Russia’s war on Ukraine. 28.11.25
Operational situation
On the Northern Slobozhansky direction, Russian forces attacked near Andriivka, Varachyne, and Yunakivka and conducted Geran-2 UAV strikes on bridges and other crossings in Sumy Oblast.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Kindrativka, Yunakivka, and Oleksiivka.
On the Southern Slobozhansky direction, Russian forces advanced on the southwestern outskirts of Vovchansk, attacked near Vovchansk, Lyman, Vilcha, Zybne, Synelnykove, Dvorichanske, in the direction of Hryhorivka, near Kamyanka, Kolodyazne, and conducted Geran-2 UAV strikes on Ukrainian positions near Ustynivka and Ploske.
On the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces fought in Myrove, on the northern outskirts of Sobolivka, attacked Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi, near Kupyansk, Petropavlivka, Pishchane, Bohuslavka, in the direction of Novoplatonivka, near Kopanky, Novoyehorivka, Hrekivka, and Novovodyane.
Ukrainian Defense Forces held positions in Bohuslavka.
On the Lyman direction, Russian forces attacked near Lyman, Korovyi Yar, Novoselivka, Drobysheve, Serednie, in the direction of Yarova, Ridkodub, Stavky, Karpivka, Zarichne, Torske, Yampil, and in the direction of Ozerne.
On the Sloviansk direction, Russian forces advanced near Serebrianka, attacked in the direction of Zakitne, near Dronivka, Vyimka, Sviato-Pokrovske, Sakko i Vantsetti, and attempted to advance in the direction of Siversk. The enemy attempted to break through between Yampil and Dronivka in the direction of Zakitne, bypassing Siversk from the northwest.
On the Kostyantynivka direction, Russian forces attacked near Kostyantynivka, Chasiv Yar, Predtechyne, Kleban-Byk, Ivanopillya, Shcherbynivka, Pleshchiivka, Rusyn Yar, Sofiivka, Volodymyrivka, in the direction of Mykolaypillya and Novopavlivka.
On the Pokrovsk direction, Russian forces attacked near and inside Pokrovsk, Myrnohrad, near Shakhove, Nove Shakhove, Dorizhne, Zaporizhzhia (village), Rodynske, Zatyshok, Krasnyi Lyman, Novoekonomichne, Kotlyne, Udachne, Zvirove, Molodetske, in the direction of Vilne and Hryshyne.
On the Oleksandrivka direction, Russian forces advanced near Dachne, continued fighting near Novopavlivka, and attacked near Muravka, Yalta, Zelenyi Hai, Ivanivka, Sosnivka, Vorone, Oleksiivka, and Verbove.
On the Huliaypole direction, Russian forces advanced to Rivnopillya, fought in the southeastern part of Huliaypole, and attacked in the direction of Zelene, Varvarivka, near Yablukove, Dobropillya, Solodke, Krasnohirske, Pryvilne, Zatyshshya, Zelenyi Hai, Vesele, and Vysoke.
On the Orikhiv direction, Russian forces attacked near Novodanylivka, Novoandriivka, and Prymorske.
General conclusion:
The most dangerous changes in the situation occurred on the Pokrovsk Direction and the Oleksandrivka Direction, where the enemy retains the initiative and has achieved local tactical successes due to the massive use of infantry. On other sections of the front the enemy either has no advance or advances extremely slowly and with heavy losses.
On the Kupyansk Direction, the enemy continues to apply pressure in the areas of Stelmakhivka, Kruhlyakivka and south of Lyman Pershyi, but there is no advance. The command of the 1st Tank Army redeployed additional assault groups of the 27th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade and the 2nd Motorized Rifle Division to this direction, but the pace of the offensive remains low due to heavy losses.
On the Siversk Direction, the enemy attempted to advance in the area of Bilohorivka and Vyimka, positional fighting of low intensity continues.
On the Kostyantynivka Direction, the enemy increased pressure south of Chasiv Yar and in the area of Klishchiivka–Andriivka. Assaults on Shcherbynivka continue.
On the Pokrovsk Direction, the situation remains dynamic and extremely difficult. Heavy fighting for the heights north of Uspenivka continues.
On the Oleksandrivka Direction, the enemy continues its advance, the enemy is committing reserves into battle. The pace of the advance has slowed due to rains and logistical problems.
On the Orikhiv Direction, the enemy conducted several attempts at reconnaissance-in-force.
On the Prydniprovske Direction, the enemy increased pressure on the islands in the Dnipro River delta.
Change in the line of contact (LoC):
There were 247 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, 8 combat engagements occurred.
On the Southern Slobozhansky direction, the enemy attempted 6 times to break Ukrainian defensive lines near Vovchansk, Ambarne, and Dvorichanske.
On the Kupyansk direction, 6 enemy attacks occurred. Enemy assault actions were repelled in the direction of Petropavlivka, Mala Shapkivka, Pishchane, and Novoplatonivka.
On the Lyman direction, the enemy conducted 29 attacks, attempting to penetrate the Ukrainian defense near Hrekivka, Karpivka, Novoyehorivka, Serednie, Novoselivka, Shandryholove, Torske, and toward Novyi Myr, Hlushchenkove, Druzhelyubivka, Olhivka, Stavky, Drobysheve, and Oleksandrivka.
On the Sloviansk direction, 13 enemy attempts to advance were stopped in the areas of Yampil, Dronivka, Serebrianka, Vyimka, and Fedorivka and in the direction of Zakitne.
On the Kostyantynivka direction, the enemy conducted 34 attacks in the area of Chasiv Yar, toward Bondarne, Kostyantynivka, Ivanopillya, and Stepanivka, and near Pleshchiivka and Rusyn Yar.
On the Pokrovsk direction, 59 enemy assault actions were stopped in the areas of Shakhove, Nove Shakhove, Zatyshok, Chervonyi Lyman, Rodynske, Myrnohrad, Novoekonomichne, Pishchane, Zvirove, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, Novomykolayivka, Dachne, and in the directions of Hryshyne and Novopavlivka.
On the Oleksandrivka direction, the enemy conducted 29 attacks near Yalta, Andriivka-Klevtsove, Verbove, Pryvilne, Rybne, Zelenyi Hai, Piddubne, Vorone, Stepove, Sichneve, Sosnivka, Krasnohirske, and in the direction of Oleksiivka.
On the Huliaypole Direction, 20 enemy attacks were repelled near Zatyshshya, Solodke, Chervone and toward Dobropillya, Pryluky, Varvarivka, and Huliaypole.
On the Orikhiv Direction, 10 enemy attacks were repelled toward Mala Tokmachka, Novoandriivka, Stepnohirsk, Prymorske and in the area of Kamianske and Stepove.
On the Prydniprovske direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled an enemy attack toward the Antonivskyi Bridge.
Supporting operation:
Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out a UAV strikes on the PAO NPO Yodobrom plant in Saky, Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the Saratov oil refinery, the Engels-2 airfield, the Taganrog-Southern airfield.
Vnukovo Airport was temporarily closed.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
No changes.
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 Haichul River and the Huliaypole–Pokrovske road on the Dobropillya–Varvarivka section.
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 24.02.22 to 28.11.25
Personnel - almost 1,170 790 (+1,100);
Tanks – 11,380 (+7);
Armored combat vehicles ‒ 23,643 (+15);
Artillery systems – 34,730 (+21);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,550 (0);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,253 (0);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 68,399 (+48);
Aircraft - 430 (0);
Helicopters – 347 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 85,237 (+63);
Intercepted cruise and other missiles – 3,995 (+14);
Boats/ships – 29 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
Since the evening of 27 November, Russian occupation forces attacked Ukraine with one Iskander-M ballistic missile and 72 strike UAVs of the Shahed, Gerbera, and other types, about 50 of which were Shahed-type strike UAVs. As of 09:00, Ukrainian air defense destroyed or suppressed 63 enemy UAVs. One ballistic missile and nine strike UAVs hit five locations, and debris fell in one location.
Since the beginning of the year, Russia launched more than 1000 drones at Kyiv. One hundred sixty-six Kyiv residents were killed and 866 were injured by enemy attacks, the Kyiv City Military Administration reported.
As a result of Russian attacks in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast during the night of 28 November, one person was killed and another injured: in the evening, rescuers recovered from the rubble of a destroyed house in the Pokrovske community the body of a man who was killed by a guided air bomb strike, and a woman was also injured. During the night, occupation forces attacked the Synelnykove district and Nikopol with UAVs. Civilian infrastructure was damaged.
On the territory of the Vovchansk community, a strike UAV hit a civilian vehicle, killing a 74-year-old man at the scene. Russian forces also attacked settlements in the Berestivka, Kupiansk, and Chuhuiv districts with various types of UAVs and conducted strikes with different weapons on the Kupiansk district, damaging private homes.
Russian forces shelled the Dnipro district of Kherson after 14:00, injuring a 63-year-old woman. Police personnel transported the injured woman to a hospital.
Around 17:00, the Kherson city authorities reported that Russian occupation forces again conducted strikes on critical infrastructure facilities. As a result of the damage, electricity and water supply disruptions in the city were possible.
Russian forces attacked an energy workers’ team with a UAV in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The team, which had travelled to inspect an overhead line to restore electricity supply in a frontline area, left the vehicle and began work when an enemy UAV struck their transport. The personnel were unharmed, but the vehicle sustained significant damage.
Russian forces struck a critical infrastructure facility in Sumy twice in one day. A man was also injured by a strike UAV; he was in serious condition.
A little over 300 civilians remained in Huliaypole in Zaporizhzhia Oblast; evacuation from the town continued.
Ukraine, under the “I Want to Live” project, unilaterally transferred 30 civilians who are citizens of the Russian Federation to the Russian Federation. The transfer was carried out in two stages: 14 civilians were transferred yesterday and another 16 today.
This week, at the three operating Ukrainian nuclear power plants—Khmelnytskyi, Rivne, and Pivdennoukrainsk—electricity generation largely returned to normal after last week’s Russian attacks on the power grid, the IAEA reported. Almost all reactor units were operating at full capacity, with only one unit remaining at reduced capacity. In addition, all high-voltage power lines lost during the attacks were restored.
The Security Service of Ukraine neutralized a Russian agent network that had been preparing caches with components of improvised explosive devices intended for terrorist attacks in one of the western regions.