Russia’s war on Ukraine. 18.11.25
Operational situation
On the Northern Slobozhansky direction, Russian forces attacked south of Varachyne. The enemy attempts to use pipelines for surprise attacks.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Oleksiivka, Kindrativka, Andriivka.
On the Southern Slobozhansky direction, Russian forces attacked within and near Vovchansk, near Synelnykove, Khatnie, Milove, Obukhivka. The 9th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 18th Motorized Rifle Division of the 11th Army Corps fought for Dvorichanske, raising flags to simulate the capture of the settlement.
On the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces captured Kurylivka, fight for Sobolivka, attacked within and near Kupyansk, Kucherivka, Pishchane, Stepova Novoselivka, Kruhlyakivka, Zahryzove, Bohuslavka, Hrekivka, in the direction of Cherneshchyna.
Ukrainian Defense Forces clear the eastern part of Kupyansk, counterattacked within the city, near Velyka Shapkivka, Radkivka, Myrove, Podoly, Osynove, Hlushkivka, Sadove, Blahodativka. Units of the 10th Army Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold positions in the left-bank part of Kupyansk and in Podillya.
On the Lyman direction, Russian forces attacked in the direction of Lyman, Drobysheve, Korovyi Yar, Novoselivka, Novyi Mir, Karpivka, Stavky, Yampilivka, Terni, Zarichne, Maslyakivka, Yampil.
On the Sloviansk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattack south of Siversk.
The 7th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 3rd Combined Arms Army fights for Platonivka. Russian forces attacked near Siversk, Dronivka, Serebrianka, Vyimka, Fedorivka, Zvanivka.
On the Kostyantynivka direction, Russian forces attacked near Kostyantynivka, Mayske, Virolyubivka, Chasiv Yar, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Stupochky, Shcherbynivka, Ivanopillia, Pleshchiivka, Yablunivka, in the direction of Stepanivka, near Rusyn Yar, Poltavka, Volodymyrivka, Sofiivka, in the direction of Novopavlivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian forces attempted to advance northeast of and north of Pokrovsk, infiltrated Nove Shakhove, Ivanivka, deliver strikes on Ukrainian positions south of Kucheriv Yar, attacked near Vilne, Shakhove, Zapovidne, Maiak, Pokrovsk, Hryshyne, Rodynske, in the direction of Bilytske, near Novoekonomichne, Krasnyi Lyman, Fedorivka, Rivne, Myrnohrad, Sukhyi Yar, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, in the direction of Novopidhorodnie.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Shakhove, Hryshyne, Rivne, Myrnohrad, Svitle, deliver strikes on buildings captured by the enemy in the north of Pokrovsk.
On the Oleksandrivka direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces captured enemy soldiers in the eastern part of Novopavlivka, eliminated most of the enemy who broke into the vilalge earlier, clearing is complete.
Russian forces attempted to advance to the left bank of the Vovcha River on the eastern outskirts of Velykomykhailivka and northwest of Oleksandrohrad, north of Vovche, attacked near Novomykolayivka, Filiya, Dachne, Yalta, Zelenyi Hai, Andriivka-Klevtsove, Voskresenka, Vorone, Sosnivka, Stepove, Verbove.
On the Huliaypole direction, assault groups of the 36th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 29th Combined Arms Army infiltrated the center of Hai, attempted to advance north of Danylivka, east of Nechayivka, Radisne, Novе Zaporizhzhia, north and west of Hai and cut the T0401 Pokrovske–Huliaypole highway, attacked near Ternuvate, Dobropillya, in the direction of Varvarivka, Rivnopillya, Solodke, Pavlivka, Pryvilne, Krasnohirske, Zlahoda, Vesele, Vysoke, in the direction of Zatyshshya. The Aerospace Forces of the Russian Armed Forces deliver glide-bomb strikes on the Pokrovske–Ternuvate–Zaliznychne line.
Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out a strike on the bridge on the Huliaypole–Uspenivka road with a GBU-62 JDAM-ER guided bomb.
On the Orikhiv direction, Russian forces advanced on the southeastern outskirts of Orikhiv, attacked near Bilohirya, Stepnohirsk, Prymorske.
Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold Mala Tokmachka.
On the Prydniprovske direction, Russian forces attacked near the Antonivskyi Bridge, continue to deliver strikes on areas of the city of Kherson.
Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out strikes on Anti-Aircraft Missile System Buk-M positions near Uliyanivka and on Anti-Aircraft Missile System Osa positions near Novokyivka.
General conclusion:
On the Kostyantynivka direction, Russian forces changed tactics and now deploy aircraft and use glide bombs with UMPK to deliver strikes on Ukrainian energy and civilian infrastructure in the near rear.
Russian forces try to pin down Ukrainian troops in Pokrovsk and encircle them on the Pokrovsk–Myrnohrad bridgehead. Units of the 2nd and 51st Combined Arms Armies try to close the encirclement of the Ukrainian Defense Forces’ bridgehead from the southwest and northeast of Pokrovsk respectively.
Enemy troops of the 2nd Combined Arms Army northeast of Pokrovsk attempt to attack simultaneously in several directions, primarily around Dobropillya, and the 51st Combined Arms Army attacks to the southwest, trying to capture Rodynske.
Enemy marine units attack southeast of Dobropillya in the direction of Sofiivka and Novopavlivka. Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattack near Dobropillya.
Russian forces will succeed in capturing Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, although the timing and operational consequences remain unclear.
The continuing Ukrainian presence in northern Pokrovsk forces small Russian infantry groups in this area to conduct combat operations under conditions of tactical encirclement. The small-group infiltration tactic does not allow concentrating enough troops to clear Pokrovsk of Ukrainian forces.
Change in the line of contact (LoC):
There were 151 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, 7 combat engagements took place.
On the Southern Slobozhansky direction, the enemy assaulted the positions of Ukrainian Defense Forces 6 times near Vovchansk and toward Dvorichanske.
On the Kupyansk direction, 3 enemy attacks occurred. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled the enemy’s assault actions in the areas of Pishchane and Stepova Novoselivka.
On the Lyman direction, the enemy attacked 9 times, attempting to advance near Novyi Myr, Zarichne, and Drobysheve.
On the Sloviansk direction, the enemy attacked 10 times in the areas of Dronivka, Serebrianka, Siversk, and Fedorivka.
On the Kostyantynivka direction, the enemy carried out 22 attacks in the areas of Stupochky, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Shcherbynivka, Oleksandro-Shultyne, Rusyn Yar, Yablunivka, and toward Kostyantynivka and Sofiivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, 40 assault and offensive actions of the aggressor were stopped in the areas of Maiak, Fedorivka, Rodynske, Chervonyi Lyman, Lysivka, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, and Dachne.
On the Oleksandrivka direction, the enemy attacked 13 times in the areas of Zelenyi Hai, Vorone, Sosnivka, Berezove, Krasnohirske, and Pershotravneve.
On the Huliaypole Direction, the enemy attacked 10 times in the areas of Solodke, Rivnopillya, Yablukove, and Zelenyi Hai.
On the Orikhiv Direction, the occupiers advanced toward Prymorske.
On the Prydniprovske direction, the enemy made two unsuccessful attempts to approach the positions of Ukrainian Defense Forces.
Supporting operation:
Ukrainian Defense Forces conducted a UAV strike on the Chaikino electrical substation, the Zuiivska and Starobeshivska TPPs.
A Ukrainian Defense Intelligence unit hit a Tor-M1 SAM system, a 55k6 command post of an S-400 Anti-Aircraft Missile Battalion, and a 9s18M1-3 radar of a Buk-M3 Anti-Aircraft Missile Battalion in Donetsk Oblast with a UAV.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
The 20th CBRN Defense Brigade of the Leningrad Military District delivers strikes with heavy flamethrower systems on Ukrainian positions in Kharkiv Oblast. The 83rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 69th Motorized Rifle Division of the 6th Combined Arms Army delivers UAV strikes on Ukrainian troops near Khatnie.
The 121st Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 68th Motorized Rifle Division of the 6th Combined Arms Army operates in Kupyansk.
The 9th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 18th Motorized Rifle Division of the 11th Army Corps operates near Yampil, and the 164th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 25th Combined Arms Army operates near Starodubivka.
The 27th Artillery Regiment of the 6th Motorized Rifle Division of the 3rd Army Corps and the 7th Military Base of the 49th Combined Arms Army deliver UAV strikes on Ukrainian troops north of Kostyantynivka.
The 68th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Combined Arms Army delivers UAV strikes on Ukrainian troops in Rayske, the 57th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the division operates south of Kucheriv Yar, the 5th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 51st Combined Arms Army operates in Myrnohrad, and the 506th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 27th Motorized Rifle Division of the 2nd Combined Arms Army operates in Pokrovsk.
The 4th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 3rd Combined Arms Army fights in Ivanopillya but did not capture any Ukrainian fortifications.
The 400th Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment of the 90th Tank Division of the 41st Combined Arms Army delivers strikes on Ukrainian troops near Novopavlivka, and the 14th Separate SOF Brigade operates in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
The 127th Motorized Rifle Division of the 5th Combined Arms Army clears tree lines west and north of Rivnopillya.
The 42nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 58th Combined Arms Army and the 7th Air Assault Division fight for Mala Tokmachka, and the 247th Air Assault Regiment of the 7th Air Assault Division fights in Stepnohirsk.
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 end of 2025, 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 Kupyansk direction, the enemy’s 6th Army troops will be bypassing Kupyansk as deeply as possible in the general direction of the Chuhuiv– Kupyansk highway and will fight for the area of Mala Shapkivka–Velyka Shapkivka–Kindrashivka–Tyshchenkivka.
On the Lyman direction, the troops of the enemy’s 20th Combined Arms Army will attempt to reach the Siverskyi Donets River along the widest possible front, cut all main routes that do not cross the river, and block the town of Lyman from the northwest, for which they will advance toward the area of Yarova–Novoselivka–Drobysheve–Pryshyb. Ukrainian Defense Forces’ 11th Army Corps will continue to defend along the Novoselivka–Stavky line.
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–Novoolenivka line.
The command of the “Tsentr (Center)” Operational Grouping has clearly sensed the possibility of a relatively organized withdrawal of Ukrainian Defense Forces from the encirclement the enemy is creating, particularly from Myrnohrad. To prevent this, the aggressor is making efforts to achieve a deeper envelopment of the Pokrovsk defense area from the west, advancing north from the Udachne–Kotlyne line and attempting to break through toward Hryshyne. A withdrawal of Defense Forces elements from Myrnohrad to the Dobropillya area could affect the overall situation regarding its bridgehead west of the Kazennyi Torets. To prevent deterioration of the situation, the 51st Combined Arms Army will urgently organize and conduct counterattacks in the areas of Ivanivka and Nove Shakhove.
On the Oleksandrivka direction, the main operational-tactical objective of the command of the enemy’s “Vostok (East)” Operational Grouping is to envelop the Huliaypole defensive area from the north and block its main lines of communication, primarily from the Pokrovske side. The enemy will try to break through to the Khaychur River and to the Huliaypole–Pokrovske road on the Dobropillya–Varvarivka section and will attempt to reach Pokrovske directly from the southeast with the forces of the 36th Combined Arms Army and the right flank of the 5th Combined Arms Army.
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.
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 23.02.22 to 18.11.25
Personnel - almost 1,160 380 (+960);
Tanks – 11,355 (0);
Armored combat vehicles ‒ 23,594 (0);
Artillery systems – 34,499 (+13);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,545 (+1);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,247 (+1);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 67,579 (+43);
Aircraft - 428 (0);
Helicopters – 347 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 81,793 (+294);
Intercepted cruise and other missiles – 3,940 (0);
Boats/ships – 29 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
Starting in the evening of 17 November Russian occupiers attacked Ukraine with four Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 114 strike UAVs of the Shahed, Gerbera, and other types, about 70 of which were Shaheds. As of 08:30, Ukrainian air defense had shot down or suppressed 101 enemy UAVs. Four missiles and 13 strike UAVs hit 15 locations, and debris from downed UAVs fell in two locations.
During the night, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation struck energy facilities in four Ukrainian oblasts: Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, Kherson, and Donetsk.
The enemy launched missile strikes on the city of Berestyn in Kharkiv Oblast, killing 17-year-old Ukrainian and European kickboxing champion Karina Bakhur, who sustained severe injuries, and injuring nine others, including a 16-year-old boy. Seven of the injured were hospitalized with blast injuries, and two others suffered an acute stress reaction.
At night, Russian UAVs struck the railway station and suburban depot in the city of Dnipro, which services regional passenger electric trains. The depot’s main repair shop suffered critical destruction, and the station was damaged, but there were no casualties. The enemy also struck several railway stations in Kharkiv Oblast, damaging wagons and infrastructure at four stations, and a railway worker was injured in Berestyn. Train routes in the oblast were changed.
As a result of the night Russian shelling, all districts of Kherson were partially without power.
Around 14:00 at the entrance to Novovorontsovka in Kherson Oblast, Russians attacked a municipal service vehicle with a drone. A 61-year-old municipal worker was killed. His 50-year-old colleague sustained blast injuries and a concussion and is now in hospital.
As a result of Russian drone attacks during the night of 18 November in Horodnia, Chernihiv Oblast, two women aged 75 and 72 were killed. Homes were damaged.
The Russian army attacked Vozdvyzhivka in Zaporizhzhia Oblast with guided aerial bombs and wounded two men. Private houses and outbuildings were destroyed and damaged.
On Monday evening, Russian forces attacked Dnipro with drones, causing fires and wounding two people. Several trains departed late, windows at the station were blown out by the blast wave, the region was partially without power, and the building of the regional editorial office of “Suspilne” public broadcaster and Ukrainian Radio Dnipro was damaged.
Mandatory evacuation of families with children has been ordered from Komyshuvakha in the Kramatorsk community, Donetsk Oblast.
The Russian army struck Nikopol, Pavlohrad, and Synelnykove districts of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast during the day, injuring seven people and damaging civilian objects.
In Kherson Oblast during the day, two civilians were killed and three wounded due to shelling. The enemy attacked with aviation, artillery, and drones.
During the assault on the southeastern outskirts of Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, on 10 November 2025, the Russian command ordered occupiers to use civilians as a “human shield.” Around 14:30, the commander of one Russian Armed Forces unit instructed subordinates entering Pokrovsk to lead a detained man, a woman, and a 13-year-old child ahead of them during the “clearing” of residential areas. According to preliminary data from the SBU and Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor’s Office, these actions, which violate international humanitarian law, were carried out by the 1st Motorized Rifle Battalion of the 506th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the Russian Armed Forces.