On the Northern Slobozhansky direction, Russian forces advanced east of Kindrativka, dug more than 10 tunnels near Tetkino, and abandoned the attempt to seize Ryzhivka by a conventional assault, therefore resorting to digging tunnels.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Oleksiivka, Andriivka, and Kindrativka.
On the Southern Slobozhansky direction, the 128th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, the 30th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 72nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 44th Army Corps, and the 82nd and 1009th Motorized Rifle Regiments of the 69th Motorized Rifle Division of the 6th Combined Arms Army continue fighting for Vovchansk. Russian forces launched an offensive toward Khatnie, advanced south of Vovchansk, in the center of Vilcha, in the western part of Lyman, along Highway T2104 Vovchansk–Chuhunivka in the eastern part of the village, and attacked near Prylypky, Synelnykove, toward Izbytske, near Milove, Ambarne, Dvorichanske, toward Obukhivka and Kolodyazne.
On the Kupyansk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces hold positions on Highway H26 Kupyansk–Kharkiv in the southwest of Kupyansk, drove the enemy from the northern outskirts of Kupyansk to the Oskil River, cleared the northwestern suburbs of Kupyansk, and hold the logistics route on the eastern bank of the Oskil River. Russian forces attacked near Novovasylivka, Synkivka, Petropavlivka, Pishchane, Hlushkivka, Novoplatonivka, Hrekivka, toward Bohuslavka, Shyikivka, Druzhelyubivka, Tverdokhlibove, and Novoyehorivka.
On the Lyman direction, small enemy groups infiltrated Lyman, attacked near the city, near Karpivka, Serednie, Oleksandrivka, Shandryholove, Novoselivka, Yarova, Drobysheve, Korovyi Yar, toward Sosnove, near Novomykhailivka, Stavky, toward Stepove, near Zarichne, Yampil, and Vasyukivka.
On the Sloviansk direction, Russian forces attacked near and inside Siversk, near Dronivka, Platonivka, Zakytne, Serebrianka, Fedorivka, Sviato-Pokrovske, and Pazeno.
On the Kostyantynivka direction, Russian forces advanced in the southeast and south of Kostyantynivka, captured Shcherbynivka, Kleban-Byk, and Katerynivka, advanced to the southern bank of the Kleban-Byk Reservoir. The enemy attempted to advance east and within the southeastern part of Kostyantynivka along Highway T0504 Kostyantynivka–Myrnohrad, south of Kostyantynivka, north of Mykolaivka, east of Virolyubivka, and west of Pleshchiivka. Fighting for Klynovе continues. The enemy attacked near and inside Kostyantynivka, toward Virolyubivka, near Mykolaivka, Oleksandro-Shultyne, Stupochky, Pleshchiivka, Shcherbynivka, toward Berestok, near Yablunivka, Rusyn Yar, Mykolaypillya, Sofiivka, Novopavlivka, and Volodymyrivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian forces advanced in the northeast of Pokrovsk, attempted to advance north of Pokrovsk, east of Hryshyne, in the northeastern part and in the center of Myrnohrad, in the southern part of Svitle, north of Kotlyne, northwest of Udachne, and attacked near Nove Shakhove, Shakhove, Dorizhne, Zaporizhzhia, Ivanivka, Maiak, near and inside Pokrovsk, near Hryshyne, Rodynske, Bilytske, Krasnyi Lyman, Novoekonomichne, near and within Myrnohrad and Rivne, near Kotlyne, Zvirove, Udachne, Molodetske, toward Novopidhorodnie.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Toretsk, north of Pokrovsk, and struck an enemy infantry concentration in the northern part of Pokrovsk.
On the Oleksandrivka direction, Russian forces attacked near Novopavlivka, near Dachne, Filiya, Yalta, Zelenyi Hai, Oleksandrohrad, Sosnivka, Vyshneve, Verbove, and Yehorivka.
On the Huliaypole Direction, the enemy managed to force the Yanchur River on a wide section, seize a tactical bridgehead in the area of Uspenivka, and, advancing further, push up to 17 km deep in the sector of its 5th Combined Arms Army and reach the outskirts of Huliaypole from the east and northeast. The width of the breakthrough section is up to 16 km. Advancing along the eastern bank of the Yanchur River toward Yehorivka–Danylivka, the forces of the 5th Combined Arms Army reached the outskirts of Danylivka and are fighting to seize it.
The 36th Combined Arms Army, in the interfluve of the Volcha, Vorona, and Yanchur Rivers, attempts to break through simultaneously in several sectors in a general northwest direction, covering the flank of the 5th Combined Arms Army. Forward elements of the 36th Combined Arms Army broke through to the Vovcha River in the area of Orestopil and Novoselivka but established themselves only in the area of Novoselivka. The 36th Combined Arms Army continues attacking the Defense Forces’ bridgehead on the Vovcha River both from Novoselivka and from Vorone, along the river. The enemy’s advance is being held back by successful defensive actions conducted by the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Oleksandrohrad.
Advancing from the Vyshneve–Berezove line, the enemy broke through with several infantry groups west of Sosnivka and reached Novooleksandrivka.
Russian forces advanced north of Dobropillya along Highway T0401 Pokrovske–Huliaypole and captured Nove Zaporizhzhia. The 37th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 5th Combined Arms Army is fighting for Dobropillya. The enemy attempts to advance west and south of Dobropillya, east of Pryluky, east of Varvarivka, attacked near and inside Huliaypole itself, toward Varvarivka, near Nova Zaporizhzhia, Danylivka, toward Andriivka, Herasymivka, Ostapivske, Rybne, Pryvilne, Pavlivka, Krasnohirske, Zelenyi Hai, and Zatyshshya.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked in the area of Sosnivka and pushed back the enemy that was breaking through toward the Vovcha River in a southeast direction, thereby holding the bridgehead on the Vovcha between Orestopil and Novoselivka. Defense Forces units keep the road between Voskresenka and Novoselivka, where the enemy’s forward units broke through, under fire control, as well as Sichneve and Novoselivka. Ukrainian Defense Forces also counterattacked toward Ivanivka–Zelenyi Hai, completely clearing the enemy from Ivanivka and advancing 1.5–2 km beyond the Vovcha River.
On the Orikhiv direction, elements of the 7th Air Assault Division attempt to advance east and north of Prymorske, in the center of the village, toward the outskirts of Lukyanivske. Russian forces attacked near Novodanylivka and Stepnohirsk.
On the Prydniprovske Direction, Russian forces attacked toward Antonivka and the Antonivskyi Bridge.
General conclusion:
Ukrainian Defense Forces have a number of effective field fortifications to the west, north, and northeast of Pokrovsk, which will complicate enemy advancement from Pokrovsk.
On the Huliaypole Direction, the “Vostok (East)” Operational Grouping of enemy forces conducts active offensive actions in the sectors of the 5th and 36th Combined Arms Armies, where it concentrates its main efforts. The main strike is being delivered by the 5th Combined Arms Army, while the forces of the 36th Combined Arms Army actively operate north of its sector, securing its flank.
The 5th and 36th Combined Arms Armies exert efforts on their adjoining flank to break through to the confluence of the Vovcha and Khaychur rivers, or at least to the village of Andriivka, after first cutting the Pokrovske–Huliaypole road near Danylivka. Although fighting for Danylivka continues, it is already impossible to safely use the Pokrovske–Huliaypole lateral road on the Vidradne–Radisne section.
Russian forces heavily use UAVs and mines to push Ukrainian infantry out of Stepnohirsk. This tactic is similar to the one used during the assault on Toretsk.
Russian forces are advancing on the left flank of the Oleksandrivka Direction, enveloping Ukrainian Defense Forces in this area from the northwest, east, southwest, and west, attempting to encircle Novopavlivka.
Russian forces previously failed to achieve operationally significant gains on the Dobropillya Direction. The capture of Pokrovsk by the aggressor’s forces would produce such an effect by depriving Ukrainian Defense Forces of a logistical hub. The ultimate operational significance of the enemy’s capture of Pokrovsk will depend on the organized withdrawal of the units of the 7th Rapid Reaction Corps of the Air Assault Forces from the city, the organization of defense beyond Pokrovsk, and the availability of combat potential within the “Tsentr (Center)” Operational Grouping to exploit the elimination of the Pokrovsk–Myrnohrad bridgehead, but it will not significantly bring the enemy closer to its strategic objectives.
Change in the line of contact (LoC):
There were 201 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled seven Russian attacks.
On the Southern Slobozhansky direction, 15 enemy attacks were stopped in the areas of Prylipka, Starytsia, Synelnykove, Vovchansk, and toward Kolodyazne and Izbytske.
On the Kupyansk Direction, eight enemy attacks took place. Assault actions were repelled in the areas of Synkivka, Petropavlivka, Pishchane, and Nova Kruhlyakivka.
On the Lyman direction, the enemy attacked 31 times, attempting to penetrate the defense in the areas of Novovodyane, Novoyehorivka, Hrekivka, Novomykhailivka, Serednie, Karpivka, Shandryholove, Kolodyazi, Myrne, Zarichne, and toward Stepove.
On the Sloviansk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 12 enemy attacks near Yampil, Dronivka, Serebrianka, Siversk, and Fedorivka.
On the Kostyantynivka direction, the enemy carried out 27 attacks in the areas of Oleksandro-Shultyne, Pleshchiivka, Shcherbynivka, Yablunivka, and Rusyn Yar.
On the Pokrovsk direction, 52 assault actions of the aggressor were stopped in the areas of Volodymyrivka, Maiak, Rodynske, Chervonyi Lyman, Novoekonomichne, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, Dachne, and toward Novopavlivka.
On the Oleksandrivka direction, the enemy carried out 18 attacks in the areas of Yalta, Tovste, Zelenyi Hai, Oleksandrohrad, Sosnivka, Verbove, Krasnohirske, and Pryvilne.
On the Huliaypole Direction, five combat engagements were recorded; the enemy advanced in the areas of Zatyshshya, Huliaypole, and toward Pryluky.
On the Prydniprovske direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled an assault attempt in the area of the Antonivskyi Bridge.
Supporting operation:
Ukrainian Defense Forces conducted UAV strikes on the permanent deployment point of the 204th Special Purpose Regiment in the city of Gudermes and on a Federal Security Service building in the city of Akhchoi-Martan, Chechnya.
Special Operations Forces of the Ukrainian Defense Forces conducted UAV strikes on the fuel and lubricants depot belonging to the 3rd Motorized Rifle Division of the 20th Combined Arms Army, located along Highway H21 between Starobilsk and Novoaidar, south of Denezhnykove. Additionally, a Shahed UAV launch site at Cape Chauda in Crimea was targeted.
Ukrainian Defense Intelligence units struck with UAVs a 9A83 launcher of the S-300V air defense system, two 1L125 Niobiy-SV radars in Donbas, and an ammunition depot of the 51st Combined Arms Army in Biloiarivka.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
The “Vostok (East)” Operational Grouping of enemy forces on the Huliaypole Direction operates with its full staffing: the forces of the 5th Combined Arms Army (the 127th Motorized Rifle Division, the 57th and 60th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades), the 29th Combined Arms Army (the 36th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, the 228th and 430th Motorized Rifle Regiments of the 90th Tank Division of the 41st Combined Arms Army), the 35th Combined Arms Army (the 38th and 64th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades, the 69th Separate Cover Brigade), the 36th Combined Arms Army (the 37th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, the 5th Separate Tank Brigade), up to six Motorized Rifle Regiments of Territorial Troops and eight Separate Assault Battalions. On the section of the front from the area north of Highway H15 Zaporizhzhia–Donetsk to the Huliaypole defensive area, the grouping has been reinforced by units of the “Tsentr (Center)” Operational Grouping and the Airborne Forces. At the boundary between the operational zones of the 36th and 58th Combined Arms Armies, the 76th Air Assault Division, redeployed here from the Sumy Direction, has been committed to the operation. Before the offensive of the 5th Combined Arms Army, the 38th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade and the 69th Separate Rifle Brigade of the 35th Combined Arms Army were redeployed into its sector, which sharply increased the combat capabilities of the 5th Combined Arms Army and the operational density of the forces. The participation of the 34th and 205th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades or the 7th Air Defense Brigade of the 49th Combined Arms Army in combat operations in the “Vostok (East)” Operational Grouping’s operational zone is not excluded.
The 68th Motorized Rifle Division of the 6th Combined Arms Army strikes Ukrainian positions with UAVs in the south of Kupyansk.
The 164th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 25th Combined Arms Army strikes Ukrainian infrastructure near the Sloviansk power plant, and the 169th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the army operates toward Lyman.
The 88th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 3rd Combined Arms Army strikes in Sviato-Pokrovske.
The 242nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Combined Arms Army operates near Rusyn Yar, and the 4th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 3rd Combined Arms Army operates in Ivanopillya.
The 33rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Combined Arms Army strikes with UAVs on the Dobropillya direction, the 80th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion of the 51st Combined Arms Army operates near Myrnohrad, and the 40th Separate Marine Brigade carries out an unsuccessful assault near Pokrovsk.
The 217th Airborne Regiment of the 98th Airborne Division strikes Ukrainian positions on the Kherson Direction, and the 126th Separate Coastal Defense Brigade of the 22nd Army Corps strikes critical infrastructure in the city of Kherson.
Possible operation situation developments:
The Defense Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry assesses that while the enemy is unlikely to capture all of Donetsk Oblast by the spring of 2026, it may reach the outskirts of Zaporizhzhia and the Sloviansk–Kramatorsk area by early winter. Additionally, if current fighting continues at the same pace, the enemy could possibly take control of Pokrovsk, Kostyantynivka, Druzhkivka, and Kupyansk no earlier than year’s end.
On the Southern Slobozhanske Direction, the enemy will attempt to reach the Vovchansk – Staryi Saltiv road near Tsehelne and the highway to Rubizhne to disrupt the Ukrainian Defense Forces’ formations in the southern part of Vovchansk, significantly complicate their defense due to the considerable flank threat. The main forces of the 6th Combined Arms Army will advance from the Vovchansk–Bilyi Kolodyaz direction and from the bridgehead on the Oskil through Hryhorivka toward converging directions on Velykyi Burluk, pushing Ukrainian Defense Forces from all territory east of the Siverskyi Donets.
On the Lyman direction, the troops of the enemy’s 20th Combined Arms Army will advance toward Shandryholove–Novoselivka and Zelena Dolyna–Drobysheve and will push into the Novoselivka–Drobysheve–Pryshyb–Yarova area, while simultaneously expanding its tactical bridgehead on the Nitrius River near the village of Serednie, in order to block Lyman from the northwest and cut all communications running along the Siverskyi Donets River toward Izium. The enemy may attempt an immediate crossing of the Siverskyi Donets in the Zakytne–Dronivka area, which will complicate the further defense of Siversk.
The enemy’s “Yug (South)” Operational Grouping will attack in the directions of Oleksiyevo-Druzhkivka and Druzhkivka, attempting to cut the H20 highway Kostyantynivka–Sloviansk, which will complicate the logistics of the Ukrainian Defense Forces’ 19th Army Corps in Kostyantynivka. The enemy will deliver concentric strikes simultaneously from Chasiv Yar, Toretsk, the Kleban-Byk Reservoir, and from the Poltavka–Yablunivka line.
The command of the “Tsentr (Center)” Operational Grouping in order to prevent the withdrawal of elements of the 7th Rapid Reaction Corps of the Air Assault Forces of the Ukrainian Defense Forces from the Pokrovsk–Myrnohrad bridgehead, will make efforts to achieve a deeper envelopment of the western flank of the Pokrovsk defense area, attacking northward from the Udachne–Kotlyne line and attempting to break through to Hryshyne. The withdrawal of elements of Ukrainian Defense Forces from Myrnohrad toward the Dobropillya area could affect the overall situation on the 51st Combined Arms Army bridgehead west of the Kazennyi Torets River. To prevent a deterioration of the situation there, the enemy would hastily organize and conduct counterattacks in the areas of Ivanivka and Nove Shakhove.
On the Oleksandrivka direction, the troops of the enemy’s “Vostok (East)” Operational Grouping will attempt to envelop the Huliaypole defensive area of Ukrainian Defense Forces from the north and block its main lines of communication. The troops of the 36th Combined Arms Army and elements of the right flank of the 5th Combined Arms Army will be breaking through toward Pokrovske from the southeast. The enemy will attempt to reach the Khaychur River and the Huliaypole–Pokrovske road on the Dobropillya–Varvarivka section.
Enemy forces of the “Vostok (East)” Operational Grouping on the Huliaypole Direction will bypass the Huliaypole defensive area from the north, breaking through on the Dobropillya–Varvarivka section, or will break through toward Pokrovske in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast from the south and southeast. At any moment, to exploit success, the 76th Air Assault Division or the 90th Tank Division of the 41st Combined Arms Army may be committed to the operation from the Oleksandrivka Direction. The enemy is capable of creating an operational breakthrough toward Novomykolayivka and of bypassing the Orikhiv defensive area from the north. Russian military command on the Southwestern Theater of Military Operations will attempt to collapse the defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to the southeast of Zaporizhzhia and break through to its approaches. To achieve this, it will simultaneously advance toward Zaporizhzhia both from the east, from Donetsk along the Donetsk–Zaporizhzhia highway, and from the south.
On the Orikhiv direction, the “Dnepr” Operational Grouping will attempt to break through along the left bank of the Dnipro River from the Plavni – Kamianske line toward Stepnohirsk and from the Stepove – Mali Shcherbaky line in the northern direction aiming to reach close approaches to the city of Zaporizhzhia.
On the Prydniprovske direction, the command of the enemy’s “Dnepr” Operational Grouping will continue trying to take control of most of the island zone in the Dnipro delta in the direction of Kherson, will try to create a tactical bridgehead on the right bank, and to eliminate the tactical bridgeheads of the 30th Marine Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces in the area of the automobile and railway bridges near Antonivka.
Russian operational losses from 24.02.22 to 03.12.25
Personnel - almost 1,176 230 (+1,200);
Tanks – 11,393 (+5);
Armored combat vehicles ‒ 23,682 (+3);
Artillery systems – 34,780 (+12);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,555 (+3);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,253 (0);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 68,688 (+47);
Aircraft - 430 (0);
Helicopters – 347 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 86,231 (+90);
Intercepted cruise and other missiles – 4,024 (0);
Boats/ships – 29 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
On the night of 3 December, Russian occupiers attacked Ukraine with 111 strike UAVs of the Shahed, Gerbera and other types, more than 60 of which were Shahed-type strike UAVs. As of 08:00, Ukrainian air defense had shot down and suppressed 83 enemy UAVs. Impacts of 27 strike UAVs were recorded at 13 locations, and debris fell at one location.
On the night of 3 December, because of a UAV strike on the city of Ternivka in the Pavlohrad District of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, two people were killed and another three were injured. A fire broke out in the city, one private house was partially destroyed and another six were damaged, garages and vehicles were damaged, and one vehicle was destroyed. As a result of a repeated strike on the city by a Russian drone, two miners were killed.
During the night of 3 December, as a result of a UAV strike in the Odesa District, a fire broke out at an energy infrastructure facility, where equipment was damaged. An employee of the facility was injured and was hospitalized in serious condition.
As a result of enemy strikes on energy facilities on the morning of 3 December, more than 17,500 consumers in Kharkiv Oblast, about 5,000 in Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts, as well as consumers in Kherson Oblast, were additionally left without power.
For about an hour and a half, the occupiers shelled the territory of the trolleybus depot in Kherson with artillery during the night of 3 December. As a result of the enemy shelling, the contact network, maintenence facilities and administrative building were damaged. Windows were shattered in 19 trolleybuses, their bodies were damaged, and electric transport is currently not operating in the city.
On 3 December, Russian forces carried out an airstrike on Sloviansk in Donetsk Oblast, dropping nine aerial bombs on the city. One of the bombs hit a multi-story building. As a result of the numerous strikes, at least eight people were injured, including two children. Impacts were recorded in several districts of the city, and several people were rescued from under the rubble.
In the evening of 3 December, the Russian army carried out a missile strike (preliminarily with an Iskander-M ballistic missile) on Kryvyi Rih, hitting an administrative building. As a result of the strike, four people were injured, including a three-year-old girl. Garages caught fire in the city, and many multi-story buildings were damaged.
In the Kherson community, the most difficult situation is in the coastal settlements; currently in the suburb of the Kherson, the settlement of Antonivka, 21 civilians remain; in the village of Sadove, up to 20; and in the Korabel (Ostriv) neighborhood, more than 220 residents. There is no heat or electricity, and shelling takes place constantly.
In the settlements of Donetsk Oblast where the forced evacuation of families with children is being carried out, 352 families remain, raising 410 children. In Kostyantynivka in Donetsk Oblast, 4,300 civilians remain, and evacuation from the city continues.
A study conducted on November 5-26 by Info Sapiens on behalf of the New Europe Center records changes in the perception of possible concessions over recent years.
A total of 51.4% of Ukrainians stated their intention to participate in protest actions if Ukraine makes unacceptable compromises during negotiations, while 44.3% are not ready to protest.
The least acceptable concessions are the legal recognition of the occupied territories as Russian (categorically opposed by 76.6%) and a reduction of the army (absolutely unacceptable for 77.9%).
A temporary renunciation of the occupied territories is considered absolutely unacceptable by 40.2% of Ukrainians, although this percentage has significantly decreased over two years (from 76.2%).
A renunciation of EU membership appears absolutely unacceptable for 51% of respondents, which even exceeds last year’s figure.
A renunciation of NATO membership is considered absolutely unacceptable by 41.1% of Ukrainians, and this percentage is also gradually decreasing.
At the same time, the percentage of Ukrainians who consider absolutely unacceptable a reduction in the amount of reparations, a renunciation of criminal prosecution of the leadership of the Russian Federation and the lifting of sanctions, is decreasing.