THE FRONTLINE REPORT

It's Wednesday, December 3rd. December 2, 2025 saw significant conflict escalation across multiple theaters, with Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian cities killing eight civilians and injuring over 70, while President Putin claimed capture of Pokrovsk which the Institute for the Study of War could not verify. US-Russia peace talks in Moscow produced no territorial breakthrough after five hours of negotiations. President Trump announced the US will begin land-based strikes against drug trafficking organizations in Latin America, declaring forces know where cartel leaders live. The Gran Grif gang continued assaults across Haiti's Artibonite region while fighting erupted in eastern DRC between M23 rebels and Congolese forces just two days before scheduled Washington peace talks. Additional developments included two West Bank terrorist attacks injuring three Israeli soldiers, disputed RSF claims of capturing Sudan's Babanusa, and disclosure of extensive North Korean and Iranian cyber operations.

• Russian ballistic missile strike on Dnipro killed four and injured 40-45 prompting citywide mourning declaration
• Eight Geran-2 drones struck Kramatorsk residential buildings killing two and injuring five including recovered body
• Putin announced capture of Pokrovsk and Vovchansk which Institute for Study of War could not verify
• Ukrainian Military Intelligence destroyed one S-300 launcher and two radar stations in occupied Donbas
• US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held five-hour talks with Putin producing no breakthrough
• Drone attack on tanker MIDVOLGA-2 wounded two crew 80 miles off Turkey with Ukraine denying involvement
• Strikes hit Kharkiv Oblast injuring six Zaporizhzhia killing one Kherson injuring 13 and Sumy killing one
• Ukrainian drones struck Oryol Oblast energy facilities and FSB building in Chechnya killing fire responder

Russian missile strikes and drone attacks across Ukraine

A Russian ballistic missile launched from Taganrog struck Dnipro's industrial district on December 2, killing four civilians and wounding 40-45 people. Dnipro Mayor Boris Filatov declared a day of mourning. In Kramatorsk, Donetsk Oblast, eight Geran-2 drones deliberately targeted residential buildings, killing two people and injuring five. One victim's body was recovered from rubble on December 2, bringing the confirmed death toll from the December 1-2 attack to two.

Additional Russian strikes occurred across multiple regions. In Kharkiv Oblast, multiple explosions injured six people. In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, strikes killed one and wounded three. Kherson Oblast reported 13 injured and one elderly woman killed by artillery fire. Sumy Oblast recorded one fatality. A drone strike on an energy facility in Chernihiv Oblast caused emergency power outages. The scale and geographic distribution of attacks demonstrated continued Russian targeting of civilian infrastructure.

Putin territorial claims disputed by independent analysts

President Putin announced on December 2 that Russian forces had captured Pokrovsk, a key logistics hub with a pre-war population of 60,000, and Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast. The Institute for the Study of War stated they have not observed evidence to confirm the complete Russian seizure of Pokrovsk. Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation dismissed the claims as propaganda done exclusively for Western audiences. The conflicting accounts highlighted ongoing information warfare surrounding territorial control in eastern Ukraine.

Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory and tanker attack

Ukraine's Military Intelligence destroyed one S-300 surface-to-air missile launcher and two radar stations in occupied Donbas on December 2. Overnight Ukrainian drone strikes hit Oryol Oblast's Livensky district, killing a fire engine driver and injuring three emergency responders. Russia's Defense Ministry claimed 45 Ukrainian drones were intercepted across eight regions.

The Black Sea tanker MIDVOLGA-2 was attacked by drones approximately 80 nautical miles off the Turkish coast. Two crew members suffered shrapnel wounds. The ship, carrying sunflower oil from Russia to Georgia, continued to Sinop, Turkey under its own power. Ukraine officially denied involvement, with a Ukrainian official suggesting Russia may have staged the incident. This marked the third attack on Russian-connected tankers since November 29.

US-Russia peace negotiations produce no breakthrough

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with President Putin in Moscow for five hours on December 2. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov stated some American proposals look more or less acceptable while other points do not suit us, with territorial issues remaining unresolved. President Zelensky visited Ireland on the same day, signing a five-year partnership roadmap and declaring now more than ever, there is a chance to end this war. The simultaneous diplomatic activities underscored ongoing international efforts to negotiate a settlement while fundamental disagreements persisted.

• Mohammed Asmar 18 stabbed two Israeli soldiers near Ateret settlement before being killed by return fire
• Muhannad Al-Zgheer 17 rammed vehicle into troops at Yehuda Junction wounding one soldier before being killed
• IDF shot three Palestinians in Gaza including journalist Mahmoud Wadi killed by drone in Khan Younis
• Hamas transferred remains believed to be deceased hostage to Red Cross in Beit Lahiya northern Gaza
• IDF demolished homes of Palestinian prisoners and arrested eight in Ramallah seizing over 200,000 dollars
• Pope Leo XIV concluded Lebanon visit with Mass for 150,000 calling for end to attacks in south
• Israel presented US with intelligence alleging Hezbollah ceasefire violations and rearmament in southern Lebanon
• Israeli forces conducted 669 strikes against Hezbollah since November 2024 ceasefire killing estimated 218 operatives

West Bank terrorist attacks injure three Israeli soldiers

Near Ateret settlement north of Ramallah, 18-year-old Mohammed Asmar from Beit Rima stabbed two Israeli soldiers during questioning on December 2, lightly wounding them before being killed by return fire. Near Hebron at Yehuda Junction, 17-year-old Muhannad Al-Zgheer rammed his vehicle into troops, lightly wounding one female soldier before being killed during a subsequent arrest attempt. Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine both praised the attacks as legitimate resistance. The Foundation for Defense of Democracies confirmed both incidents occurred on December 2.

Gaza casualties and hostage remains transfer

IDF forces shot one person near Bureij refugee camp and another in Gaza City's Zeitoun neighborhood on December 2 when they allegedly crossed into Israeli-controlled areas. Journalist and drone photographer Mahmoud Wadi was killed by an Israeli drone strike in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. Separately, Hamas transferred remains believed to be of a deceased hostage to the Red Cross in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza. The IDF held a brief ceremony led by a military rabbi before transferring the remains to Tel Aviv's Abu Kabir Forensic Institute for identification.

IDF counterterrorism operations expand in West Bank

Israeli forces demolished homes of Palestinian prisoners accused of plotting attacks in Nablus on December 2. The IDF imposed an indefinite curfew on Qabatiya south of Jenin and raided offices of the Union of Agricultural Work Committees in Ramallah, arresting eight individuals and seizing over 200,000 dollars in alleged illicit funds. The IDF characterized the organization as actively serving as a wing to the PFLP terror organization. China Daily and Palestinian media reported the operations, with local sources stating the curfew affected civilian movement and economic activity.

Pope Leo XIV concludes Lebanon visit with peace appeal

Pope Leo XIV concluded his Lebanon visit on December 2 with a Mass for approximately 150,000 people at Beirut's waterfront. The Pope visited the site of the 2020 port explosion and called for an end to attacks and hostilities in southern Lebanon. He stated he was unable to visit the south due to conflict and uncertainty. In his farewell address at Beirut International Airport, the Pope urged the region to reject the horror of war. Al Jazeera and Rappler reported the visit, which marked the Pope's first overseas trip.

Israel alleges Hezbollah ceasefire violations and rearmament

US Deputy Special Envoy Morgan Ortagus met with Israeli leadership on December 2, receiving intelligence alleging Hezbollah is rebuilding and rearming in southern Lebanon since the November 2024 ceasefire. Israeli officials characterized the Lebanese Armed Forces as unable or unwilling to curb violations. Since the ceasefire, Israel has conducted 669 strikes against Hezbollah, killing an estimated 218 operatives. The Times of Israel and the Alma Research Center reported the Israeli allegations and strike figures, which represent ongoing tension over ceasefire implementation.

• M23 rebels and DRC armed forces engaged in heavy fighting across multiple fronts in South Kivu Province
• Clashes occurred at Kaziba-Haut Plateau Katogota-Luvungi Tchivanga-Hombo Kasika-Mwenga and Lubarika on December 2
• Both sides accused each other of ceasefire violations two days before scheduled Washington peace signing
• RSF claimed capture of Babanusa strategic town which Sudanese Armed Forces rejected stating battles ongoing
• Committee to Protect Journalists called for investigation into alleged RSF execution of journalist in El-Fasher

Heavy fighting erupts between M23 and DRC forces in eastern Congo

Heavy fighting erupted on the morning of December 2 between M23 rebels and Congolese armed forces across multiple fronts in South Kivu province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Both sides accused each other of ceasefire violations just two days before the scheduled December 4 Washington peace signing between DRC President Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Kagame. M23 spokesman Lawrence Kanyuka described the situation as catastrophic and deteriorating by the minute, claiming FARDC strikes on Kamanyola town killed at least three civilians.

Fighting occurred at Kaziba-Haut Plateau, Katogota-Luvungi, Tchivanga-Hombo, Kasika-Mwenga, and Lubarika. FARDC spokesman Major General Sylvain Ekenge accused M23 and Rwanda of launching coordinated attacks in clear violation of the cessation of hostilities agreement. The Uganda Observer, Xinhua, and ChimpReports documented the clashes through military sources and local reports. The escalation raised questions about the viability of the upcoming peace talks.

Battle for Babanusa continues with disputed territorial claims

The Sudanese Armed Forces rejected RSF claims of seizing Babanusa, a strategic transport hub in West Kordofan State, on December 2. The SAF stated troops repelled a fresh RSF assault while facing daily drone and artillery strikes. Babanusa, the last SAF-held city in West Kordofan, sits at a crucial junction between Darfur and the road to Khartoum. Al-Monitor and Al Jazeera reported the disputed control claims, noting the city's strategic importance for supply routes.

The Committee to Protect Journalists called for an investigation into allegations that RSF fighters executed SUNA bureau chief Taj al-Sir Ahmed Suleiman and his brother in El-Fasher. The incident, if confirmed, would represent another targeted killing of journalists covering Sudan's civil war, which has resulted in widespread atrocities since April 2023.

• Taliban carried out Afghanistan's 11th public execution since 2021 in Khost stadium before 80,000 spectators
• Man named Mangal convicted of killing 13 family members including nine children was shot by victim's relative
• Four people killed in Bannu ambush targeting vehicle carrying government administrator in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan

Taliban conduct public execution in Khost stadium

The Taliban carried out Afghanistan's 11th public execution since 2021 in Khost's sports stadium on December 2 before approximately 80,000 spectators. A man named Mangal, convicted of killing 13 members of a family including nine children, was shot by a relative of his victims under qisas punishment. UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennet called for the execution to be halted, stating public executions are inhumane, a cruel and unusual punishment, and contrary to international law. Wikipedia's current events portal documented the execution through multiple international sources.

Four killed in Bannu ambush targeting government official

Four people were killed on December 2 in an ambush in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, when insurgents attacked a vehicle carrying a government administrator. The victims included the administrator, two guards, and a passerby. The attack demonstrated continued militant operations targeting government officials in Pakistan's northwestern regions.

• President Trump announced US will begin land-based strikes against drug trafficking organizations in Latin America
• Trump stated forces know where cartel leaders live and will start strikes very soon singling out Colombia
• Gran Grif gang continued attacks on Artibonite region killing at least 12 and displacing hundreds by December 2
• Police union declared 50% of Artibonite under gang control calling it greatest security failure in modern history
• Venezuela mobilized 200,000 troops in nationwide exercises responding to US military buildup in Caribbean
• Joaquín Guzmán López pleaded guilty to federal drug charges admitting kidnapping of El Mayo Zambada

Trump announces land-based strikes against Latin American cartels

President Trump announced at a December 2 Cabinet meeting that the United States will start doing those strikes on land, too against drug trafficking organizations in Latin America. We know where they live, we know where the bad ones live. And we're going to start that very soon, Trump stated, specifically singling out Colombia. Since September 2, US forces have conducted 22 strikes on suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, killing at least 83 people. CBS News documented Trump's statements from the Cabinet meeting.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the operations, stating we've only just begun striking narco-boats and putting narco-terrorists at the bottom of the ocean. Colombia's President Petro ordered a halt to intelligence sharing with the US, condemning the strikes as violations of human rights. The announcement represented a dramatic escalation of US counter-narcotics operations beyond maritime interdiction.

Haiti gang violence devastates Artibonite agricultural heartland

The Gran Grif gang continued a large-scale assault across Haiti's Artibonite region that began November 29, killing at least 12 people and injuring over 20 by December 2. Gang members swept through Pont-Sondé and Bercy, firing into homes, executing fleeing residents, and broadcasting attacks live on social media. Hundreds of families were displaced as homes were torched. NBC News reported the ongoing violence through field sources and witness accounts.

Police union SPNH-17 declared that 50% of the Artibonite region fell under gang control, calling it the greatest security failure in modern Haitian history. Transitional Presidential Council member Fritz Alphonse Jean condemned a government incapable of addressing the population's problems. The Gran Grif gang, led by UN-sanctioned Luckson Elan, was responsible for the October 2024 Pont-Sondé massacre that killed over 100 people.

Venezuela mobilizes forces; El Chapo's son pleads guilty

Venezuela mobilized 200,000 troops on December 2 in response to US military buildup in the Caribbean, launching nationwide exercises with ground, aerial, naval, and missile forces. Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López warned foreign troops would find a community united to defend this nation, to the death. The mobilization came as the largest US naval presence in the region since the Cold War remained deployed.

Joaquín Guzmán López, leader of the Sinaloa Cartel's Los Chapitos faction, pleaded guilty to federal drug charges in Chicago on December 2, admitting to coordinating the July 2024 kidnapping of Ismael El Mayo Zambada. He faces 10 years to life in prison and agreed to an 80 million dollar judgment. The Justice Department confirmed the plea agreement.

• Japanese Coast Guard expelled two China Coast Guard ships attempting to intercept Japanese fishing vessel near Senkaku Islands
• USS McCampbell conducted freedom of navigation operation through disputed South China Sea waters
• Myanmar civil war continued with ethnic forces controlling 42% of territory against junta's 21%
• US announced end of Temporary Protected Status for Myanmar nationals citing junta elections planned late December

Japan-China maritime confrontation near disputed islands

Japanese Coast Guard vessels expelled two China Coast Guard ships that attempted to intercept a Japanese fishing vessel near the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea on December 2. The incident occurred amid heightened tensions following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's statements about potential military intervention in a Taiwan contingency, which drew sharp Chinese warnings of catastrophic consequences. China Daily reported the maritime confrontation, noting ongoing territorial disputes in the East China Sea.

US Navy conducts South China Sea transit

USS McCampbell conducted a freedom of navigation operation through disputed South China Sea waters on December 2. China, which claims nearly the entire sea, denounced the transit. The operation occurred during US-China trade negotiations in Beijing. Maritime Fairtrade documented the naval transit, which represented routine US enforcement of international navigation rights in contested waters.

Myanmar conflict status and US policy shift

Myanmar's civil war continued with ethnic armed organizations and resistance forces controlling approximately 42% of territory against the military junta's 21% on December 2. Over 3.6 million people remain internally displaced, with civilian casualties exceeding 5,350 since 2021. The US announced it would end Temporary Protected Status for Myanmar nationals, citing the junta's planned elections for late December 2025. Vision of Humanity and Persecution.org reported the conflict status and policy developments.

• North Korean Famous Chollima operatives recruit legitimate engineers to rent identities for Fortune 500 infiltration
• Socket Threat Research identified 197 malicious npm packages with 31,000 downloads delivering OtterCookie malware
• ESET disclosed Iranian MuddyWater backdoor campaign targeting Israeli sectors from September 2024 through March 2025
• Google December 2025 security bulletin patched 107 vulnerabilities including two under active exploitation
• IRGC launched five-day multinational Sahand-2025 counter-terrorism exercise in East Azerbaijan Province

North Korean schemes expand infiltration operations

Security researchers exposed on December 2 a scheme where Famous Chollima operatives recruit legitimate engineers to rent their identities for infiltrating Fortune 500 companies, using deepfakes and AI to secure positions. Separately, Socket Threat Research identified 197 malicious npm packages with 31,000 downloads delivering OtterCookie malware to blockchain developers through fake job interviews, described as one of the most prolific campaigns exploiting npm. Dark Reading and The Hacker News reported the dual North Korean infiltration schemes.

Iranian MuddyWater backdoor campaign disclosed

ESET revealed on December 2 a spearphishing operation by MOIS-affiliated actors targeting Israeli technology, engineering, and government sectors from September 2024 through March 2025. The campaign deployed a new MuddyViper backdoor disguised as the classic Snake game, capable of credential theft, browser data exfiltration, and shell command execution. The Record reported the Iranian cyber espionage campaign, which demonstrated continued targeting of Israeli critical infrastructure.

Google addresses Android zero-days; Iran launches military exercise

Google's December 2025 security bulletin patched 107 vulnerabilities including two high-severity flaws noted as being under limited, targeted exploitation. Wikipedia's current events portal documented the security update release on December 2.

The IRGC launched a five-day multinational counter-terrorism exercise called Sahand-2025 in East Azerbaijan Province on December 2 with participants from Belarus, China, India, Pakistan, Russia, and Central Asian states. Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, and Iraq attended as observers. IMNA reported the military exercises, which represented Iran's continued regional security cooperation efforts.