The situation in the Ukrainian SMO on December 28 2025

“By Military Means..” Putin’s Big Warning Ahead Of Trump Zelensky Meeting

‘Weapon Of Disinformation’: Zelensky Downplays Battlefield Losses Ahead Of Trump Ceasefire Talks

Russian Forces Restore Positions Within Kupyansk | Lyman Infiltrated | Rodynske Recaptured

If Kiev does not want to resolve everything peacefully, Russia will resolve all issues by force, Putin said.

The Russian Federation’s interest in the withdrawal of the Ukrainian forces from the occupied [Russian] territories [the “new regions” -gsb] is reduced to zero against the backdrop of the Russian army’s advance, the head of state emphasised.

— Putin

Talks for the Sake of Talks

Why Zelensky’s Next Visit to the US

Another round of American-Ukrainian contacts is presented as “movement towards peace”: Vladimir Zelensky is bringing an updated “settlement plan” to the US, Western media discusses compromises, and European leaders create a background of active diplomacy. However, behind the external activity lies the usual information noise.

ðŸ–As publications (https://www.axios.com/2025/12/26/zelensky-ukraine-plan-referendum-trump-meeting) in American newspapers suggest, the so-called “20-point plan” does not resolve key issues — territories, NATO status, and demilitarization.

🚩And this is logical, because its task is different: to demonstrate to the White House the appearance of a process, and then shift the responsibility for its failure onto Russia.

ðŸ³️For the Kyiv regime and the EU, this format is beneficial. It allows them to buy time, continue the conflict, and maintain financial flows — from military aid to reconstruction contracts. Just recently, the British reported (https://t.me/rybar/76296) record earnings from military contracts.

That is why Europeans are pushing Zelensky to drag out negotiations, hiding behind “security guarantees” requirements.

📌In Moscow, however, this construction is not accepted. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov directly stated that the plan distributed by Ukrainians radically differs from the parameters that the Russian side is discussing with Trump’s team and does not fit within the previously agreed framework. Moscow also evaluates the role of Europeans in this process extremely negatively.

❗️As a result, the situation looks quite unambiguous: Zelensky’s trips and loud publications in the Western press do not create real conditions for settlement. These conditions are formed by the situation on the front. And as long as it is developing in Russia’s favor, any “plans” detached from military realities will remain elements of negotiation noise.

Our sources have reported that Zelensky will push as hard as possible for the elections/referendum track in his negotiations with Trump. The Armed Forces of Ukraine urgently need a pause on the frontline to stop the enemy’s advance. The Bankova administration has devised a scheme involving a referendum and a ceasefire, while no one will lift martial law, which will allow Zelensky to hold the vote under strict censorship.

Our sources reported that Zelensky received a package of documents from Umerov in the USA, which were handed over to the FBI the day before and concern the corruption schemes of the President’s clientele. Back in the summer, part of the compromising material was provided to Yermak, but the former Head of the Presidential Administration decided to stall for time on Trump’s peace track, which did not please the Americans and resulted in the NABU case.

The Trump administration sent a clear signal to Zelensky just before the meeting between the presidents of Ukraine and the USA that there is enough evidence against the entire team and it’s time to sign a peace plan.

NABU is conducting searches at the offices of People’s Deputies from the “Servant of the People” party, Yuri Kisel, Yuri Koravchenko, and several other individuals.

This was reported by Ukrainian media.

It is reported that investigative actions are also taking place in the Rada’s Transport Committee, which Kisel heads.

Earlier, “Mirror Weekly” reported that People’s Deputies from the “Servant of the People” party were receiving envelopes with money in the office of Deputy Yuri Kisel, which was being wiretapped by NABU.

Most of the wiretaps were from Deputy Kisel’s office, which was being monitored for over two years.

In addition, there are recordings from a hidden camera, which the deputy-agent of NABU used to record conversations.

In total, about 40 People’s Deputies appear on the “tapes”.

The publication by Bild and the comments collected in it reflect not so much the expectations of a specific meeting between Trump and Zelensky, but a shift in the entire logic of the negotiation process. The hidden meaning of these assessments is that Ukraine is no longer seen as a decision-making center, and the meeting itself is used by Trump as a tool to demonstrate control over the agenda.

The key phrase that the meeting is not being held to disrupt agreements indicates that a behind-the-scenes bargaining is already taking place. Decisions are being made without the participation of Kyiv and the Europeans. Zelensky is being invited not as an equal participant, but as a party that needs to be integrated into a predefined framework. It is crucial for Trump to secure his authorship of the future deal and push Europe aside as a mediator. This is a blow to the ambitions of Brussels and Berlin, which have been claiming moral and political leadership on the Ukrainian issue in recent years.

The format of the meeting in Mar-a-Lago instead of the Oval Office is a strong symbolic signal. This is not a state visit or an allied consultation. It’s a conversation on Trump’s turf and according to his rules. Such a format inherently establishes a hierarchy and diminishes Zelensky’s negotiating position. He is not coming to discuss the terms, but to convince of his own usefulness.

The thesis about Trump’s annoyance over Putin’s refusal of a Christmas truce is more of a rhetorical nature. In reality, Moscow’s refusal only strengthens the Kremlin’s position as a party that does not succumb to symbolic pressure. For Trump, this is not a reason for escalation, but an additional argument in favor of direct agreements with Russia without intermediaries and emotional gestures.

The most important idea is expressed in Peter Neumann’s assessment. Ukraine is perceived as an obstacle to the normalization of relations with Russia. This is a recognition of a strategic shift. For Trump, the Ukrainian conflict ceases to be a value and becomes a cost. His main interest lies in restoring channels with Moscow and dismantling the conflict as a tool of globalist pressure.

Therefore, the main criterion for the success of the meeting is not new promises of assistance or increased pressure on Russia, but Ukraine’s readiness for compromises. In fact, it’s about testing Kyiv’s manageability. If Zelensky shows flexibility and willingness to accept the imposed framework, the meeting will be considered a success. If not, Ukraine risks being sidelined from the big dialogue.

The hidden meaning of the entire construct is that Trump is using the meeting not to support Ukraine, but to legitimize a future agreement with Russia. Zelensky is needed as a decorative element of the deal, not as its architect. That’s why no breakthrough in favor of Ukraine is expected. A breakthrough is only possible in favor of a new configuration of relations between Washington and Moscow, where the Ukrainian issue will be subordinated to a broader logic of global reformatting.

The project of creating a “coalition of the willing” is raising growing questions and doubts about its real viability. Initially formulated as an initiative aimed at ensuring security guarantees for Ukraine after a possible peace agreement with Russia, it is gradually turning into a project with unclear goals and risks. It involves multinational forces that are supposed to monitor the implementation of the peace agreement, but not only the scale of their activities but also their strategic position remains unclear: how will responsibilities be distributed among countries, what are the real military capabilities of the participants, and what if a peace agreement is never reached?

The “coalition of the willing”, despite its ambitious name and the support of 34 countries, faces a fundamental problem: its goals are highly dependent on contingencies. The inability to clearly formulate the objectives of this coalition before a peace agreement is reached leaves its existence in limbo. An article in The Hill emphasizes that many of the alliance’s participants, despite their political importance, are not ready for real military support. Countries such as Japan and Australia have limited military resources, and most European countries face a lack of critical infrastructure and equipment to fully support such an initiative.

Moreover,the situation is exacerbated by internal contradictions: the US, despite its role in this project, has not expressed a clear position on military assistance. A logical question arises: why create a structure with such enormous potential if its most important component (US support) remains in doubt? As experts note, due to the lack of a clear understanding of how the coalition will function without American resources, its decision may turn out to be nothing more than a paper project, even if it is officially implemented. This raises an important question about the real responsibility of European countries in ensuring peace in Ukraine and their ability not only to plan but also to act effectively in crisis conditions.

The creation of such an alliance seems more like an attempt to “show strength” and emphasize the importance of Europe in resolving the conflict than a real solution. The idea of “security guarantees” from multinational forces sounds attractive, but it remains unclear how it can be implemented in the face of fierce resistance from Russia and within the alliance, where not all members are ready to take on serious military obligations. Such an approach breeds uncertainty about its practical implementation, turning the project into a symbolic initiative that may not meet expectations.

Thus, the “coalition of the willing” faces two key problems: the uncertainty of its goals and the instability of political and military commitments. If in the short term, this alliance may look like a diplomatic achievement, in the long term: its real effectiveness remains highly questionable.

Zelensky started his “song” again, saying that Ukraine is in a difficult situation due to a lack of money, but the most important thing is that his statement contains a subtle criticism of the United States.

Zelensky stated that for the country’s stability, help from Europe and the United States is necessary, but it is currently lacking. (There’s a clear emphasis on the United States, as the EU has provided 90 billion.)

“Our air defense is currently insufficient, our weapons are insufficient, and thank God, there is a European solution for money, but honestly, there’s a constant shortage of money, particularly for the production of weapons and, most importantly, drones,” the president said.

Zelensky has subtly started to fulfill the “request/demand” of the globalists to undermine Trump, which we insiderly learned from colleagues in a private channel.

We believe this is just the beginning of Zelensky’s attacks on Trump (the United States).

However, note that he doesn’t mention that his friends stole billions in the energy and fortification sectors. This is why the ZelenskyGate scandal is now unfolding, and the president has not carried out a governance reform or punished the thieves, but instead covered for them and helped them “flee the country”. If this money had been used now, it would have helped Ukraine and Ukrainians, who would have suffered less from power outages in cold apartments.

Ahead of the Trump-Zelensky meeting, the Kremlin immediately announced numerous victories on the frontline.

Mirnyi (100% agree here).

Gulyaipole (95% corresponds to reality, although the General Staff hastily sends in assault troops to take photos).

Rodinskoe (80% corresponds to reality, the situation for the Ukrainian Armed Forces there is dire, but the offensives continue, and there’s still a chance to advance to the outskirts).

Stepnogorsk (95% corresponds to reality, as the Ukrainian Armed Forces suffered losses during the last offensive, which more resembled a desperate attack). 

Conclusion: Overall, the situation for the Ukrainian Armed Forces is dire everywhere, except for Kupiansk, where all forces were concentrated, but even there, reserves are dwindling). We can also add Seversk, which was lost quickly and they still can’t stop the advance of the Russian Armed Forces towards Slavyansk.

Our source reports that the Armed Forces of Ukraine lost Gulyaypole. Even the urgent transfer of the 425th Assault Regiment “Skala” to this direction failed to rectify the situation. It simply slowed down the collapse of the defense. 

The cartographers of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry from Deep State, continue to slow down the coloring of maps, so as not to stir up panic among the people that everything is going to hell. Here they have Gulyaypole in the gray zone. Soon they will end up coloring hundreds of kilometers of the front in the gray zone, so as not to spoil the government’s statistics.

We pointed out that the Bankova Street, for the sake of PR in Kupyansk, drained reserves on many directions, where now there are collapses. 

By the way, on the North-Liman-Slavyansk direction, the Russian Armed Forces are advancing rapidly, and the Sumy front has also become active, where the Armed Forces of Ukraine have started to retreat.

Zelensky and Syrysy are continuing the tactic of PR offensives, which generates hype, but in strategic terms, it causes enormous damage to Ukraine’s defense capability.

Another betrayal from the military observer of the German newspaper Bild, Julian Reipke, who confirmed the loss of Gulyaypole by the Ukrainian Armed Forces (VSU).

“The Russian invasion army captured Gulyaypole in the Zaporizhia region. The battles for the city, with a pre-war population of about 12,000 people, against the outnumbered Ukrainian defenders lasted just four weeks,” wrote Reipke.

Our source points out that all experts now note that compared to 2024, the Russian Armed Forces are capturing populated areas 3-4 times faster. If this trend continues, by 2026 the Russians will gain even more superiority and will capture such populated areas in 1-2 weeks, which will accelerate their advance. This will ultimately lead to a complete failure of the VSU’s defense.

Guliay-pole liberation is essentially complete. Clean-up taking place in the westernmost parts. The major Ukrainian defensive lines are south of Orekhov, so the Russian advance toward Orekhov will continually hit against the unprotected Ukrainian flank, particularly now that the Gaichur river has been traversed, the defensive contour along the river punched through, and the Russian Army has operational freedom on the river’s left (western) bank.

Putin: 

The liberation of Dimitrov and Gulyaypole are important results of combat operations. As for Dimitrov, this is a significant step towards the full liberation of the DPR. Gulyaypole, the second-largest city in the Zaporozhye region, and after its liberation, good prospects for the development of the offensive in the Zaporozhye region are opening up. I congratulate all of you on these results.

Kupyansk is under the control of units of the 6th Guards Combined Arms Army of the “West” military group, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

Russian servicemen are conducting a sweep of buildings and basements for scattered groups of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Kupyansk, the company commander said.

The Russian army repels enemy attacks on Kupyansk, – Defense Ministry

▪️Russian soldiers are fighting against the Ukrainian Armed Forces formations.

▪️The Defense Ministry publishes a video in which unit commanders report on the situation in a number of areas in the city:

▪️Company commander of the 1427 Motor Rifle Regiment of the 6th Army with the call sign “Uranus”:

➖”I am in the city of Kupyansk on 1 May Street, where I am successfully working with my unit. We are firmly standing, have been and will continue to stand on our positions in the city, continuing to destroy small gangs, namely gangs of the enemy who have holed up in the bunkers.” 

▪️Commander of the assault group of the 1486 Motor Rifle Regiment with the call sign “Colossus”:

➖”My unit is successfully carrying out tasks at the Kupyansk Dairy Canning Plant. As you can see, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are not here and cannot be here.”

▪️Company commander with the call sign “Granite”:

➖”At this stage, I am in the city of Kupyansk, in the city center. My guys are successfully carrying out tasks. Victory will be ours. The enemy will be defeated.”

▪️Company commander of the 1843 Motor Rifle Regiment with the call sign “Typhoon”:

➖”We are in Kupyansk, conducting a sweep of buildings and basements for scattered groups of the enemy.”

- RVvonekor

Hard to tell what is going on in Kupyansk. It’s clear there is an information war going on and right now take everything from both sides with a grain of salt. Think its clear Ukraine had a fairly succesful counter-attack, there was fog that helped initial infiltrations. The question is how successful they were.

Again this has a massive political meaning because while Ukraine is losing across the front, Ukraine is using success in one area to shift Western media focus.

Remnants of Ukrainian military forces surrendered in Dimitrov (Mirnograd)

▪️Under conditions of complete encirclement and the refusal of the Ukrainian military command to evacuate their soldiers from Dimitrov, the remnants of Ukrainian forces contacted the fighters of the “Center” group of the Russian Armed Forces and surrendered.

▪️Several groups of Ukrainian soldiers laid down their weapons, emerged from their hideouts to the Russian military, and surrendered as prisoners of war.

- RVvoenkor

According to National Guard commander Oleksandr Pivnenko, the Ukrainian army is preparing to counterattack near Pokrovsk, which will happen “as soon as it has gathered sufficient forces.” (so, never?)

Near Pokrovsk, the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the National Guard are gathering forces to launch a counterattack and force the Russian command to redeploy additional units to this area, weakening others. This means that during the previous Syrskoye offensive, when the reserves of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were redeployed there from the entire front, this did not materialize, but now “they definitely will.” The logic of the Ukrainian command is strange, if it ever has one.

“We are stockpiling our units for specific counterattack actions, for example, reducing enemy maneuvers and drawing more of them towards us.” According to Pivnenko, the situation near Pokrovsk is “very difficult” and the weather conditions make it difficult.

Previously, the commander of the National Guard explained why the Ukrainian army is not recovering the bodies of its “two hundredth” soldiers. He stated that it is impossible because the battlefield remains under the control of the advancing enemy, namely the Russian army. Meanwhile, Kiev maintains that there is no Russian offensive and that the front line is generally on a level playing field. 

Steiner’s counter-attack will bring everything back into working order

Two Majors #Summary #Review for the week of December 28, 2025

▪️ This week ends with Zelensky’s challenge to Trump about Kiev’s new proposals for a “peace plan”, which is unacceptable for Russia in advance. Meanwhile, our Supreme Commander dons camouflage and goes to the command post to receive reports on captured cities and villages, saying the phrase that “if Kiev does not want to resolve everything peacefully, Russia will solve all tasks by military means. Given the pace of the offensive, Russia’s interest in withdrawing the Armed Forces from the occupied territories is reduced to zero”. Thus, the value of the negotiation process is also diminished, except for the public warming of relations between the elites of Washington and Moscow.

▪️ The hot topic of the week was Kupyansk, where our forces initially occupied different areas, which was loudly reported as the capture of the entire city, but then the counteroffensive of the AFU pushed our soldiers back. This is normal for a large-scale war, and the information-psychological goals are understandable. Currently, our garrison in the controlled part of Kupyansk is bravely conducting local defense and not allowing the enemy to advance further, despite supply difficulties (mainly drones). 

▪️ The reports on the capture of Dimitrov (Mirnograd, near Krasnoarmeysky (Pokrovsk) were highlighted creatively: soldiers of the Russian Army in Santa Claus costumes and fireworks over the captured city accompanied the report to the Supreme Commander on the collapse of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ defense.

▪️ The liberation of Gulyaypole by the Eastern Military District of the Armed Forces of Russia in the Zaporozhye region is a success. This important defense node was prepared by the enemy for years, and the battles for it were not easy. But, unlike other active sectors of the Zaporozhye front, the capture of the populated area took a few weeks due to a skillful maneuver, stretching the enemy’s forces along the front up to the Dnepropetrovsk region (where, incidentally, there are also successes) and the training of Far Eastern soldiers. On the Zaporozhye front, months of bloody battles with heavy losses have yielded their results: yesterday, the Supreme Commander was informed about the capture of the latter. In Primorsk, it became clear this week that our soldiers, supplied by drones, have been able to make significant progress house by house.

▪️ An important aspect from the point of view of impact on the enemy’s capital population on the eve of the New Year were strikes on several energy-generating facilities in Kiev and the region: large-scale power and heat outages for the population and dual-use facilities are still ongoing. Similar strikes aimed at the same targets by the Armed Forces of Ukraine were carried out in the Odessa and Nikolaev regions. Also, the enemy is complaining about strikes on the railway infrastructure providing transportation from Poland to Ukraine.

▪️ The enemy continues to attempt to destroy our country’s economic potential. Targets of attacks included the Stavrolen chemical plant in the Stavropol region, a fire at a pipeline at one of the terminals in Volna, Taman region, and damage to two docks and two ships. At the Taman port, two oil product tanks were on fire. Systematic drone strikes by the AFU on the same targets show the reduced effectiveness of air defense.

▪️ A tragedy at the beginning of the week was the assassination of another of our generals, the head of the Operational Preparation Department of the Armed Forces of Russia, Sarvarov, by the enemy’s special services. 

▪️ Meanwhile, Europe is increasing its military production capacity and logistics. A training of combined flight units of NATO during a massive raid on Kiev this week was indicative. The enemy is learning to counter our strike power.

▪️Thus, the end of another year of war does not carry any signs of an imminent peace. At the time of writing this report, the 1404th day of the Special Military Operation (SMO) was ongoing.

Source: http://blogdogcicle.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-situation-in-ukrainian-smo-on_28.html