UKRAINE: THE SITUATION 287 - DECEMBER 5, 2022

The Russian forces carried out another wave of missile attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure on December 5. Russian and Ukrainian sources reported on December 5 that Russian forces had conducted missile attacks on Ukrainian civilian and energy infrastructures in the areas of Kyiv, Odesa, Vinnytsia, and Zaporizhzhia. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian air defenses were able to shoot down 60 out of over 70 missiles. Kyrylo Tymoshenko, Deputy Head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office, stated that the Russian attacks could damage the power supply in the Sumy region. ISW had already observed on December 2 that while Ukrainian and Western air defenses continue to reduce Russia's dwindling supply of precision munitions, the low percentage of Russian attacks penetrating Ukrainian air defenses still has significant effects on critical Ukrainian infrastructures.

On December 5, Ukrainian forces likely attacked two Russian strategic air bases, causing minor damage but demonstrating Ukraine's ability to strike rear areas in Russia and potentially disrupt the Russian campaign of attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure.

The full Russian Offensive Update 287 is available directly from UNDERSTANDING WAR.

UNDERSTANDING WAR online