Russia’s war on Ukraine. 21.11.25
Operational situation
On the Northern Slobozhansky direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Oleksiivka, Andriivka and Varachyne.
The 22nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 72nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 44th Army Corps is regrouping in Bolshoe Soldatskoe; its assault units are staffed at 90% but have poor training.
On the Southern Slobozhansky direction, Russian forces attempted to advance south of Vovchansk, in the northwestern part of Vilcha, north of Lyman, attacked near Synelnykove, Milove, Ambarne, Khatnie, Odradne, Kamyanka, Dvorichanske, in the direction of Kolodyazne.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked in the Milove–Khatnie area, clearing Dvorichanske.
On the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces attacked in the direction of Kutkivka, near Petropavlivka, Pishchane, Stepova Novoselivka, in the direction of Novoosynove, Bohuslavka, Novoplatonivka, Shyikivka, near Nadiia, Hrekivka, Druzhelyubivka, Novoyehorivka, and attempted to advance east of and within the eastern part of Borivska Andriivka.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Kupyansk, Kutkivka, Holubivka, Blahodativka, Osynove, took control of enemy infiltration routes into Kupyansk from the north, and cleared the northwestern outskirts of Kupyansk.
On the Lyman direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces struck enemy positions in the southeastern part of Lyman.
Russian forces advanced in the south of Lyman, in the center and east of Yampil, attacked near Serednie, Drobysheve, Shandryholove, Novoselivka, in the direction of Oleksandrivka, near Zelena Dolyna, Novyi Myr, Karpivka, Stavky, Myrne, Kolodyazi and Zarichne.
On the Sloviansk direction, Russian forces advanced in the center and southeastern part of Siversk, captured up to 25% of the city, advanced on the southern bank of the Siverskyi Donets River north of Platonivka, near Dronivka, Vyimka, Ivano-Dariivka, attacked in the direction of Zakytne, Dibrova, near Serebrianka, Verkhnyokamianske, Pereyizne, Fedorivka, Zvanivka, and are trying to secure positions on the northern outskirts of Siversk, clearing roads in the settlement to prepare new assaults.
On the Kostyantynivka direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces advanced in the southeastern part of Kostyantynivka, struck targets north of Ivanopillya.
Russian forces attacked near and inside Kostyantynivka, in the direction of Virolyubivka, Bilokuzmynivka, near Minkivka, Novomarkove, Chasiv Yar, Stupochky, Predtechyne, Bila Hora, Shcherbynivka, Pleshchiivka, Ivanopillya, Oleksandro-Shultyne, Kleban-Byk, Toretsk, Yablunivka, in the direction of Stepanivka, near Rusyn Yar, Sofiivka, Volodymyrivka and Novoolenivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian forces attempted to advance near Shakhove, Zatyshok, attacked near Novo Shakhove, Pankivka, Zaporizhzhia, near and inside Pokrovsk, Krasnyi Lyman, Novoekonomichne, Balahan, Myrnohrad, Lysivka, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, infiltrated southeast of Rivne near the T0504 Pokrovsk–Kostyantynivka highway, attempted to advance north of Pokrovsk, southwest of Rodynske, and to the southeastern outskirts of Hryshyne.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Hryshyne.
On the Oleksandrivka direction, Russian forces advanced along the T0428 Novopavlivka–Dachne highway in the north of Novopavlivka and south of the settlement, attacked near Novoserhiyivka, Novomykolayivka, Filiya, Dachne, Zelenyi Hai, Oleksandrohrad, Sosnivka, Vorone, Stepove, Verbove, in the direction of Vidradne, near Tykhe.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Tykhe, Vidradne, Hai.
On the Huliaypole direction, Russian forces are fighting for Zatyshshya, attempting to advance north of the village, attacked near Yehorivka, Yablukove, Rivnopillya, in the direction of Zelenyi, Varvarivka, Radisne, Novo Zaporizhzhia, near Solodke, Krasnohirske, Rybne, Pryvilne, Zlahoda, Zelenyi Hai, Vysoke.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Radisne, Huliaypole, Novo Zaporizhzhia.
On the Orikhiv direction, Russian forces attacked near Stepnohirsk, Kamianske, Novoandriivka, Stepove, Prymorske.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Mala Tokmachka.
General conclusion:
The enemy’s attacks to the northeast of Velykyi Burluk near Milove and Khatnie are aimed at supporting its ability to use heavy equipment in attacks on Kupyansk, since Russian forces have not been able to move it across the Oskil River. The occupiers are attempting to seize Ukrainian positions on the eastern bank of Kupyansk and cut Ukrainian logistics on the eastern bank with airstrikes.
On the Lyman direction, the Russian military command is deploying UAV positions close to infantry positions on the front line, recently deployed artillery on the right bank of the Chornyi Zherebets River under cover of poor weather conditions, which allowed them to strike deeper into the Ukrainian rear, increased their intensity, but do not have enough ammunition.
In the western part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast Russian forces are building up their grouping and increasingly using unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) but cannot control them at long distances due to communication problems.
Change in the line of contact (LoC):
There were 173 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, one combat engagement occurred.
On the Southern Slobozhansky direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 6 enemy attacks in the areas of Synelnykove, Vovchansk and toward Kolodyazne.
On the Kupyansk direction, 6 attacks by the occupiers took place. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled assault actions in the areas of Kupyansk and toward Pishchane and Novoplatonivka.
On the Lyman direction, the enemy attacked 10 times, attempting to advance near Novoyehorivka, Hrekivka, Shandryholove, Myrne, Kolodyazi and Novoselivka.
On the Sloviansk direction, 15 assaults by occupation forces were repelled near Serebrianka, Dronivka, Siversk, Vyimka, Pereyizne and toward Zvanivka.
On the Kostyantynivka direction, the enemy carried out 29 attacks toward Predtechyne, Stupochky, in the areas of Novomarkove, Chasiv Yar, Oleksandro-Shultyne, Shcherbynivka, Pleshchiivka, Kleban-Byk, Yablunivka, Rusyn Yar and toward Sofiivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, 59 combat engagements occurred in the areas of Volodymyrivka, Nykanorivka, Rodynske, Chervonyi Lyman, Novoekonomichne, Pokrovsk, Lysivka, Udachne, Molodetske, Novoserhiyivka, Filiya, Dachne and toward Novopavlivka.
On the Oleksandrivka direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces stopped 19 attempts by the enemy to break through their defensive lines in the areas of Zelenyi Hai, Pryvilne, Sosnivka, Sichneve, Stepove, Rybne and Krasnohirske.
On the Huliaypole Direction, the aggressor attempted 10 times to advance in the areas of Yablukove and Rivnopillya.
On the Orikhiv Direction, 4 enemy attacks were repelled near Kamianske and toward Stepnohirsk and Prymorske.
On the Prydniprovske direction, the enemy made an unsuccessful attempt to approach Ukrainian positions toward the Antonivskyi Bridge.
Supporting operation:
Ukrainian Defense Forces delivered UAV airstrikes on targets in the area of Feodosia and Saky, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
The 128th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 44th Army Corps is operating in Vovchansk, the 82nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 69th Motorized Rifle Division of the 6th Combined Arms Army is active in Synelnykove and between Synelnykove and Vilcha, the 83rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the division is engaged near Khatnie, the 11th Tank Regiment of the 18th Motorized Rifle Division of the 11th Army Corps carries out UAV strikes on Ukrainian troops near Hlyboke.
The 58th Separate SOF Battalion of the 51st Combined Arms Army and the 1008th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 6th Motorized Rifle Division of the 3rd Army Corps strike Ukrainian positions in Kostyantynivka, the 68th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Combined Arms Army fights near Sofiyivka and Novopavlivka.
The 35th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 41st Combined Arms Army, the 1st Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 51st Combined Arms Army, and the 24th Separate SOF Brigade operate on the Pokrovsk direction, the 5th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade and the 56th Separate SOF Battalion of the 51st Combined Arms Army are engaged near Myrnohrad.
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 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 21.11.25
Personnel - almost 1,163 170 (+1,050);
Tanks – 11,357 (0);
Armored combat vehicles ‒ 23,600 (+3);
Artillery systems – 34m550 (+20);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,546 (0);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,247 (0);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 67,768 (+65);
Aircraft - 428 (0);
Helicopters – 347 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 82,620 (+150);
Intercepted cruise and other missiles – 3,981 (+41);
Boats/ships – 29 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
During the night of 21 November, Russia attacked with 115 strike unmanned aerial vehicles, about 70 of which were Shaheds. According to preliminary data, by 09:00 Ukrainian Air Defense Forces had shot down or suppressed 95 enemy UAVs. Nineteen strike UAV impacts were recorded across 12 locations, and debris fell in four more locations.
On the evening of 20 November, the Russian army attacked Zaporizhzhia, killing five people and injuring eight. At least five apartment buildings, a shop and a market were damaged, and several commercial pavilions were destroyed.
In the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, one woman was killed and two more people were injured when Russia attacked the Vasylkivka and Pokrovske communities of the Synelnykove District with UAVs during the night of 21 November. The injured were hospitalized in moderate condition. The attack caused fires, destroyed three private houses, damaged two others, and destroyed an outbuilding and a car, while a minibus was damaged.
Starting early on 21 November, Russian forces attacked Odesa and the surrounding oblast with UAVs, injuring seven people in total, including two during a daytime strike. The attacks caused extensive destruction to civilian infrastructure and residential buildings in several districts of the city. Thirty-two private houses were damaged, two homes were completely destroyed, at least 150 windows were shattered, and 22 entrance doors and nine roofs were damaged. As of 11:00, the attack was still ongoing, with further instances of falling debris and non-detonating impacts being reported.
Russian occupiers struck the village of Preobrazhenka in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast with an FPV drone, injuring a 49-year-old woman.
Throughout 21 November, the Russian army attacked the Nikopol District in the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast with UAVs and artillery. Explosions were heard in the communities of Nikopol, Pokrovske, Marhanets, Myrove and Chervonohryhorivka. Two men were killed and five people were injured. The attacks caused fires at a farm and in a private home, damaged infrastructure, four apartment buildings and seven private houses, and destroyed another home completely.
During the day, the Russian army struck repair crews working in the Lozova community of the Kharkiv Oblast with Shaheds. The head of the Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, Oleh Syniehubov, said that attacks on the energy system take place almost every day and night.
On 21 November, Russian forces attacked civilians in Kherson with UAVs, injuring three people. At around 09:15 in the Korabelnyi District, a 56-year-old woman and a 57-year-old man suffered concussive and blast injuries. A Russian UAV also struck a municipal vehicle, injuring a 51-year-old man, who sustained mine-blast injuries, a closed head trauma and a concussion.
On 20 November, a Russian FPV drone struck an evacuation vehicle belonging to a humanitarian mission near Lyman in the Donetsk Oblast. Inside were Radio Liberty correspondent Serhii Horbatenko, a volunteer from the United States and two police officers. The vehicle burned completely, and the volunteer driving sustained shrapnel wounds to the face. The vehicle carried humanitarian mission insignia.
On the evening of 20 November, Russian UAVs struck the territory of an agricultural enterprise in the Lebedyn community of the Sumy Oblast, damaging non-residential buildings and agricultural machinery.
As a result of a Russian strike on civilian facilities in Ternopil during the night of 19 November, a seven-year-old Polish citizen, Amelia Grześko, and her mother Oksana were killed.
During the night, the enemy struck energy facilities in several oblasts, leaving consumers in the Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk Oblasts without power by morning. According to “Ukrenergo,” electricity consumption remains high. As of 08:00 on 21 November, it was 2.1% higher than at the same time the previous day.