On 15 December, Russian troops continued localised offensives near Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Maryinka and achieved confirmed successes there.
ISW reports a slight enemy advance near Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Maryinka
On 15 December, Russian troops continued localised offensives near Bakhmut and achieved confirmed success. Geo-location data released on 11 December shows that Russian troops have recently advanced northwest of Klishchiivka (7 km southwest of Bakhmut).
Russian sources have increasingly described the local offensive by Russian troops around Bakhmut as an operation around Chasovyi Yar (12 km west of Bakhmut). Russian military bloggers have described the Russian attacks west of Bakhmut in the area of Bohdanivka and Khromove and south of Bakhmut in the area of Klishchiyivka and Andriivka as an organised offensive on Chasiv Yar.
They also noted that it would be difficult to surround Chasiv Yar due to large Ukrainian fortifications and the location of the settlement at a tactical height. ISW estimates that Russian troops are at least nine kilometres from Chasiv Yar.
On 15 December, Russian troops continued their offensive in the area of Avdiivka and advanced. Geo-location imagery released on 15 December shows that Russian troops advanced in the area of Stepove (3km north of Avdiivka) and Pervomaiske (11km southwest of Avdiivka).
Russian military bloggers claim that Russian troops have advanced near the railway line north of Stepove and have recently seized positions in a forested area north of Stepove.
On 15 December, Russian troops continued their offensive operations west and southwest of Donetsk and made confirmed gains. Geolocation imagery released on 13 December showed Russian forces advancing in the western part of Maryinka (west of Donetsk).
Ukrainian and Russian sources reported that on 14 December, Ukrainian troops struck the occupied city of Mariupol in Donetsk region. Geo-location images published on 14 and 15 December showed that Mariupol was hit by a heavy fire in two locations, including the Port City shopping centre. Petro Andryushenko, an adviser to the mayor of Mariupol, said that the second Ukrainian strike targeted the Port City shopping centre, where Russian troops were storing military equipment, including air defence components.
