Section: The Centre for Eastern Studies (Poland)
Russia retrofits forces in Belarus. 298th day of the war
On 18–19 December, the Russians launched a kamikaze drone attack on Kyiv, damaging energy infrastructure in two areas of the city. Its defenders reported that 18 of the 23 Shahed-136/131 drones attacking the capital had been shot down. According to the Air Force Command, the Ukrainians were expected to neutralise 30 of the 35 drones that attacked...
Ninth massive Russian missile attack on Ukraine. 295th day of the war
On the morning of 16 December, Russia launched another missile attack on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. According to initial reports, facilities in the south and east of the country and in Kyiv and Korosten were damaged. However, energy supply interruptions (due to emergency shutdowns) occurred throughout the country. Of the larger cities,...
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...
