WESTERN PERSPECTIVE
Ukraine shows off new 'rocket-drone' in bid to boost long-range strikes
Ukraine showed off a new locally-produced "rocket-drone" on Friday which it said could fly 700 km (430 miles) - more than twice the longest range attributed to missiles supplied by Western allies.
The unmanned craft, called "Peklo" - which means hell in Ukrainian - is the second such "rocket drone" unveiled by Kyiv as it tries to increase its ability to strike deep into Russia, which invaded 33 months ago.
The drones could reach speeds of 700 kph, a representative from Ukraine's state arms manufacturer Ukroboronprom told reporters at a ceremony where they were officially handed over to the armed forces.
No other details were provided and no evidence was given of the drone's range or speed. Ukraine has released few details of its arms industry, citing concerns about giving useful information to Moscow.
Ukraine's arms production minister told Reuters in November the "rocket-drone" could be viewed as something akin to a cruise missile, which flies low on a guided path to its target, usually below the speed of sound.
The drones were more than a metre long, with small wings on either side and two tail fins. US-supplied ATACMS missiles have a declared range of just over 300 km.
Russia has used thousands of long-range missiles and drones to hit military and infrastructure targets all over Ukraine.
Kyiv has sought the ability to strike back, but its allies until last month resisted calls to allow use of their missiles on targets deep inside Russia.
Ukraine has sought to balance the long-range strike gap throughout the war by launching explosive-laden propeller drones at targets up to 1,000 km inside Russia.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who was at Friday's ceremony, said last month that Ukraine was developing four different missiles.
However, despite successful launches already having taken place, the missile programme has been plagued by global supply chain issues, Ukraine's arms minister previously told Reuters
RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE
Russian troops liberate six communities in Donbass area, Zaporozhye Region over week
Russian troops liberated six communities in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and the Zaporozhye Region over the week of November 30 - December 6 in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Friday.
"Battlegroup South units liberated the settlements of Ilyinka and Romanovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic as a result of active operations… Battlegroup Center units kept moving deep into the enemy’s defenses and liberated the settlements of Petrovka and Pustynka in the Donetsk People’s Republic… Battlegroup East units liberated the settlements of Novodarovka in the Zaporozhye Region and Sukhiye Yaly in the Donetsk People’s Republic as a result of active operations," the ministry said in a statement.
It follows from the ministry’s latest report that Russian troops liberated the settlements of Sukhiye Yaly and Pustynka in the Donbass region over the past 24 hours.
Russia strikes Ukrainian military-industrial sites, army deployment areas over week
Russian troops delivered six strikes by precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles at Ukrainian military-industrial enterprises, army deployment areas and weapons arsenals over the week, the ministry reported.
"In the week of November 30 - December 6, the Russian Armed Forces delivered six combined strikes by precision weapons and attack unmanned aerial vehicles at power facilities of Ukraine’s military-industrial sector, infrastructure of military airfields, assembly and storage facilities of unmanned aerial vehicles, an electronic intelligence center, weapons arsenals, ammunition depots and deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations, special operations forces, foreign instructors and mercenaries. All the goals of the high-precision strikes were achieved," the ministry said.
Kiev loses over 13,000 troops in all frontline areas over week
The Ukrainian army lost more than 13,000 troops in battles with Russian forces in all the frontline areas over the past week, according to the latest data on the special military operation in Ukraine released by Russia’s Defense Ministry.
The latest figures show that the Ukrainian army suffered roughly 2,210 casualties from Russia’s Battlegroup North, over 3,565 casualties from the Battlegroup West, more than 2,400 casualties from the Battlegroup South, more than 3,600 casualties from the Battlegroup Center, 950 casualties from the Battlegroup East and 435 casualties from the Battlegroup Dnepr.
Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicts 2,210 casualties on Ukrainian army over week
Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted roughly 2,210 casualties on Ukrainian troops in its areas of responsibility in the Kursk area and the Kharkov Region over the week, the ministry reported.
"Over the week, Battlegroup North units continued destroying Ukrainian armed formations on the territory of the Kursk Region. Combat aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and artillery struck manpower and equipment of two armored, five mechanized and two air assault brigades of the Ukrainian army, a marine infantry brigade and four territorial defense brigades," the ministry said.
In the Kharkov direction, Battlegroup North units inflicted damage on formations of two air assault brigades of the Ukrainian army, a territorial defense brigade, a National Guard brigade and two border guard detachments of Ukraine’s Border Guard Service, the ministry said.
The Ukrainian army’s losses in those frontline areas over the past week amounted to 2,210 personnel, nine tanks, including a German-made Leopard tank, 42 armored combat vehicles, among them three US-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, 52 motor vehicles and 16 field artillery guns, it specified.
Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicts over 3,565 casualties on Ukrainian army in week
Russia’s Battlegroup West repelled 64 Ukrainian counterattacks and inflicted more than 3,565 casualties on enemy troops in its area of responsibility over the week, the ministry reported.
"Battlegroup West units improved their frontline positions and inflicted damage on manpower and equipment of an armored brigade, seven mechanized brigades, an airborne brigade and a jaeger brigade of the Ukrainian army, four territorial defense brigades and two National Guard brigades. They repelled 64 counterattacks by assault groups of the Ukrainian army," the ministry said.
The Ukrainian army’s losses in that frontline area over the past week totaled more than 3,565 personnel, a German-made Leopard tank, nine armored combat vehicles, among them two US-made M113 armored personnel carriers, 36 motor vehicles and 15 field artillery guns, including seven NATO-produced 155mm howitzers, it specified.
In addition, Russia’s Battlegroup West units destroyed eight electronic warfare and counterbattery radar stations and 17 field ammunition depots of the Ukrainian army over the past week, it said.
Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicts over 2,400 casualties on Ukrainian army in week
Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted more than 2,400 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed six enemy ammunition depots in its area of responsibility over the past week, the ministry reported.
Over the week, Battlegroup South units "inflicted casualties on seven mechanized brigades, a motorized infantry brigade, a mountain assault brigade, two airmobile brigades and an air assault brigade of the Ukrainian army and a marine infantry brigade. They repulsed six counterattacks by Ukrainian army units," the ministry said.
The Ukrainian army’s losses in that frontline area over the past week amounted to more than 2,400 personnel, eight armored combat vehicles, 25 motor vehicles and six field artillery guns, including four Western-made weapons, it specified.
In addition, Russian forces destroyed three electronic warfare stations and six field ammunition depots of the Ukrainian army over the past week, the ministry said.
Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicts over 3,600 casualties on Ukrainian army in week
Russia’s Battlegroup Center repelled 72 Ukrainian counterattacks and inflicted more than 3,600 casualties on enemy troops in its area of responsibility over the past week, the ministry reported.
Over the past week, Battlegroup Center units "inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of a heavy mechanized brigade, five mechanized brigades, a motorized infantry brigade, an infantry brigade and a jaeger brigade of the Ukrainian army, two marine infantry brigades, a special operations brigade, five territorial defense brigades and two National Guard brigades. They repelled 72 enemy counterattacks," the ministry said.
The Ukrainian army’s losses in that frontline area over the past week amounted to more than 3,600 personnel, 31 armored combat vehicles, including a US-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, six M113 armored personnel carriers and an M1117 armored security vehicle of US manufacture, 16 armored vehicles, among them two Turkish-made Kirpi vehicles, a US-made MaxxPro armored fighting vehicle, a British-made Mastiff armored vehicle, 12 Kozak armored fighting vehicles, 21 motor vehicles and 31 field artillery guns, it specified.
Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicts 950 casualties on Ukrainian army over week
Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicted roughly 950 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed five enemy tanks in its area of responsibility over the past week, the ministry reported.
Over the past week, Battlegroup East units "inflicted losses on formations of four mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian army and seven territorial defense brigades. They repelled 15 counterattacks by enemy assault groups," the ministry said.
The Ukrainian army’s losses in that frontline area over the past week amounted to 950 personnel, five tanks, including three German-made Leopard tanks, 15 armored combat vehicles, among them four US-made MaxxPro armored fighting vehicles and four US-manufactured HMMWV armored vehicles, 29 motor vehicles and 14 field artillery guns, of which five Western-made 155mm self-propelled artillery systems, it specified.
Reuters/Tass
