Russia's war on Ukraine. 26.11.24
Operational situation
In the operational zone of the Ukrainian Operational Group of Forces (OTG) "Kharkiv" on the Kharkiv direction, the occupiers conducted 5 unsuccessful assaults on Ukrainian positions in the areas of Vovchansk, Kudiyivka, and Kozacha Lopan, actively employing bomber and assault aviation for strikes.
In the "Khortytsia" Operational-Strategic Group of Forces (OSG) operational zone on the Kupyansk direction, 23 enemy attacks took place. Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled assault actions near Novomlynsk, Kolisnykivka, Zahryzove, Synkivka, Lozova, Kruhlyakivka, and Zelenyi Hai. On the Lyman direction, the invaders attacked Ukrainian defenders' positions 11 times, attempting to penetrate defenses near Hrekivka, Novoyehorivka, Yampolivka, and Torske. On the Kramatorsk directions, the occupiers launched 4 attacks in the areas of Chasiv Yar and Stupochky. On the Toretsk directions, enemy forces conducted 6 assaults on positions near Toretsk, Dachne, and Shcherbynivka.
In the "Tavriya" OSG operational zone, on the Pokrovsk direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces halted 51 enemy offensive actions in the areas of Myrolyubivka, Promin, Lysivka, Hryhorivka, Petrivka, Dachenske, Pushkyne, and Pustynka. On the Kurakhove direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 46 attacks, with the occupiers most actively attempting to advance near Sontsivka, Berestky, Zoria, Novodmytrivka, Dalnie, Kurakhove, Uspenivka, Yelyzavetivka, and Hannivka. On the Vremivka direction, the enemy conducted 13 assaults in the areas of Rivnopil, Novodaryivka, Konstyantynopil, and Sukhi Yaly. On the Orikhiv direction, the enemy attacked Ukrainian defenders' positions twice near Novoandriivka.
In the operational zone of "Odesa" OSG on the Prydniprovskyi direction, the invaders unsuccessfully attempted 3 times to displace Ukrainian Defense Forces units from their positions.
General conclusion:
The loss of Velyka Novosilka would have a significant detrimental impact on the Defense Forces' ability to maintain their defense at the junction of the administrative borders of the Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
The capture of Velyka Novosilka, an important logistical hub for Ukrainian Defense Forces, would enable Russian troops to operate more actively in the areas of Huliaypole and Orikhiv, as well as establish better positions for an offensive toward the southeastern part of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
The Russian military command has several potential courses of action: advancing west along the H15 highway toward the Andriivka–Konstyantynopil line from Kurakhove, and bypass Velyka Novosilka and cut off "Tavriya" OSG’s logistics.
Change in the line of contact (LoC):
There were 191 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Kursk direction, Russian forces continue clearing areas around Daryino, advancing near Tolstyi Lug, Novoivanovka, south of Zelionyi Put, toward Nizhniy Klin, and near Cherkasskoe Porechie and Plekhovo.
The "Siversk" OTG counterattacked from Leonidovo toward Novoivanovka, near Nova Sorochina, and west of Pogrebki. Ukrainian Defense Forces launched an ATACMS missile strike on the Khalino airfield near Kursk, destroying an S-400 radar system near Bolshoe Zhirovo.
On the Kharkiv direction, Russian forces advanced near Kozacha Lopan, Kudiyivka, Vovchansk, and Tykhe. These new attacks along the border aim to pin down Ukrainian units in northern Kharkiv Oblast and force troop redeployments from Kursk Oblast.
On the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces attempted to cross the Oskil River north of Kupyansk, established a bridgehead on the western bank south of Novominsk, and advanced near Senkove, Novominsk, Holubivka, Pishchane, Lozova, Zahryzove, Novoosynove, Kolisnykivka, Kruhlyakivka, and Senkove. They targeted the feed mill, sugar factory, and condensed milk plant in eastern Kupiansk.
On the Lyman direction, Russian forces advanced east of Terny and Yampolivka. Ukrainian Defense Forces disrupted further advances toward Yampolivka with artillery and UAV strikes.
Russian troops attacked near Pershotravneve, Vyshneve, Zelenyi Hai, Novoyehorivka, Druzhelyubivka, Hrekivka, Yampolivka, Terny, Ivanivka, Torske, and Serebrianka.
On the Kramatorsk direction, Russian forces advanced near the stadium in Chasiv Yar, intermittently entered the industrial zone, and captured a quarry near Stupochky. The enemy is concentrating significant forces on this direction to breach Ukrainian defenses.
On the Toretsk direction, Russian forces advanced in the southwestern part of Toretsk along Ryzhska and Sormovska Streets and attacked near Toretsk, Dachne, Dyliivka, and Shcherbynivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian forces advanced east and northeast of Pushkyne, east and in the center of Zhovte, southwest of Yuryivka, west of Pustynka, and near Myrolyubivka, Mykolaivka, Promin, Lysivka, Hryhorivka, Petrivka, Dachenske, Pustynka, Pushkyne, Zhovte, and Chumatske. Reinforcements from Novooleksiivka, supported by tanks, aim to reach Highway T0515 (Shevchenko–Novotroitske–Yasynove).
"Tavriya" OSG units counterattacked near Mykolaivka, with Russian forces losing up to 30% of their combat vehicles to minefields.
On the Kurakhove direction, Russian forces aim to eliminate the small "Tavriya" OSG bridgehead east of Highway O0510 (Kurakhove–Velyka Novosilka). The 5th Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 51st Combined Arms Army advanced to Peremohy Street in central Kurakhove. Fighting is ongoing in Romanivka, with attacks near Illinka. The 33rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division, 8th Combined Arms Army, attacked near Antonivka, focusing on pushing the "Tavriya" OSG west toward Konstyantynopolske.
On the Vremivka direction, the 5th Tank Brigade of the 36th Army is advancing to the eastern outskirts of Velyka Novosilka, while the 37th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 36th Army reached the outskirts of the village. The enemy advanced near Velyka Novosilka, attempting to envelop the village from the east and northeast, and is trying to cross the Kashlyhach River directly east of Velyka Novosilka. Russian forces are advancing north of Velyka Novosilka, moving southwest of Rozdolne toward Novyi Komar and north and west of Velyka Novosilka through Rivnopil.
On the Orikhiv direction, Russian forces attacked near Novoandriivka without success. The enemy is trying to advance toward Orikhiv and Bilohirya. Russian forces are deploying prepared assault groups to forward positions in Zaporizhzhia Oblast but are not transferring large formations. The enemy is concentrating near Kamianske, Huliaypole, and Robotyne.
On the Prydniprovskyi direction, Russian forces unsuccessfully attacked on the left bank in Kherson Oblast. The enemy’s primary goal is to capture islands in the Dnipro River delta, having launched a strong attack on Kozatskyi Island. The enemy is struggling to develop its success due to reservist redeployments from the Kherson direction to the Kurakhove and Pokrovsk directions. On the Tendrivska Spit in Kherson Oblast and the Kinburn Spit in Mykolaiv Oblast, units of the 80th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 14th Army Corps are deployed.
The "Odesa" OSG maintains fire control over the islands in the Dnipro River delta from positions on the western bank of the river.
In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, the enemy naval group on combat duty consists of:
Black Sea: 2 ships, including 1 cruise missile carrier; the total salvo is 4 cruise missiles.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
Forces of the 1st Tank Army operate near Kopanky. The 144th Motorized Rifle Division of the 20th Combined Arms Army is active on the southeastern outskirts of Terny, and the 164th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 25th Combined Arms Army is engaged in the Kreminna Forest area.
The 132nd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 51st Combined Arms Army operates in Toretsk.
Possible operation situation developments:
The troops of the 20th Combined Arms Army will be used by the command of the enemy's "Zapad (West)" Operational Grouping on the flanks of its operational zone to facilitate the offensives of the 1st Tank Army and the 25th Combined Arms Army on the Kupyansk and Lyman directions, respectively. The redeployment of part of the forces of the 20th Army to the operational zones of the 1st Tank Army and the 25th Army is likely.
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.
Before the end of November “Tavriya” OSG will withdraw from its positions along the Yelyzavetivka–Konstyantynopil line, Kurakhove, and the northern bank of the Kurakhove Reservoir to avoid encirclement.
On the Vremivka direction, the main forces of the 5th Combined Arms Army of the "Vostok" Grouping (127th Motorized Rifle Division, 57th and 60th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades) are expected to be deployed into the operation.
The enemy will continue advancing westward along the H15 highway toward Andriivka while simultaneously attacking the Defense Forces' bridgehead northeast of Vuhledar along the Uspenivka–Hannivka–Romanivka line, aiming to force "Tavriya" OSG units to withdraw westward under the threat of encirclement. Such a maneuver could allow Russian forces to seize advantageous tactical positions in this area and align the frontline from Sontsivka to Kostiantynopil, positioning Russian troops approximately 23 km east of the Donetsk–Dnipropetrovsk oblast border.
By the end of the current year, the enemy will not succeed in seizing the "belt of fortresses" Kostyantynivka – Druzhkivka – Kramatorsk – Sloviansk or occupying Donetsk Oblast. The upcoming battle for Pokrovsk will mark the apex of the enemy’s offensive operation in the Southwestern Theater of Operations in 2024.
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.
The enemy's military command in the theater of operations until March 2025 will be creating 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.
Russian operational losses from 24.02.22 to 26.11.24
Personnel - almost 733,830 (+1,480);
Tanks 9,435 (+6);
Armored combat vehicles – 19,256 (+20);
Artillery systems – 20,806 (+19);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,254 (0);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,004 (0);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 30,042 (+94);
Aircraft - 369 (0);
Helicopters – 329 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 19,552 (+72);
Intercepted cruise missiles – 2,765 (+1)
Boats/ships – 29 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
On the night of Tuesday, November 26, Russia launched a record number of drones—188—and four "Iskander-M" ballistic missiles. Air defense forces shot down 76 drones, while 95 drones were lost due to electronic warfare interference.
At 1 a.m. on November 26, Russian forces struck Ternopil. Enemy drones damaged a critical infrastructure facility. There were no casualties. Authorities implemented restrictions on the electrical grid, limiting residents of the oblast to 2–3 hours of electricity per day.
Ukrainian Defense Forces neutralized over a dozen drones that attacked Kyiv during the night of November 26. The air raid alert in the city lasted more than five hours. No damage or casualties were reported.
Russian forces continue to target civilians in Kherson Oblast, dropping explosives from drones. On the morning of November 26, this tactic injured a resident of Beryslav and three residents of Kherson. In the village of Veletenske, Russians dropped an explosive on a 65-year-old cyclist, who was hospitalized with blast injuries.
In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Russian forces targeted an energy crew performing repairs near the combat zone. A drone dropped explosives near the repair crew's vehicle, damaging its windshield. The workers managed to find shelter and remained unharmed.
On November 26, Russian forces shelled the city of Sumy, damaging an auto repair station. Two people were killed, and one more is believed to be trapped under the rubble.
Throughout the day, the Russian military attacked the Nikopol area with heavy artillery, kamikaze drones, and explosives dropped from drones. Over two dozen private homes were damaged. No deaths or injuries were reported.
Ukrainian law enforcement uncovered another war crime by Russian occupiers related to the execution of five Ukrainian prisoners of war near the village of Petrivka on the Pokrovsk direction in Donetsk Oblast.
Russian Federation sabotage operations, including the recruitment of Ukrainian citizens via Telegram channels, remain a primary destabilization factor. As of 2024, authorities have detained 179 arsonists recruited for such activities.