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A Russian Su-30SM fighter jet was shot down by an R-73 air-to-air missile remotely launched by a Ukrainian Unmanned Surface Vehicle (also known as a drone boat), over the waters of the Black Sea, off the coast of Novorossiysk, Krasnodar Krai. The missile was modified to be launched as a surface-to-air missile.
The drone lured the Russian Su-30 into the area, before launching its missile towards the jet, shooting it down. Both pilots successfully ejected but were stranded out at sea for multiple hours. Due to the presence of drones in the waters nearby, it was too difficult for them to be airlifted out as there was a threat of further missiles shooting down any helicopters. Eventually a civilian ship departed from the port and rescued the pilots despite the still heavy presence of drone boats in the area. Ukrainian drones did not attack the vessel. The pilots were transported to the shore and are both alive.
One of the issues Russia has is identifying which drones are equipped with missiles and which are just normal suicide drones. Due to the constant threat of surface-to-air missile fire, the Russian Air Force has to be careful in attacking the drones. On 31 December 2024, R-73 missiles launched from Ukrainian USVs successfully shot down one Russian Mi-8 helicopter and damaged a second. Some of the drones may also be equipped with FPV drones, torpedoes, or even MLRS.
The drone lured the Russian Su-30 into the area, before launching its missile towards the jet, shooting it down. Both pilots successfully ejected but were stranded out at sea for multiple hours. Due to the presence of drones in the waters nearby, it was too difficult for them to be airlifted out as there was a threat of further missiles shooting down any helicopters. Eventually a civilian ship departed from the port and rescued the pilots despite the still heavy presence of drone boats in the area. Ukrainian drones did not attack the vessel. The pilots were transported to the shore and are both alive.
One of the issues Russia has is identifying which drones are equipped with missiles and which are just normal suicide drones. Due to the constant threat of surface-to-air missile fire, the Russian Air Force has to be careful in attacking the drones. On 31 December 2024, R-73 missiles launched from Ukrainian USVs successfully shot down one Russian Mi-8 helicopter and damaged a second. Some of the drones may also be equipped with FPV drones, torpedoes, or even MLRS.
A lot of Russian channels are claiming that Russian troops have broken through into Hryhorivka (Siversk direction) and consolidated positions in the village. This is not the case.
Below I have attached some screenshots of what the houses in this village look like. As you can see, there are no houses, just piles of bricks and the odd opening into a basement. Most of these basements are sealed off by bricks and bits of house or partially collapsed inwards. The Russian soldiers that do enter the village are often spotted running to the few basements which can be used as positions, and often dont have time to dig out ones that have been sealed off, before being spotted and hit by FPV drones.
Ukraine does not hold a presence in most of Hryhorivka. The whole village is covered by FPV drones being controlled from operators in the basements of ruined apartment buildings back in Siversk. The whole village is under constant 24/7 surveillance and Ukraine doesn't seem to have a shortage of drones here.
To take Hryhorivka, Russia will need to capture the strongpoints and trenches in the large forests to the south and envelop the village (the northern flank is protected by the Siversky Donets River). Otherwise, sending troops directly into the ruins is useless as there are literally no Ukrainian soldiers there and few actual positions to capture.
Below I have attached some screenshots of what the houses in this village look like. As you can see, there are no houses, just piles of bricks and the odd opening into a basement. Most of these basements are sealed off by bricks and bits of house or partially collapsed inwards. The Russian soldiers that do enter the village are often spotted running to the few basements which can be used as positions, and often dont have time to dig out ones that have been sealed off, before being spotted and hit by FPV drones.
Ukraine does not hold a presence in most of Hryhorivka. The whole village is covered by FPV drones being controlled from operators in the basements of ruined apartment buildings back in Siversk. The whole village is under constant 24/7 surveillance and Ukraine doesn't seem to have a shortage of drones here.
To take Hryhorivka, Russia will need to capture the strongpoints and trenches in the large forests to the south and envelop the village (the northern flank is protected by the Siversky Donets River). Otherwise, sending troops directly into the ruins is useless as there are literally no Ukrainian soldiers there and few actual positions to capture.
Russian forces have recaptured the village of Stepy, Borova direction, Kharkiv Oblast.
Pre-war population: ~792.
Pre-war population: ~792.
Russian forces have captured the village of Novooleksandrivka, Novopavlivka direction, Donetsk Oblast.
Pre-war population: ~138.
There are now just 3.5 km until Russia reaches the border with Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Additionally, any future Ukrainian operations into Uspenivka will be impossible. The battle for Uspenivka, which lasted 111 days, can finally be declared over.
Pre-war population: ~138.
There are now just 3.5 km until Russia reaches the border with Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Additionally, any future Ukrainian operations into Uspenivka will be impossible. The battle for Uspenivka, which lasted 111 days, can finally be declared over.
At least four Israeli airstrikes targeted HTS (government) positions from the 47th brigade in Hama, Syria.
Palestinian sources report a security incident in Rafah, southern Gaza. This usually means Israeli casualties in a Palestinian militant attack.
The last security incident in Rafah was in the Tal al-Sultan district (which is currently under a tight siege) a few days ago when the Al-Qassam Brigades (Armed wing of hamas) reported luring a mechanised force of four Israeli jeeps and a truck into an area, before targeting them with a number of “Shawaz” and “fedayeen” explosive devices and firing on the soldiers at "zero distance".
More details to follow.
The last security incident in Rafah was in the Tal al-Sultan district (which is currently under a tight siege) a few days ago when the Al-Qassam Brigades (Armed wing of hamas) reported luring a mechanised force of four Israeli jeeps and a truck into an area, before targeting them with a number of “Shawaz” and “fedayeen” explosive devices and firing on the soldiers at "zero distance".
More details to follow.
AMK Mapping
Palestinian sources report a security incident in Rafah, southern Gaza. This usually means Israeli casualties in a Palestinian militant attack. The last security incident in Rafah was in the Tal al-Sultan district (which is currently under a tight siege)…
Israeli forces are firing smoke bombs in the area of the security incident, and fighter jets are flying overhead as attempts are made to evacuate any wounded and/or killed soldiers. No new clashes have been reported, it is likely that the attackers withdrew from the scene.
The security incident occurred in the Tal al-Sultan district of western Rafah City. As I said before, this district has been under a tight Israeli siege for some time. Israel has previously claimed to have completely destroyed Hamas' Rafah brigade (which contains the Tal al-Sultan battalion) of the Al-Qassam brigades.
Israel has imposed censorship on the incident.
Israel has imposed censorship on the incident.
In the Yunakivka direction, Russian forces advanced and captured most of the village of Bilovody, Sumy Oblast.
After establishing a foothold in the northernmost houses of the village, Russian forces pushed south down both banks of the Loknya river, seizing further positions in the northern and central parts of the settlement. Additional positions were captured in the adjacent forested areas, as well as in the agricultural buildings on the western outskirts.
+ ~5.44km² in favour of Russia.
After establishing a foothold in the northernmost houses of the village, Russian forces pushed south down both banks of the Loknya river, seizing further positions in the northern and central parts of the settlement. Additional positions were captured in the adjacent forested areas, as well as in the agricultural buildings on the western outskirts.
+ ~5.44km² in favour of Russia.
In the Kupyansk direction, Ukrainian forces counterattacked and re-entered the village of Zapadne.
Small groups of Ukrainian forces advanced east from their positions in the forest plantations and captured positions in the northwestern-most houses of Zapadne. Due to difficulties in resupply, this foothold is likely not sustainable and will probably be eliminated in the coming days.
+ ~0.76km² in favour of Ukraine
Small groups of Ukrainian forces advanced east from their positions in the forest plantations and captured positions in the northwestern-most houses of Zapadne. Due to difficulties in resupply, this foothold is likely not sustainable and will probably be eliminated in the coming days.
+ ~0.76km² in favour of Ukraine
In the Borova direction, Russian forces advanced and recaptured the western part of the village of Stepy.
Russian forces advanced west from their positions in the central part of the village, pushing the western houses out of the grey zone and securing positions there.
+ ~0.49km² in favour of Russia.
Russian forces advanced west from their positions in the central part of the village, pushing the western houses out of the grey zone and securing positions there.
+ ~0.49km² in favour of Russia.
In the Lyman direction, Russian forces advanced and captured the village of Nove.
Advances were made in two main areas here. In the west Russian forces cleared the remaining Ukrainian positions in the eastern part of Nove, before pushing west into the western streets. The remaining Ukrainian positions in the westernmost street were then cleared, allowing for Russia to gain a foothold on the tactical heights.
In the east, Russian forces captured further positions in Luhansk Oblast, advancing up a forest plantation and capturing a forest in the low-lying ground.
+ ~2.77km² in favour of Russia.
Advances were made in two main areas here. In the west Russian forces cleared the remaining Ukrainian positions in the eastern part of Nove, before pushing west into the western streets. The remaining Ukrainian positions in the westernmost street were then cleared, allowing for Russia to gain a foothold on the tactical heights.
In the east, Russian forces captured further positions in Luhansk Oblast, advancing up a forest plantation and capturing a forest in the low-lying ground.
+ ~2.77km² in favour of Russia.
In the Lyman direction, Russian forces advanced and recaptured previously lost positions on the northern outskirts of the village of Torske.
After artillery preparation on Ukrainian positions, Russian forces advanced south from their positions in the treeline south of the village of Yampolivka and seized the fish farm on the northern outskirts of Torske. They then began pushing further south into the northern residential area of the village; however it is unclear if they were able to capture positions here.
+ ~1.15km² in favour of Russia.
After artillery preparation on Ukrainian positions, Russian forces advanced south from their positions in the treeline south of the village of Yampolivka and seized the fish farm on the northern outskirts of Torske. They then began pushing further south into the northern residential area of the village; however it is unclear if they were able to capture positions here.
+ ~1.15km² in favour of Russia.
In the Siversk direction, Russian forces continue to advance and have captured further positions southeast of the village of Hryhorivka.
Russian forces from the 7th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade advanced with multiple attack vectors from the south, southeast and east. They were able to advance west along one treeline and northwest along a second, approaching the next large forest, south of Hryhorivka. An important strongpoint was occupied.
Additionally, Russian forces advanced northwest and captured most of the rest of the large forest southeast of Hryhorivka where a series of trench positions are laid out. Further positions were captured to the east in the forests near the border between Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts, pushing the forested areas to the north and northwest into the grey zone.
+ ~1.55km² in favour of Russia.
Russian forces from the 7th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade advanced with multiple attack vectors from the south, southeast and east. They were able to advance west along one treeline and northwest along a second, approaching the next large forest, south of Hryhorivka. An important strongpoint was occupied.
Additionally, Russian forces advanced northwest and captured most of the rest of the large forest southeast of Hryhorivka where a series of trench positions are laid out. Further positions were captured to the east in the forests near the border between Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts, pushing the forested areas to the north and northwest into the grey zone.
+ ~1.55km² in favour of Russia.
In the Kostyantynivka direction, Russian forces have made significant progress over the past few days, advancing in four main directions.
Russian forces managed to break through Ukrainian positions in the direction of the village of Novoolenivka, capturing positions in the southern and eastern houses. The eastern flank of this spearhead was expanded to include new areas in the treelines towards the village of Oleksandropil. A large trench fortification was also captured on the western bank of the Bychok River.
Additionally, Russian forces made some progress to the west, entering the first houses of the village of Nova Poltavka, and capturing positions in four more treelines, including along the Pokrovsk - Kostyantynivka highway.
To the southwest, Russian forces recaptured the collapsed overpass at the Pokrovsk - Kostyantynivka highway and seized further positions in a forest plantation and a treeline outside the village of Malynivka.
To the south, Russian forces began storming the village of Yelyzavetivka and captured most of the village. Clearing operations are ongoing in the northwestern houses. They also advanced down a treeline to the north of the village.
+ ~19.26km² in favour of Russia.
Russian forces managed to break through Ukrainian positions in the direction of the village of Novoolenivka, capturing positions in the southern and eastern houses. The eastern flank of this spearhead was expanded to include new areas in the treelines towards the village of Oleksandropil. A large trench fortification was also captured on the western bank of the Bychok River.
Additionally, Russian forces made some progress to the west, entering the first houses of the village of Nova Poltavka, and capturing positions in four more treelines, including along the Pokrovsk - Kostyantynivka highway.
To the southwest, Russian forces recaptured the collapsed overpass at the Pokrovsk - Kostyantynivka highway and seized further positions in a forest plantation and a treeline outside the village of Malynivka.
To the south, Russian forces began storming the village of Yelyzavetivka and captured most of the village. Clearing operations are ongoing in the northwestern houses. They also advanced down a treeline to the north of the village.
+ ~19.26km² in favour of Russia.
In the Novopavlivka direction, Russian and Ukrainian forces have both advanced and captured various positions.
Following a series of failed Russian assault operations, Ukrainian forces pushed Russia out of the eastern outskirts of the village of Kotlyarivka, recapturing the positions there.
Russian forces advanced towards the village of Troitske from the north and east, seizing treeline positions, while further positions were captured in a treeline to the northeast.
+ ~0.95km² in favour of Russia
+ ~0.33km² in favour of Ukraine
Following a series of failed Russian assault operations, Ukrainian forces pushed Russia out of the eastern outskirts of the village of Kotlyarivka, recapturing the positions there.
Russian forces advanced towards the village of Troitske from the north and east, seizing treeline positions, while further positions were captured in a treeline to the northeast.
+ ~0.95km² in favour of Russia
+ ~0.33km² in favour of Ukraine