armor. The Ukrainian army has been installing this equipment on this type of tank since July to reinforce the protective steel layer.
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