Two quick housekeeping notes. First, Rosie is doing great. She’s jumping up on the bed more often. Three times just yesterday. She and Ruby are a bit stir crazy because I’ve not been able to walk them for about ten days or so. Thank you for all the good thoughts, well wishes, prayers, and donations to help with her chemo.
Second, while the congestion is finally starting to break up, I still feel bleh. I’m just going to run through the basics again tonight.
Unfortunately, as expected, the Russians used the drone swarms to try to open the way for their missiles to attack.
Sitting in the corridor during a massive missile attack, the second this month, and reading about plans to negotiate with Putin. Feels surreal.
Updated figures from Ukrainian Air Force: 287 weapons used in this morning’s Russian attack on Ukraine – 94 missiles of various types, 193 drones. 81 missiles, 80 drones shot down, 105 drones jammed, location lost, 5 drones flew back to Russia, and 1 flew to Belarus.
Today Russia launched a massive strike on Ukraine, launching 93 missiles and about 200 drones. As reported – 81 missiles were downed, 11 of which by F-16.
Video show one of the intercepted Kh-555 cruise missiles.
“As a result of the mass missile-drone attack, energy facilities in multiple regions were damaged,” the state energy operator Ukrenergo said. Repair works are underway, but the scope of emergency shutdowns will increase, according to the statement.
Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast suffered the “most massive attack during the full-scale war,” Governor Svitlana Onyshchuk announced. Cruise missiles and drones struck critical infrastructure facilities in the region, but no casualties were reported at the moment.
Six energy facilities were targeted in Lviv Oblast, according to regional authorities. Neighboring Ternopil Oblast was also impacted, the regional military administration said without revealing details.
“There are no casualties. Critical infrastructure facilities are operating normally,” the Ternopil Oblast authorities said on Telegram. Earlier in the morning, officials said that half of the region’s residents were without power due to emergency shutdowns.
Two people – employees of a civilian enterprise – were injured in the village of Myrne in Kharkiv Oblast, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported initially. The number of injuries later rose to four.
Five of Ukraine’s nine operational nuclear reactor units have reduced power output due to the attack, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said.
The Polish Air Force scrambled its fighter jets as Russian drones and missiles entered western Ukraine, a usual precaution Warsaw takes during Russian mass strikes.
“This is (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s ‘peace’ plan – destroying everything. This is how he wants to negotiate, by terrorizing millions of people,” Zelensky said.
“Oil gives Putin enough money to believe in impunity. A strong reaction from the world is needed: a massive strike – a massive reaction.”
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
This Is a Deliberate, Cynical Russian Terror Aimed Specifically at Our People: Each Missile Targeted a Particular Energy Facility – Address by the President
13 December 2024 – 20:50
Dear Ukrainians!
First of all – I thank the defenders of our skies. This was one of the largest Russian attacks against our energy sector today. 94 missiles of various types, both cruise and ballistic. 81 of them were shot down. In addition, almost 200 strike drones were launched. In general, we can see that the Russians aimed to overload our air defense, as they always do during such large-scale attacks. And they also specifically waited for the frosty weather to make things worse for the people. The strike was timed to coincide with the cold snap. This is a deliberate, cynical Russian terror aimed specifically at our people. Each missile targeted a particular energy facility, and thanks to the precision of our warriors and the reliability of our air defense systems, many facilities were protected. Currently, power engineers and repair crews are working in all regions – where it is needed. The system is being restored.
Today, I held the first session of the Technology Staff – the format we promised to introduce to bring more innovation to our Defense Forces. And the very issue of enhancing the capabilities of our air defense was discussed at this Technology Staff. Defense against missiles, defense against “Shahed” drones. We require even greater capabilities to shoot down all this terrorist garbage. The session was attended not only by representatives of the army and the Security and Intelligence Forces, but also by arms manufacturers, scientists, people who know exactly what technological things can be done. We expect concrete decisions at the next session in this format. We will also involve other representatives of our defense industry. It is essential to involve more people, from the volunteer community, who have been helping the army become more technologically advanced for a long time. And technologies should address critical questions regarding the effectiveness of our units in combat operations. Greater technological capability means more lives saved.
Today, I also spoke with our European friends. The President of Finland – I thanked him for supporting Ukraine and Ukrainians. A new support package, a defense package, is on the way. Finland is also preparing another package. We also agreed with President Stubb that Finland will work with our requests for additional air defense systems. We also focused on how to work more actively with our partners on security guarantees and bringing peace closer. I also had a conversation with the Prime Minister of Latvia. About our cooperation – at the bilateral level and in coordination with other Baltic and Nordic states. The JEF (Joint Expeditionary Forces) Summit is being prepared, a format for cooperation in Northern Europe, and British leadership is clearly visible there. Ukraine always joins in, and we discussed the need for our full participation – as a full-fledged member of these forces. I am grateful for the willingness to help us staff a brigade together with other partners in the Baltic and Nordic countries. We are already preparing for meetings in Brussels next week – with European leaders.
And one more thing. There is a new defense package from the United States of America that includes, among other things, missiles for air defense, for HIMARS systems. As well as artillery. The package is worth 500 million dollars. I thank President Biden and both parties in Congress – everyone who supports our defense of life and people. Every time there are new Russian strikes against our country, we need – and this is an objective necessity – steps that send a clear message to Putin: his terror must not succeed. He is using missiles instead of seeking ways to end the war. It is war and intimidation that uphold the Russian “throne” under this individual. However, our partners should not be concerned with ensuring the stability of such individuals in Moscow; instead, they should focus on guaranteeing stability for themselves and for the world — stability and security that are only possible in peace. I am grateful to all those who are helping us to bring peace closer.
Glory to Ukraine!
The cost and the reason:
The war took 9 year old Irynka’s father, now she helps other soldiers fight the occupiers by making her own vinoks and selling them. She has raised money for 6 cars, thermal imagers, Starlink and drones. Today the army came to thank her, gave gifts in return and presented her with a volunteer award❤️
🗣️”This is a fight: democracy VS authoritarianism! We are not fighting only for our ideals. How the West reacts to the problem in Georgia tells a lot about how they will approach this kind of problems in the future”, Natia from #GeorgiaProtests: Why people in #Georgia are taking to the streets
🗣️”European Union, everyone around the world, please, support us in our fight for freedom!” Irina from #GeorgiaProtests: Why people in #Georgia are taking to the streets
A joint protest march of IT, HR, trainers, finance, marketers, PR, and creative industry representatives moved down Pekini Avenue, completely blocking traffic.
Lawyers protesting at the Supreme Court, wineries and musicians marching together towards the Freedom Square. Everyone is out in Tbilisi today, all day. Videos attached below. #terrorinGeorgia #GeorgiaProtests
“The first Europeans,” nicknamed Zezva and Mzia, have been found in the Georgian town of Dmanisi. Today, Dmanisi entrance was illuminated with the depiction of Zezva and Mzia with the 🇬🇪🇪🇺 flags. #terrorinGeorgia #GeorgiaProtests
Two persons from the Supreme Council of Abkhazia (the de jure institution) who are part of the electoral colleague that will be electing the new, illegitimate President in the morning, refuse to participate in the illegitimate farce and the installation of a “mentally Russian.”
A pro-European protest rally is taking place in #Batumi today, December 13, marking the 15th consecutive day, despite strong winds and torrential rain interrupting.
Agree with Franz here & will reiterate: A ceasefire for sake of ceasefire isn’t enough & is short-sighted. Russia will regroup, rearm & attack again. It’s in US & EU interests to help Ukraine & in fact go beyond what it’s provided already to secure a lasting peace with real security assurances.
If it is, several states, including Germany, must establish bilateral security agreements with Ukraine, incorporating mutual defense commitments, potentially including troop deployments, as long as Ukraine remains outside NATO, to freeze the conflict and act as a deterrent.
Otherwise, a future war is likely, as Russia will inevitably attack Ukraine again, having failed in its primary objective of installing a pro-Russian government.
In my personal opinion, defense commitments to freeze the conflict will likely be difficult to achieve without robust European forces on the ground in Ukraine.
In my personal opinion, defense commitments to freeze the conflict will likely be difficult to achieve without robust European forces on the ground in Ukraine.
I agree with the need for the security agreements. Freezing the conflict, however, is a strategically bad idea. It rewards Putin for his genocidal irredentism and attempts to level in order to remake the global system. Putin understands one thing: force. Break his nose, repeatedly knock him on his ass, kick his ribs and head in over and over, then, and only then, will you get behavioral change. The US under four different presidents have tried a variety of carrots, have tried to accommodate his concerns and all they have to show for it is genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and a world war.
Rare video of Su-27 fighter of the Ukrainian Air Force dropping four GBU-39 SDB on Russian targets.
Ukraine’s military leadership has fired the commander who oversaw its operations in the eastern Donetsk region, where Kyiv’s defences are buckling as Russia advances westward. A Ukrainian official confirmed to me that Oleksandr Lutsenko had been removed from his post… on.ft.com/4fgxsMb
Ukraine’s military leadership has fired the commander who oversaw its operations in the eastern Donetsk region, where Kyiv’s defences are buckling as Russia pushes towards a key logistics hub.
A Ukrainian official confirmed to the Financial Times on Friday that Oleksandr Lutsenko had been removed from his position as commander of the Donetsk operational and tactical group.
Ukraine’s forces, under Lutsenko’s command, had failed to stop Russia’s sweeping offensive that has taken an area roughly half the size of London in just the past month. The official said Lutsenko would be given another post in the army’s ground forces. He has been replaced by Brigadier General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi.
Earlier on Friday Ukraine’s top general, Oleksandr Syrsky, said from a command centre near the city of Pokrovsk — the heart of the eastern Donetsk operation and a key logistical hub for the army — that battles were raging against a Russian army “superior . . . primarily in manpower”.
“The battles are extremely tough,” Syrsky said. “The Russians are throwing all available forces forward, trying to break through the defence of our troops.”
Deep State, a Ukrainian war-tracking group close to the defence ministry, said Ukrainian troops defending four villages south of Pokrovsk were under threat of encirclement, with Russian forces attacking “from all sides”.
Ukraine’s largest steelmaker, Metinvest, also announced the suspension of operations at the only mine producing coking coal in the country after Russian forces pushed to within 2km of the site near Pokrovsk, according to a company memo.
The mine produced around half of Metinvest’s total Ukrainian coal extraction volumes and is a source of the type of coal needed to produce coke, which is essential for steel manufacturing. Metinvest said it had evacuated core personnel and their family members from the site.
Russian forces have recently been advancing at their fastest pace since 2022 and their current focus is Pokrovsk, as well as the key towns of Kurakhove and Velyka Novosilka to the south. The area is near three major highways that run to the Dnipropetrovsk region and the city of Dnipro, which is crucial to the Ukrainian military’s operations across much of the 1,000km frontline.
Underscoring the dire situation facing Ukraine’s army on the eastern front, Syrsky warned that he would have to soon resort to making “non-standard decisions to increase the stability of the defence and more effectively destroy the occupiers”.
⚡️ Ukraine resisting Russian encirclement attempts at 4 Donetsk Oblast villages, military says.
Ukrainian forces are repelling Russian assaults near Uspenivka, Hannivka, Trudove, and Romanivka in Donetsk Oblast, the Khortytsia group of forces said.
Ukrainian forces are repelling Russian assaults near Uspenivka, Hannivka, Trudove, and Romanivka in Donetsk Oblast and “are taking necessary measures” to prevent encirclement, the Khortytsia group of forces reported on Dec. 13.
The statement comes as analysts raise concerns about a growing risk of Ukrainian units being encircled in the area.
The DeepState monitoring group reported on Dec. 12 that Russian forces are intensifying their assault on Uspenivka, 43 kilometers (26 miles) from occupied Donetsk. Russia has reportedly gained control of key routes between Uspenivka and Hannivka, threatening to cut off Ukrainian units in what has been dubbed the Uspenivka pocket.
The sector lies roughly 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of the front-line town of Pokrovsk and 15 kilometers (9 miles) north of occupied Vuhledar.
The Khortytsia group cautioned against “emotional interpretations” of the battlefield situation, saying that such reactions could complicate the situation and benefit Russian forces.
According to the official statement, the Ukrainian military repelled Russian assaults on the outskirts of settlements.
Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi has previously described the ongoing Russian offensive as “one of the most powerful” since the full-scale invasion began.
Throughout the autumn, Russian forces have made operational gains in southern Donetsk Oblast, particularly near Toretsk, Chasiv Yar, and Kupiansk, while advancing on Russian soil in Kursk Oblast.
Editor’s note: This is a developing story and is being updated.
Ukrainian drones reportedly struck an oil depot in the city of Oryol overnight on Dec. 14, causing a large fire, Russian Telegram channels reported.
Explosions were reported by residents in the city around midnight local time.
Videos posted on social media and shot by local residents appear to show a drone hitting a storage tank and causing an explosions at an oil depot in Oryol. Local residents claimed that at least one storage tank caught fire as a result of the attack, ASTRA reported.
Local Russian officials have not yet commented on the alleged attack, and it was not immediately clear which oil depot was targeted in the attack.
The Kyiv Independent cannot verify the claims and Ukraine’s military has not yet commented on the alleged attack.
The full extent of the damage was not immediately known, and it is unclear if there are any casualties as a result of the alleged attack.
As Russia’s full-scale invasion continues, Ukraine has also continued to attack Russian targets along the Russia-Ukraine border to inflict damage to the country’s military supply chain.
Overnight on Dec. 11, Ukrainian forces struck a Druzhba oil loading pipeline near the city of Bryansk, setting it on fire, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported.
Oryol Oblast is located in western Russia, and borders Kursk region to the southwest, Bryansk region to the northwest, and Tula region to the east.
Over the past year, Ukrainian forces have launched a series of drone strikes aimed at damaging Russia’s oil industry, which is crucial to sustain Moscow’s war efforts, as well as its military hardware.
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
There are no new Patron tweets or videos today. Here is some adjacent material.
A herd of pigs inspects a Ukrainian FPV drone that sits in ambush waiting for Russian vehicles or infantry to approach
t.me/serhii_flash…
Thanks for all your work Dr. Silverman. Best of luck getting over the sickness…my kiddos gifted me a nasty stomach virus, going on day 4…
2.
Jay
Thank you, Adam.
3.
Jay
(((Tendar)))
@Tendar
11h
Everything what I see happening around the Russian base in Latakia (Khmeimim) indicates that they are leaving. Air defense is prepared for transport, columns from all over Syria are pouring in and cargo planes are lined up.
Dec 13, 2024 · 2:06 PM UTC
(((Tendar)))
@Tendar
12h
The Kurdish factions in the North and East of Syria have adopted the Green 3-Star Flag of the Syrian revolution and independence. According to the Kurdish authorities:
“The flag embodies the hopes of the Syrian people for freedom, dignity, and national unity.”
The new and old flag is now the official flag of all major factions in Syria. What was unthinkable only 3 weeks ago is now fact. The country is once again under one banner.
Sort of, they are recognizing that they are part of Syria, are supporting the Interim Government, and will be part of the process for creating a new Syrian Nation.
Thanks. That might be the biggest endorsement of the new government around – the Syrian Kurds haven’t been shy about fighting for their corner of the region, if they think this government is worth investing in, I’m going to follow their lead.
Unfortunately, you’re right about Turkey, Israel, and Daesh.
12.
KatKapCC
Putin understands one thing: force. Break his nose, repeatedly knock him on his ass, kick his ribs and head in over and over, then, and only then, will you get behavioral change.
Don’t threaten me with a good time. I generally don’t like violence and don’t watch stuff like boxing or whatever…but I would very much enjoy seeing that hateful old ferret get the absolute crap kicked out of him.
13.
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
14.
Geminid
@Jay: There is reporting by Clash Report that Russian cargo planes are flying frpom Khmeimim air base (inland of Latakia) to al-Jufra(sp?) air base in eastern Libya. Eastern Libya is controlled by the Haftar government based in Benghazi. It appears that Russia will support its operations in Africa out of eastern Libya now.
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dirt_first
Thanks for all your work Dr. Silverman. Best of luck getting over the sickness…my kiddos gifted me a nasty stomach virus, going on day 4…
Jay
Thank you, Adam.
Jay
https://nitter.poast.org/Tendar/status/1867571927419699432#m
Jay
https://nitter.poast.org/Tendar/status/1867547879063109995#m
Adam L Silverman
@dirt_first: Feel better!
Chris
@Jay:
As in Rojava? They’re actually recognizing the new Syrian government as their government?
Jay
@Chris:
Sort of, they are recognizing that they are part of Syria, are supporting the Interim Government, and will be part of the process for creating a new Syrian Nation.
Adam L Silverman
@Jay: You’re welcome.
Adam L Silverman
@Jay: Unfortunately Biden and Blinken can’t get Erdogan to stop attacking the SDF.
Jay
@Adam L Silverman:
Yeah, the only “spoilers” on the Great Syrian Experiment so far are Turkey, Israel and ISIL.
ruZZia and Iran are bugging out.
ruZZia cancelled stolen Ukrainian grain shipments to Syria and Ukraine has stepped up.
Chris
@Jay:
Thanks. That might be the biggest endorsement of the new government around – the Syrian Kurds haven’t been shy about fighting for their corner of the region, if they think this government is worth investing in, I’m going to follow their lead.
Unfortunately, you’re right about Turkey, Israel, and Daesh.
KatKapCC
Don’t threaten me with a good time. I generally don’t like violence and don’t watch stuff like boxing or whatever…but I would very much enjoy seeing that hateful old ferret get the absolute crap kicked out of him.
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
Geminid
@Jay: There is reporting by Clash Report that Russian cargo planes are flying frpom Khmeimim air base (inland of Latakia) to al-Jufra(sp?) air base in eastern Libya. Eastern Libya is controlled by the Haftar government based in Benghazi. It appears that Russia will support its operations in Africa out of eastern Libya now.