Intensive urban battles continue in Toretsk, Donetsk region. The Russian troops are attempting to break through the village of Shcherbynivka and capture the refractory plant, according to the spokesperson of the Khortytsia Operational and Strategic Group of Troops, Viktor Trehubov, during a national marathon broadcast.

“Urban battles are a specific type of combat with very high intensity. In Toretsk, there are both urban battles and an attempt to break through through Shcherbynivka. Recently, the 3rd Assault Brigade repelled an enemy attack in Leonidivka and destroyed 9 enemy BMPs,” Trehubov said.

According to him, there are also constant urban battles in Chasiv Yar.

“The Russians are constantly trying to either break through and pierce the Ukrainian positions behind the Siversky Donets-Donbas Canal, or break through to the city’s architectural dominant – the refractory plant. But in the latter case, they have never been successful, because it is physically very difficult,” the spokesperson added.

Situation in Toretsk

The situation in the Toretsk direction remains extremely tense. Urban battles continue, and the frontline is constantly shifting.

As reported by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the fighting in the city is taking place for every entrance and floor.

Despite the difficult circumstances, the Ukrainian Defense Forces are successfully destroying Russian military equipment, including tanks and BMPs used by the enemy for the assault. However, the Russian army continues to attempt to encircle the city.

Nonetheless, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are holding their defensive positions, inflicting significant losses on the enemy.

Finnish police have banned seven crew members of the Eagle S tanker from leaving the country. They could have damaged four underwater cables in the Baltic Sea, stated Elina Katajamäki, an investigator at the Central Criminal Police Department, according to Yle.

“The travel ban is a less restrictive measure than arrest and detention, which is applied because the police are interested in ensuring the pre-trial investigation and that the persons involved remain available during the investigation,” Katajamäki stated.

She also noted that the number of individuals subject to the travel ban may change.

Criminal law professor Matti Tolvanen emphasized that the travel ban indicates police have grounds to suspect the crew’s involvement in aggravated vandalism.

Additionally, the crew members could face arrest if they attempt to violate the travel ban.

Cable damage in the Baltic Sea

Earlier, it was reported that the Estlink 2 cable between Finland and Estonia was broken.

In the area where the cable was damaged, the Russian shadow fleet vessel Eagle S was spotted. It could have severed the cable with its anchor.

Finland decided to detain the tanker. It is now in one of the Finnish ports.

Russian forces claimed on December 30 that a Ukrainian TV marathon broadcasted a fake warning about an imminent strike by the Oreshnik missile, aiming to create panic among Ukrainians, according to the Center for Strategic Communications (SPRAVDI).

Russian fake

The disinformation was first published on the website news-pravda, which is part of the ZOV/Pravda network used to spread Russian propaganda and disinformation to Ukrainian and international audiences.

At least 173 sources, mostly on Telegram, circulated the false claim, which was supported by a fabricated video.

Enemy objectives

“By spreading this fake about the Oreshnik missile strike, the enemy aimed to sow panic among Ukrainians. The intimidation operation took place a few hours before another shelling of Ukraine, for which Russia used 21 missiles of various types and 40 drones,” stated SPRAVDI.

They clarified that Russia also tried to spread a demoralizing effect against the backdrop of the telethon’s vulnerability.

The enemy, according to SPRAVDI, also continues its campaign to advertise the Russian medium-range ballistic missile Oreshnik. Russia continues to instill fear around its “miracle weapon”.

The Center noted that at least 135 Ukrainian Telegram channels spread this fake.

By the way, earlier the Russian media spread a fake that a Ukrainian pilot had surrendered in the Kursk region.

Russia’s Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed a decree canceling one-time payments for prisoners. Those who have signed contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense will not receive these payments, according to the relevant decree from the Russian Ministry of Defense.

“The one-time monetary payments will not be made to citizens of the Russian Federation who, on the date of signing a contract for military service in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, were serving a prison sentence,” the document states.

This decree will take effect on January 1, 2025.

In the fall of 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved one-time payments for those who signed a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense during the war. By the summer of this year, the amount of the payments for those who signed contracts was increased to 400,000 rubles.

It is also noteworthy that in Russian regions, local payments are added to the state payment, which can reach several million rubles. However, these payments apply to individuals who voluntarily enlist at military recruitment offices, not prisoners.

Mobilization of prisoners in Russia

The mobilization of prisoners in Russia became a widespread practice during the war with Ukraine. Since mid-2022, reports indicated that the Russian authorities, with the support of private military companies, including the Wagner Group, were recruiting prisoners to participate in combat, offering them amnesty, financial rewards, and other privileges.

This practice has faced criticism from human rights defenders, who pointed to violations of human rights and the lack of transparency in the conditions prisoners faced. Many of them died due to insufficient training, and the promises made to them were often not fulfilled.

As recently reported by Ukrainian intelligence, Russia also plans to form assault units composed of prisoners infected with hepatitis B and C.