{"id":1785833,"date":"2022-12-24T06:30:24","date_gmt":"2022-12-24T11:30:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1785833"},"modified":"2022-12-24T10:04:01","modified_gmt":"2022-12-24T15:04:01","slug":"russias-focus-is-now-on-liberating-donetsk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/russias-focus-is-now-on-liberating-donetsk\/","title":{"rendered":"Russia\u2019s Focus Is Now On \u201cLiberating\u201d Donetsk"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Frussias-focus-is-now-on-liberating-donetsk%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1785833&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><nav class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 MuiBreadcrumbs-root css-12zkr2g\" aria-label=\"breadcrumb\" data-og-area=\"article-breadcrumbs\">\n<ol class=\"MuiBreadcrumbs-ol css-nhb8h9\">\n<li class=\"MuiBreadcrumbs-li\"><a class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-e97p3t\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\">The War Zone<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<div data-og-area=\"article-header\" class=\"css-itqiyo\">\n<div class=\"css-tomq47\">\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-h6 css-1aggaz0\">After massive losses, Russia, which once expected to conquer Ukraine in days, has further downsized its immediate military objectives.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"MuiBox-root css-1kmmp2v\">\n<div class=\"MuiBox-root css-79elbk\">\n<div class=\"MuiBox-root css-1k6rbu\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Ukraine Situation Report: Russia Now Focused On \u2018Liberating\u2019 Donetsk\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/uploads\/2022\/12\/22\/DPRTOp3.jpg?auto=webp&#038;auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=1440\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/uploads\/2022\/12\/22\/DPRTOp3.jpg?auto=webp&#038;auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=640 640w, https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/uploads\/2022\/12\/22\/DPRTOp3.jpg?auto=webp&#038;auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=750 750w, https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/uploads\/2022\/12\/22\/DPRTOp3.jpg?auto=webp&#038;auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=828 828w, https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/uploads\/2022\/12\/22\/DPRTOp3.jpg?auto=webp&#038;auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=1080 1080w, https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/uploads\/2022\/12\/22\/DPRTOp3.jpg?auto=webp&#038;auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=1200 1200w, https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/uploads\/2022\/12\/22\/DPRTOp3.jpg?auto=webp&#038;auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=1920 1920w, https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/uploads\/2022\/12\/22\/DPRTOp3.jpg?auto=webp&#038;auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=2018 2048w, https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/uploads\/2022\/12\/22\/DPRTOp3.jpg?auto=webp&#038;auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=3840 3840w\" title=\"Ukraine Situation Report: Russia Now Focused On \u2018Liberating\u2019 Donetsk\"   style=\"display:none\"><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-v9jmc5\"><i>(Photo by Leon Klein\/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"MuiBox-root css-i9gxme\">\n<div class=\"MuiGrid-root MuiGrid-container MuiGrid-spacing-xs-2 css-i0amj6\">\n<div class=\"MuiGrid-root MuiGrid-item MuiGrid-grid-xs-12 MuiGrid-grid-md-8 css-7vczw4\" data-og-area=\"article-content\">\n<div class=\"MuiBox-root css-10757gk\">\n<div class=\"MuiBox-root css-1jm98gf\" data-id=\"page-content\" data-og-area=\"article-blocks\">\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-958tbg\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"1\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>Nearly 10 months after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/44439\/russias-frightening-multi-prong-invasion-of-ukraine-has-only-just-begun\">expecting to conquer<\/a> the 230,000 square mile nation of Ukraine in just days, Russia has now whittled down its immediate military objective to \u201cliberating\u201d the so-called Donetsk People\u2019s Republic (DPR), the roughly 3,000 square-mile breakaway quasi-puppet state in eastern Ukraine.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"2\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>\u201cThe main efforts of the Russian Armed Forces are aimed at completing the liberation of the territory of the DPR,\u201d Russian Army Chief of Staff <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/ukraine-situation-report-assessing-the-possibility-of-a-new-russian-offensive-on-kyiv\">Valery Gerasimov<\/a> said at a Thursday briefing, according to the Telegram channel of Russian state media outlet <em>RIA Novosti<\/em>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"4\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>Along with Luhansk, the DPR declared independence in 2014, the same year Russia annexed Crimea. Luhansk and the DPR were subsequently annexed by Russia in September of this year in a sham referendum, following the country&#8217;s all-out invasion of Ukraine which began in February.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"5\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>It is now the focus of some of the bloodiest battles of this all-out war, especially in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/ukraine-situation-report-the-bloody-battle-for-bakhmut\">beleaguered city of Bakhmut<\/a>, some 40 miles northeast of the city of Donetsk, the DPR \u201ccapital.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"6\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>Despite the fierce fighting and Ukrainian counter-attacks, Gerasimov said Russia is holding the line in Donetsk, one of four Ukrainian regions Russian President Vladimir Putin illegally annexed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"7\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>\u201cThe line of contact stretched for 815 km (506 miles),\u201d Gerasimov said at the briefing. \u201cThe situation on it was stabilized.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"8\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>The line of contact may be solidifying, but the region itself is anything but stable.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"10\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>And though Russian forces are inching closer to Bakhmut, Ukraine has mounted a stiff defense, with fighting proving costly for both sides.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"11\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>Adding insult to injury, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/ukraine-situation-report-zelensky-is-headed-to-washington\">made a bold and dangerous visit <\/a>to that city on Tuesday, greeting troops and strolling through the streets about a mile from the front lines and well within range of Russian artillery and drones.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"12\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>So even in Russia&#8217;s vastly scaled-down notion of battlefield success, things are not going as well as Gerasimov might like.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"13\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>Before we head into the latest coverage from Ukraine,\u00a0<em>The War Zone<\/em>\u00a0readers can get caught up on our previous rolling coverage <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/ukraine-situation-report-zelensky-secures-patriot-missiles-precision-aerial-munitions-during-u-s-visit\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"14\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p class=\"has-x-large-font-size\"><strong>The Latest<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"15\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>Gerasimov is right about the line of contact in Donetsk largely stabilizing, as it has across much of the rest of the Ukrainian war zone. Aside from Donetsk, the fiercest fighting remains in the area around the P-66 Highway in Luhansk Oblast, running from Svatove to Kreminna. Here are the key takeaways from the latest <a href=\"https:\/\/www.understandingwar.org\/backgrounder\/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-december-21\">Institute for the Study of War assessment<\/a>:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"list MuiBox-root css-0\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"1\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/list\">\n<ul class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph css-1epl32p\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<li>Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu proposed a series of expansive reforms and goals for Russian force generation that Russia is highly unlikely to complete in time to be relevant to the current conflict.<\/li>\n<li>Putin and Shoigu reiterated maximalist Russian aims for the war in Ukraine.<\/li>\n<li>Russian President Vladimir Putin has intensified efforts to make peace with the critical pro-war nationalist community. Russian failures to achieve Putin\u2019s stated goals jeopardize Kremlin efforts to regain control over the domestic narrative and to set conditions for the second year of the war.<\/li>\n<li>Russian and Ukrainian forces continued counterattacks along the Svatove-Kreminna line.<\/li>\n<li>Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Bakhmut and Donetsk City areas.<\/li>\n<li>A Ukrainian official confirmed that Russian forces unsuccessfully attempted to establish control over the Dnipro delta islands.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"17\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>&#8220;Zelensky&#8217;s visit to the United States confirmed that Washington continues to de facto and indirectly fight with Russia to the last Ukrainian,&#8221; he said, according to the Telegram channel of the state-affiliated <em>RIA Novosti<\/em> news agency. &#8220;Moscow regrets that neither [President] Biden nor [President] Zelensky have demonstrated a potential willingness to heed Russia&#8217;s concerns.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"19\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>&#8220;The expansion of the range of weapons supplied to Ukraine cannot prevent the Russian Federation from achieving the goals of the special operation,&#8221; he said. &#8220;American Patriot systems, like other types of weapons supplied by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, are a legitimate target for the Russian military.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"20\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>The Russians weren&#8217;t the only ones displeased about Zelensky&#8217;s visit to the U.S.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"22\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>&#8220;Russia found an ally in this \u2014 in this genocidal policy: Iran,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Iranian deadly drones sent to Russia in hundreds \u2014 in hundreds became a threat to our critical infrastructure. That is how one terrorist has found the other.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"23\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>That did not sit well with Iran.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"24\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani &#8220;condemned the Ukrainian president\u2019s repeated accusations and rude remarks against the Islamic Republic of Iran at the U.S. Congress,&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/en.mfa.ir\/portal\/newsview\/703846\">according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"25\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>Iran has &#8220;repeatedly responded to baseless accusations regarding drones leveled by Ukrainian officials against the Islamic Republic,&#8221; the Iranian Foreign Ministry said on its website, adding that Kanaani &#8220;once again stressed that the Islamic Republic of Iran has not supplied any military hardware to any side for use in the Ukraine war.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"26\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>Kanaani also noted that Iran has always respected the territorial integrity of all countries including Ukraine. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"27\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>\u201cMr. Zelensky had better know that Iran\u2019s strategic patience over such unfounded accusations is not endless,&#8221;\u00a0he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"28\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>Speaking of the Patriot battery being shipped to Ukraine, which a senior U.S. defense official said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/ukraine-situation-report-zelensky-secures-patriot-missiles-precision-aerial-munitions-during-u-s-visit\">won&#8217;t arrive for months<\/a>, the Pentagon on Thursday released details about how much the system and its associated interceptor missiles cost.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"29\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>While &#8220;highly dependent on the number of launchers, the configuration of the fire units to be delivered, and the number of missiles provided,&#8221; a &#8220;typical fire unit&#8221; generally &#8220;costs between $450 million and $550 million,&#8221; Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon&#8217;s top spokesman, told reporters, including from <em>The War Zone<\/em>, in an email Thursday.\u00a0&#8220;This cost includes one radar unit, 4-8 missile launching stations, a command and control center, and power and support vehicles; this is everything except the missiles themselves.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"31\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>Wednesday night, a senior U.S. military official declined to tell <em>The War Zone<\/em> which type of interceptors the U.S. will provide Ukraine, citing operational security concerns.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"image MuiBox-root css-0\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"1\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/image\"><span class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-caption css-fqlof0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">The Pentagon declined to say if it will provide Ukraine with the more advanced Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement missiles. (Lockheed Martin photo)<\/span><\/figure>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"32\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>The Crimean peninsula, illegally annexed by Russia in 2014, could be recaptured by Ukraine next August, the former head of U.S. Army Europe told <em>The War Zone<\/em> Thursday morning.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"33\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>\u201cThey\u2019ll do it by first setting the conditions, isolating Crimea from Russia by severing the two land lines of communication (LOC\u2019s) over the Kerch Bridge and the so-called \u2018land bridge\u2019 which runs from Rostov thru Mariupol and Melitople to Crimea,\u201d said <a href=\"https:\/\/cepa.org\/author\/ben-hodges\/\">Ben Hodges<\/a>, who retired in 2018 as a lieutenant general and now serves as NATO senior mentor for logistics.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"image MuiBox-root css-0\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"2\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/image\"><span class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-caption css-fqlof0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">The Crimean peninsula, illegally occupied by Russia since 2014. (Google Earth image)<\/span><\/figure>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"34\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>\u201cThose are the only two land routes in and out of Crimea,\u201d he said. Ukraine \u201chas already <a href=\"http:\/\/The%20Crimean%20peninsula,%20illegally%20annexed%20by%20Russia%20in%202014,%20could%20be%20recaptured%20by%20Ukraine%20next%20August,%20the%20former%20head%20of%20U.S.%20Army%20Europe%20told%20The%20War%20Zone%20Thursday%20morning.%20\u201cThey\u2019ll%20do%20it%20by%20first%20setting%20the%20conditions,%20isolating%20Crimea%20from%20Russia%20by%20severing%20the%20two%20land%20lines%20of%20communication%20(LOC\u2019s)%20over%20the%20Kerch%20Bridge%20and%20the%20so-called%20\u2018land%20bridge\u2019%20which%20runs%20from%20Rostov%20thru%20Mariupol%20and%20Melitople%20to%20Crimea,\u201d%20said%20Ben%20Hodges,%20who%20retired%20in%202018%20as%20a%20lieutenant%20general%20and%20now%20serves%20as%20NATO%20senior%20mentor%20for%20logistics.%20\u201cThose%20are%20the%20only%20two%20land%20routes%20in%20and%20out%20of%20Crimea,\u201d%20he%20said.%20Ukraine%20\u201chas%20already%20severely%20damaged%20the%20Kerch%20Bridge\u2026and%20I\u2019m%20sure%20it\u2019ll%20be%20revisited%20in%20the%20next%20month%20or%20so...and%20they%20can%20have%20already%20hit%20a%20bridge%20in%20Melitople.%20So%20both%20LOC\u2019s%20are%20already%20being%20disrupted.\u201d%20Ukraine%20\u201cwill%20keep%20this%20up%20for%20a%20couple%20of%20months%20at%20least%20while%20keeping%20pressure%20on%20the%20Russian%20[headquarters],%20ammo%20storage%20sites,%20etc.\u201d%20Kyiv%20will%20also%20\u201cattempt%20to%20bring%20HIMARS%20and%20other%20long-range%20systems,%20including%20their%20own%20long-range%20drones,%20close%20enough%20to%20hit%20targets%20on%20Crimea%20proper.%20The%20aim%20will%20be%20to%20make%20Crimea%20untenable%20for%20Russian%20air%20force,%20navy,%20and%20hq\u2019s%20etc.\u201d%20The%20Black%20Sea%20Fleet,%20Hodges%20noted,%20\u201chas%20already%20relocated%20its%20submarines%20to%20its%20port%20of%20Novorossiysk,%20after%20the%20first%20drone%20strike.\u201d%20Meanwhile,%20Ukrainian%20special%20forces,%20partisans,%20and%20other%20assets%20\u201cwill%20contribute%20to%20this%20pressure%20on%20the%20Russians.\u201d%20At%20some%20point,%20said%20Hodges,%20the%20Russians%20\u201cwill%20have%20to%20decide%20how%20much%20more%20they%20can%20lose%20in%20Crimea%20before%20deciding%20to%20leave.%20%20Of%20course%20there%20will%20at%20some%20point%20be%20a%20Ukrainian%20land%20attack%20but%20I%20don\u2019t%20think%20that%20happens%20until%20after%20the%20conditions%20have%20been%20set.\u201d%20Hodges%20summed%20up%20his%20assessment%20with%20\u201ca%20big%20caveat\u201d%20-%20that%20the%20West%20\u201ccontinues%20to%20deliver%20what%20we%20said%20we%20were%20going%20to%20deliver.\u201d%20And%20a%20day%20after%20President%20Joe%20Biden%20told%20Zelensky%20that%20the%20U.S.%20was%20still%20not%20going%20to%20provide%20Ukraine%20some%20of%20the%20longer%20range%20weapons%20he%20wants,%20Hodges%20doubled%20down%20on%20Zelensky\u2019s%20desire.%20\u201cIt%20would%20go%20much%20faster%20if%20the%20Ukrainians%20had%20ATACMS%20and%20tanks,\u201d%20he%20said.\">severely damaged the Kerch Bridge<\/a> \u2026 and I\u2019m sure it\u2019ll be revisited in the next month or so&#8230;and they have already <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/ukraine-situation-report-nature-may-have-aided-sinking-of-russian-flagship\">hit a bridge in Melitopol<\/a>. So both LOC\u2019s are already being disrupted.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"35\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>Ukraine \u201cwill keep this up for a couple of months at least while keeping pressure on the Russian [headquarters], ammo storage sites, etc.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"36\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>Kyiv will also \u201cattempt to bring [M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems] <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/ukraine-situation-report-u-s-sends-more-himars-to-support-offensives\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">HIMARS<\/a> and other long-range systems, including their own <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/ukraine-situation-report-shadowy-long-range-kamakaze-drone-strikes-again\">long-range drones<\/a>, close enough to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/sevastopol-just-came-under-ukrainian-aerial-drone-attack\">hit targets on Crimea proper<\/a>. The aim will be to make Crimea untenable for Russian air force, navy, and HQs etc.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"37\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>The Black Sea Fleet, Hodges noted, \u201chas already relocated its submarines to its port of Novorossiysk, after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/drone-strike-on-black-sea-fleet-headquarters-likely-a-sign-of-whats-to-come\">the first drone strike<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"38\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>Meanwhile, Ukrainian special forces, partisans, and other assets \u201cwill contribute to this pressure on the Russians.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"39\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>At some point, said Hodges, the Russians \u201cwill have to decide how much more they can lose in Crimea before deciding to leave.\u00a0Of course there will at some point be a Ukrainian land attack but I don\u2019t think that happens until after the conditions have been set.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"40\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>Hodges summed up his assessment with \u201ca big caveat\u201d &#8211; that the West \u201ccontinues to deliver what we said we were going to deliver.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"41\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>And a day after President Joe Biden told Zelensky that the U.S. was still <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/ukraines-patriot-missiles-will-take-several-months-to-arrive\">not going to provide Ukraine<\/a> with some of the longer-range weapons he wants, Hodges doubled down on Zelensky\u2019s desire.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"42\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>\u201cIt would go much faster if the Ukrainians had [Army Tactical Missile Systems] <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/what-himars-rocket-systems-can-and-cant-do-for-ukraine\">ATACMS <\/a>and tanks,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"44\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>The eight-month\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/spotlight\/visual-investigations\">visual investigation<\/a> &#8220;concluded that the perpetrators of the massacre along Yablunska Street were Russian paratroopers from the 234th Air Assault Regiment led by Lt. Col. Artyom Gorodilov.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"46\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/europe-is-rushing-arms-to-ukraine-but-running-out-of-ammo-11671707775\"><em>The Wall Street Journal<\/em> also reported <\/a>that Europe &#8220;is struggling to produce enough ammunition for Ukraine and for itself, jeopardizing NATO\u2019s defense capacity and its support for Kyiv.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"47\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>The newspaper, citing officials and industry leaders, reported that a &#8220;lack of production capacity, a dearth of specialized workers, supply-chain bottlenecks, high costs of financing and even environmental regulations are putting a brake on efforts to increase output, presenting the West and Ukraine with a fresh challenge for next year.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"48\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>If you want to see how intense really close fighting between infantry and tanks can be, check out this video, which reportedly shows two Russian tanks firing at Ukrainian troops who are close enough to respond by tossing hand grenades. The video also depicts the challenges armor faces when not supported by its own infantry.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"49\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>The first image has emerged of one of two recently delivered French LRU multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) in service with the Ukrainian Army. The LRU is a modernized version of the American-built M270 MLRS.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"50\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>At the behest of the German government, Rheinmetall is supplying Ukraine with new HX 8&#215;8 trucks, the company announced Thursday in a media release. In total, 26 of these high-mobility hook-loading vehicles will be transferred to Ukraine. The order is worth $13.25 million, the company said, adding that delivery of the vehicles has already begun.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"image MuiBox-root css-0\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"3\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/image\"><span class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-caption css-fqlof0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">Rheinmetall is supplying Ukraine with 26 new HX 8&#215;8 trucks. (Rheinmetall photo)<\/span><\/figure>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"51\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>So far during this conflict, we have seen videos of drones attacking critical infrastructure, drones attacking troops and even drones attacking each other. Now check out a video of a drone coming to the rescue &#8230; of another drone.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"52\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>And finally, some people celebrate their birthdays with candles on cakes. In this video, one Ukrainian artillery soldier shows another way to celebrate.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"53\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>That&#8217;s it for now.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"54\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>We will update this story when there is anything major to add.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-paragraph paragraph css-sv5g30\" data-og-block-area=\"article-blocks\" data-og-block-nth=\"55\" data-og-block-type=\"core\/paragraph\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p><em>Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1483lpv\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"stripe\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/logo\/stripe-warzone.png?auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=1440\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/logo\/stripe-warzone.png?auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=640 640w, https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/logo\/stripe-warzone.png?auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=750 750w, https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/logo\/stripe-warzone.png?auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=828 828w, https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/logo\/stripe-warzone.png?auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=1080 1080w, https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/logo\/stripe-warzone.png?auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=1200 1200w, https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/logo\/stripe-warzone.png?auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=1920 1920w, https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/logo\/stripe-warzone.png?auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=2018 2048w, https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/logo\/stripe-warzone.png?auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=3840 3840w\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The War Zone After massive losses, Russia, which once expected to conquer Ukraine in days, has further downsized its immediate military objectives. (Photo by Leon Klein\/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Nearly 10 months after expecting to conquer the 230,000 square mile nation of Ukraine in just days, Russia has now whittled down its immediate military &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1785836,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[547],"tags":[11623,6962,5458,11624,7786,6878,3819,9987],"class_list":["post-1785833","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-bongino-report","tag-liberating","tag-the","tag-bongino","tag-donetsk","tag-focus","tag-now","tag-report","tag-russias"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1785833","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1785833"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1785833\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1785836"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1785833"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1785833"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1785833"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}