ISW: Russian forces capture sewage treatment plant in Avdiivka – map

Russian forces conducted offensive operations near Avdiivka and confirmed their advance by seizing Avdiivka's sewage treatment plant on 8 December.

Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW)

Details: Geolocation footage released on 8 December shows that Russian troops advanced towards the sewage treatment plant south of Krasnohorivka (5 kilometres north-west of Avdiivka).

ISW also reported, citing Russian sources, that Russian troops advanced towards Novokalynove (13 kilometres north-east of Avdiivka), to the outskirts of the Avdiivka Coke Plant north-west of Avdiivka and in an industrial area south-east of Avdiivka on 7 and 8 December. 

In addition, Russian military bloggers claimed on 8 December that Russian troops were reinforcing their positions in Stepove (3 kilometres northwest of Avdiivka) and carrying out a mop-up operation in the settlement, while another Russian military blogger claimed that Russian troops were holding positions on the eastern outskirts of Stepove.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Russian forces unsuccessfully attacked east of Novobakhmutivka (9 kilometres northwest of Avdiivka); south of Tonenke (5 kilometres west of Avdiivka); and near Stepove, Avdiivka and Pervomaiske (10 kilometres southwest of Avdiivka).

Russian sources also claimed on 7 and 8 December that Russian troops had conducted attacks north of the Avdiivka Coke Plant and near Ocheretyne (15 kilometres northwest of Avdiivka), Novokalynove and Sieverne (6 kilometres west of Avdiivka and the industrial zone).

Positional fighting continued on 8 December near the settlements of Vodiane (7 kilometres southwest of Avdiivka) and Tonenke. 

Meanwhile, a Russian source stated that difficult weather conditions had slowed down the pace of Russian and Ukrainian operations near Avdiivka.

Colonel Oleksandr Shtupun, Spokesperson for the Tavriia Operational and Strategic Group, said that more than 40,000 Russian troops are fighting on the Avdiivka front and that Russian troops are redeploying reserves of Storm-Z units and conscripted personnel who lack training and food to make up for their losses.

MAP: isw

Russian troops continued their offensive in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast and advanced there on 8 December. Geolocation footage released on 7 December showed Russian troops advancing south of Robotyne towards Novoprokopivka (2 kilometres south of Robotyne).

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on 8 December that Ukrainian troops had repelled Russian ground attacks near Robotyne and west of Verbove. Ukrainian military observer Kostiantyn Mashovets stated that Russian troops are taking advantage of the reduced pace of Ukrainian offensives in Zaporizhzhia Oblast to reorganise their force grouping and create operational reserves, but noted that Russian troops are currently unable to allocate significant resources to these reserves.

To quote the ISW’s Key Takeaways on 8 December:

• Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his presidential bid for 2024 on 8 December in an obviously staged effort to seem that he was running at the request of Russian servicemen.
• Putin’s announcement of his presidential bid in a military setting indicates that his campaign may focus on Russia’s war in Ukraine more than ISW previously assessed, although the extent of this focus is unclear at this time.
• Russian forces conducted a series of missile and drone strikes against Ukraine on the night of 7-8 December.
• Imprisoned ardent nationalist and former Russian officer Igor Girkin forecasted on 7 December that there will be "no agreement" between Russia and Ukraine to end the war and "no freeze" of the frontlines in Ukraine.
• The Russian military has reportedly banned the use of civilian cars for military purposes likely as part of ongoing formalisation efforts, sparking criticisms from Russian milbloggers.
• The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) is expanding its ability to guard Russian officials and entities abroad likely to better surveil Russian and international actors outside of Russian territory.
• Russian occupation officials continue efforts to artificially alter the demographic composition of occupied Ukraine.
• Ukraine’s partners continued to announce military and financial aid packages to Ukraine recently.
• Russian forces conducted offensive operations along the Kupiansk-Svatove-Kreminna line, near Bakhmut, near Avdiivka, west and southwest of Donetsk City, in the Donetsk-Zaporizhzhia Oblast border area, and in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast and made confirmed advances near Avdiivka and in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
• Udmurt Republic Head Alexander Brechalov announced on 7 December that the region formed and will soon deploy four new units to fight in Ukraine.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on 8 December that Russia is trying to destroy Ukrainian children’s connection to Ukraine and that swift intervention is necessary to maintain this connection during a speech at the first meeting of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children.

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