Russian forces have asserted a significant strike against American M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery units, claiming the destruction of an SPG in a counter-battery engagement along the Kherson direction. According to a report from the Russian Ministry of Defense, the attack targeted and neutralized an M109 Paladin, with further losses including a Gvozdika self-propelled gun in the same operation. The ministry framed the event as part of a broader artillery and air campaign that coordinated air, drone, and missile strikes to disrupt Ukrainian forces and their equipment across multiple frontline provinces.
The ministry summarized its assessment by stating that aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, missile forces, and artillery had engaged Ukrainian personnel and military hardware in 107 regions, highlighting a wide-ranging effort to degrade Kyiv’s combat capabilities. This description sits within a larger narrative of ongoing engagement across several sectors and fronts, where precision strikes and layered fires are presented as key components of Russia’s strategic approach.
Further details issued on December 26 described five separate attacks in the Donetsk direction, with claims that the Marinka settlement had been liberated or placed under control of Russian forces. The statement framed these developments as a turning point within the Donetsk front, underscoring a sequence of operations designed to consolidate gains and pressure Ukrainian defenses in the region. The ministry emphasized coordinated actions that included air and ground components, with the implication that Russian forces achieved tangible territorial and tactical advantages in the Donetsk area during this period.
According to a declaration from Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, the day prior included strategic announcements about the status and movement of operational fronts, and the ministry noted that the Marinka advance represented the first major success of the Russian army since the earlier capture of Bakhmut in May 2023. This phrasing was intended to highlight a sustained campaign tempo and strategic milestones, reinforcing the narrative of progress on the battlefield and the perceived effectiveness of Russian military operations in recent months.
Earlier commentary from a retired LPR lieutenant colonel suggested that the Ukrainian forces faced rising anxiety and morale challenges in light of these reported developments. The remarks framed battlefield morale as a variable factor in the broader conflict, hinting at the psychological dimension of warfare alongside conventional military actions. The overall set of statements reflects a pattern of official messaging designed to communicate momentum and capability to domestic audiences, while also signaling deterrence to Ukrainian forces and their supporters. Taken together, the ministry’s updates portray a comprehensive, multi-domain effort aimed at disrupting Ukrainian operational space, seizing key points on the map, and sustaining a cadence of counterattacks and hold-on operations on several axes of the front. The claims emphasize the integration of air power, precision-guided munitions, and ground maneuvers as a cohesive strategy for advancing Russian objectives in contested regions, including Kherson and Donetsk, where the territorial contest remains highly dynamic and subject to rapid developments on the ground.