Russian Forces Advance in Southern Ukraine, Fierce Battles Continue in Donetsk
Russian troops have overtaken three settlements in Ukraine’s southern Zaporizhzhia region, while intense fighting persists in the eastern city of Pokrovsk, according to Ukrainian military officials.
General Oleksandr Syrskyi reported today that dense fog aided Russian infiltration of Ukrainian positions in Zaporizhzhia, with Ukrainian units engaged in “grueling battles” to counter the advance. The heaviest clashes remain concentrated in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, accounting for nearly half of all front-line engagements in the past 24 hours. Fighting has also increased in the northeastern Kharkiv region, specifically in Kupiansk and Lyman. This escalation comes as Russia continues its nearly four-year-long invasion, currently occupying approximately one-fifth of Ukrainian territory.
New U.S. sanctions targeting Russia’s oil sector – a cornerstone of the Russian economy – are set to take effect on November 21, aiming to pressure President Vladimir Putin into accepting a ceasefire. Simultaneously, Ukraine faces internal challenges with Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko suspended yesterday pending investigation, announced by Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko. The ongoing conflict has stretched Ukrainian resources, with the front line now extending over 1,250 kilometers (800 miles), and Russia reportedly deploying around 170,000 troops in Donetsk, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. For more background on the conflict, see the Council on Foreign Relations’ coverage.
Despite incremental battlefield gains, Russia’s offensive has come at a significant cost in casualties and equipment. The Institute for the Study of War notes that Russia’s siege of Pokrovsk is slow-moving due to dispersed resource allocation, and logistical difficulties. Ukraine continues to launch long-range drone strikes on Russian military assets, with a recent attack targeting the Stavrolen chemical plant in Budionnovsk, which produces materials used by the Russian military. The Associated Press is providing ongoing updates on the war.
Officials stated that Ukrainian forces are working to stabilize the front lines and mitigate the impact of the recent Russian advances.
