Russia's war on Ukraine. 08.11.24

Operational situation

In the operational zone of the Ukrainian Operational Group of Forces (OTG) "Kharkiv" three enemy assaults occurred in the Vovchansk area on the Kharkiv direction.

In the "Khortytsia" Operational-Strategic Group of Forces (OSG) operational zone on the Kupyansk direction, there were 12 recorded Russian attacks. Ukrainian Defense Forces countered enemy offensive actions toward Petropavlivka, Kruhlyakivka, Kindrashivka, Kolisnykivka, and Lozova. On the Lyman direction. the enemy launched 17 attacks, in some cases supported by assault and bomber aviation, focusing its main efforts around Druzhelyubivka, Hrekivka, Makiivka, Katerynivka, Terny, Torske, Serebrianka, Bilohorivka, and Hryhorivka. One enemy attack was repelled near Pereyizne on the Siversk direction. On the Kramatorsk direction, occupiers launched 7 attacks in the areas of Stupochky and Bila Hora. On the Toretsk direction, the enemy, supported by aviation, conducted 7 attacks near Toretsk.

In the "Tavriya" OSG operational zone, on the Pokrovsk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces stopped 24 Russian offensive actions in the areas of Myrolyubivka, Promin, Lysivka, Krutyi Yar, Hryhorivka, Sukhyi Yar, and Selydove. On the Kurakhove direction, Ukrainian defense forces repelled 50 attacks, with the enemy focusing its main efforts around Illinka, Novoselydivka, Kreminna Balka, Novodmytrivka, Sontsivka, Maksymilianivka, Antonivka, Dalnie, and Katerynivka. On the Vremivka direction, the enemy carried out 5 assaults near Trudove, Rozlyv, and Sukhi Yaly.

In the operational zone of "Odesa" OSG on the Prydniprovskyi direction, Russian invaders attacked 3 times, faced strong resistance, and suffered losses.

General conclusion:

• The enemy is attempting to advance on the Vremivka and Kurakhove directions, continuing preparations to assault Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, while losing momentum and decreasing activity on all other fronts.

• The Russian occupation authorities form pseudo-civilian "volunteer battalions" in the territories under their control, merging these with existing Cossack organizations, also under their management, to simulate popular support. These Cossack groups are used as reserves for the Russian Armed Forces and as a militarized occupation police force.

• The enemy is deploying K-51 and RG-VO grenades equipped with hazardous chemical agents, which are classified as anti-riot tools and prohibited for use in warfare. In October, the enemy used chemical weapons 323 times.

Change in the line of contact (LoC):

• There were 147 combat engagements on various fronts.

• On the Kursk Direction, fighting continued around Novoivanovka, Daryino, and Plekhovo, but with no changes to the front line. The enemy launched airstrikes on the "Siversk" OTG positions in the Cherkasskoe Porechie area.

• On the Kharkiv direction, Russian forces continued their offensive near Vovchansk and Starytsia but did not make any advances.

• "Kharkiv" OSG reclaimed approximately 400 hectares of wooded areas in the northern part of the Oblast.

• On the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces pursued offensive actions around Synkivka, Petropavlivka, Kucherivka, Kruhlyakivka, Kolisnykivka, Lozova, Druzhelyubivka, and Hrekivka.

• On the Lyman direction, Russian forces attacked near Makiivka, Katerynivka, Torske, Terny, Serebrianka, and Dibrova.  

• On the Siversk direction, Russian forces moved south of Verkhnyokamianske, northwest of Zolotarivka, and into the northern outskirts of Ivano-Dariivka, continuing their offensive actions in the areas of Bilohorivka, Hryhorivka, and Pereyizne. The 123rd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 3rd Combined Arms Army made an unsuccessful assault on Ukrainian Defense Forces positions near Bilohorivka, resulting in significant personnel, tank, and infantry fighting vehicle losses.

• On the Kramatorsk direction, Russian forces attacked in Chasiv Yar and near Stupochky, Bila Hora, and Klishchiivka.

• On the Toretsk direction, Russian forces unsuccessfully attempted to attack Toretsk and areas near Dyliivka and Shcherbynivka.

• On the Pokrovsk direction, the 80th Tank Regiment of the 90th Tank Division, part of the 41st Combined Arms Army, captured Novooleksiivka. Russian forces advanced southeast of Lysivka and west of Hryhorivka, continuing assaults around Myrolyubivka, Promin, Novooleksiivka, Selydove, Krutyi Yar, Novohrodivka, Sukhyi Yar, and Lysivka.

• On the Kurakhove direction, Russian forces advanced in the northern areas of Novoselydivka and Illinka, on the western outskirts of Novodmytrivka, and south of Kreminna Balka, and continued their attacks on Kurakhove, as well as near Novodmytrivka, Kreminna Balka, Sontsivka, and Maksymilianivka.

• On the Vremivka direction, Russian forces captured Maksymivka, moved further north of the village, advanced northwest of Vodyane, and continued their offensive near Antonivka, Katerynivka, Dalnie, Trudove, and Maksymivka. The 33rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division, of the 8th Combined Arms Army, captured Antonivka.

• On the Orikhiv direction, Russian forces moved northeast of Nesteryanka and continued their advance near Novoandriivka.

• In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, the enemy naval group on combat duty consists of:

  • Black Sea: 1 ship, 1 including cruise missile carrier; the total salvo is 4 cruise missiles.

  • Mediterranean Sea: 1 ship, 1 including cruise missile carrier; the total salvo is 8 cruise missiles.

Changes in the enemy disposition:

• On the Kramatorsk direction, there are 1-2 battalions from the 102nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 150th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Combined Arms Army, redeployed from the Kurakhove direction. In total, Russian forces have concentrated up to 48,000 military personnel, 212 tanks, and 834 armored fighting vehicles on the Kramatorsk direction. In reserve, they have the 217th Airborne Regiment of the 98th Airborne Division, minus 1-2 battalions, along with two unspecified motorized rifle regiments, up to three reserve battalions, 10 tanks, and 80 armored fighting vehicles, of which up to 50% are reported to be non-operational.

• On the Toretsk direction, Russian forces have approximately 21,000 military personnel, up to 50 tanks, and 240 armored fighting vehicles. They have only one battalion in reserve, one from the 132nd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 51st Combined Arms Army.

• Assault units from the 39th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 68th Army Corps are active south of Yelyzavetivka, while the 143rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 127th Motorized Rifle Division of the 5th Combined Arms Army is advancing toward Vremivka.

Possible operation situation developments:

• The enemy's military command in the theater of operations until March 2025 will create conditions to achieve the military-political goal of the Special Military Operation: reaching the administrative borders of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts and the junction of Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk Oblasts near the village of Temyrivka.

• The command of the enemy's "Zapad (West”) Operational Grouping will intensify efforts on the Lyman direction to ensure the advance of the 25th Combined Arms Army to the Borova–Lyman line. The goal is to assist in the elimination of the Siversk bridgehead held by the Ukrainian Defense Forces and create favorable conditions for the eventual capture of the Slovyansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration by the end of this year.

• If the enemy manages to advance to the Chervone–Stupochky line on the Kramatorsk direction and simultaneously begins intensive northward attacks at the junction of its 41st and 51st Armies from the Novooleksandrivka–Arkhanhelske line, reaching the Yablunivka–Oleksandro-Kalynove line on the Toretsk direction, then the "Khortytsia" OSG will be forced to withdraw towards Kostyantynivka.

• The expected sequence of enemy actions for capturing Pokrovsk is as follows: first, the 90th Tank Division of the 41st Combined Arms Army and the 27th Motorized Rifle Division of the 2nd Combined Arms Army will break through to the area south of Pokrovsk. Afterward, the main forces of the 2nd and 41st Combined Arms Armies will advance from the direction of Mykolaivka toward Myrnohrad (via Promin). Another possible maneuver could involve an advance from Hrodivka toward Novoekonomichne, with attempts to break through along the railway directly to Pokrovsk from the direction of Novohrodivka. Simultaneous operations are unlikely, as this would require allocating part of the 2nd Combined Arms Army to reinforce the 27th Motorized Rifle Division and to block or capture the Lysivka–Sukhy Yar area, weakening the “Tsentr (Center)” Operational Grouping on its main offensive line.

• The enemy is preparing for the final stage of the Kurakhove operation: forces and assets on the left flank of "Tsentr (Center)" Operational Grouping in coordination with the 8th Army of "Yug (South)" Operational Grouping will attempt not only to envelope Kurakhove but also to break through to the area around Andriivka along both banks of the Vovcha River. Simultaneously, forces of "Vostok (East)" Operational Grouping advancing from the south to the north will try to break through to Rozlyv and Konstyantynopil.

• With the current pace of the enemy's offensive on the Vremivka direction, the encirclement of Kurakhove from the south can be expected by November 10.

• By the end of this year, the enemy will not only fail to occupy Donetsk Oblast within its administrative borders but also will be unable to seize the "fortress belt" of Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka-Kramatorsk-Slovyansk. The upcoming battle for Pokrovsk will be the climax of the enemy's offensive operation in the Southwestern Theater of Operations in 2024. October and partially November become the moment of maximum tension for both sides in the entire 2024 campaign.

Russian operational losses from 24.02.22 to 08.11.24  

Personnel - almost 705,880 (+1,580); 

Tanks 9,233 (+9);

Armored combat vehicles – 18,661 (+49); 

Artillery systems – 20,226 (+32);

Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,245 (0);

Anti-aircraft warfare systems - 996 (0);

Vehicles and fuel tanks – 28,495 (+84);

Aircraft - 369 (0);

Helicopters – 329 (0);

UAV operational and tactical level – 18,526 (+118);

Intercepted cruise missiles – 2,631 (0)

Boats/ships – 29 (0).

Humanitarian + general:

• During the night of November 8, Russian forces struck Ukraine with an Iskander-M ballistic missile, four guided X-59/69 air missiles, and 92 attack drones. As of 9:00 am, 62 drones and all four guided missiles had been confirmed shot down, while 26 enemy drones were reported lost in various regions of Ukraine.

• Following a large-scale drone attack on Odesa, several people were injured, and a school along with private residences sustained damage, with fires breaking out in several locations. Two gas pipelines were depressurized and caught fire. Two people were reported injured: one in Odesa and another in a nearby suburb. In addition, one person died, and nine others were wounded in Russian strikes on Odesa Oblast.

• Explosions were heard in central and residential areas of Kharkiv during the night of November 8, as Russian forces attacked the city with precision-guided bombs. A multi-story residential building was partially destroyed, with 25 people injured, including an infant. Multiple floors of the building were damaged, and people remain trapped under the debris.

• Early on November 8, Russian forces launched another missile attack on Kyiv Oblast. Four people were injured by debris from intercepted targets. The injured were drivers in vehicles near the impact site.

• Throughout the day, Russian attacks targeted the Nikopol and Kryvyi Rih districts of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, injuring a 42-year-old woman. Infrastructure, an industrial facility, a social institution, a car, a minibus, and a truck were damaged, and a power line was affected.

• In the evening of November 8, a Russian ballistic missile strike targeted critical infrastructure in Sumy Oblast. Emergency and rescue services are working on-site, and the damage is being assessed.

• In Sumy Oblast, approximately 20,000 civilians still need to be evacuated from border villages. So far, 39,000 people have been evacuated, including 7,000 children, with most evacuees remaining within Sumy Oblast, according to Volodymyr Artyukh, head of Sumy Regional Military Administration.

• Today, the remains of 563 fallen defenders have been returned to Ukraine, including 320 from the Donetsk front and 89 from the Bakhmut front. Additionally, the remains of 154 Ukrainian soldiers were retrieved from morgues on Russian territory. However, Russia has not returned the body of Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna, who died while in Russian captivity.