Section: The Centre for Eastern Studies (Poland)
Russians approach Bakhmut. 291st day of the war
Russian forces have reached the southern and eastern borders of Bakhmut, which was about to be completely ruined due to permanent shelling. According to some sources, fighting occurs in the industrial area in the city’s eastern part. Ukrainian units have repulsed further offensive attempts to the northeast of Bakhmut. They are also expected...
Moldova diversifies gas import sources
On 4 December, Vadim Ceban, the head of Moldovan gas operator Moldovagaz, announced that as of 5 December Moldova will draw gas from two sources. The first will remain Russia’s Gazprom, which supplies 5.7 million m3 per day (mcm/d) under the five-year contract signed in October 2021. The second source, with a daily volume of 3.7 mcm/d, will...
Further devastation of Ukraine’s energy system. 286th day of the war
On 5 December, the Russians launched another attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure facilities in Kyiv, Odesa and Vinnytsia oblasts were hit. The Ukrainian command reported that out of more than 70 missiles of various types used in the attack, more than 60 were shot down. Most of these were cruise missiles Ch-101/Ch-555 fired from...
Surviving the winter: Ukraine ahead of an energy crisis
The massive Russian missile attacks which began in October have led to a serious failure of Ukraine’s entire energy system. In the largest attack, on 23 November, the majority of power plants and combined heat and power plants were damaged, and numerous residential buildings and healthcare facilities were destroyed. Blackouts were seen in...
Kyiv versus the Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate
On 22 November, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), supported by the police and the National Guard, launched a large-scale counter-espionage operation against the structures of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP). The intervention was justified by the urge to prevent and limit sabotage by Russian special services....
Problematic German military support for Ukraine. 281st day of the war
Russian troops captured the central section of the Ukrainian defences west of the Bakhmut–Horlivka road and railway line and approached Siversk from the north and south-east. Without success, the Russians were to press south and east of Bakhmut, west of Horlivka and north of Avdiivka. In an arc west of Donetsk, the aggressor forces were to reach...
Ukraine prepares for a blackout. 277th day of the war
Adverse weather conditions led to a slowdown in the pace of fighting. In the Donetsk Oblast, however, Russian forces renewed attacks south and east of Bakhmut, east of Siversk and in an arc west of Donetsk. In Luhansk Oblast, both sides attempted to push, with Svatove and Kreminna remaining the main directions of operations. Ukrainian forces were...
Kremlin energy blackmail. 274th day of the war
On 23 November, the Russians launched another massive attack on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure facilities. According to the Ukrainian General Staff, the total number of missile strikes was 78. The defenders were to shoot down 51 of the 67 cruise missiles used by the enemy and 5 of the 10 Lancet strike drones. The main target of the...
Ukraine is on the brink of a humanitarian disaster. 270th day of the war
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories Iryna Vereshchuk announced that voluntary evacuation from Ukraine’s recaptured southern territories was beginning. The authorities considered it necessary to resettle the population in safer areas due to the damage done to critical infrastructure...
Deficiencies of Ukraine’s air defence. 267th day of the war
On 17 November, the Russians launched another missile attack on Ukrainian infrastructure, affecting mainly facilities in the southern part of the country. In total, they were to use 27 cruise missiles and an unspecified number of air-to-ground missiles and kamikaze drones. The Ukrainian air defence reported the downing of four cruise missiles,...
