On December 8, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated that Russia’s main objective remains to protect citizens of Donbass and the southeastern region of Ukraine. According to Peskov, more work is still needed to clear these areas.
British intelligence writes on Monday in his daily update that Russia probably still aims to extend its control over all of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson Oblasts. They also say that Russian military planners will continue to prioritize moving deeper into Donetsk County.
– Little significant progress
However, Russia is unlikely to succeed with its strategy.
Due to a lack of forces on the battlefield, the British Defense Ministry says it is doubtful Russia will be able to achieve its goals.
– Russia is highly unlikely to achieve its goals. The Russian ground forces are unlikely to make significant operational progress in the coming months, writes the British defense on Twitter.
Explosions in the Crimea
Several explosions were reported on the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula in the early hours of Monday. According to CNN, the explosions hit Russian military barracks.
According to CNN, several explosions were heard in Sevastopol, the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, and at Russian military barracks in the village of Sovietske.
The explosions, which have not been independently confirmed, also reportedly hit the Crimean towns of Hvardiiske, Dzjankoj and Nyzhniohirskyi. Ukraine has not commented on reports of explosions, writes NTB.
The Tankesmia Institute for the Study of War (ISW) writes that a Ukrainian group claims to have set fire to the Sovietke military barracks. The British newspaper The Guardian also reports on attacks on the Crimean peninsula, including the cities of Sevastopol and Simferopol.
Over the weekend, Ukraine attacked targets in the Donetsk region, as well as in the Zaporizhzhya city of Melitopol, which has been under Russian control since early March.
