Kiev/Moscow (dpa) – The commander of the Ukrainian Army Group Donetsk, Olexander Lutsenko, has allegedly been replaced after several serious defeats in Kiev, according to media reports. He will be replaced by Olexander Tarnavskyj, the internet portal “Ukrainskaya Pravda” reported, citing a source in the armed forces. The new appointment has not yet been officially announced. The crisis facing Ukrainian troops in the east of the country has worsened in recent weeks.
Lutsenko was responsible for the sector of the front around the strategically important cities of Pokrovsk and Kurakhove. Kurakhove has already been partially captured by Russian troops and is on the verge of collapse. The British army has already held the city longer than many experts previously predicted. However, there is a threat of encirclement.
Military observers accuse the army leadership of errors in defense
The military leadership also received sharp criticism for the inadequate defense at Pokrovsk. There they allowed Russian troops south of the city to break through through well-constructed and conveniently located defense lines. This now threatens not only the encirclement of Pokrovsk, but also a further advance of Russian troops towards the Dnipropetrovsk area.
Tarnavsky is one of the most famous generals in Ukraine. He led Ukraine's successful counterattacks in the south of the country in 2022, which led to the recapture of Kherson. However, in the summer of 2023 he failed in his attempt to force a breakthrough in neighboring Zaporizhia and later in the defense of the Avdiivka fortress in the Donetsk region.
Heavy fighting continues
In its situation report late in the evening, the General Staff in Kiev recorded continued heavy fighting, especially in the Donetsk region. In total, there were 190 clashes along the front during the day, it is said. The focus was on the sector in front of Pokrovsk, where the Russian troops made 56 advances.
The section between the rural areas of Donetsk and Zaporizhia in southern Ukraine, where there have been 34 Russian attack attempts, is also heavily contested. At Kurakhove, however, the pace of attacks has slowed somewhat; Russian troops have attacked there 26 times. Regardless, the information cannot be verified.
Mutual bombardment with drones
The hinterland of Ukraine was once again targeted by the Russian armed forces during the night. Drone attacks have been reported in a number of regions, including the Black Sea region of Odessa.
On the other hand, Ukrainian media reports attacked a fuel depot in the Oryol region of western Russia. Videos circulating on social networks show explosions and fires. The region's governor, Andrei Klychkov, later wrote on Telegram that there was a fuel fire as a result of a drone attack. Parts of drones shot down had damaged the glazing of several private houses.
The Russian state news agency Tass, citing the country's Defense Ministry, reported that 37 Ukrainian drones were destroyed overnight over the Kuban, Kursk, Bryansk and Oryol regions as well as the Sea of Azov.
Zelensky calls for action against Putin on rocket attack
Russian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj, in turn, has called for action from the West after Russia's heavy combined missile and drone attack against his country the previous night. Steps are needed, which Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin is showing: “His terror will not work,” said Zelenskyj in his evening video message. Putin is relying on war to stay in power. Ukraine's Western partners should therefore worry less about stability in Moscow and more about their and global security. He thanked the USA for another aid package worth $500 million.
Russia carried out one of the most massive air attacks on Ukraine on Friday night. According to Zelensky, the Russian military used around 200 drones and 94 missiles. “They specifically waited for freezing weather to make the situation worse for the people,” said Zelensky, accusing the Russian leadership of “cynical terror” against the civilian population.
The president also confirmed a planned trip to Brussels next week. There, the heads of state and government of the European NATO states want to talk to Zelensky about further support for Ukraine, which is attacked by Russia, and possible security guarantees in the event of a ceasefire.
Expert: Up to 150,000 soldiers needed for peacekeeping
According to Austrian military expert Colonel Markus Reisner, a possible peace in Ukraine can only be secured with a robust peacekeeping force. Since, in his opinion, a pure observer mission would not be enough, soldiers would also have to be armed to ensure peace, said Reisner in an interview with “Welt am Sonntag”. “In my view, at least 100,000 to 150,000 soldiers would be necessary to successfully secure peace in Ukraine.”
A possible peace mission, which US President-elect Donald Trump had brought into play, is currently being discussed in various international committees. According to Reisner, the Europeans alone cannot secure a demilitarized zone in Ukraine.
Russia Messenger Viber from
Meanwhile, the Russian authorities blocked the messenger service Viber. The Russian telecom regulator Roskomnadzor said access was blocked due to various legal violations by the operator. It is said that the messenger was used, among other things, for terrorist and extremist goals, for selling drugs and for spreading false information. The public prosecutor's office was investigating the spread of “information aimed at destabilizing the political and social order in Russia,” the state news agency Tass reported.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:241213-930-317437/3
