--- title: "Ukraine Situation Report: The Winter War Has Arrived" description: "Winter has arrived in Ukraine with snow blanketing parts of the country in recent days. Summer’s lush green grass is long gone and the golden fields of autumn are fading fast, soon to be buried by motionless white amid tank…" date: "2022-11-19" modified: "2022-11-19" authors: - name: "Stetson Payne" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/stetson-payne" url: "https://www.twz.com/ukraine-situation-report-ready-or-not-the-winter-war-is-here" categories: - "Around The Globe" - "Europe" - "News & Features" - "Russia" - "Ukraine" tags: - "Ukraine" --- # Ukraine Situation Report: The Winter War Has Arrived ![Tank snow Ukraine]() *Via Twitter* Winter has arrived in Ukraine with snow blanketing parts of the country in recent days. Summer’s lush green grass is long gone and the golden fields of autumn are fading fast, soon to be buried by motionless white amid tank tracks and fresh craters. Video of two Ukrainian T-64BV tanks on the move gives a rough idea of what lies ahead as temperatures fall further. The two snow-covered behemoths roll along under dimly lit overcast. The haunting snowy terrain is as beautiful as it is unforgiving for those fighting in it. https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1593823808246489089 One of the former Afghan Air Force Mi-17s donated to Ukraine by the U.S., and a Dutch-donated YPR-765 APC, made frosty appearances as well. The snow evoked memories of a chilling image of a Russian casualty in the war’s earliest days outside Kharkiv. https://twitter.com/magictouch190/status/1593955006859939841 https://twitter.com/praisethesteph/status/1593903369357230081 https://twitter.com/glasnostgone/status/1593906483066019843?s=12&t=qw\_6zaktAeqb4Bw-FjM4bw Away from the frontlines, winter poses further challenges as Ukraine’s energy sector remains under siege. Maksym Tymchenko, head of Ukraine’s leading energy company DTEK, said Ukrainians should be ready to leave the country before winter fully sets in to avoid overloading a power supply already on life support. https://twitter.com/Flash\_news\_ua/status/1593966995556417543 https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1593731058662612994 Recently liberated Kherson is in a similar predicament with much of its basic infrastructure, namely power and water, remaining damaged from fighting and scorched earth tactics. https://twitter.com/TpyxaNews/status/1594023728131837953?s=20&t=iDroqoJ0h0sYFyCnGrnNfA https://twitter.com/Flash\_news\_ua/status/1593997775238201344 Before heading into the latest updates from Ukraine, *The War Zone* readers can get up to speed with our previous rolling coverage [here](). ## The Latest A large explosion, reportedly from a natural gas pipeline, rocked Russia’s Leningrad Oblast just outside St. Petersburg on Saturday morning. https://twitter.com/TpyxaNews/status/1593949923250417665 https://twitter.com/Liveuamap/status/1593964877160321025 https://twitter.com/maria\_drutska/status/1593967812292190210 https://twitter.com/Tendar/status/1593961717666562048 It’s not immediately clear what caused the inferno, and no casualties have been reported. Industrial accidents happen, but given the context of Russia’s [continued strikes]() on Ukrainian energy infrastructure and the NordStream pipelines’ [suspicious sabotage]() this fall, it’s something to keep a close eye on. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as snow fell in Kyiv on Saturday. https://twitter.com/Liveuamap/status/1593964661556350977 The [BBC reported]() that the two discussed a new British aid package, including 125 anti-aircraft guns, radars, and electronic warfare systems to combat the continued threat from [Iranian drones](). The two also visited Kyiv’s growing [exhibition]() of captured and destroyed Russian equipment, and Sunak met [Patron](), Ukraine’s bomb-sniffing Jack Russell terrier. https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1593994847798841344 https://twitter.com/SamRamani2/status/1594024691874004993 https://twitter.com/JimmySecUK/status/1594016707038830593 Sunak is the second British leader to visit the capital, with former Prime Minister [Boris Johnson]() making previous visits during the war. His visit also came as Zelensky confirmed Russia had yet to officially seek negotiations for the war’s end. https://twitter.com/SamRamani2/status/1594025101254660097 In the Kherson region, we have footage of Ukrainian soldiers clearing anti-tank mines up close and personal. Soldiers rig the tank-killing saucers with explosives before setting them off. https://twitter.com/Danspiun/status/1593902137226018818 The work isn’t for nothing either, as evidenced by what’s left of a Ukrainian [M1224 MaxxPro]() mine-resistant ambush-protected ([MRAP]()) vehicle. The engine and everything in front of the front axle got blown to pieces, but the crew compartment remains largely intact as designed. https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1593976451027591168 For the first time since Russian forces attacked on February 24, a Ukrainian train arrived at Kherson’s train station to large crowds welcoming the decorated carriages. Ukraine’s railways, from Kyiv’s metro to vital east-west lines ferrying equipment, have remained incredibly resilient despite the Russian onslaught. https://twitter.com/bayraktar\_1love/status/1593896513142390787 So far as matters on the Black Sea go, rumors of a Ukrainian attack on the narrow [Kinburn spit]() proved true in part after pictures of damage appeared Saturday. While reported amphibious landings remain unfounded, it does appear someone shelled buildings on the peninsula. https://twitter.com/Danspiun/status/1593912091370561536 With Kherson retaken, the world wonders when and where Ukraine will make its next move having pledged to liberate its remaining occupied territories, including Crimea. Volodymyr Havrylov, Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister, claimed the country could return Crimea before the end of 2022, though Kyiv has since walked back that rather optimistic claim. https://twitter.com/TpyxaNews/status/1593943466785980416 https://twitter.com/JackDetsch/status/1593987286869442561 Work on the damaged Crimea Bridge continues as crews could be seen fitting pre-fabricated bridge segments into place. Traffic on the vital link between the peninsula and Russia has been limited since the stunning [October 8 attack]() left the bridge crippled. https://twitter.com/aldin\_aba/status/1593981757367455750 Above the frontline, new footage shows what is said to be a Ukrainian [MiG-29 Fulcrum]() launching an [AGM-88 HARM](). The missile’s lofted flight profile after launch both maximizes its range and improves its ability to detect and home in on the targeted radar, if indeed that is what is being depicted here. https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1593787304749027330 We wrote about Ukraine’s rapidly developed HARM capability for its Fulcrums, which you can read [here](). Much closer to the ground, though, there are pictures of the [Black Hornet]() micro drone in Ukrainian service. Ukraine has been equipped with a number of the tiny surveillance drones via the United Kingdom and Norway. https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1593781658930536448 The Armed Forces of Ukraine tweeted a video of a surprisingly livable dugout field barracks somewhere near the frontline. Reportedly built by soldiers on their own initiative, it’s complete with lighting, bunk beds, and a router for wireless internet. https://twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1593929751693258753 If you’re fighting in a frozen nightmare, there has to be incredible value in having such a cozy and probably warm place to sleep. There’s another grim reminder of where the war stands near the town of Bakhmut as the country groes colder. What’s left of fallen Russian troops lie scattered among the craters, the latest in Moscow’s continued assault on Ukrainian lines in the area. https://twitter.com/GlasnostGone/status/1593927352467263492 On a lighter note, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Rod Stewart began his British tour this week clad in blue and yellow with a tribute to Ukraine. https://twitter.com/Gerashchenko\_en/status/1594001627278557184 We will continue to update this story until we state otherwise. Contact the author: [stetson.payne@thewarzone.com]() ### Author social links