Battle In Huliaipole Heats Up: Russian Units Cross Haichur And Clash With Ukrainian Forces 

Russian units crossed the Bakhmutka River along the Siversk sector. The Russian 36th Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade took control of Ostapivske. The Russian army crossed the Haichur River in the southeastern part of Huliaipole. U.S. President Donald Trump unofficially set the goal of reaching an agreement «by Christmas».

Kupyansk Sector

Fierce clashes are ongoing in the Kupyansk area, with units from both sides undertaking offensive actions from the west and north.

There have been changes in control over settlements on the left bank of the Oskol River. Russian units have taken control of Kucherivka and captured the northern, central, and southeastern parts of Petropavlivka. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian army has regained control of most of Kurylivka.

Siversk Sector

In the Siversk sector, the Russian army continues offensive operations with the aim of expanding its control zone around Siversk.

In the northern sector, units are making progress, advancing toward Ozerne. Fighting continues in Zakotne. Advances by Russian units have also been noted from the opposite bank of the Siverskyi Donets River, specifically from the Yampil side. In particular, control has been established over a key crossroads where heavy fighting previously occurred.

In the Siversk area, Russian units have expanded their control zone to the south and center, reaching the railway station. Russian small groups operating by crossing the Bakhmutka River have been confirmed in the western part of the city. However, full control of these areas has not yet been established; the «gray zone» is expanding. The supply of Ukrainian forces in the city is significantly hindered because the main roads have been cut off.

In the southern sector, fierce fighting continues for control of the Sviato-Pokrovske settlement. Units are expanding the zone of fire control on the approaches to the dominant heights, which are still held by the defending forces. Additionally, some units have crossed the railway near the station and to the south, as well as the Bakhmutka River near the old market, School No. 1, and the automobile bridge.

The pressure created on a wide sector of the front, from Dibrova to Orekhovo-Vasylivka, poses a serious operational threat to the defenders in the adjacent Sloviansk-Kramatorsk sector.

Konstantynivka Sector

Northwest of Chasiv Yar, Ukrainian troops have attempted to carry out a counterattack towards Maiske from the northwest and southwest. As a result, they have established control over a strongpoint west of Maiske and the road between Maiske and Veroliubivka. To the south, Ukrainian units reached the eastern outskirts of Veroliubivka, but they were unable to surround the garrison there.

Meanwhile, Russian assault units continue their offensive east of Konstantynivka, north of the H-33 highway. According to operational information, Ukrainian groups have been dislodged from some strong points in the defense area southwest of Vesile. Control of Vesile, located west of Chasiv Yar, has been established. In Konstantynivka, units have taken control of the southeastern part of the city.

Sumy Sector

Following a two-day lull, combat operations in the Sumy sector have intensified again. Assault units are advancing along tree lines with the support of aviation, artillery, and drones. The defending side is replenishing combat brigades with mobilized personnel and sending them into battle.

Assault groups advanced two sections of the front, covering up to 200 meters total. Attempts were made at night to secretly move groups into the areas of Andriivka, Kondrativka, and Sadky, but these attempts were thwarted by fire. A Ukrainian counterattack involving armored vehicles in the Myropillia area was also repelled.

Russian artillery and drone units struck Ukrainian positions and supply routes in the Barylo and Babakivka areas.

Kharkiv Sector

In the Kharkiv sector, Russian units are engaged in intense fighting south of Vovchansk and in the Khatnie area. They are supported by aviation and heavy flamethrower systems.

In Vilcha, they advanced 300 meters in a southern direction and captured up to 25 houses. In the Liman area, units captured 10 buildings and took control of five strong points in the adjacent forested area, advancing up to 400 meters.

In the Melovoye-Khatnie front sector, they advanced on three sections along tree lines for 300 meters. A deployment point in the Shypuvate area was hit by UAV strikes.

Due to a lack of personnel, the Ukrainian command is forming composite units from brigades that have suffered losses to make management easier.

Zaporizhzhia Sector

Active combat operations continue in the Zaporizhzhia sector, particularly in the Huliaipole area and adjacent sectors.

Units are building up pressure in Huliaipole and expanding their control over the eastern and northeastern parts of the city. A crossing of the Haichur River was carried out in the southeastern part of the city, disrupting defensive formations. The defending side is trying to reinforce the defense line behind the river by assembling drone operators and assault groups.

Units of the 36th Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade have taken control of Ostapivske, a location from which Ukrainian forces had previously launched counterattacks. This allowed them to expand the bridgehead north of the Haichur River. In the Andriivka area, the destruction of a bridge across the Haichur River contributed to the isolation of the Ukrainian garrison.

Russian units continue to advance in the settlements of Novodanylivka and Mala Tokmachka. Ukrainian troops in Novodanylivka have retreated to the north and are gradually pulling back toward Orikhiv, where there has been an increase in military equipment and mobile drone control points.

Pokrovsk Sector

In the Pokrovsk sector, the situation for the Ukrainian forces in Myrnohrad continues to deteriorate. Constant airstrikes and the blocked ground supply routes are causing retreats. Russian units have seized control of more of the city, leaving Ukrainian combat groups only on the northwestern outskirts and in the Svitloe area. Organized resistance is practically nonexistent, and small groups are attempting to move through the remaining “gray” zones to exit the combat area.

Outside the urban agglomeration, Russian units are strengthening their positions on the northern flank, which could signal a further offensive toward Dobropillia. There are reports of a possible restoration of control over Sukhetske. However, this information, as well as data on the complete establishment of control over Rodynske, has not yet been fully confirmed. Nonetheless, the likelihood of this is assessed as high.

Conclusion

The operational situation in key sectors is characterized by continued intensive offensive actions and engagements. The most dynamic developments are observed in the Siversk sector, where units are waging street battles in Siversk itself and have reached key locations in the city center. They are also threatening to completely encircle the city by advancing in Sviato-Pokrovske and on the northern flank near Zakotne. A similar tactic is being employed in the Pokrovsk sector, where the Myrnohrad grouping is under de facto blockade with limited supply and defense capabilities.

In the Zaporizhzhia sector, a tactical breakthrough was achieved by crossing the Haichur River and expanding control over the Huliaipole area and the northern part of the Yanchur River. This opens up new operational possibilities. In the Kupyansk and Konstantynivka sectors, there are fierce engagements with local changes in the front line (Kucherivka, Petropavlivka, and Vesile), and each side is trying to seize the initiative. In the Kharkiv and Sumy sectors, the offensive is more methodical, involving the gradual expansion of control zones in forested areas and settlements (e.g., Vilcha and Liman), with active fire support.

Thus, the overall picture demonstrates the implementation of a strategy of combined pressure. In some sectors (Siversk and Myrnohrad), forces are concentrated on completing the encirclement and clearing urban areas. In other sectors (Zaporizhzhia), the focus is on tactical breakthroughs and expanding bridgeheads. In a third group of sectors (Kupyansk and Konstantynivka), the goal is to exhaust and pin down the defending forces through intense combat.

A key tactical success on the Zaporizhzhia front in recent days was crossing the Haichur River southeast of Huliaipole and capturing the Ostapivske settlement. This created a threat of flanking the Ukrainian forces and complicating their logistics. According to Ukrainian open-source intelligence data, the situation at the end of November was «a step away from losing» the city, but it was possible to stabilize the situation by transferring reserves, including units of the 225th Assault Regiment. However, Russian troops are applying steady pressure, launching up to ten guided aerial bombs daily and attempting to encircle Huliaipole from the east and northeast.

Huliaipole is likely to fall to the Russian side in the near future, but the assault promises to be difficult and costly. The main strategy is not a frontal attack on the fortified area, but rather, gradual isolation from supplies. Russian troops are actively «hunting» Ukrainian logistics and using fiber-optic drones to attack transport, which complicates the delivery of ammunition and evacuation. In turn, the Ukrainian command is transferring additional forces, including assault groups and UAV assets, in an attempt to establish a new defense line behind the Haichur. However, the morale of some Ukrainian units, such as the 102nd Territorial Defense Brigade, has been seriously weakened by casualties.

In the diplomatic sphere, this critical moment on the front lines coincides with an unprecedented level of activity in the peace process. Finnish President Alexander Stubb stated that a settlement is «closer than ever». He noted that work is underway on three documents: a 20-point framework agreement, a treaty of security guarantees, and a Ukraine recovery plan. According to Western press reports, the US administration expects an answer from Kyiv regarding its proposals within days. President Donald Trump has unofficially set the goal of reaching an agreement «by Christmas», i.e., December 25.

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