Christina Harward, Davit Gasparyan, Grace Mappes, Kateryna Stepanenko, William Runkel, and George Barros
Key Takeaways:
- The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) likely attempted to cover up the recent removal of the acting commander of the Southern Military District (SMD) Colonel General Gennady Anashkin following widespread accusations within the Russian information space that Anashkin's subordinates submitted false frontline progress reports to superiors.
- Ukrainian military officials denied claims of North Korean personnel's presence in Kharkiv Oblast amid new unconfirmed reports that North Korean "technical advisers" are operating in occupied Mariupol.
- Russian forces recently advanced in Kursk Oblast and near Velyka Novosilka.
- Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia does not currently need to conduct another partial involuntary reserve callup as Russian authorities continue leaning into crypto-mobilization efforts.
- Ukrainian Operations in the Russian Federation
- Russian Main Effort – Eastern Ukraine (comprised of three subordinate main efforts)
- Russian Subordinate Main Effort #1 – Push Ukrainian forces back from the international border with Belgorod Oblast and approach to within tube artillery range of Kharkiv City
- Russian Subordinate Main Effort #2 – Capture the remainder of Luhansk Oblast and push westward into eastern Kharkiv Oblast and encircle northern Donetsk Oblast
- Russian Subordinate Main Effort #3 – Capture the entirety of Donetsk Oblast
- Russian Supporting Effort – Southern Axis
- Russian Air, Missile, and Drone Campaign
- Russian Mobilization and Force Generation Efforts
- Russian Technological Adaptations
- Activities in Russian-occupied areas
- Significant Activity in Belarus
Russian forces recently advanced in the main Ukrainian salient in Kursk Oblast amid continued fighting in the area on November 23. Geolocated footage published on November 22 and 23 indicates that Russian forces recently marginally advanced southeast of Darino (southeast of Korenevo) and in eastern Darino.[10] Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian forces seized Darino and Nikolayevo-Darino (just south of Darino) and advanced near Nizhny Klin (southeast of Korenevo) and Malaya Loknya (north of Sudzha).[11] ISW has not observed confirmation of these claims, however. Russian forces conducted offensive operations near Nizhny Klin, Nikolayevo-Darino, and Martynovka (northeast of Sudzha).[12] A Russian source claimed that Ukrainian forces are unsuccessfully counterattacking near Novoivanovka (southeast of Korenevo).[13] A Russian milblogger claimed that Russian equipment is sinking in the mud during ongoing rainy weather in Kursk Oblast.[14] Elements of the Russian 56th Airborne (VDV) Regiment (7th VDV Division) are reportedly operating in Kursk Oblast; elements of the 83rd VDV Brigade are reportedly operating in Nikolayevo-Darino; and elements of the 51st VDV Regiment (106th VDV Division) are reportedly operating in Darino.[15]
Russian forces continued ground assaults northeast of Kharkiv City near Vovchansk and Tykhe on November 22 and 23 but did not make confirmed advances.[19]
Russian forces continued offensive operations along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line on November 23 but did not advance. Russian forces conducted offensive operations northeast of Kupyansk near Synkivka; southeast of Kupyansk near Zahryzove and Hlushkivka; southwest of Svatove near Makiivka, Druzhelyubivka, Tvedokhlibove, Novoyehorivka, and Hrekivka; west of Svatove near Zeleny Hai and in the direction of Novoplatonivka; and west of Kreminna near Terny and Torske on November 22 and 23.[20] Geolocated footage published on November 23 shows Ukrainian forces repelling a platoon-sized Russian mechanized assault east of Terny.[21] A Ukrainian battalion commander stated on November 23 that Russian forces are using armored vehicles to transport infantry during assaults under the cover of fog in the Kupyansk direction to avoid Ukrainian strikes and achieve tactical surprise.[22] The commander stated that Ukrainian forces destroy and damage 90 to 95 percent of lightly armored and armored Russian military equipment fielded on the frontline and in the near rear, forcing Russian forces to walk up to 12 kilometers to reach frontline positions in the Kupyansk direction.[23] The commander also noted that high Russian personnel casualties have prompted Russian forces to resort to disguising themselves as Ukrainian personnel in order to infiltrate into Ukrainian near-rear areas - a war crime.[24] Elements of the Russian 144th Motorized Rifle Division (20th Combined Arms Army [CAA], Moscow Military District [MMD]) reportedly continue to operate near Terny.[25]
Russian forces reportedly continued offensive operations near Chasiv Yar and Stupochky (south of Chasiv Yar) on November 22 and 23 but did not advance.[29] Russian sources also claimed that Ukrainian forces unsuccessfully counterattacked near Predtechyne (south of Chasiv Yar).[30] A Kremlin-affiliated Russian military expert claimed that Russian forces gained a foothold in Chasiv Yar's industrial zone and that Russian forces control 30 percent of the city.[31] ISW has observed Russian forces operating in approximately 21 percent of Chasiv Yar. Elements of the Russian 98th Airborne (VDV) Division; drone operators of the "Okhotnik" Separate Special Purpose Detachment (51st Combined Arms Army [CAA]; formerly 1st Donetsk People's Republic's 1st Army Corps [AC], Southern Military District [SMD]); elements of the Chechen "Akhmat" Spetsnaz; and elements of the 4th Motorized Rifle Brigade (3rd CAA, formerly 2nd Luhansk People's Republic's [LNR] AC, SMD) are operating in the Chasiv Yar direction.[32]
Russian forces continued ground attacks near Toretsk and west of Toretsk near Leonidivka on November 22 and 23 but did not make any confirmed advances.[33] Russian milbloggers claimed on November 23 that Russian forces advanced in northern Toretsk and up to 650 meters deep in the Zabalka Microraion (southern Toretsk).[34] ISW has not observed visual confirmation of these claims, however. A Russian milblogger claimed that Russian forces have consolidated positions in a sector up to one kilometer wide on Heroiv Pratsi and Myrna streets in central Toretsk.[35] A Kremlin-affiliated Russian milblogger claimed that Ukrainian forces are counterattacking in southern Toretsk and that Russian sources on the ground did not confirm Russian forces' presence north of Hrushevskoho Street in northern Toretsk.[36] The milblogger noted that it is difficult to determine the exact contours of the frontline in Toretsk due to the nature of urban combat in which Russian and Ukrainian forces are often holding positions within the same buildings. Drone operators of the Russian 132nd Motorized Rifle Brigade (51st CAA) are reportedly operating in Toretsk.[37]
Russian sources made unconfirmed claims that Russian forces recently advanced south of Pokrovsk amid continued offensive operations on November 22 and 23. A Russian milblogger claimed that Russian forces marginally advanced to central Pustynka (west of Selydove and south of Pokrovsk), but ISW has not observed visual confirmation of this claim.[38] Russian forces attacked east of Pokrovsk near Promin, Myrnohrad, and Myrolyubivka; southeast of Pokrovsk near Lysivka, Krutyi Yar, Sukhyi Yar; south of Pokrovsk near Hyrhorivka, Pustynka, Petrivka, Dachenske, Pushkyne, and Zhovte on November 22 and 23.[39] The spokesperson of a Ukrainian brigade operating in the Pokrovsk direction reported that Russian forces conduct up to 10 assaults per day within the brigade's area of responsibility and that the Ukrainian brigade is currently defending against elements of four Russian motorized rifle brigades, including elements of the Russian 74th Motorized Rifle Brigade (41st CAA, Central Military District [CMD]).[40]
Russian forces reportedly advanced northeast of Vuhledar but there were no confirmed advances. A Russian milblogger claimed that Russian forces advanced north of Illinka (northeast of Vuhledar), but ISW has not observed visual evidence of this claim.[45] Russian forces reportedly continued assaults northeast of Vuhledar near Romanivka, Katerynivka, and Antonivka; and northwest of Vuhledar near Sukhi Yaly, Trudove, Rozlyv, and Kostyantynopolske.[46] The Russian 1st Company of the Kuzma Minin Battalion within the 10th Tank Regiment (51st CAA) is reportedly operating near Antonivka and Illinka, and assault elements of the Russian 33rd Motorized Riffle Regiment (20th Motorized Rifle Division, 8th CAA) are reportedly operating near Antonvika.[47]
Russian forces recently conducted a company-sized mechanized assault in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area and advanced. Geolocated footage published on November 22 shows Ukrainian forces repelling waves of a Russian mechanized assault in the fields southeast of Velyka Novosilka, indicating that Russian forces advanced in the area.[48] Russian sources claimed that Russian forces broke through by almost five kilometers towards Rozdolne (northeast of Velyka Novosilka), are consolidating positions in eastern Rozdone, and advanced 2.2 kilometers deep on a front about 8.4 kilometers wide towards Velyka Novosilka.[49] A Russian milblogger claimed on November 23 that Ukrainian mine barriers are hindering Russian advances towards Velyka Novosilka and that heavy rain is affecting the ability to maneuver and use drones.[50] Russian forces reportedly conducted assaults near Velyka Novosilka; northeast of Velyka Novosilka near Rozdolne; and southwest of Velyka Novosilka near Novodarivka and Rivnopil.[51] Elements of the Russian 40th Naval Infantry Brigade (Pacific Fleet, Eastern Military District [EMD]) are reportedly operating near Rozdolne; elements of the 60th Motorized Rifle Brigade (5th CAA, EMD), including Spetsnaz elements, are operating in the Vremivka direction; and drone operators of the 5th Guards Tank Brigade (36th CAA, EMD) are operating near Velyka Novosilka.[52]
Russian forces continued ground assaults in western Zaporizhia Oblast, including northwest of Robotyne near Kamyanske, on November 22 and 23 but did not advance.[53]
Positional fighting continued in the Dnipro direction in east (left) bank Kherson Oblast on November 22 and 23, but there were no changes to the frontline.[54] Elements of the Russian 80th Arctic Motorized Rifle Brigade (14th Army Corps [AC], Leningrad Military District [LMD]) reportedly continue to operate in the Kherson direction.[55]
[1] https://t.me/rybar/65638 ; https://t.me/RVvoenkor/81215; https://t.me/dva_majors/58442 ; https://t.me/osetin20/9632; https://t.me/voenkorKotenok/60270; https://t.me/milinfolive/135639 ; https://t.me/Sladkov_plus/11873; https://t.me/boris_rozhin/145349; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/19738
[2] https://www.rbc dot ru/politics/23/11/2024/6741d9e09a794771ae3f0282?from=story_61ee7c0f9a7947051824f535
[3] https://t.me/rybar/65638; https://t.me/RVvoenkor/81215; https://t.me/Sladkov_plus/11873
[4] https://t.me/dva_majors/58442
[5] https://isw.pub/UkrWar111624; https://isw.pub/UkrWar110724
[6] https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-may-20-2024
[7] https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/ukraine-russia-war-11-22-24-intl-hnk#cm3sotvmj000k3b6nd1qoynqs ; https://t.me/NgP_raZVedka/19661
[8] https://t.me/otukharkiv/2715
[9] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-has-lost-over-40-russias-kursk-region-counter-attacks-senior-kyiv-2024-11-23/
[10] https://x.com/franfran2424/status/1860292948488856054; https://t.me/pride_group_2_80/35; https://x.com/SibirPrizrak/status/1860255168958267814; https://x.com/franfran2424/status/1860301940703281627; https://t.me/UkropHunter/232; https://x.com/creamy_caprice/status/1860104567884775742; https://t.me/creamy_caprice/7595 ; https://t.me/creamy_caprice/7606; https://t.me/UkropHunter/233
[11] https://t.me/dva_majors/58421; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/19719; https://t.me/motopatriot/29714
[12] https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/19718; https://t.me/rusich_army/18714
[13] https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/19718
[14] https://t.me/rusich_army/18714
[15] https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/19711 ; https://t.me/basurin_e/15659; https://t.me/motopatriot/29714 ; https://t.me/RVvoenkor/81217; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/19719; https://t.me/RVvoenkor/81226
[16] https://x.com/666_mancer/status/1860292833636212929 ; https://t.me/soniah_hub/7718
[17] https://suspilne dot media/886713-putin-postaviv-zavdanna-svoim-vijskam-vitisniti-zsu-iz-kurskoi-oblasti-do-inavguracii-trampa-zelenskij/
[18] https://isw.pub/UkrWar111224; https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-has-lost-over-40-russias-kursk-region-counter-attacks-senior-kyiv-2024-11-23/
[19]https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rL1JC4pEtUsxj2ACbYNSgxGHgHuKuhLPzu8dgoo3ud4Mk7KvEMcJgG3eV1mzfdrZl ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid023icmLmZrksGNDWW93hnjAnLR2pcjtw1YxHV24yDmgMnK3yfPEzJLXRw7gKfTz7kcl ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rMryhWeQfpWEfKvt33vyjs2V1zjvTMxHgwQc9HVXEoucv9EUFgsNoBpT8AqkWYb9l ; https://t.me/otukharkiv/2735
[20] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rMryhWeQfpWEfKvt33vyjs2V1zjvTMxHgwQc9HVXEoucv9EUFgsNoBpT8AqkWYb9l ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid023icmLmZrksGNDWW93hnjAnLR2pcjtw1YxHV24yDmgMnK3yfPEzJLXRw7gKfTz7kcl ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rL1JC4pEtUsxj2ACbYNSgxGHgHuKuhLPzu8dgoo3ud4Mk7KvEMcJgG3eV1mzfdrZl
[21] https://x.com/moklasen/status/1860291805146701876; https://x.com/moklasen/status/1860292931468271974; https://t.me/OMIBr_60/637
[22] https://armyinform dot com.ua/2024/11/23/kupyanska-avantyura-v-rezhymi-kamikadze-v-zsu-poyasnyly-yak-rosiyanam-vdalosya-zaskochyly-v-misto/
[23] https://armyinform dot com.ua/2024/11/23/pered-shturmom-12-km-pishky-chomu-na-harkivshhyni-v-okupantiv-nemaye-inshogo-vyboru/ ; https://youtu.be/aDXWlQ2K0dM
[24] https://armyinform dot com.ua/2024/11/23/aktyvizuyutsya-shhob-destabilizuvaty-sytuacziyu-yak-diyut-perevdyagnuti-u-piksel-okupanty/; https://youtu.be/TRU7BZjzevY
[25] https://t.me/epoddubny/21716
[26] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rL1JC4pEtUsxj2ACbYNSgxGHgHuKuhLPzu8dgoo3ud4Mk7KvEMcJgG3eV1mzfdrZl
[27] https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/19738
[28] https://t.me/boris_rozhin/145296; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/19729
[29]https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rMryhWeQfpWEfKvt33vyjs2V1zjvTMxHgwQc9HVXEoucv9EUFgsNoBpT8AqkWYb9l; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid023icmLmZrksGNDWW93hnjAnLR2pcjtw1YxHV24yDmgMnK3yfPEzJLXRw7gKfTz7kcl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rL1JC4pEtUsxj2ACbYNSgxGHgHuKuhLPzu8dgoo3ud4Mk7KvEMcJgG3eV1mzfdrZl; https://armyinform dot com.ua/2024/11/22/u-sylah-oborony-rozpovily-yak-okupanty-sami-sebe-blokuyut-poblyzu-chasovogo-yaru/; https://armyinform dot com.ua/2024/11/23/u-sylah-oborony-rozpovily-shho-chasiv-yar-okupanty-obstrilyuyut-z-usih-vydiv-ozbroyen/
[30] https://t.me/tass_agency/286886
[31] https://t.me/tass_agency/286871 ; https://t.me/tass_agency/286872 ; https://t.me/tass_agency/286878
[32] https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/19711 ; https://t.me/dva_majors/58446; https://t.me/RKadyrov_95/5249; https://t.me/nm_dnr/13016
[33]https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rL1JC4pEtUsxj2ACbYNSgxGHgHuKuhLPzu8dgoo3ud4Mk7KvEMcJgG3eV1mzfdrZl ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rMryhWeQfpWEfKvt33vyjs2V1zjvTMxHgwQc9HVXEoucv9EUFgsNoBpT8AqkWYb9l; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid023icmLmZrksGNDWW93hnjAnLR2pcjtw1YxHV24yDmgMnK3yfPEzJLXRw7gKfTz7kcl ; https://t.me/rybar/65624
[34] https://t.me/rybar/65624 ; https://t.me/RVvoenkor/81238
[35] https://t.me/dva_majors/58421
[36] https://t.me/rybar/65624
[37] https://t.me/nm_dnr/13015
[38] https://t.me/z_arhiv/29731?single
[39] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rL1JC4pEtUsxj2ACbYNSgxGHgHuKuhLPzu8dgoo3ud4Mk7KvEMcJgG3eV1mzfdrZl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rMryhWeQfpWEfKvt33vyjs2V1zjvTMxHgwQc9HVXEoucv9EUFgsNoBpT8AqkWYb9l; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid023icmLmZrksGNDWW93hnjAnLR2pcjtw1YxHV24yDmgMnK3yfPEzJLXRw7gKfTz7kcl; https://t.me/boris_rozhin/145308
[40] https://armyinform dot com.ua/2024/11/22/na-pokrovskomu-napryamku-vorog-prodovzhuye-taktyku-myasnyh-shturmiv/
[41] https://t.me/NgP_raZVedka/19656; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/19712; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/19736; https://t.me/mod_russia/46056; https://t.me/RVvoenkor/81223 ; https://t.me/motopatriot/29738; https://t.me/boris_rozhin/145308;
[42] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-has-lost-over-40-russias-kursk-region-counter-attacks-senior-kyiv-2024-11-23/
[43] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rMryhWeQfpWEfKvt33vyjs2V1zjvTMxHgwQc9HVXEoucv9EUFgsNoBpT8AqkWYb9l; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid023icmLmZrksGNDWW93hnjAnLR2pcjtw1YxHV24yDmgMnK3yfPEzJLXRw7gKfTz7kcl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rL1JC4pEtUsxj2ACbYNSgxGHgHuKuhLPzu8dgoo3ud4Mk7KvEMcJgG3eV1mzfdrZl; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/19736
[44] https://t.me/Sladkov_plus/11869
[45] https://t.me/z_arhiv/29728?single; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/19701
[46] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rMryhWeQfpWEfKvt33vyjs2V1zjvTMxHgwQc9HVXEoucv9EUFgsNoBpT8AqkWYb9l; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid023icmLmZrksGNDWW93hnjAnLR2pcjtw1YxHV24yDmgMnK3yfPEzJLXRw7gKfTz7kcl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rL1JC4pEtUsxj2ACbYNSgxGHgHuKuhLPzu8dgoo3ud4Mk7KvEMcJgG3eV1mzfdrZl; https://t.me/voenkorKotenok/60271; https://t.me/voenkorKotenok/60273; https://t.me/milinfolive/135638
[47] https://t.me/RVvoenkor/81194; https://t.me/dva_majors/58441
[48] https://t.me/opbr_zsu/409; https://t.me/creamy_caprice/7597; https://x.com/moklasen/status/1860261896936362317; https://x.com/moklasen/status/1860261894516285932; https://armyinform dot com.ua/2024/11/23/avtomat-na-droni-zsu-pokazaly-innovaczijnyj-pidhid-do-znyshhennya-okupantiv/; https://www.facebook.com/Prezydentska.Bryhada/videos/889412563404443
[49] https://t.me/voin_dv/11956; https://t.me/RVvoenkor/81192; https://t.me/RVvoenkor/81207; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/19728
[50] https://t.me/voenkorKotenok/60269
[51] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rL1JC4pEtUsxj2ACbYNSgxGHgHuKuhLPzu8dgoo3ud4Mk7KvEMcJgG3eV1mzfdrZl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rMryhWeQfpWEfKvt33vyjs2V1zjvTMxHgwQc9HVXEoucv9EUFgsNoBpT8AqkWYb9l; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid023icmLmZrksGNDWW93hnjAnLR2pcjtw1YxHV24yDmgMnK3yfPEzJLXRw7gKfTz7kcl
[52] https://t.me/voin_dv/11958 ; https://t.me/voin_dv/11953; https://t.me/voin_dv/11955; https://t.me/boris_rozhin/145289
[53] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rMryhWeQfpWEfKvt33vyjs2V1zjvTMxHgwQc9HVXEoucv9EUFgsNoBpT8AqkWYb9l; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid023icmLmZrksGNDWW93hnjAnLR2pcjtw1YxHV24yDmgMnK3yfPEzJLXRw7gKfTz7kcl
[54] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rL1JC4pEtUsxj2ACbYNSgxGHgHuKuhLPzu8dgoo3ud4Mk7KvEMcJgG3eV1mzfdrZl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0rMryhWeQfpWEfKvt33vyjs2V1zjvTMxHgwQc9HVXEoucv9EUFgsNoBpT8AqkWYb9l; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid023icmLmZrksGNDWW93hnjAnLR2pcjtw1YxHV24yDmgMnK3yfPEzJLXRw7gKfTz7kcl
[55] https://t.me/NeoficialniyBeZsonoV/41667
[56] https://t.me/mod_russia/46057
[57] https://t.me/milinfolive/135600
[58] https://www.rbc dot ru/politics/23/11/2024/6741569d9a79479d47e44568
[59] http://publication.pravo dot gov.ru/document/0001202411230004?index=1; https://meduza dot io/news/2024/11/23/putin-podpisal-zakon-o-spisanii-prosrochennyh-kreditov-do-10-millionov-rubley-uchastnikam-voyny-v-ukraine; https://t.me/astrapress/69083; https://t.me/tass_agency/286942
[60] https://isw.pub/UkrWar111424
[61] https://www.vedomosti dot ru/politics/articles/2024/11/22/1076778-utochnili-pravila-vozvrata-viplat; https://t.me/vedomosti/54282
[62] https://isw.pub/UkrWar111424
[63] https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/19737; https://t.me/boris_rozhin/145288; https://t.me/slavrus126/10118
[64] https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-april-6-2024
[65] https://t.me/astrapress/69054