Ukrainian Defence Forces hold their ground on left bank part of Kherson Oblast – ISW

Ukrainska Pravda
·4 min read
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Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have reported that the Ukrainian Defence Forces have pursued their operations on the Dnipro River's left (eastern) bank in Kherson Oblast, holding their positions and likely deploying additional infantry.

Source: ISW

Details: The report noted that Ukrainian troops continued operations on the Dnipro River's left bank in Kherson Oblast on 18 November.

The Ukrainian General Staff noted that the Defence Forces are holding their positions in Kherson Oblast's east.

Meanwhile, a Russian military blogger (milblogger) claimed that Ukrainian forces, backed by artillery, launched unsuccessful attacks near the villages of Poima (10 km southeast of Kherson and 4 km from Dnipro River) and Pishchanivka (13 km southeast of Kherson and 3 km from Dnipro River), as well as from the village of Krynky (30 km northeast of Kherson and 2 km from Dnipro River).

In general, Russian milbloggers claimed that the Ukrainian army had been moving additional infantry to the eastern bank part of Kherson Oblast.

The Ukrainian General Staff reported that the Ukrainian Defence Forces had repelled 12 Russian attacks on the eastern bank part of Kherson Oblast on 18 November.

The report also mentions other areas where military operations are taking place in Ukraine.

Analysts point out that Russian troops conducted offensive operations along the Kupiansk-Svatove-Kreminna line but failed to achieve any confirmed successes on 18 November.

The Russian Defence Ministry claimed that Ukrainian forces launched unsuccessful attacks along the Kupiansk-Svatove-Kreminna line on 18 November in the vicinity of the settlements of Synkivka, Dibrova (7 km southwest of Kreminna) and Hrekivka (22 km southwest of Svatove).

In addition, the ISW's data suggests that the Ukrainian army launched an assault near the town of Bakhmut on 18 November yet achieved no claimed or confirmed success.

At the same time, Russian troops maintained their attacks north and south of Bakhmut but failed to make any confirmed gains.

The Russians also pursued their offensive operations around the town of Avdiivka on 18 November and achieved minor confirmed territorial gains.

Geolocation footage released on 18 November indicates that the Russians have made minor advances north of the Avdiivka Coke and Chemical Plant and in an industrial area on the southeastern outskirts of Avdiivka.

Colonel Oleksandr Shtupun, spokesperson for the Tavriia Operational and Strategic Grouping of Ukrainian Forces, stated that Russian troops are expected to launch a third wave of the storming of Avdiivka and may soon intensify artillery preparations for the assault.

The Colonel noted that over the past two days, Russian troops have not actively employed heavy military machinery on the Avdiivka front, have reduced aircraft use in the area, and are increasingly using infantry.

Shtupun added that Russia's Storm and Storm-Z assault units are suffering heavy losses, with some detachments having only 10 to 15% of their original personnel remaining.

ISW's analysed data indicates that Russian troops launched an unsuccessful attack near the administrative border of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts on 18 November.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces pursued offensive activities in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast on 18 November, achieving no claimed or confirmed successes.

To quote the ISW’s Key Takeaways on 18 November:

  • Russian forces conducted a series of drone strikes against Ukraine on the night of 17-18 November.

  • A Kyrgyzstan government official called on the Russian government to help Kyrgyz migrants in Russia against the backdrop of recent proposals from Russian government officials to decrease migrant work opportunities in Russia.

  • Courts in the Republic of Dagestan reportedly continue to charge participants of the 29 October antisemitic riots with minor administrative crimes, while select Russian ultranationalists call for increased government control in order to curb the alleged spread of Islamic extremism in Dagestan.

  • The Russian government continues efforts to restrict citizens’ access to the internet and to strengthen its control over the Russian information space.

  • The European Commission will reportedly include sanctions on the sale of petroleum tankers to Russia in an upcoming sanctions package in an effort to curb Russian schemes to skirt the G7 price cap on Russian crude oil and petroleum products.

  • Russian forces continued offensive operations along the Kupiansk-Svatove-Kreminna line, near Bakhmut, near Avdiivka, west and southwest of Donetsk City, in the Donetsk-Zaporizhzhia Oblast border area, and in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast and advanced near Avdiivka and Donetsk City.

  • Russia has reportedly frozen prisoner of war (POW) exchanges with Ukraine since the summer of 2023.

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