Ukrainian forces are achieving success near Vuhledar, while Russian troops advance near Velyka Novosilka, according to ISW maps.
Ukrainian forces have achieved success near Vuhledar, while Russian troops have made advances in several directions. Specifically, occupiers have intensified their activities northwest of Kreminna, southeast of Chasiv Yar, in the Toretsk area, southeast of Kurakhove, and likely northeast of Velyka Novosilka.
This information is reported by analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
UAF Operations in the Kursk Region
Russian troops recently advanced in the area of Sudzhy in the Kursk region. Geolocation materials from November 21 show their movement west of the settlement Spalne.
Russian propagandists claim that their forces have "cleared" Ukrainian positions near Olhivka, entered Daryino, and are successfully repelling Ukrainian counterattacks. There are also reports of attempts to shoot down Ukrainian drones near Akhtubinsk in the Astrakhan region, which were likely targeting the "Kasputin Yar" missile complex.
Ukrainian forces struck a command post in Maryina, Kursk region, where, according to The Wall Street Journal, a high-ranking North Korean general was injured. The condition of the general remains unknown, as stated by a Western representative.
Russian sources report the deaths of 18 and injuries to 33 military personnel, including three North Koreans. Additionally, Lieutenant General Valeriy Solodchuk may have been at the headquarters, but information regarding his condition has not been confirmed. Russian leader Vladimir Putin acknowledged the Ukrainian strike, stating that security service personnel were wounded, but commanders reportedly remained unharmed. ISW analysts note that these claims cannot be verified at this time.
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Situation in the Kharkiv Region
On November 20 and 21, Russian troops attempted to advance near Vovchansk and Starytsia, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
On November 20, one of the Russian propagandists claimed that the occupiers allegedly repelled a Ukrainian counterattack in the Liptsi area near Hlyboke. The next day, another Russian blogger reported on Russian advances in the multi-story building area in Vovchansk. Meanwhile, ISW analysts do not confirm these reports.
Spokesman for the Kharkiv grouping of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Colonel Yevheniy Romanov, noted that due to deteriorating weather conditions, it is becoming more difficult for the occupiers to conceal the movement of their units across open terrain, as the lack of foliage deprives them of natural cover. Upcoming snowfalls, according to him, will help Ukrainian forces track enemy movements by following their trails.
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Situation in the Luhansk Region
Russian troops recently advanced northwest of Kreminna. Geolocation footage from November 21 indicates their progress in the center of Terniv.
According to Russian propagandists, on November 21, the occupiers moved in several directions: in the eastern part of Kupiansk, northeast of the Zaoskil railway station, near Hlushkivka southeast of Kupiansk, and in the forests west of Stelmakhivka.
The Ukrainian General Staff reports that on November 20 and 21, Russians conducted offensive operations in the areas of Kucheryvka, Petropavlivka, Zahryzove, Kolisnykivka, Kruhlyakivka, Lozova, Zelenyi Hai, Cherneshtyna, Novoyehorivka, Tverdokhlibove, Hrekivka, Terniv, Zarichne, Torske, Hryhorivka, Serebrianka, and Serebrianske Forestry.
Additionally, on November 21, Russian forces attacked the Ukrainian pontoon bridge over the Siverskyi Donets River near Lyman. There are also reports that Russian aviation struck Ukrainian positions in the Terniv area, likely to support ground offensives.
Situation in Donetsk Region
In the Siverskyi direction, according to both Ukrainian and Russian sources, no fighting was recorded. The commander of one of the Ukrainian drone units operating in this area noted that deteriorating weather conditions significantly complicate the occupiers' offensive operations. Wet fields make the movement of Russian infantry difficult, which in turn turns them into easy targets for Ukrainian drone operators.
On November 21, Russian troops advanced southeast of Chasiv Yar and continued their offensive. Geolocation footage from November 19 indicates that Russians reached a section of the Siverskyi Donets—Donbas canal, west of Klishchiivka.
According to information from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on November 21, Russian troops attacked the positions of Ukrainian forces near Chasiv Yar and Stupochky. Russian sources reported intense fighting in Chasiv Yar and its outskirts.
On November 21, one of the Russian "war correspondents" claimed that the RF troops operating near Orikhovo-Vasylivka had tactically advanced towards Sloviansk and are now less than 24 km from the city.
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Russian troops continued their advance towards Toretsk and achieved some success. Geolocation footage from November 14 and 21 indicates their progress in the center of the city.
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Russians carried out airstrikes near Toretsk and Shcherbynivka.
Russian sources reported that as of November 21, their troops allegedly control over half of Toretsk. One Russian blogger noted that the occupiers advanced in the heights of the city near Hrushevskoho Street and reached the "Avangard" stadium.
It is also reported that fierce battles continue near Nelypivka (to the southwest of Toretsk) and Shcherbynivka.
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On November 21, Russian troops continued their advance towards Pokrovsk, but without significant progress.
Russian bloggers reported that the RF troops operating south of Pokrovsk advanced along the railway line on the eastern outskirts of Petrivka, reaching 800 meters near Pustynka and 1.5 km west of Novoleksiivka.
"War correspondents" also claimed that Putin's forces are trying to advance northwest of Yurivka and from Novoleksiivka towards Pushkino (to the northwest of Novoleksiivka) and Ukrainka (to the west of Novoleksiivka).
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported an increase in the offensive actions of the occupiers in the Pokrovsk direction.
The Russians continued to storm the areas of Myrolyubivka, Promin, Lysivka, Krutyi Yar, Krasnyi Yar, Dachne, Petrivka, Yurivka, Hryhorivka, Pushkino, Zhovte, Chumatske, Pustynka, and Novoleksiivka on November 20 and 21.
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Russian occupiers have recently advanced southeast of Kurakhove. Geolocation footage published on November 20 and 21 shows that Russian troops have advanced south of Kurakhove, occupying territories in the fields and buildings in the western part of Dalne. This indicates a possible capture of Dalne, according to analysis.
Russian sources, including the Ministry of Defense of the RF, claimed that Russian troops captured Dalne and continue to move southwest of this settlement.
"War correspondents" reported that the RF troops advanced into the center of Sontsyvka, cleared the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the northern shore of the Kurakhiv Reservoir, reached the elevator in the center of Kurakhove, and advanced 1.5 km south of Maksymilianivka.
One Russian blogger claimed that the RF troops are successfully advancing towards Kurakhove, combining ground actions with aviation and artillery support, but another "war correspondent" noted that poor weather conditions are slowing the pace of the advance.
Russian troops continued to storm the areas of Sontsyvka, Zorya, Berestkiv, Kurakhove, Maksymilianivka, and Dalne on November 20 and 21.
Ukrainian defense forces recently made progress north of Vuhledar. Geolocation footage from November 20 shows that the UAF advanced north of Bohoyavlenka in the fields.
At the same time, geolocation data from November 13 indicates that Russian troops advanced north of Antonivka (northeast of Vuhledar).
Other geolocation images published on November 20 indicate that the Russians attempted a mechanized attack in the area east of Bohoyavlenka, but without success.
Russian bloggers reported that RF troops continue to advance north of Vuhledar in the area of Trudove, as well as advanced from Maksymivka towards Kostiant