US analysts have assessed that the Russian army is continuing its offensive around Avdiivka to deprive Ukrainian forces of a respite that would allow the Defence Forces to create a stronger defence line in the immediate vicinity of Avdiivka.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that he has a working relationship with Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi and plans to go on working with him. Source: Zelenskyy, at his final press conference on 19 December, when asked whether there is any conflict between himself and Zaluzhnyi and whether he plans to dismiss him.