Ukraine War 11/16: Russia tightens siege on Avdiivka, Kiev retreats in Petrovskoe

Ukraine war (Illustration: Sky News).

Russia continues to attack Avdiivka, Ukraine retreats in Petrovskoe

According to Rybar , Moscow units continue to encircle the Ukrainian forces defending the city of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine. On the northern flank, fighting continues near Petrovskoe. There are no soldiers from either side in the village, because there is simply nowhere to hide. The Ukrainian armed forces retreated to the forest belt west of the village.

To preserve their personnel, Russian units are also in no hurry to advance to hold areas under heavy enemy fire. Over the past week, Ukraine has lost several M2A2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles near this village.

Ukraine is building up its reserves in an attempt to hold its positions along the railway line at all costs. In the waste dump area, Russian troops have taken control of several enemy strongholds, crossed the reservoir and seized the wastewater treatment plant pumping station on the approach to the Avdiivka coal and chemical plant.

Map of the Ukrainian war in the north of Avdiivka as of the morning of November 16 (Photo: Geroman).

On the southern flank, Moscow forces are expanding their control in the industrial zone near Yasinovataya - currently, about half of the territory is under Russian military control.

According to preliminary data, Russia also made progress in the area of ​​the Vinogradnik plantation. It was reported that on the night of November 14, Ukraine launched a daring attack towards Gorlovka, southwest of the Mayorsky concrete plant. After allowing Ukraine to gain positions near one of the waste dumps, Russia launched a counterattack and regained control of the area.

Ukrainian artillery is actively operating, using cluster munitions to stop Russian troops.

Ukraine's war in the Avdiivka area as of November 15 (Photo: Rybar).

Fierce fighting on many other fronts

Near Kupyansk, Moscow forces advanced to the outskirts of Sinkovka. The Ukrainian command plans to withdraw the 32nd Mechanized Brigade to the rear due to serious losses, the 115th Mechanized Brigade is expected to be transferred to replace it.

In the Kupyansko-Masyutovsky forest area, Ukraine was also forced to switch to the formation of mixed groups with personnel and equipment from different brigades due to heavy losses. This is what they did in the 54th and 30th Special Infantry Brigades.

In the Timkovka area, Russia is advancing from two sides, trying to surround the heavily fortified Ukrainian area. In an attempt to slow down the attack, Kiev forces are actively using cluster munitions, however, this does not help much, the 2nd and 3rd battalions of the 32nd Ukrainian brigade are almost gone.

In the Ivanovka area, Russia took control of another stronghold on the approach to the populated area, after artillery fire, their assault units cleared the trenches, taking the surviving Ukrainian members prisoner.

Lacking modern artillery, Kiev forces used any type of artillery, including the M114 from World War II, provided by the US.

Map of the Ukrainian war in the Kupyansk region as of November 15 (Photo: Rybar).

In the Soledar direction, Russian paratroopers are fighting to seize the nearby heights near Kleshcheevka. In addition, the offensive continues in the area of ​​the Berkhovsky reservoir, towards Bogdanovka.

Ukraine destroys enemy ammunition and air defense systems

Ukrainska Pravda reported that the evening report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on November 15 said that during the past day, 58 clashes occurred on all fronts.

The Ukrainian General Staff report said: "During the day, the air force carried out 10 attacks on areas of concentration of personnel, weapons and military equipment and 3 raids on enemy air defense missile systems. Missile units hit 2 areas of concentration of personnel, weapons, military equipment, 13 artillery pieces, ammunition and air defense systems of Russia."

In the Kupyansk direction, Russia attacked the areas of Sinkovka, Petropavlovka, Ivanovka, Kharkov region, where Ukraine repelled 7 attacks.

In the Liman direction, the enemy carried out unsuccessful offensive operations near Nadezhda, Lugansk region.

In the direction of Bakhmut, with the support of the air force, Moscow forces attacked in the Klishchiivka and Andriivka areas of the Donetsk region.

In the direction of Avdiivka, Russia unsuccessfully attacked east of Novokalinovo, Avdiivka and Pervomaisky in the Donetsk region, where Ukraine repelled 17 attacks.

In the direction of Marinka , with the support of the air force, the enemy attacked in the areas of Maryinka and Novomikhailovka but failed. Here Ukraine repelled 19 attacks.

In the direction of Zaporizhia , the Russians unsuccessfully attacked near Novodarovka.

At the same time, Ukraine continued to conduct offensive operations in the direction of Melitopol and Bakhmut, causing losses to the enemy in terms of manpower and equipment, and at the same time wearing down Russian troops along the entire line.

Overview map of the war in Ukraine as of November 15, with developments in Kherson updated in the bottom right corner (Photo: Rybar).

Russia admits Ukrainian troops operating on the east bank of the Dnipro River

Volodymyr Saldo, the Russian-appointed head of the Kherson region, admitted on November 15 that Ukrainian soldiers had established positions on the eastern bank of the Dnieper River, Ukrainska Pravda reported.

Russian officials said on their Telegram channel that small groups of Ukrainian soldiers were operating in the area between a railway bridge over the Dnieper and Krynky, a village about 35km east of Kherson.

Nataliia Humeniuk, spokeswoman for Ukraine's southern operational command, said Russian forces were "actively defending" near the Dnieper River.

Ukraine has been launching cross-river attacks on the Moscow-controlled east bank since February, with further attacks reported since August.

NATO modernizes surveillance aircraft in face of Russian threat

AFP reported that NATO announced it would buy six Boeing aircraft to replace its aging AWACS airborne early warning and control aircraft, to enhance the alliance's ability to monitor threats from Russia.

Production of six new Boeing E-7A Wedgetail aircraft will begin in the coming years, with the first expected to be operational by 2031, NATO said.

NATO said the joint purchase by members was one of the alliance's "largest ever defence procurement contracts", but did not give a total cost.

The new AWACS aircraft will be operated centrally by the alliance, likely from Geilenkirchen air base in Germany, with intelligence shared among the 31 members.

Equipped with a powerful radar, the aircraft can detect hostile aircraft, missiles and ships at very long ranges and can designate targets and command NATO fighters to shoot them down, NATO said.

America worries about its soldiers dying in Ukraine

RIA Novosti reported that Senator Jack Reed said that after the US stops providing military support to Ukraine and in case of escalation of the conflict, US soldiers could be mobilized to fight in Eastern Europe.

According to him, the consequences of the conflict when aid to Kiev is stopped will be felt "far beyond the borders of Ukraine". At the same time, the politician believes that after the failure of Ukraine in the counter-offensive operation, Moscow allegedly wants to attack the US's NATO allies.

E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and command aircraft made in the US (Photo: Boeing).

Poland fears possible attack by Russia?

In the event of war with Europe, Russia could defeat the country in a protracted conflict, writes the Polish magazine Polityka .

"The only way to defeat Europe is not a tank attack on Brussels and Paris, as was envisaged in the Cold War plans, but long, drawn-out battles. It will be impossible to drive them away from the banks of the Vistula, where they will inevitably reach, no matter how we defend ourselves. They will not retreat," Polityka wrote.

Polityka also expressed confidence that Russia would be able to hold out until Western unity began to collapse.

Moscow has repeatedly noted that NATO exists to confront Russia. Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov has stressed that further expansion of the bloc will not bring better security to Europe.

Warning of dangerous vulnerability in Ukraine

Spiegel reports that Russia could leave hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians without electricity with just one strike. Spiegel journalists Alexander Epp, Oliver Imhof and Niklas Marienhagen write: "The neighboring country (Russia) knows exactly where the key points are in Ukraine's power system. They could instantly leave hundreds of thousands of people in the dark with just one strike."

The threat to critical infrastructure in Ukraine next winter could be more dangerous than last winter, the journalists said, adding: "Experts fear that at some point Ukraine could run out of air defense missiles, partly because the West is not replacing them fast enough."

Earlier, Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko warned citizens that prolonged power outages could occur this winter.

Ukraine thanks Canada

European Pravda reported that President Zelensky discussed the situation on the battlefield and strengthening Ukraine's air defense with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a phone call.

"We discussed the situation on the battlefield, increased defense cooperation with a focus on strengthening Ukraine's air defense system, as well as enhancing the capabilities of mobile fire groups to counter UAVs," Zelensky said.

He thanked Justin Trudeau for Canada's financial and military support, calling Canada's multi-year aid program "an extremely important signal to the world of unwavering support for Ukraine until victory."

Earlier on Wednesday, November 15, Mr. Zelensky spoke with the Italian Prime Minister about new sanctions against Moscow and discussed economic cooperation with the President of Slovakia.

Ukraine will find it difficult to pay social payments without Western support

European Pravda reported that in a conversation with African media representatives, President Zelensky said that Ukraine would hardly be able to pay for social welfare without Western support - according to him, a "crisis could arise and affect the course of the conflict."

“An important issue is financial support for social payments. I will tell you frankly – without support it will be very difficult. Because all the money Ukraine earns, we spend on our army.

"If you don't help us with social support, it will be very difficult without it. It is necessary to reduce support for the army, payments to them or not provide social support," Mr. Zelensky said.

"That means, no matter what, it will be a crisis. Will it affect the course of the conflict? Yes. Will it stop our fighting? No," he added.

According to AFP, Spiegel, RIA, European Pravda, Ukrainska Pravda, Polityka, Rybar, Geroman

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/chien-su-ukraine-1611-nga-siet-vay-avdiivka-kiev-rut-lui-o-petrovskoe-20231116100446438.htm