Russian forces are intensifying offensive operations on the Dobropillia and Kostiantynivka fronts. Over the past two days, 13 and 14 November, the occupiers carried out 58 attacks there. These sectors account for 80% of all offensive actions by the Russian army against Ukraine’s “belt of fortresses” since the start of October.
This is stated in a report by the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russian troops carried out 47 attacks on the Pokrovsk front, which includes, among other areas, the Dobropillia sector. This is the highest number of assaults here since 1 November. A further 11 attacks were recorded on the Kostiantynivka front.
ISW analysts believe that the concentration of offensive activity indicates that this sector is a priority for the Russian military command.
The intensity of the fighting is also reflected in Russian attempts to advance using armoured vehicles. In particular, on 13 November the Russian army carried out a mechanised assault towards Khruzke to the north-east of Dobropillia. According to a Ukrainian military source and an OSINT channel, it involved three tanks, three infantry fighting vehicles and more than ten light vehicles.
On 14 November, the commander of a Ukrainian regiment operating on the Dobropillia front reported that, while repelling one of the recent mechanised assaults, Ukrainian troops destroyed seven pieces of equipment and three quad bikes. He also said that 30 Russian servicemen were wounded or killed. ISW suggests this refers to the attack towards Khruzke.
In addition, geolocated footage from 11 November recorded a mechanised assault by Russian forces towards Druzhkivka using several infantry fighting vehicles and light vehicles.
ISW notes that Russian forces are trying to take advantage of autumn weather conditions—fog, strong winds and rain—which hinder the work of Ukrainian reconnaissance and strike drones.
At the same time, Ukrainian troops are hitting Russian equipment even as it approaches the front line. In particular, during the assault towards Druzhkivka on 11 November, several Russian infantry fighting vehicles were hit near Nova Poltavka—about 10 km from Russia’s forward rear area to the south-west of Kostiantynivka.