What Ukrainian operations in the Black Sea threaten Russia: ISW analysts' data.

According to analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), if Ukraine strengthens its offensive operations in the Black Sea, Russia may lose control over the temporarily occupied Crimea. This reaction was triggered by a strike from a Ukrainian drone on Russian Mi-8 helicopters.

At the beginning of December 31, a Ukrainian drone, Magura V5, destroyed two Russian Mi-8 helicopters with missiles and damaged one of them. Previously, only one helicopter's destruction and damage were reported. A representative of the Ukrainian Navy emphasized that the virtuoso helicopter crews suffered significant losses. He also provided examples of serious damages inflicted on Russian forces by Ukrainian strikes, including the destruction of the railway on the Kerch Bridge and ferries used for transporting wagons and fuel tanks to occupied Crimea.

A popular Russian milblogger claims that Russian military ships are trying to hide from strikes by the Ukrainian fleet in bays and ports, and Russian troops can only repel Ukrainian drones using fighter jets and bombers.

ISW assesses that strengthening Ukraine's offensive capabilities in the Black Sea threatens Russian control over occupied Crimea

The full-scale war has now entered its 1045th day. The situation in the Pokrovsk, Kurakhiv, and Vremiv directions remains tense, with the enemy concentrating its main forces in these areas. Over the past day, there have been 118 combat engagements. The Ukrainian military is actively working to stop the enemy's attempts to advance further into our territory and inflict damage on them.

During the past day, Russian invaders carried out two missile strikes and 38 airstrikes, using two missiles and 65 guided bombs, 691 kamikaze drones, and conducted the three thousandth shelling of our troops' positions and populated areas.