Unconfirmed claims: A Russian milblogger reportedly affiliated with the Russian Northern Grouping of Forces claimed that elements of the Russian 1427th Motorized Rifle Regiment (11th Army Corps [AC], Leningrad Military District [LMD]) advanced near Tetkino (southwest of Glushkovo).[44]
Russian forces attacked in Sumy and Kursk oblasts, including north of Sumy City near Varachyne, Kindrativka, and Andriivka, and northeast of Sumy City near Yunakivka on November 26, 27, and 28.[45] Russian milbloggers claimed that Ukrainian forces counterattacked near Oleksiivka, Yunakivka (both northeast of Sumy City), Kindrativka, and Andriivka (both north of Sumy City).[46]
The Russian milblogger, reportedly affiliated with the Russian Northern Grouping of Forces, claimed on November 27 that Ukrainian forces have encircled elements of the Russian 1st Motorized Rifle Regiment (Territorial Control, Russian Aerospace Forces [VKS] and reportedly under the operational control of the Russian Northern Grouping of Forces) in Bezsalivka (northwest of Sumy City).[47] The milblogger claimed that Russian forces have finished reinforcing the 3rd Battalion of the 30th Motorized Rifle Regiment (72nd Motorized Rifle Division, 44th Army Corps [AC], Leningrad Military District [LMD]) with technical specialists and wounded servicemembers for future offensive efforts near Oleksiivka.[48]
Order of Battle: Elements of the Russian 810th Separate Naval Infantry Brigade (Black Sea Fleet) and 30th Motorized Rifle Regiment (72nd Motorized Rifle Division, 44th AC) are reportedly operating near Oleksiivka, Andriivka, and Kindrativka.[49] Elements of the 83rd Separate Airborne (VDV) Brigade are reportedly operating near Yunakivka.[50] Drone operators and other elements of the Chechen Akhmat Spetsnaz Aida Detachment, the Krechet unit of the 83rd VDV Brigade, and the 20th Separate Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defense Brigade (Leningrad Military District [LMD]) are reportedly operating in the Sumy direction.[51]
Russian Main Effort: Eastern Ukraine
Russian Subordinate Main Effort #1
Russian objective: Push Ukrainian forces back from the international border with Belgorod Oblast and approach to within tube artillery range of Kharkiv City.
Russian forces recently advanced and Ukrainian forces recently maintained positions or advanced in northern Kharkiv Oblast.
Assessed Russian advances: Geolocated footage published on November 27 indicates that Russian forces recently advanced in central and southern Vovchansk (northeast of Kharkiv City).[52]
Unconfirmed claims: A Russian milblogger claimed that Russian forces advanced into western Lyman (northeast of Kharkiv City).[53]
Refinement of areas under Russian claims: Geolocated footage published on November 27 indicates that Ukrainian forces maintain positions along the T-2104 Vovchansk-Chuhunivka highway in central Vovchansk, an area where Russian sources previously claimed that Russian forces maintained a presence.[54]
Russian forces attacked northeast of Kharkiv City near Vovchansk, Synelnykove, Lyman, and Vilcha on November 26, 27, and 28.[55]
A Ukrainian battalion commander operating in the Vovchansk direction reported on November 27 that Ukrainian forces hold Vovchansk, refuting Russian claims that Russian forces seized Vovchansk.[56] The commander noted that Russian forces are committing more manpower and trying to seize Vovchansk with highly attritional infantry-led assaults. The spokesperson of a Ukrainian brigade operating in the Kharkiv direction reported on November 27 that Russian forces are attempting small group infiltration missions and noted that Russian forces are improving their camouflage during these infiltration events.[57] The spokesperson stated that Russian forces have tried to take advantage of poor weather conditions to establish river crossings in the Vovchansk direction in recent weeks.
A Russian milblogger reportedly affiliated with the Russian Northern Grouping of Forces claimed that the Russian military command is redeploying the 2nd Battalion of the Russian 1st Motorized Rifle Regiment (Territorial Control, Russian Aerospace Forces [VKS]) to Vovchansk.[58]
Order of Battle: Elements of the Russian 128th Motorized Rifle Brigade (44th Army Corps [AC], Leningrad Military District [LMD]), including its 2nd Motorized Rifle Battalion, reportedly continue to operate in Vovchansk.[59] Elements of the Chechen Akhmat Spetsnaz Bati Detachment (204th Akhmat Spetsnaz Regiment) are reportedly operating in Kharkiv Oblast.[60]
Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Velykyi Burluk direction on November 27 and 28 but did not advance.
Russian forces attacked northeast of Velykyi Burluk near Ambarne and southeast of Velykyi Burluk near Kolodyazne and Dvorichanske on November 26, 27, and 28.[61]
Order of Battle: Elements of the Russian Storm Detachment of the 7th Motorized Rifle Regiment (11th AC, LMD) and the 1st Battalion of the 83rd Motorized Rifle Regiment (69th Motorized Rifle Division, 6th Combined Arms Army [CAA], LMD) are reportedly operating in the Milove-Khatnie (northeast of Velykyi Burluk) area.[62]
Russian Subordinate Main Effort #2
Russian objective: Capture the remainder of Luhansk Oblast and push westward into eastern Kharkiv Oblast and encircle northern Donetsk Oblast
Ukrainian forces maintained positions or recently advanced in the Kupyansk direction.
Refinement of areas under Russian claims: Geolocated footage published on November 26 and 27 shows Ukrainian forces operating in central Kupyansk and eastern Kurylivka (southeast of Kupyansk), an area where Russian sources previously claimed that Russian forces maintained a presence.[63] ISW assesses that changes in eastern Kurylivka did not occur within the past 24 hours.
Russian forces attacked northwest of Kupyansk near Mala Shapkivka; east of Kupyansk near Petropavlivka; southeast of Kupyansk near Pishchane and Kurylivka; and south of Kupyansk near Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi on November 26, 27, and 28.[64] Russian milbloggers claimed that Ukrainian forces counterattacked in western Kupyansk and near Monachynivka (northwest of Kupyansk), Radkivka (north of Kupyansk), and Tamarhanivka (southwest of Kupyansk).[65]
Order of Battle: Drone operators of the Russian 352nd Motorized Rifle Regiment (11th Army Corps [AC], Leningrad Military District [LMD]) are striking Ukrainian positions in central Kurylivka.[66] Drone operators of the 68th Motorized Rifle Division (6th Combined Arms Army [CAA], LMD) are striking Ukrainian equipment near Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi and reportedly striking Ukrainian vehicles on the outskirts of and within Kupyansk.[67] Drone operators of the 27th Motorized Rifle Brigade (1st Guards Tank Army [GTA], Moscow Military District [MMD]) are reportedly striking Ukrainian vehicles in Kupyansk.[68] Kub loitering munition operators of the 288th Artillery Brigade (1st GTA, MMD) are operating in the Kupyansk direction.[69]
Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Borova direction on November 27 and 28 but did not advance.
Russian forces attacked northeast of Borova near Novoplatonivka and Kruhlyakivka; east of Borova near Kopanky and Shyikivka; and southeast of Borova near Hrekivka, Novovodyane, Novoyehorivka, Druzhelyubivka, Olhivka, and Tverdokhlibove on November 26, 27, and 28.[70]
Russian forces recently advanced in the Slovyansk-Lyman direction.
Assessed Russian advances: Geolocated footage published on November 28 indicates that Russian forces seized Kolodyazi (northeast of Lyman) and advanced south of the settlement, indicating that Russian forces seized the settlement on a prior date.[71]
Unconfirmed claims: Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian forces advanced toward the eastern outskirts of Lyman, south and southeast of Korovii Yar (northwest of Lyman), north of Ozerne, and on the northeastern outskirts of Dibrova (both southeast of Lyman).[72]
Russian forces attacked near Lyman itself; northwest of Lyman near Oleksandrivka, Karpivka, Novoselivka, Yarova, Korovii Yar, Shandryholove, Drobysheve, and Serednie; north of Lyman near Novyi Myr, Stavky, Ridkodub, and Hlushchenkove; northeast of Lyman near Kolodyazi; east of Lyman near Zarichne and Torske; and southeast of Lyman near Maslyakivka, Ozerne, and Yampil on November 26, 27, and 28.[73] A Russian milblogger claimed that Ukrainian forces counterattacked near Dibrova and Ozerne.[74]
The spokesperson of a Ukrainian brigade operating in the Lyman direction reported on November 28 that Russian forces have been attacking toward Lyman with high quantities of drones and personnel since the end of May 2025.[75] The spokesperson noted that Russian forces are using infiltration tactics to penetrate and accumulate in the Ukrainian rear for further attacks. The spokesperson also noted that Russian forces in this direction include a significant number of mercenaries from various African countries. The spokesperson reported that Russian forces are mostly active in the windbreaks near Lyman and that the Russian military command in the Lyman direction continues to order attritional assaults.[76] The spokesperson stated that Russian forces are attempting to bypass Lyman from the south and the north.
Order of Battle: Drone operators of the Russian 16th Spetsnaz Brigade (Russian General Staff’s Main Directorate [GRU]) are reportedly striking Ukrainian vehicles near Sydorove (west of Lyman).[77] Drone operators of the Rubikon Center for Advanced Unmanned Technologies and elements of the 144th Motorized Rifle Division (20th CAA, MMD) are reportedly operating in the Lyman direction.[78]
Russian Subordinate Main Effort #3
Russian objective: Capture the entirety of Donetsk Oblast, the claimed territory of Russia’s proxies in Donbas, and advance into Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Siversk direction on November 27 and 28 but did not make confirmed advances.
Assessed Russian infiltrations: Geolocated footage published on November 27 shows Russian forces striking Ukrainian positions north of Platonivka (northwest of Siversk), an area that ISW previously assessed as a Russian advance.[79]
Unconfirmed claims: The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) claimed on November 27 that Russian forces seized Vasyukivka (southwest of Siversk).[80] A Russian milblogger credited elements of the Russian 85th Motorized Rifle Brigade (3rd Combined Arms Army [CAA], formerly 2nd Luhansk People’s Republic Army Corps [LNR AC], Southern Military District [SMD]) with the claimed seizure of Vasyukivka.[81] Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian forces advanced to the eastern outskirts of Svyato-Pokrovske (south of Siversk) and northeast and east of Zakitne (northwest of Siversk).[82]
Russian forces attacked near and within Siversk itself; northwest of Siversk near Dronivka and Platonivka and toward Zakitne; northeast of Siversk near Serebryanka; southeast of Siversk near Vyimka; south of Siversk near Svyato-Pokrovske and Fedorivka; and southwest of Siversk near Sakko i Vantsetti and Vasyukivka on November 26 to 28.[83]
Ukrainian 11th Army Corps (AC) spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Dmytro Zaporozhets reported on November 27 that Russian forces have intensified assaults in the Siversk direction and are attempting to use ground lines of communication (GLOCs) from Verkhnokamyanske (east of Siversk) to reach southern Siversk.[84] The spokesperson of a Ukrainian brigade operating in the Siversk direction reported on November 28 that Russian forces are attacking in small fireteams of two to five servicemembers and utilizing many drones to support ground attacks.[85] The spokesperson noted that Russian forces are mining roads with fiber optic sleeper drones.
Order of Battle: Artillery elements of the Russian Chechen Shrama Group of the 204th Akhmat Spetsnaz Regiment are reportedly striking Ukrainian positions east of Dronivka.[86]
Russian forces recently advanced in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area.
Assessed Ukrainian advances: Geolocated footage published on November 25 indicates that Ukrainian forces advanced in eastern Oleksandro-Shultyne (east of Kostyantynivka).[87] ISW assesses that this change likely did not occur in the last 48 hours.
Assessed Russian advances: Geolocated footage published on November 26 indicates that Russian forces recently advanced in southeastern Kostyantynivka.[88]
Assessed Russian infiltrations: Geolocated footage published on November 25 and 26 shows Ukrainian forces striking Russian forces in southern Kostyantynivka along the T-0516 Toretsk-Kostyantynivka highway and southeast of Kostyantynivka after what ISW assesses were Russian infiltration missions.[89]
Unconfirmed claims: A Russian milblogger claimed that Russian forces advanced to central Sofiivka (southwest of Druzhkivka).[90]
The Ukrainian National Police reported on November 28 that Russian forces conducted a KAB-250 guided glide bomb strike against Druzhkivka.[91]
Russian forces attacked near Kostyantynivka itself; northeast of Kostyantynivka near Chasiv Yar and toward Bondarne; east of Kostyantynivka near Oleksandro-Shultyne, Stupochky, and Predtechyne; southeast of Kostyantynivka near Ivanopillya and Pleshchiivka; southwest of Kostyantynivka near Yablunivka and toward Stepanivka; south of Druzhkivka near Rusyn Yar and toward Mykolaipillya; and southwest of Druzhkivka near Sofiivka and Volodymyrivka on November 26, 27, and 28.[92]
A Ukrainian journalist reported that over 4,000 residents remain in Kostyantynivka.[93]
A Russian milblogger posted footage reportedly showing Russian forces employing Kuryer unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) equipped with AGS-17 automatic grenade launchers and 12.7 mm NSVT machine guns in the Kostyantynivka direction.[94]
Order of Battle: Drone operators of the Russian 4th Motorized Rifle Brigade (3rd CAA) and Gorynych Anti-Terrorist Unit (Federal Security Service [FSB] Presidential Regiment) are striking Ukrainian positions in eastern Oleksandro-Shultyne.[95] Drone operators of the 13th Rusichi Assault Detachment of the 1194th Motorized Rifle Regiment (4th Motorized Rifle Brigade, 3rd CAA) are reportedly striking Ukrainian forces in Kostyantynivka.[96] First-person view (FPV) drone operators of the 68th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion (20th Motorized Rifle Division, 8th CAA, SMD) are reportedly striking Ukrainian communications equipment near Sofiivka, intercepting Ukrainian drones over Novohryhorivka (southwest of Druzhkivka), and striking Ukrainian vehicles near Komyshuvakha (west of Druzhkivka).[97] FPV drone operators of the Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion of the 238th Artillery Brigade (8th CAA) are reportedly striking Ukrainian forces near Raiske (southwest of Druzhkivka).[98] Elements of the 77th Motorized Rifle Regiment (7th Military Base, 49th CAA, SMD) and the 1442nd Motorized Rifle Regiment (6th Motorized Rifle Division, 3rd AC, reportedly under operational control of the Southern Grouping of Forces) are reportedly operating southeast of Predtechyne.[99] Elements of the 336th Naval Infantry Brigade (Baltic Fleet) are operating east of Novotoretske (southwest of Druzhkivka).[100] FPV drone operators of the 58th Separate Spetsnaz Battalion (unofficially designated as the Okhotnik [Hunter] Spetsnaz Detachment, 51st CAA, formerly 1st Donetsk People’s Republic [DNR] AC, SMD) reportedly continue to operate in the Kostyantynivka direction.[101]
Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Dobropillya tactical area on November 27 and 28 but did not advance.
Russian forces attacked east of Shakhove and Nove Shakhove and toward Vilne and Toretske and southeast of Dobropillya near Zapovidne on November 26, 27, and 28.[102] A Russian milblogger claimed that Ukrainian forces counterattacked near Shakhove.[103]
The Ukrainian National Police reported on November 28 that Russian forces conducted a Shahed drone strike against a home in Dobropillya.[104]
Order of Battle: Elements of the Russian 1472nd Motorized Rifle Regiment (68th AC, Eastern Military District [EMD]) are intercepting Ukrainian drones over Mayak (southeast of Dobropillya).[105] Elements of the 33rd Motorized Rifle Regiment (20th Motorized Rifle Division) and the 163rd Tank Regiment (150th Motorized Rifle Division, 8th CAA) reportedly continue to operate in the Dobropillya direction.[106]
Russian forces recently advanced in the Pokrovsk direction.
