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The Russian command announced that they have established full control over Siversk. In the Kharkiv sector, Russian units have taken control of Liman. A meeting of senior officials from the United States, Ukraine, France, Germany, and Great Britain is scheduled in Paris to discuss the Donald Trump administration’s peace plan.
Zaporizhzhia Sector
In the Zaporizhzhia sector, the main area of activity is Huliaipole. Russian units are fighting within the city limits and on the outskirts. Advance was also reported near Andriivka. Assault groups have taken control of the city districts of «Pisky», «Spartak», and «Bochany», and are fighting in the settlement’s center.
The logistics situation for the units in the city is assessed as difficult. Only one road remains open for movement in the direction of Orikhiv, and it is under intense fire control. Artillery and drone units are working around the clock to target the city, its surroundings, and supply routes. According to some reports, this makes it difficult to rotate troops and deliver reinforcements. North of Huliaipole, fighting for Varvarivka continues.
Siversk Sector
A significant change in the operational situation has been noted in the Siversk sector. Russian units have gained complete control of the city. After consolidating their position in the city center, the Russian forces crossed the Bakhmutka River and advanced westward, taking control of the Siversk Brick Factory and other areas in the process. There may be a sporadic presence of individual groups in the western part of the city, but organized resistance has ceased.
After establishing control over Siversk, the focus has shifted to the sector’s flanks to form a new defensive line. South of the city, attacks are being conducted to establish control over Vasiukivka and Petrovske, which are located on dominant heights. In the northern sector, activity continues in the Platonivka area, creating a convenient bridgehead for the Russian army to advance further towards Reznikivka.
Currently, the main effort is concentrated on eliminating the fortified area near the 170.2 and 165.7 markers, as well as reaching height 176.6. Controlling these heights would enable fire control over strongpoints in the Zakotne, Reznikivka, and Kryva Luka areas. Russian units advanced onto the slopes of Height 165.7 from the southwestern outskirts of Siversk, dislodging formations from several strongpoints north of Sviato-Pokrovske in the process. The defense node in the area of Height 170.2 is semi-encircled; supplies are delivered via a limited number of routes. Fighting continues for Sviato-Pokrovske and a strongpoint on the heights north of the settlement.
Sumy Sector
There has been an intensification of offensive actions in the Sumy sector. Russian assault units advanced in six sectors of the front, advancing more than 1,000 meters in total. Russian artillery strikes hit Ukrainian positions in the Myropillia and Andriivka areas.
The defending side is attempting to organize logistics and replenish assault groups. Artillery and drone units struck positions and supply routes in the Ryzhevka and Iskryskivshchyna areas.
Kharkiv Sector
In the Kharkiv sector, Russian assault units from the 69th Motorized Rifle Division of the 6th Guards Army have taken control of Liman. They are advancing in Vilcha, as well as in the Kharkiv sector. Efforts are underway to disrupt logistics routes.
In the eastern part of Vilcha, Russian forces have captured and cleared about 20 residential properties, advancing 400 meters. In the Liman area, Russian assault groups advanced south and captured six residential properties. The daily advance reached 350 meters. In the Melovoye-Khatnieye sector, the advance along the tree lines has reached 450 meters per day. A «Geran» drone strike destroyed a command post of Ukraine 40th Artillery Brigade in the Podsrednie area. There are confirmed losses among the command personnel. The defending formations did not undertake offensive actions, focusing instead on holding their positions.
Krasny Lyman Sector
In the Krasny Lyman sector, Russian units continue to expand their control zone around Yarova, Korovyi Yar, and Drobysheve. Fighting continues for control of Krasny Lyman. Defending formations have attempted responsive actions, which have been suppressed by artillery and drone fire.
Near the destroyed bridge in Krasny Lyman, a Ukrainian assault group advancing towards its positions was eliminated. From Serednie, there has been an expansion of controlled territory towards Korovyi Yar and an approach to Alexandrovka. In the Yarova area, fighting continues for the forested area. The situation in Stavky is stable, with ongoing positional battles for farm buildings.
Conclusion
The operational situation in the main sectors shows a qualitative shift related to the attainment of key tactical objectives and a change in the front line’s configuration. The most significant event is the capture of the city of Siversk. This eliminates a major resistance node and straightens the front, opening operational space to develop an offensive toward the Kramatorsk-Sloviansk agglomeration. Efforts are now focused on consolidating this success by capturing the dominant heights (Zakotne, Reznikivka, and Vasiukivka) on the flanks. This will enable the blocking of new defensive lines.
In the Zaporizhzhia sector, the operation in Huliaipole has entered a decisive phase. Controlling central districts and key approaches, as well as establishing intense fire control over the last logistics artery to Orikhiv creates conditions for completing the city’s clearance. In the Kharkiv and Krasny Lyman sectors, the tactic of methodical and systematic advancement, consolidation in settlements (e.g., Vilcha and Liman), and expansion of control zones in forested areas continues. This is accompanied by effective work to disrupt the rear support of Ukrainian units. In the Sumy sector, there has been a notable intensification with substantial advancement in several sectors.
The overall strategy combines achieving decisive results in urbanized, strategically important sectors (Siversk and Huliaipole) with constant, forceful pressure and expansion of control in the peripheral sectors of the front. This systematically worsens the operational position of the defending side.
Operational changes on the battlefield have prompted a surge in diplomatic activity surrounding a potential settlement. On Saturday, December 13, a pivotal meeting is scheduled in Paris between senior officials from the United States, Ukraine, France, Germany, and Great Britain to discuss the Donald Trump administration’s peace plan. Organized after Trump’s telephone negotiations with European leaders, this meeting is seen as an attempt to reach a consensus on American proposals. Amid «extremely high» tension in transatlantic relations, U.S. President’s Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are conducting the negotiations.
Meanwhile, Ukraine, seeking to solidify a unified position with its European allies, has presented the U.S. with an updated 20-point peace plan. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, there are still key disagreements with the U.S. regarding the territorial issue in Donetsk Oblast and control over the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Despite Trump’s public pressure, the U.S. has not set a strict deadline for an agreement, according to Zelenskyy. Aware of the threat to their own security, European leaders are actively participating in this process, trying to secure reliable guarantees for Ukraine and prevent a unilateral U.S. exit from the conflict. Thus, the diplomatic confrontation, taking place against the backdrop of ongoing combat operations, has entered a decisive stage. The configuration of the front line, including the loss of key cities, directly influences the negotiating positions of the parties involved.
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