Here are key battlefield developments as of Thursday, December 5:
A Russian ship shot at a German military helicopter over the Baltic Sea using “signal munitions,” according to German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock. Talking at a NATO meeting in Brussels, Ms. Baerbock confirmed the incident between Russia and Germany, amid heightened tensions over Berlin’s support for Ukraine.
NATO countries have halted their exercises in the Baltic region amid the latest disruption to pipelines and underwater cables, likely damaged in sabotage attempts.
Latvian foreign minister Baiba Braze said some NATO members were waiting for Donald Trump to enter the White House before they make a decision on whether to invite Kyiv to join the alliance. Ukraine urged NATO foreign ministers to issue it an invitation at a meeting in Brussels this week, but movement on this front appears unlikely while there is opposition from some capitals and the ongoing transition in Washington. Mr. Trump has said he will end Russia’s war with Ukraine “in a day,” without explaining how, and his team’s plans for the Ukraine policy remain unclear.
“Everybody is waiting for the new US administration to start working,” Ms. Braze told Reuters. “That is one aspect that is said or unsaid – but it’s a reality.”
Ukraine downs 30 drones launched by Russia overnight
Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 44 drones and two Iskander-M ballistic missiles overnight.
Of the total 44 drones, the Ukrainian air force shot down 30 and lost track of 12, likely due to electronic warfare, with one drone heading toward Belarus, according to the statement.
Ukraine makes gains near Kupiansk and halts Russia’s northern advance
Ukrainian forces have reportedly pushed back Russian troops from recently-taken areas near the northern city of Kharkiv.
The Institute for the Study of War said Ukrainian troops have “eliminated a Russian bridgehead on the west (right) bank of the Oskil River near Novomlynsk (north of Kupiansk and northeast of Dvorichna) and significantly reduced another Russian bridgehead on the right bank in the direction of Masyutivka-Zapadne area (southeast of Dvorichna),” citing Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets.
It added: “Russian forces continued offensive operations along the Kupiansk-Svatove-Kreminna line on 4 December, but did not advance,” referring to the northern theater of the frontline.
Additionally, Ukrainian forces recently marginally advanced within Toretsk near Bakhmut, the ISW said. It cited geolocated footage published on Tuesday indicating that Ukrainian forces recently marginally advanced along Ryaboshapky Street in central Toretsk.
Military intelligence: Russia has fired at least 60 North Korean missiles against Ukraine
A Ukrainian military spokesperson told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that Russia has fired at least 60 North Korean-supplied ballistic missiles. “Their accuracy, in principle, is not very high. We understand that the technology with which they were manufactured is outdated,” Andrii Cherniak, a military intelligence spokesperson, said, answering questions about the likelihood of Russia’s use of KN-23 ballistic missiles.
Along with ammunition and missiles, thousands of North Korean soldiers have been fighting in Russia’s Kursk region to expel Ukrainian forces there, according to the Kyiv Independent. Ukraine launched a surprise incursion into the Kursk region in August, but has since lost more than 40% of the territory it had captured as Russian forces have mounted waves of counter-assaults.
Chechen leader Kadyrov says Ukrainian drone caused civilian casualties
A Ukrainian drone struck Grozny, the capital of Russia’s southern Chechnya region, and caused civilian casualties, state news agency RIA quoted Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov as saying on Wednesday.
Kadyrov said the drone had struck the roof of a building housing a special police regiment. There were no details on the number of casualties or whether he was referring to deaths or injuries.
Kadyrov has been a vocal supporter of Russia’s war in Ukraine, to which he has contributed Chechen forces.
On November 29, the roof of a military training center in the Chechen city of Gudermes was set ablaze in what appeared to be the first Ukrainian drone attack directed against Chechnya since the start of the war.
Compiled by Ana Dumbadze
