The situation 1369 – December 18, 2025

1. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Chief of the General Staff Army General Valery Gerasimov continue to publicly demonstrate their commitment to achieving Russia’s original war aims while exaggerating Russian battlefield gains.
2. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to signal his commitment to compromise in negotiations as high-ranking Kremlin officials continue to publicly and explicitly reject significant points of the peace plan currently under discussion.
3. Three Russian border guards briefly crossed into Estonian territory on December 17.
4. Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Siversk and Pokrovsk. Russian forces recently advanced near Hulyaipole and in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area.

The full update of the Russian offensive 1369 is available on UNDERSTANDING WAR