Hello, this is Yuliia Taradiuk reporting from a foggy Kyiv on day 1,381 of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Today’s top story so far:
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, HUR, said its drones hit a Russian Su-24 tactical bomber as past of a series of eight “accurate strikes” on military targets inside Russian-occupied Crimea on Dec. 5.
The attacks were carried out with long-range drones by the Prymary (“Ghosts”) unit, HUR said in a post on Telegram.
A Su-24 tactical bomber, a radome, a 39N6 Kasta-2E2 radar group, an Orion unmanned aerial vehicle, two 48Ya6-K1 Podlot radar systems, a freight train and a Ural truck were damaged in the attacks.
The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims.
A video detailing the attacks on Crimea released by HUR on Dec. 5, 2025. (HUR/Telegram)
Since illegally annexing Crimea in 2014, Russia has thoroughly militarized the peninsula, using it as a base for regular missile and drone attacks against Ukraine, operations in the Black Sea, and land operations into southern Ukraine.
Since 2023, Ukraine has steadily increased its options for striking Russian targets in Crimea, using both airborne and maritime drones, depending on the target.
Investigation: After occupying their land, Russia trains Ukrainian children for a lifetime of war
Russian forces reportedly execute yet another Ukrainian POW
Last updated 8:01 p.m. Kyiv time.
Russian troops reportedly shot dead a Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier who had surrendered in the Siversk direction, Ukraine’s military and the Prosecutor General’s Office reported on Dec. 5.
According to the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade, Russian troops carried out a covert infiltration into the combat formations of Ukraine’s Defense Forces near Svyato-Pokrovske village in the Siversk direction.
Later, a video appeared on Russian information channels showing Russian military personnel at one of the Ukrainian positions in the area.
“The footage shows a Ukrainian soldier raising his hands and demonstrating his willingness to surrender, meaning he was no longer participating in hostilities. Despite this, the occupiers continued to keep him at gunpoint and probably opened fire, which could have led to his death,” the brigade wrote on Dec. 5.
The Prosecutor General’s Office said that the wounded soldier tried to take cover, but the Russian soldier “finished him off with a shot from an assault rifle.”
A pre-trial investigation, under the procedural guidance of the Donetsk Regional Prosecutor’s Office, has been launched into Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, a war crime that resulted in the death of a person.
The killing of prisoners of war (POWs) violates the Geneva Conventions and is considered a war crime.
Russian forces reportedly execute yet another Ukrainian POW
French marines shot at unidentified drones over nuclear submarine base
Last updated 5:45 p.m. Kyiv time.
French marines opened fire on unidentified drones flying over a French naval base home to nuclear submarines, Le Figaro reported on Dec. 5.
According to the publication, overnight on Dec. 4, five drones flew over the Ile Longue submarine base, where French nuclear deterrent forces are stationed.
Following the incident, a search and anti-drone operation began. The marine battalion assigned to safeguard the base carried out several anti-drone strikes.
The Atlantic Maritime Prefecture announced that it is opening an investigation. “Sensitive infrastructure was not threatened,” spokesperson for the Maritime Prefecture, Captain Guillaume Le Rasle, told Le Figaro.
Read the original report at Le Figaro.
Last updated 4:25 p.m. Kyiv time.
A group of Ukrainian children ages 2 to 17 returned to Ukraine from Russian-occupied territories in southern Kherson Oblast, regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin said on Dec. 5.
The Ukrainian humanitarian NGO Save Ukraine, which rescues children from Russian occupation, reported in a Dec. 4 Facebook post that 18 children were brought back to Ukrainian-controlled territories over the last week.
Oleksandr Tolokonnikov, deputy head of the Kherson Oblast Military Administration, told the Kyiv Independent that around half of the 18 kids were rescued from the Russian-occupied parts of Kherson Oblast, located on the eastern side of the Dnipro River.
“Each and every one of them fully experienced the so-called ‘Russian world,'” Prokudin said in a Telegram post. “It is a real miracle that the children were rescued.”
Save Ukraine said in the post that it has rescued over 1,000 children from Russian occupation thus far, but “thousands” are still waiting.
Ukrainian NGO returns 18 children from Russian-occupied territories
Ukraine confirms drone strikes on seaport, oil refinery in Russia
Last updated 2:08 p.m. Kyiv time.
Ukrainian drones hit Russia’s Temryuk seaport in Krasnodar Krai and the Syzran Oil Refinery in Samara Oblast overnight, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on Dec. 5.
The General Staff said it conducted the operation to “reduce the military and economic potential of the Russian aggressor,” as domestically produced Ukrainian drones continue to target infrastructure associated with the Russian army deep inside Russia.
The Temryuk port handles the shipment of various cargo types, including liquified natural gas, which is then used to supply the Russian army, according to the General Staff. It added that fire erupted after a Ukrainian drone hit the facility, and that the extent of the damage is still being assessed.
The Syzran Oil Refinery is another infrastructure that supports the Russian logistics, with an annual processing capacity of 7 to 8.9 million tons of oil, the General Staff reported. An earlier Ukrainian drone strike that allegedly damaged a primary oil purification installation has already limited the refinery’s capability, being forced to “completely” suspend primary processing of crude oil and operate at less than 50% of its design capacity, the General Staff alleged.
Ukraine’s confirmation of its drone strikes comes hours after Russian officials and media reported them earlier in the day.
Ukraine confirms drone strikes on seaport, oil refinery in Russia
At least 1 killed, 23 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day
At least one person has been killed and 23 others injured in Russian attacks against Ukraine over the past day, local authorities reported on Dec. 5.
Russia launched 137 drones at Ukraine overnight, the Air Force reported. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 80 drones. Fifty-seven drones made it through, striking 13 locations, according to the Air Force.
In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Russian attacks killed a 12-year-old boy and injured three people, Governor Vladyslav Haivanenko reported. Russian forces carried out shelling with Grad MLRS. Two houses, five apartment buildings, and a civilian vehicle were damages.
In Kherson Oblast, Russian attacks injured 11 people over the past day, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported. Throughout the night, Russian forces launched drones, airstrikes, and artillery attacks on 46 settlements, including the city of Kherson. Two residential buildings and 11 houses were damaged, along with a cell tower, bakery, gas pipeline, and a civilian vehicle.
In Donetsk Oblast, Russian attacks injured seven people, according to Governor Vadym Filashkin. Over the past day, Russian forces shelled settlements in Donetsk Oblast 30 times. A total of 157 people, including 30 children, were evacuated from the front line.
In Sumy Oblast, Russian attacks injured 40-year-old woman, according to Governor Oleh Hryhorov. Over the past day, Russian forces shelled 39 settlements in Sumy Oblast 90 times.
In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, a Russian strike injured one person, the local military administration reported.
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,177,370 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
Russia has lost around 1,178,610 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on Dec. 5.
The number includes 1,240 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
According to the report, Russia has also lost 11,396 tanks, 23,686 (+1) armored fighting vehicles, 68,907 (+94) vehicles and fuel tanks, 34,843 (+34) artillery systems, 1,558 (+2) multiple launch rocket systems, 1,253 air defense systems, 431 (+1) airplanes, 347 helicopters, 86,900 (+424) drones, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.
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