Slava Ukraini! In early 2022 I began a Telegram channel aggregating news from a number of sources daily on the war in Ukraine. In June 2023 I began providing a daily draft for the Ukraine War Brief Podcast collecting news from over 70 sources daily, which formed the basis of the script. While the Podcast no longer exists I have continued to make this Brief available for my subscribers here on Substack and anyone who wishes to keep up with the news from the war. If you find the Brief informative I would appreciate it if you shared it with others. All the latest news on the Russo-Ukraine War 6 days per weekGSAFU Morning Report
For: Dec 04, 2025 The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in its Operational Information update at 08:00 on Dec 04 stated that day 1380 of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation against Ukraine had begun. Ukrainian defenders continue to actively counteract the Russian aggressor, causing them significant losses in personnel, equipment and technology. Exhausting the enemy along the entire front line and continuing to disrupt the plans of Russian occupiers to advance deeper into the territory of Ukraine. During the past day, 170 combat engagements took place. Over the past 24 hours, aviation, missile troops and artillery of the Defense Forces of Ukraine hit one enemy artillery unit. Over the past 24 hours, the enemy carried out 3 missile strikes, 62 air strikes, used 5,251 attack drones and fired approximately 4,300 artillery shells across the positions of Ukrainian forces and civilians.
Air Force Daily Report114 ENEMY TARGETS DESTROYED
During the night of Dec 4th (from 18:00 on Dec 3rd), the enemy attacked using two Iskander-M ballistic missiles from Rostov Oblast - Russia and TOT AP Crimea, as well as 138 UAS of the Shahed type, Herber, and other types of drones from the directions: Orel, Kursk, Milevo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Bryansk - Russia, Chauda - TOT AP Crimea, about 85 of them - “Shaheds”. The air attack was repelled by the air force, anti-aircraft missile troops, REB units and drone systems, and mobile fire groups of the Ukrainian Defense Forces. According to preliminary data, as of 09:00, the anti-aircraft defense has destroyed/defeated 114 enemy UAS of the Shahed, Herber, and other types of drones in the north, south, and east of the country. Incidents involving ballistic missiles and 24 strike UAS were recorded on 14 locations.
ALONG THE CONTACT LINEKharkiv Sector: Ukrainian forces recently advanced in northern Kharkiv Oblast. Geolocated footage published on Dec 2 indicates that Ukrainian forces recently advanced in central Synelnykove (northeast of Kharkiv City).
Siversk Sector: Russian forces recently advanced in the Siversk direction. Geolocated footage published on Nov 28 indicates that Russian forces recently made marginal advances east of Siversk. Additional geolocated footage published on Dec 2 indicates that Russian forces recently advanced in eastern Svyato-Pokrovske (southwest of Siversk).
Kostyantynivka Sector: Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area. Geolocated footage published on Dec 1 indicates that Ukrainian forces recently advanced in western Ivanopillya (southeast of Kostyantynivka).
Pokrovsk Sector : Ukrainian and Russian forces recently advanced in the Pokrovsk direction. Geolocated footage published on Dec 2 indicates that Ukrainian forces recently advanced north of Udachne (southwest of Pokrovsk). Geolocated footage published on December 3 indicates that Russian forces likely seized Molodetske (southwest of Pokrovsk).
Novopavlivka Sector: Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Novopavlivka direction. Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets reported on Dec 3 that Ukrainian forces advanced west of Zelenyi Hai (southwest of Novopavlivka). -see map of Eastern Dnipropetrovsk Sector Hulyaipole Sector: Eastern Dnipropetrovsk Sector: Ukrainian forces maintained positions or recently advanced in the Velykomykhailivka direction. Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets stated on Dec 3 that Ukrainian forces maintain positions southeast of Velykomykhailivka, an area where Russian sources claimed Russian forces previously maintained a presence.
Eastern Zaporizhia Sector: Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Hulyaipole direction on Dec 3 but did not advance. Russia achieved a tactical breakthrough in Eastern Zaporizhia last month.The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US based think tank, in its Dec 3 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment reported that Russian forces achieved the tactical breakthrough northeast and east of Hulyaipole in mid-November 2025, likely in part by concentrating and committing a force grouping comparable in size to the one operating in the Pokrovsk-Dobropillya direction. Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets reported that the Russian Eastern Grouping of Forces (GoF) currently operating in the Hulyaipole and Dnipropetrovsk direction is comparable in combat effectiveness and numerical strength to the Central GoF operating in the Pokrovsk and Dobropillya sectors and that the Eastern GoF may even have a greater concentration of manpower in its area of responsibility (AoR). Ukrainian officials reported in November 2025 that the Russian military command committed between 170,000 to 220,000 troops to the Pokrovsk direction. The Russian Eastern GoF near Hulyaipole consists of three brigades of the 35th Combined Arms Army (CAA, Eastern Military District [EMD]) operating south of Hulyaipole; one division and two brigades of the 5th CAA (EMD) operating directly east and north of Hulyaipole; two brigades of the 36th CAA (EMD) operating near Velykomykhailivka and southwest of Novopavlivka; and one brigade and one regiment of the 29th CAA (EMD) conducting active defense jointly with the 36th CAA. Mashovets assessed that the redeployment of elements of the two brigades to the 5th CAA’s AoR significantly improved its combat capability, enabling the 5th CAA to develop a tactical breakthrough 17 kilometers in depth, conduct a wide river crossing over the Yanchur River near Uspenivka (northeast of Hulyaipole), and reach the outskirts of Hulyaipole from the north and northeast. This significant force concentration suggests that Russia will likely need to concentrate even more forces and deprioritize other frontline sectors to exploit tactical advances around Hulyaipole and attempt to develop them into operational successes.
TEMPORARILY OCCUPIED TERRITORIESNothing major to report. THE HOME FRONTAt least 5 killed, 36 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day.At least 5 people have been killed and 36 others injured in Russian attacks against Ukraine over the past day, the Kyiv Independent reported citing local authorities on Dec. 4. In Kherson Oblast, Russian attacks killed three people, including one child, and injured seven others over the past day, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported. Throughout the night, Russian forces launched drones, airstrikes, and artillery attacks on 21 settlements. The attacks targeted critical and social infrastructure, as well as residential neighborhoods. Four private homes were damaged, along with an administrative building and a civilian vehicle. In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Russian attacks injured seven people, Governor Vladyslav Haivanenko reported.
In Donetsk Oblast, Russian attacks killed two people and injured thirteen others, according to Governor Vadym Filashkin. Over the past day, Russian forces shelled settlements in Donetsk Oblast 22 times. A total of 147 people, including 22 children, were evacuated from the front line.
In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, a Russian strike injured one person, the local military administration reported. In Kharkiv Oblast, a 63-year-old man suffered injuries as a result of the Russian attack, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov.
In Odesa Oblast, seven people were injured after a Russian drone strike targeted civilian and energy infrastructure, Governor Oleh Kiper reported. Two people were rescued from blocked apartments, and 33 others, including six children, received psychological support. Among the injured was an energy worker who was hospitalized in serious condition.
MOSCOVIIAUkraine struck more than 50 strategic military-industrial sites in Russia this fall, 14 in Nov alone.Ukraine’s Armed Forces struck more than 50 fuel and military-industrial infrastructure sites in Russia over the course of this autumn, marking an unprecedented rate of successful attacks, according to Ukraine’s General Staff and experts cited by Schemes, an investigative project by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports. Using satellite imagery from Planet Labs, journalists compiled an interactive map detailing the scope of Ukrainian strikes on Russian strategic facilities, including oil refineries, gas processing plants, fuel terminals, and military-industrial sites. Damage was confirmed at 13 locations. Military and economic analysts told Schemes that these attacks have already forced Russia to increase spending on facility protection and have led to fuel shortages in some regions.
Bloomberg reported that Ukraine carried out a record number of attacks on strategic Russian oil infrastructure last month. The increase comes amid U.S. efforts to promote peace talks
Late last week, Ukraine struck two tankers in the Black Sea. A third vessel, which had previously carried Russian oil, suffered four external explosions off the coast of Dakar, Senegal.
RELATED INTERNATIONAL NEWSNext steps for Ukraine talks unclear after Moscow meeting, Trump says.The path ahead for Ukraine peace talks is unclear, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, after what he called “reasonably good” talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. envoys,Reuters reports. The Kremlin said on Wednesday that Putin accepted some U.S. proposals aimed at ending the war in Ukraine and was prepared to keep working to find a compromise.
Trump, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, said Witkoff and Kushner briefed him about the talks via telephone and told him their impression from Putin was that “he would like to make a deal.” What happens now, however, is unclear, Trump said. “What comes out of that meeting I can’t tell you because it does take two to tango,” Trump said, without elaborating. He added: “We have something pretty well worked out (with Ukraine)”.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, asked if it would be correct to say that Putin had rejected the U.S. proposals, disagreed. “A direct exchange of views took place yesterday for the first time,” Peskov said. “Some things were accepted, some things were marked as unacceptable. This is a normal working process of finding a compromise.”
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address that his team is preparing for meetings in the United States and that the dialogue with Trump’s representatives will continue. “Only by taking Ukraine’s interests into account is a dignified peace possible,” he said. The negotiations have intensified at a difficult juncture for Kyiv, which has been losing ground to Russia on its eastern front while facing its biggest corruption scandal of the war. Peskov said Russia was grateful to Trump for his efforts but the Kremlin would not be giving a running commentary on discussions with the United States, as publicity was unlikely to be constructive. “Work is currently being carried out at a working expert level,” Peskov said. “It is at the expert level that certain results should be achieved that will then become the basis for contacts at the highest level.” A leaked set of 28 U.S. draft peace proposals emerged in November, alarming Ukrainian and European officials who said they bowed to Moscow’s main demands. European powers then came up with a counter-proposal, and at talks in Geneva, the U.S. and Ukraine said they had created an updated and refined peace framework to end the war. Putin on Tuesday said European powers were trying to sink the peace talks by proposing ideas which were absolutely unacceptable to Russia. Putin’s foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, told reporters after the Witkoff talks that Moscow had previously received a 27-point set of proposals and then four additional documents which were discussed with Witkoff. Putin last week said that the U.S. and Ukraine had divided up the initial proposals into four components. The exact contents have not been disclosed.
Ukraine says it wants ‘real peace, not appeasement’ with Russia.Ukraine wants “real peace, not appeasement” with Russia, its foreign minister said on Thursday at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the security and rights body seeking a role for itself in a post-war Ukraine, Reuters reports. The path ahead for peace talks is currently unclear, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, after what he called “reasonably good” talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. envoys. “We still remember the names of those who betrayed future generations in Munich. This should never be repeated again. Principles must be untouchable, and we need real peace, not appeasement,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in a speech to the OSCE’s annual Ministerial Council. He was apparently referring to a 1938 agreement with Nazi Germany in which Britain, France and Italy agreed to Hitler’s annexation of the Sudetenland in what was then Czechoslovakia. The agreement is widely used as shorthand for failing to confront a threatening power. Russia was due to speak later. “Europe had too many unfair peace deals in the past. All of them only led to new catastrophes,” Sybiha said while thanking the United States for advancing peace efforts and pledging that Ukraine would “use every opportunity to try to end this war”.
The OSCE, a 57-nation body that includes the United States, Canada, Russia and much of Europe and Central Asia, emerged as an important forum for east-west dialogue during the Cold War. In recent years, it has often been deadlocked as Russia has blocked important deals, accusing the organisation of having been taken over by the West. Now, the United States is blocking consensus on a new budget, demanding reforms such as cost-cutting measures, diplomats say.
German, French leaders wary of US push for Ukraine peace, Spiegel reports.The French President and German Chancellor have voiced severe scepticism about efforts by the U.S. government and its envoys to negotiate a peace between Ukraine and Russia, Reuters reports citing German magazine Spiegel which published a transcript of a confidential call. In a report on Thursday, Spiegel said that in the call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other European leaders, France’s Emmanuel Macron warned that the United States could go back on Ukraine on the questions of territorial concessions and guarantees to secure any deal. “There is a chance that the US will betray Ukraine on territory without clarity on security guarantees,” Macron said, according to the magazine.
Berlin declined to comment, while the French President’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. European leaders on Monday rallied to show support for Zelenskyy after U.S.-Ukrainian talks to revise a peace proposal that initially favoured Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin received U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in the Kremlin on Tuesday.
Putin Heads to India in First Visit Since 2022 Invasion of Ukraine.President Vladimir Putin will begin a two-day visit to India on Thursday, his first trip there since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as he looks to shore up defense and trade ties with New Delhi, which faces mounting pressure from the Trump administration over its purchases of Russian oil, the Moscow Times reports. Putin will be accompanied by a delegation that includes Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov. Media outlets have reported that the two sides may discuss a long-stalled fighter jet deal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to host Putin for a private dinner on Thursday before a summit meeting and a business event on Friday.
Media outlets have also reported that Moscow may propose joint production of its Su-57 fighter jet. Russia has long been India’s top arms supplier, though its share of India’s weapons imports has fallen sharply as New Delhi pushes to expand domestic manufacturing. Putin’s visit also comes after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on most Indian goods in August, arguing that New Delhi’s reliance on discounted Russian crude helps fund the war in Ukraine. India has become one of Russia’s largest oil customers since 2022, saving billions through the trade, but it has recently reduced purchases as U.S. sanctions tightened around major Russian producers Rosneft and Lukoil.
Peskov, speaking to Indian journalists this week, said Russia was unconcerned about U.S. tariffs. “What matters to us is maintaining and increasing our business with India without interference,” he said. Analysts say neither side is likely to walk away from the relationship. Even if India reduces its purchases of Russian crude, Moscow remains a key supplier of spare parts for India’s aging, Russian-made military hardware. “There may be some reduction in energy purchases under U.S. pressure,” said Nandan Unnikrishnan of the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi, “but the overall direction of the ties will be maintained because both countries need each other at the strategic level.” Meanwhile, bilateral trade reached $68.7 billion in 2024-25 — nearly six times its pre-pandemic level — but Indian exports made up less than $5 billion of that total. Indian officials say they have been pressing Russia to open its market to Indian pharmaceuticals, automobiles and service-sector firms.
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Friday, December 05, 2025
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