Russian forces recently advanced northeast of Kharkiv City.
Assessed Russian advances: Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets reported on November 24 that small Russian infantry groups advanced up to the Vovchansk cemetery in southwestern Vovchansk (northeast of Kharkiv City).[49]
Russian forces continued attacks northeast of Kharkiv City near Vovchansk and Synelnykove on November 23 and 24.[50]
An officer of a Ukrainian brigade operating in the Vovchansk direction reported that Russian forces are attacking on the western outskirts of Vovchansk and attempting to bypass Vovchansk from its western outskirts and near Synelnykove, Tsehelne, and Lyman (all south of Vovchansk).[51] The officer reported that Russian forces are using rocket artillery to destroy northern Vovchansk, likely in an effort to make it challenging for Ukrainian forces to retain positions in the settlement. The officer added that Russian forces have to reach the frontline on foot rather than on vehicles over several days due to Ukrainian fire control of Russian ground lines of communication (GLOCs). Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets reported on November 24 that Russian forces likely intend to degrade Ukrainian defenses in southern Vovchansk by bypassing them in the forest area west of Vovchansk, accumulating manpower for assaults in the southwestern part of the city, and interdicting Ukrainian GLOCs to Staryi Saltiv and Rubizhne (both southwest of Vovchansk).[52]
Order of Battle: Mashovets reported that elements of the Russian 128th Motorized Rifle Brigade (44th Army Corps [AC], Leningrad Military District [LMD]) are operating in southern Vovchansk.[53] Elements of the Chechen Zapad-Akhmat Battalion (reportedly of the Southern Military District [SMD]) and the Kurchaloyevsky Raion Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) department are reportedly operating near Vovchansk.[54] Elements of the 83rd Motorized Rifle Regiment (69th Motorized Rifle Division, 6th Combined Arms Army [CAA], LMD) are reportedly operating in the Kharkiv direction.[55]
Russian forces recently advanced in the Velykyi Burluk direction.
Assessed Russian advances: Mashovets reported on November 24 that Russian forces recently seized Odradne (east of Velykyi Burluk) after advancing from Bolohivka (southeast of Odradne), indicating that Russian forces also seized Bolohivka on a prior date.[56] Mashovets also reported that Russian forces advanced east of Odradne.[57] A Russian milblogger also claimed on November 24 that Russian forces seized Odradne.[58]
Russian forces attacked southeast of Velykyi Burluk toward Kolodyazne on November 23 and 24.[59]
Mashovets stated that elements of the 6th CAA (LMD), whose area of responsibility (AoR) spans in the Velykyi Burluk direction are focusing on offensive operations in the Milove-Krasne Pershe area (northeast to southeast of Velykyi Burluk).[60] Mashovets assessed that Russian forces will likely intensify offensive operations toward Krasne Pershe and Novovasylivka (both southeast of Velykyi Burluk) in the near future and may also intensify offensive operations near Ambarne (northeast of Velykyi Burluk). Mashovets reported that Russian forces redeployed the 18th Motorized Rifle Division (11th AC, LMD) and elements of the 72nd Motorized Rifle Division (44th AC, LMD) from the Vovchansk direction to the Velykyi Burluk direction.[61]
Ukrainian forces either maintained positions or recently advanced in the Kupyansk direction.
Refinement of areas under Russian claims: Geolocated footage published on November 23 shows Russian forces striking Ukrainian forces west of Stepova Novoselivka (southeast of Kupyansk) – an area where Russian sources previously claimed that Russian forces maintained a presence.[62]
Unconfirmed claims: A Russian milblogger claimed that Russian forces advanced west of Kupyansk.[63]
Russian forces attacked near Kupyansk itself, east of Kupyansk near Petropavlivka, and southeast of Kupyansk near Stepova Novoselivka on November 23 and 24.[64]
Ukrainian Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration Head Oleh Synehubov reported on November 24 that Ukrainian efforts to evacuate civilians continue but that 560 residents remain in Kupyansk.[65]
Order of Battle: Artillery elements of the Russian 352nd Motorized Rifle Regiment (11th Army Corps [AC], Leningrad Military District [LMD]) are striking Ukrainian positions west of Stepova Novoselivka.[66]
Drone operators of the 1st Guards Tank Army [GTA] (Moscow Military District [MMD]) reportedly continue to strike Ukrainian ammunition dumps and forces near Kupyansk.[67]
Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Borova direction on November 24 but did not advance.
Russian forces attacked east of Borova near Nadiya and southeast of Borova near Hrekivka and Novoyehorivka on November 23 and 24.[68]
The commander of a Ukrainian battalion operating in the Borova direction stated that Russian forces are trying to infiltrate between Ukrainian positions in small groups to gain a foothold in the Ukrainian near rear.[69] The commander stated that Russian forces are exploiting foggy weather to advance but that Ukrainian forces have developed new, unspecified drone technology that enables them to conduct reconnaissance during foggy weather. The commander stated that Ukrainian forces are also taking advantage of foggy weather to conduct rotations and facilitate logistics. The commander’s statements are in line with other Ukrainian military officials’ statements about Russian tactics throughout eastern Ukraine.[70]
Synehubov reported on November 24 that Ukrainian efforts to evacuate civilians continue but that 1,000 residents remain in the Borova direction.[71]
Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Slovyansk-Lyman direction on November 24 but did not make confirmed advances.
Unconfirmed claims: A Russian milblogger claimed that Russian forces advanced near the T-0513 Siversk-Lyman highway south of Yampil (southeast of Lyman).[72] Another Russian milblogger claimed that Russian forces are fighting for a series of strongholds along the highway.[73]
Russian forces attacked near and within Lyman itself; northwest of Lyman near Serednie, Yarova, and Drobysheve; north of Lyman near Stavky and Novyi Myr; east of Lyman near Zarichne; south of Lyman toward Dibrova; and southeast of Lyman near Yampil on November 23 and 24.[74] Russian milbloggers claimed that Ukrainian forces counterattacked near Dibrova and Lyman.[75]
Order of Battle: Drone operators of the Russian 423rd Motorized Rifle Regiment (4th Tank Division, 1st GTA) reportedly continue to operate in the Lyman direction.[76]
Russian forces recently advanced in the Siversk direction.
Assessed Russian advances: Geolocated footage published on November 24 indicates that elements of the Russian 88th Motorized Rifle Brigade (3rd Combined Arms Army [CAA], formerly 2nd Luhansk People’s Republic Army Corps [LNR AC], Southern Military District [SMD]) recently seized Zvanivka (south of Siversk) and that Russian forces recently advanced in northeastern Siversk.[77]
Unconfirmed claims: A Russian milblogger claimed that Russian forces advanced along the T-0513 Lyman-Siversk highway west of Zakitne (northwest of Siversk).[78]
Russian forces attacked near and within Siversk itself; northwest of Siversk near Dronivka, Platonivka, and Zakitne; northeast of Siversk near Serebryanka; and southeast of Siversk near Vyimka, Zvanivka, and Sakko i Vantsetti on November 23 and 24.[79]
Russian forces recently marginally advanced in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area.
Assessed Russian advances: Geolocated footage published on November 23 indicates that Russian forces recently marginally advanced east of Rusyn Yar (south of Druzhkivka).[80]
Russian forces attacked near Kostyantynivka itself; north of Kostyantynivka near Mayske; northeast of Kostyantynivka near Chasiv Yar; east of Kostyantynivka near Predtechyne; southeast of Kostyantynivka near Ivanopillya, Shcherbynivka, Pleshchiivka, and Oleksandro-Shultyne; southwest of Kostyantynivka near Yablunivka and toward Stepanivka; south of Druzhkivka near Rusyn Yar and Poltavka; southwest of Druzhkivka near Sofiivka and Volodymyrivka on November 23 and 24.[81]
Order of Battle: First-person view (FPV) drone operators of the Russian 242nd Motorized Rifle Regiment (20th Motorized Rifle Division, 8th Combined Arms Army [CAA], Southern Military District [SMD]) are reportedly striking Ukrainian vehicles near Rusyn Yar.[82] FPV drone operators of the 68th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion (20th Motorized Rifle Division) are reportedly striking Ukrainian vehicles near Komyshuvakha (west of Druzhkivka), Kramatorsk and Pryvillya (northwest of Druzhkivka and west of Kramatorsk).[83] Loitering munitions operators of the 58th Separate Spetsnaz Battalion (unofficially designated the Okhotnik [Hunter] Spetsnaz Detachment, 51st CAA, formerly 1st Donetsk People’s Republic Army Corps [DNR AC], SMD) reportedly continue to strike Ukrainian positions in the Kostyantynivka direction.[84]
Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Dobropillya tactical area on November 24 but did not advance.
Unconfirmed claims: A Russian milblogger acknowledged on November 23 that Ukrainian forces maintain a presence in northern central Shakhove (east of Dobropillya), which another milblogger claimed that Russian forces seized as of November 23.[85]
Russian forces attacked east of Dobropillya near Shakhove and Nove Shakhove and toward Toretske and southeast of Dobropillya near Zapovidne on November 23 and 24.[86] A Russian milblogger claimed that Ukrainian forces counterattacked near Toretske.[87]
Ukraine’s 1st Azov National Guard Corps reported on November 24 that Ukrainian forces killed 659 Russian servicemembers, wounded 418, and took nine others prisoner of war (POW) in the Dobropillya area between November 17 and 24, in addition to destroying eight armored fighting vehicles (AFVs), six artillery pieces, 42 other vehicles and 276 drones.[88]
Ukrainian forces recently advanced or maintained positions in the Pokrovsk direction.
See topline text for recessions of unconfirmed Russian claims and reassessments of assessed Russian advances in the Pokrovsk direction.
Assessed Russian advances: Geolocated footage published on November 22 indicates that Russian forces advanced in western Rodynske (north of Pokrovsk).[89] ISW assesses that this change likely did not occur in the last 24 hours. A Russian milblogger acknowledged on November 23 that Ukrainian forces maintain a presence in western Rodynske (north of Pokrovsk), which Russian sources claimed Russian forces had seized as of October 25.[90]
Unconfirmed claims: A Russian milblogger claimed that Russian forces advanced north of Rivne (east of Pokrovsk).[91]
Assessed Russian infiltrations: Ukrainian reports indicate that Russian forces expanded their infiltration missions to the T-0515 Pokrovsk-Dobropillya highway north of and a railway line west of Pokrovsk, in southern Myrnohrad, Hnativka (both east of Pokrovsk), Novopavlivka (south of Pokrovsk), and Lysivka (southeast of Pokrovsk).[92] ISW assesses that these changes likely did not occur in the last 24 hours. ISW assesses that this event did not change the control of terrain or the forward edge of the battle area (FEBA).
Russian forces attacked near and within Pokrovsk itself; northwest of Pokrovsk toward Hryshyne; north of Pokrovsk near Rodynske; northeast of Pokrovsk near Zatyshok, Chervonyi (Krasnyi) Lyman, and Novoekonomichne; east of Pokrovsk near and within Myrnohrad and Rivne; and southwest of Pokrovsk near Kotlyne, Udachne, and Molodetske and toward Novopidhorodne on November 23 and 24.[93] Russian milbloggers and the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) claimed that Ukrainian forces counterattacked near Rodynske, Hryshyne and Udachne.[94]
A Russian milblogger published footage reportedly showing Russian forces conducting FAB-3000 guided glide bomb strikes against apartment buildings in Myrnohrad.[95] A Ukrainian military source noted that Russian forces are systematically conducting FAB-3000 strikes against apartment buildings in Myrnohrad.[96]
A Ukrainian drone battalion operating in the Pokrovsk direction published footage on November 22 showing Ukrainian drone operators repelling an at least-reduced platoon sized Russian motorized and infantry assault on the southern outskirts of Myrnohrad (east of Pokrovsk) and destroying three to four motorcycles.[97]
The Ukrainian Special Operations Forces (SSO) reported on November 24 that Ukrainian SSO elements conducted a raid in the Pokrovsk direction, killing two Russian servicemembers and taking another prisoner.[98] The Ukrainian SSO added that the raid allowed a neighboring unit to evacuate three wounded Ukrainian servicemembers with unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs).
Order of Battle: Elements of the Russian 5th Motorized Rifle Brigade (51st CAA), including drone operators, reportedly continue to operate within Myrnohrad.[99] Elements of the 506th Motorized Rifle Regiment (27th Motorized Rifle Division, 2nd CAA, Central Military District [CMD]) reportedly continue to operate within Pokrovsk.[100]
Russian forces recently advanced in the Novopavlivka direction.
Assessed Russian advances: A Ukrainian military source reported on November 20 that Russian forces advanced through a gap in a Ukrainian position to southern Novopavlivka, indicating that Russian forces recently advanced to the southeastern outskirts of Novopavlivka.[101] The Ukrainian military source reported that Russian forces also advanced to the Vovcha River east of Ivanivka and east of Havrylivka (both southwest of Novopavlivka).[102]
Russian forces attacked near Novopavlivka, northeast of Novopavlivka near Novoserhiivka, south of Novopavlivka near Filiya and Dachne, and southwest of Novopavlivka near Zelenyi Hai on November 23 and 24.[103]
Order of Battle: Drone operators of the Russian 90th Tank Division (41st CAA, CMD) reportedly continue to strike Ukrainian forces in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.[104]
Russian forces recently advanced in the Velykomykhailivka direction.
