Ukrainian Front Is Cracking. Russians Expand Offensive Operations To New Directions

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The Russian armed forces continue to carry out disruptive attacks along the entire contact line, posing the Ukrainian command with the difficult problem of distributing reserves along the 2,000-kilometer front. Diversionary and reconnaissance groups entered the settlements of Gremyach and Muravyi (Chernigov region) across the poorly guarded state border and planted Russian flags there. A photo of the installation of the Russian flag on the bridge over the Sudost’ River appeared in the Telegram. According to reports, the units previously deployed in the area were sent to reinforce the AFU forces in the Kursk region.

Fierce fighting continues in the Kursk border area. Despite the obvious futility of the offensive attempts, the Ukrainian troops are trying to turn the situation in their favor. According to the official report of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the AFU is suffering significant losses both in terms of personnel and equipment. In addition, strikes are being carried out deep into the Sumy region to prevent a reserve approach.

Units of the “North” force group defeated formations of the 21st, 22nd, 41st, 47th, 61st and 115th mechanized brigades, the 17th Armored Brigade, the 80th, 82nd and 95th Airborne Assault Brigades, the 36th Marine Brigade, the 103rd, 112th and 129th AFU Territorial Defense Brigades in the areas of Daryyno, Leonidovo, Malaya Loknya, Maryevka, Nikolayevo-Daryyno and Plekhovo.

Army aviation strikes and artillery fire hit enemy personnel and equipment in the areas of Alexandria, Zamosć, 1st Knyazhiy, Kolmakov, Kurilovka, Loknya, Martynovka, Makhnovka, Mirny, Nikolsky, Novaya Sorochyna, Novoivanovka, Novonikolayevka, Pravda, Sverdlikovo, Suja and Cherkasskoye Porechnoye.

Operative-tactical aviation and missile units struck the AFU reserves in the Sumy region in the areas of Basovka, Belovodovka, Zhuravka, Novenkoye and Pavlovka.

During the day, the AFU suffered losses of more than 100 servicemen, a tank, an armored fighting vehicle, four vehicles, two 122-mm D-30 howitzers, a mortar and an electronic warfare station were destroyed.

The positions of Ukrainian forces in the Kupyansk area continue to deteriorate. On November 14, Russian units managed to enter the city of Kupyansk by forced marches and, according to current reports, have established a foothold on its outskirts. The fighting is taking place on the territory of a sugar factory. The Ukrainians’ logistical and maneuvering reserves are hampered by the fact that the Russian forces had earlier reached the banks of the Oskol River near the settlements of Kruglyakovka and Kolesnikovka and cut the Ukrainian group into pieces. In the coming month, Russian forces are expected to occupy the eastern part of Kupyansk and the settlement of Kupyansk-Uzlovoy. Further advance will be limited by a water barrier – the Oskol River.

“The 114th Territorial Defense Brigade of the AFU and neighboring units were surprised when Russian vehicles suddenly appeared to the north of Kupyansk. They appear to have traveled several kilometers from their original positions to infiltrate the city,” Forbes writes. “In recent months, this direction has resembled chaos. No solid line, the front is torn, Russians one or two at a time infiltrate deep into our rear,” the US publication quotes Ukrainian serviceman Yuriy Gorsky as saying.

The situation for the Ukrainian forces in the South Donetsk region is becoming more complicated. The Russian Defense Ministry has officially announced the capture of the village of Rovnopol’, which was retaken by the Ukrainians during the summer counteroffensive of 2023. The village of Makarovka, south of Velyka Novosyolka, has been virtually cleared. This village was also a modest trophy of the AFU during the counteroffensive a year ago. Telegram channels close to the Russian army reported that they managed to cling to the ruins of the village of Novodovarovka west of Rovnopol’.

Defeated formations of the 33rd mechanized, 128th mountain assault brigades of the AFU, 113th and 129th anti-terrorist brigades in the areas of the settlements of Velyka Novoselka, Temirovka, Novodonetskoye and Zelenoye Polye in the Donetsk People’s Republic.

Two counterattacks of the assault groups of the 101st and 123rd Theater Defense Brigades were repulsed.

Enemy losses amounted to up to 150 servicemen, an armored personnel carrier, seven vehicles and a French 155mm Caesar self-propelled artillery unit.

The Ukrainian command is attempting to break the stalemate on the front with massive attacks deep into Russian territory. The Russian military reported intercepting and destroying a total of 102 drones overnight.

During the past night, an attempt by the Kiev regime to launch a terrorist attack using airplane-type UAVs against facilities on the territory of the Russian Federation was foiled.

The operational air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 51 Ukrainian UAVs: 36 UAVs over the territory of the Krasnodar region, three UAVs over the territory of the Republic of Crimea, two UAVs over the territory of the Belgorod region and 10 UAVs over the waters of the Sea of Azov.

The overall pace of the Russian army’s offensive is increasing quite significantly. Russia’s territorial gains averaged 23 km² per day in the first half of the year. By comparison, in January 2024 they amounted to 1 km² per day. The galloping growth clearly demonstrates the degradation of the Ukrainian military mechanism.

MORE ON THE TOPIC:

• More Russian Strikes Hit Kiev Forces In Kursk (Videos)
• Kursk Region: Fierce Fighting In Various Directions
• Russian Assault On Kupyansk Began