Ukraine’s General Staff debunked Kremlin claims of Russian forces capturing Huliaipole and Myrnohrad, stating fighting continues in both settlements, according to an X post by @NOELreports over the past hour ending at 8:45 p.m. UTC on December 27. The General Staff statement, quoted by @NOELreports, described the claims as lies and fantasy victories amid Putin’s threats to resolve issues by war if Ukraine rejects Moscow’s terms. It also rejected assertions of Russian control over half of Kostiantynivka, along with similar false reports on Kupyansk and Pokrovsk. In a counter-post during the same period, @UAControlMap shared images of Russian flags raised across Hulyaipole by Russian forces, crediting geolocations from @richardzai38580 and defending its prior mapping of the area as Russian-controlled. These conflicting reports follow earlier claims today by Russia’s Vostok Troops Group, including the 57th and 60th motorized rifle brigades, of liberating Gulyai-Pole—also known as Huliaipole—after clearing over 7,100 buildings across 76 square kilometers, according to Voindv Telegram posts between 5:16 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. UTC. Separately over the past hour, remains of a Russian Shahed drone from this morning’s attack were documented in Kyiv, where strikes hit multiple residential buildings including a tower block in the Pozniaky neighborhood, per X posts by @Osinttechnical and @Playfra0. A UAV impact damaged a two-story residential building in Odesa’s Primorsky district, igniting a fire on the roof, with victim details pending, as reported by Odesa news sources. Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate, stated many voices in Putin’s entourage are calling to end the war—more now than before—but declined to name them to avoid impacting negotiations, according to @front_ukrainian on X.
