Russians continue storming Bakhmut, create conditions for offensive in Ukraine's south – General Staff.

The Russian occupiers keep assaulting the city of Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast; in some areas of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts, they are trying to create conditions for an offensive.

The Air Forces of Ukraine launched three attacks on the areas of concentration of manpower of the occupiers. Rocket and artillery units struck an area of concentration of manpower and armament and military equipment of Russians, as well as two positions of anti-aircraft systems.

During the day, Russians launched a missile attack, two aircraft attacks and over 20 attacks from MLRS.

Russia continues to concentrate its main efforts on conducting offensive actions on the Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Shakhtarsk fronts.

On the Volyn, Polissia, Siversk and Slobozhanshchyna fronts, the operative situation remained unchanged. Russians hold their units close to the state border of Ukraine yet there are no signs of formation of offensive groupings. During the day, the occupiers launched mortar and artillery attacks on the settlements of Yeline, Baranivka in Chernihiv Oblast; Rozhkovychi, Bachivsk, Hirky, Atynske, Stukalivka, Budky, Volfyne in Sumy Oblast; Hatyshche, Veterynarne, Strilecha, Lukiantsi, Ternova, Vovchansk, Potykhonove, Komisarove, Tykhe, Ustynivka and Anyskyne in Kharkiv Oblast.

On the Kupiansk and Lyman fronts, Russians conducted offensive actions near the settlements of Makiivka, Nevske and Bilohorivka in Luhansk Oblast but to no avail. The occupiers launched artillery attacks near the settlements of Dvorichna, Hrianykivka, Zapadne, Lyman Pershyi, Pishchane, Kyslivka, Tabaivka in Kharkiv Oblast; Nevske, Chervonopopivka, Dibrova, Bilohorivka in Luhansk Oblast and Spirne, Fedorivka in Donetsk Oblast.

On the Bakhmut front, Russians continue to conduct an offensive and storm the city of Bakhmut. The Defence Forces of Ukraine repelled the attacks near the settlements of Dubovo-Vasylivka, Bohdanivka, Bakhmut, Chasiv Yar and Bila Hora in Donetsk Oblast. The occupiers launched attacks near the settlements of Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Dubovo-Vasylivka, Bakhmut, Ivanivske, Kurdiumivka, Maiorsk and Zalizne.

On the Avdiivka and Shakhtarsk fronts, the occupiers continue to attack the positions of the Ukrainian troops. They conducted unsuccessful offensive actions in the direction of the settlements of Kamianka, Pervomaiske, Nevelske, Mariinka and Pobieda in Donetsk Oblast, launched attacks near the settlements of Vesele, Avdiivka, Vodiane, Pervomaiske, Nevelske, Krasnohorivka, Mariinka, Pobieda, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Neskuchne and Velyka Novosilka in Donetsk Oblast.

On the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson fronts, Russians are holding their defences, attempting to create conditions for switching to an offensive in some areas. They launched artillery attacks near the settlements located close to the collision line, including Vremivka, Zelene Pole and Novopil in Donetsk Oblast; Olhivske, Huliaipole, Zaliznychne, Charivne, Novodanylivka, Orikhiv and Novoandriivka in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, as well as Zelenivka in Kherson Oblast and the city of Kherson.

In the town of Enerhodar in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, the Russian occupiers continue to put pressure on civilians, specifically due to limited domestic heat and water supply. Mass dismissals caused the lack of qualified staff at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which made the occupiers hire people without education and experience.

Lately, the Russian occupiers have been actively engaging in looting in the temporarily occupied territory of Kherson Oblast, specifically in the town of Oleshky. They are mainly focused on vehicles.

Wester weapon components are still being supplied to Russia after full-scale invasion.

Western-made components in the weapons used by Russia in the war against Ukraine and for committing war crimes are being supplied to the aggressor country for months after the full-scale invasion.

International Partnership for Human Rights and the Independent Anti-Corruption  Commission found out that western-made components continued to reach Russia at the end of 2022. In particular, western-made components have been and continue to be used within weapons involved in suspected Russian war crimes.

Trade data revealed that three Western technology companies continued to export thousands of components worth millions of dollars to Russia in November 2022. Two of them produce dual-use components that Russia seeks to manufacture and repair for its military equipment, and one of them manufactures a type of specific component that the Russian military needs for navigation and targeting.

Trade data shows that components manufactured by Harting, Trimble, and TE Connectivity continue to be imported by Russia, either through official distributors for the companies or third countries such as Hong Kong and Türkiye.

The report concludes that four key Russian weapons and weapon systems used to carry out suspected war crimes, in particular strikes on residential buildings, civilian infrastructure and power plants, are, to varying degrees, reliant upon western-made components.

At the same time, existing regulations and enforcements aiming to cut Russia's access to western dual-use technology are not sufficient, as evidenced by the fact that exports to Russia from companies making components sought by the Kremlin continue.

The report's authors believe that policymakers and businesses need to recognise and publicly acknowledge the problem, review existing sanctions and export control measures, and improve end-user tracking.