Slowly But Steadily: The Russian Army Is Advancing Along Entire Front Line

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Russian troops are conducting active offensive operations in key parts of the front, developing tactical initiative. Russian drone operators, military pilots and artillerymen are improving the accuracy of hits on Ukrainian armed forces positions.

On November 19, 2024, against the backdrop of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s signing of a decree approving a new “Nuclear Doctrine” (expanding the use of nuclear weapons), the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) struck a Russian military facility in the Bryansk Region with six American-made ATACMS operational-tactical missiles. In addition, there was a sharp increase in the activity of Ukrainian fixed-wing UAVs.

It was reported that a number of drones were shot down over the Bryansk, Voronezh, Kaluga, Kursk, Moscow, Novgorod, Orel, Rostov, and Smolensk Regions. At the same time, in Belgorod and Voronezh Regions, UAVs attacked civilian industrial facilities.

Meanwhile, in the Kursk direction, Russian troops continue to defeat Ukrainian forces, aviation and heavy bombs with UMPK guidance kit are still being actively used.

Units of the Russian Northern group defeated Ukrainian military forces in Alexandria, Viktorovka, Daryino, Lebedevka, Malaya Loknya, Nikolsky, Novoivanovka, and Sverdlikovo.

The Russian Northern group also keeps advancing near the settlements of Nizhny Klin and Daryino. Ukrainian troops conducted counterattacks in the woods near the villages of Malaya Loknya and Novoivanovka, but did not succeed. A Russian army tactical missile complex firing unit launched a strike on the Ukrainian armed forces’ 22nd reserve base near the village of Yunakovka, Sumy Region. As a result of this hit, up to 50 Ukrainian servicemen, 12 armored combat vehicles and 6 automobiles were destroyed.

A missile strike on a Ukrainian company tactical group near Yunakovka, Sumy Region

The destruction of the Ukrainian armed forces group blocked in the Olgovsky Forest has been completed. The area is being cleaned up. During this process, an AFU group consisting of 13 men was found trying to break out of the encirclement. Two soldiers were killed, and the remaining 11 surrendered as prisoners.

Strikes by operational tactical and army aviation, and artillery fire hit Ukrainian army personnel and equipment in the areas of Agronom, Alexandria, Guevo, Zazulevka, Zelenyi Shlyah, Kazachya Loknya, Kolmakov, Lebedevka, Leonidovo, Martynivka, Makhnivka, Melovoy, Mirny, Nizhny Klin, Nikolayevka, Nikolsky, Novoivanovka, Plekhovo, Sverdlikovo, Staraya Sorochina, Suja and Cherkasskoye Porechnoye, as well as Basovka, Belovody, Zhuravka, Miropolye, Pavlovka, and Yunakovka in the Sumy Region.

During the day, the AFU’s losses in this direction amounted to more than 400 servicemen, six infantry combat vehicles, including one Marder manufactured in Germany, four armored personnel carriers, including an M113 manufactured in the United States, a Bogdana self-propelled howitzer, an AS-90 self-propelled howitzer manufactured in the United Kingdom, an electronic warfare station, and 20 automobiles. 11 Ukrainian servicemen surrendered in captivity.

ZALA LANCET strike drone hit the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Bradley combat vehicle

A Russian FPV drone is hunting German Marder 1A3 infantry combat vehicles in the Kursk Region

Heavy fighting is ongoing in the city of Toretsk (Dzerzhinsk), with the Russian storm troopers leading the offensive. They are advancing through the high-rise buildings in the city center (towards the Toretskaya mine and the waste heaps of the Tsentralnaya mine).

Due to the impending disaster in the north near Chasov Yar, the AFU were bound to transfer there the 12th Azov Special Forces Brigade, so the situation here for the Ukrainian side began to deteriorate rapidly.

The remaining units are clearly unable to contain the Russian offensive, so they are losing the territory of one or another neighborhood almost every day.

Without the fresh reserves being transferred to the city, the Ukrainians may not be able to keep the remaining part of the city under their control.

In Chasov Yar over the past couple of days, Russian forces have managed to achieve significant successes by breaking through the AFU defensive lines on the north-eastern outskirts of the city. As a result, Russian units advanced by 1.5 kilometers and gained a foothold in the area of the Avangard stadium. Administrative buildings were also occupied, which ensures control over key sections of the nearest city infrastructure. The entrenchment on these borders allows Russian troops to continue offensive operations deep into the city.

The main focus is now on the industrial zone of the refractory plant, the last major AFU stronghold in Chasov Yar. Russian units have reached its territory, where combat clashes are already being reported. The industrial zone of the factory is a fortified area with numerous engineering structures, making it an important target for further offensive. The factory is located at a strategic point, its control will open the way for Russian units to build on their success in the city.

The defense of Ukrainian forces in Chasov Yar continues to deteriorate. Broken lines in the northeast of the city are forcing the AFU to transfer reserves from neighboring areas, weakening their defenses. At the same time, Ukrainian units in the city’s industrial areas are experiencing ammunition shortages, complicating their ability to hold off the onslaught of Russian forces.

In the Pokrovsk direction, Russian units are developing the tactical initiative, conducting active offensive actions in key parts of the front.

In the Pustynka area, Russian assault units are attacking the enemy from both flanks, and the advance in some areas up to 800 meters has been reported.

Strikes by fiber-optic FPV drones against an M113 armored personnel carrier and a Ukrainian mortar in the Pokrovsk area

In the vicinity of Yurievka, the Russian Armed Forces continue their offensive actions, seeking to move to the north-west, creating conditions for further leveling of the front line. Russian units are also developing an offensive from Novoalekseevka in the direction of Pushkino and Ukrainka, exerting constant fire pressure on the AFU’s defensive positions. The actions in this area emphasize the strategic importance of strengthening positions for the subsequent advance to the southwestern borders of Pokrovsk.

The advance in the Pokrovsk direction shows a comprehensive approach by the Russian Armed Forces to the expansion of its zone of control. The consolidation of positions and firing on key enemy defenses undermine the operational capabilities of the AFU in this area. The prospects for further offensive by the Russians deep into the enemy’s defenses can provide a tactical advantage in this section of the front.

In the Kurakhove direction, Russian troops broke through the enemy’s defenses from the north and took control of the territory of the Roivka grain elevator. The Ukrainians did not expect such a daring maneuver, and therefore, retreating, were forced to abandon the wounded, and munitions. At the moment, the territory is being cleared, the captured positions are being consolidated and preparations for a further offensive are underway.

The AFU, using high-rise buildings, are trying to halt the advance of the Russian assault units in the city, and counterattack. At the moment, Russian assault groups are conducting combat reconnaissance in the area of high-rise buildings.

Thus, the territory of the grain elevator is becoming a springboard for further offensive operations. Its very location as a high-rise point significantly improves the position of the Russian troops. At the same time, the Ukrainian armed forces do not abandon their attempts to retake the Roivka grain elevator.

A Russian flag is planted in the western part of Novaya Ilyinka, and attacks continue in two directions on Berestki.

A fierce counter-battle for the Zaoskolye microdistrict continues in the Kupyansk direction. The Ukrainian armed forces are throwing reserves here in an attempt to regain control over the positions they lost earlier.

The destruction of a Ukrainian brigade field camp near Kupyansk

There are reports from the Zaporizhzhia front of attacks by Russian troops in the vicinity of Malaya Tokmachka and north of Nesteryanka. The Russian Armed Forces are trying to crack the AFU defenses and create conditions for covering Orekhiv from the west and east. There is fighting in the area of Gulyaypol.

In the area around Orekhovo, Russian air force aviation (three helicopter gunships) fired on Ukrainian positions.

Shelling of Ukrainian positions near the village of Orekhovo

At night, BM-21 (Grad) Multiple Launch Rocket System units fired incessantly. The Ukrainian armed forces were struck at the engineering structures that they were hastily constructing to prevent a Russian offensive.

In general, the Ukrainian army continues to pull up reserves and accumulate weapons in the Zaporizhzhia Region.

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