War in Ukraine December 3: Russia broke through north of Avdiivka, Stepovoe stronghold collapsed

Russia controls Stepove north of Avdiivka

According to the Geroman channel, on the northern slope of Avdiivka, as of the evening of December 2, Russian forces finally had complete control of the settlement of Stepovoe (Petrovskoye). Cleanup and sweeps are underway.

Currently, fighting is taking place in the direction of Novokalinovo, Severnoe, Tonenkoe and the vicinity of the Avdiivka coal and chemical plant. In addition, Moscow forces have gradually expanded the area of ​​control near the village of Stepovoe. The northern pincer is tightening on Kiev forces.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Command is transferring new forces from the Orekhov area to reinforce Krasnogorovka.

Ukrainian forces in Marinka are in danger

As previously reported, yesterday's reports about Russia's almost complete control of Marinka show that the risk of Ukraine falling is becoming clearer and clearer.

Moscow's forces have de facto captured several streets in the city's far southwest, but Ukraine has stubbornly held on and remains present in several homes on the city's northwest outskirts. However, under increasing pressure, the complete withdrawal of Kiev forces is predictable.

Previously, the Russian 103rd Regiment said that the city of Marinka in Donetsk was almost under the control of Moscow forces. Once they win this city, from here Russia can build a strong base in the lakes area west of Marinka and create many attack points, all directions have potential.

In the coming time, Ukraine may again have to worry about dealing with this Russian attack while its forces are stretched thin across the front lines.

ISW: Weather conditions slow the pace of fighting in Ukraine

ukrainska pravda Reported by the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) on December 2, adverse weather conditions continued to slow down combat activities on both sides.

As analysts note, bad weather conditions continue to slow down the pace of Ukrainian and Russian military operations along the entire front line, but do not stop them completely.

Representative of the Ukrainian army, Lieutenant Colonel Vladimir Fityo, said that the Russian army actively uses air force in the direction of Bakhmut when the weather allows.

He added that the weather did not significantly affect Russian artillery fire in the direction of Bakhmut.

In addition, Russian military bloggers on December 1 also claimed that strong winds near Bakhmut and in the western region of Zaporizhia prevented the Russian military from using UAVs and artillery in the past two days. One of these bloggers asserted that although light rain allowed the Russian military to conduct air strikes and reconnaissance near Verbovoye (12km east of Robotino), the muddy terrain made it difficult for infantry and wheeled vehicles to enter. west of Zaporizhia.

He added that Russian troops could only move on tracked vehicles and that Ukrainian troops continued to fire intense artillery despite bad weather conditions in the area.

Reuters: Ukrainian forces in Marinka have not completely collapsed

Control of Marinka, a city in eastern Ukraine that has been destroyed after more than a year of fighting, remained uncertain as of Friday, although unofficial reports suggested Russian forces had gained ground. some significant progress.

Reuters reported that most reports about Marinka, southwest of the center of the Russian-held Donetsk region, described it as a ghost town and that Ukrainian forces remained entrenched in several positions.

The Ukrainian General Staff said in its evening report on December 2 that Russian forces were unsuccessful in their attempts to enter villages near Marinka, but did not mention troop movements in the city.

The Russian Ministry of Defense does not mention this Marinka in its reports.

Unofficial Russian blogger Rybar mentioned a photo circulating on social media showing Russian forces hoisting the national flag southwest of the town. They said Ukrainian forces still controlled other districts.

"However, if the information about the movement of Russian troops south is correct, Ukraine's withdrawal is inevitable and will be very soon," Rybar said.

Ukrainian social media accounts noted Russia's advances but quoted soldiers denying reports that Moscow's army controlled the entire city.

Ukraine seeks to strengthen its defenses

Guardian reported that, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukraine is looking to strengthen its fortifications against Russian forces along the front, except for one area in the south.

Statements over the past few days by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Chief of the General Staff of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny indicate the areas where Kiev will focus its defense efforts.

Mr. Zelensky said on November 30 that his army would strengthen defenses along the Kupyansk - Lyma line, northern and western Ukraine, as well as Kherson further south. He also added the importance of defense in the direction of Avdiivka and Marinka in Donetsk.

This is consistent with General Zaluzhny's statement about his conversation with the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Charles Brown. Mr. Zaluzhny said on Telegram that Ukraine is "causing significant losses in manpower and equipment to the enemy, as well as exhausting them across the front line."

ISW said the two leaders' comments on Ukraine's defense activities on the Kharkov - Luhansk oblast border, as well as Donetsk and Kherson oblasts, were notable for not mentioning Zaporizhia oblast. This shows that "Ukrainian forces have not switched to a defensive position in this area."

Newsweek contacted the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense for comment.

An ISW ​​map shows that in Zaporizhia, Ukrainian forces maintained their positions southwest of the village of Staromaiorske. Other information shows that, in the battle of Bakhmut, Russian troops captured the settlement of Khromove and approached Klishchiivka on November 29.

The institute added that Russian forces have been trying to regain the initiative at the battlefield level in Ukraine since at least mid-November through “simultaneous offensive operations in areas where the forces Ukraine has switched to primarily defensive action.”

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told his military leadership on December 1 that Russian troops are conducting “active defense” in eastern Ukraine, where they are gaining positions.

However, ISW said that Mr. Shoigu made such a statement to manage public expectations and that it showed that Russia had not made any major progress.

Meanwhile, Zelensky told the news agency AP that he predicted Russia would continue an intense air campaign, similar to last year, targeting critical civilian infrastructure.

He added that this year's counteroffensive did not bring the results many expected because "we did not get all the weapons we wanted."

Ukraine announced Russia's latest losses

ukrainska pravda Reportedly, the General Staff released the latest report saying that on December 2, Ukraine removed from the war an additional 12 Russian soldiers, 930 armored vehicles and 11 artillery systems.

According to the General Staff of Ukraine, total Russian losses from February 24, 02 to December 22 were approximately: 03 (+12) people, 332.040 (+930) tanks, 5.575 (+4) combat vehicles armored vehicles, 10.396 (+11) artillery guns, 7.949 (+8) multiple rocket launchers, 913 (+0) air defense systems, 602 (+0) aircraft, 323 (+0) helicopters, 324 ( +0) UAVs, 5.995 (+1 cruise missiles), 1.569 (+1) ships/boats, 22 (+0) submarines, 1 (+0) cars and fuel tankers, 10.432 (+22) special military vehicles.

In the past 24 hours, there were 88 skirmishes on all fronts

ukrainska pravda reported, the morning report of December 3 from the General Staff of Ukraine said that in the past 12 hours, 24 clashes between the two sides took place.

In total, Russia launched 3 missiles, carried out 20 air strikes and 53 attacks from multiple launch rocket systems on Ukrainian military positions.

Towards Kupyansk, Russia attacked in the areas of Sinkovka, northeastern Petropavlovka, Ivanovka, Kharkov region and Stelmakhovka, Luhansk region, where the defense forces repelled 7 attacks.

Towards Port, the enemy unsuccessfully attacked the Serebryansky forestry district in the Lugansk region, where Ukraine repelled four attacks.

Towards Bakhmut, Russia attacked the Bogdanovka, Ivanovsky, Andriivka and Kleshchiivka areas of the Donetsk region, where Ukrainian defenders repelled 21 attacks.

Ukrainian forces continued offensive operations south of Bakhmut, Donetsk region, causing losses to the enemy in terms of manpower and equipment, while consolidating positions on the achieved defense lines.

Towards Avdiivka, With the support of the air force, Russia did not give up its efforts to surround Avdiivka, but Ukrainian soldiers resolutely defended, causing significant losses to the enemy.

Russian offensive operations were unsuccessful in the eastern regions of Novobakhmutovka, Stepnoy, Avdiivka, Severny, southern Tonenky, Pervomaisky of the Donetsk region, where the defenders repelled 25 attacks.

Towards Marinka, The enemy unsuccessfully attacked in the Marinka and Novomikhailovka areas of the Donetsk region, where Ukraine repelled 11 attacks.

At the same time, Ukraine continued to conduct an offensive campaign in the direction of Melitopol, causing losses in manpower and equipment to the enemy, and exhausting Russia on the entire front line.

More than 5.000 explosive devices were removed by Ukraine in the past week

Kyiv Independent Reportedly, Ukrainian experts cleared 5.321 explosive devices from more than 431 hectares of land and 71 roads in the past week, the Armed Forces Command said on December 2.

Since the start of the conflict, experts have removed more than 150.000 explosive devices across Ukraine, including territories recaptured from Russian forces.

According to Ukrainian officials, nearly a third of the country's territory has been mined since the outbreak of hostilities.

The Ukrainian Air Force shot down 10 Russian UAVs

Kyiv Independent Reportedly, the Ukrainian Air Force said on December 3 that its forces shot down 12 out of 10 Russian Shahed-12/136 UAVs. These UAVs were launched from around the Russian port city of Primorsko – Akhtarsk in southern Krasnodar Krai.

According to the Ukrainian military, at least one Kh-59 cruise missile was launched from the Belgorod region.

The UAVs entered Ukrainian airspace through the Kherson and Mykolaiv regions. The majority of them were shot down by the southern defense forces in Mykolaiv province, the rest were blocked in Starokostiantyniv district, Khmelnytskyi province, western Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Air Force added that the Russian Kh-59 missile did not reach the target.