The war in Ukraine is getting more and more intense (Illustration: Sky News).
Russia breaks through quickly, Kiev soldiers surrender in Avdiivka
According to Rybar channel, Moscow forces are building on the results achieved in the Avdiivka area. On the southern flank, Russian army soldiers have broken through Ukrainian defenses in an industrial zone near the Yasinovataya-2 station.
That result was achieved thanks to the effective coordination of the strike groups with strong support from the Russian air force and artillery.
Ukraine did not expect Russia to make a strong breakthrough in its defense line and was forced to retreat, but the cleanup and expansion of the area of control to the west continues. However, it is still too early to expect reports of large-scale Russian victories.
Because Kiev continues to mobilize reserve forces to this location and is preparing for a counterattack. At the same time, information that Russia has completely controlled the Tsarskaya Okhota area is too early, fierce fighting continues.
There have been no significant changes on the northern slope of Avdiivka in recent days: Russian troops have expanded the zone of control around the wastewater treatment plant near the coal plant and captured several Ukrainian positions on the approach to the plant.
However, Moscow’s forces did not begin to directly penetrate the fortified objective. Russian artillery and aircraft pounded the target almost continuously, disrupting enemy movements to soften the battlefield before the infantry massed.
In addition, fighting continued at Novokalinovo and Stepovoe (Petrovskoe).
The Ukrainian armed forces did not sit idly by either, once again attempting to storm the landfill site near Gorlovka, but were shelled and retreated, killing several dozen people. Currently, the top corner of the landfill is not under the control of either side.
Map of the Ukrainian war in the Avdiivka area as of November 19 (Photo: Rybar).
According to the Geroman channel, last night, November 19, on the southern slope of Avdiivka, there was a major surrender of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Accordingly, the entire Ukrainian company raised a white flag. Kiev has not yet commented on this information.
Russia used cluster bombs for the first time in South Donetsk?
According to VK and Rybar channels, Russian RBK-500 cluster bombs were used for the first time in South Donetsk, near Staromayorskoe, targeting Ukrainian positions.
This is the first time cluster bombs have been used on video , but it probably won’t be the last. There are no changes to the front lines, but with the introduction of new, more lethal weapons, it seems that the job of the Russian armed forces in this area will become significantly easier.
Russia used cluster bombs for the first time in South Donetsk, Ukraine (Source: VK).
ISW: Ukraine counterattacks near Avdiivka and advances
Data analyzed by experts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) shows that Ukraine counterattacked near Avdiivka and stepped up its offensive on November 19, Ukrainska Pravda reported.
The assessment notes that Ukraine and Russia continue to fight in eastern and southern Ukraine, although rainy weather is likely to continue to slow the pace until winter conditions arrive.
Analysts point out that Ukraine counterattacked near Avdiivka and made a confirmed advance on November 19. Geolocation data released on November 19 shows that Ukrainian forces advanced near the railway line southeast of Stepne (3km northwest of Avdiivka).
A Russian source confirmed that Ukrainian forces had regained positions near the railway near Stepnoye and counterattacked near the Avdiivka coke plant, adding that Russia had conducted offensive operations near Avdiivka, but had not achieved any confirmed successes by November 19.
Russian sources claimed on November 18 and 19 that Moscow forces entered the industrial zone in the southeastern suburb of Avdiivka, the coal plant and the railway line west and northwestern Krasnogorovka (5km northwest of Avdiivka).
Additionally, a Russian source said on November 19 that units of the Russian 114th Motor Rifle Brigade (1st Corps of the Donetsk Militia) and Storm-S units had advanced near Tsarskaya Okhota, south of Avdiivka, but they retracted this statement after other Russian sources denied it.
The Ukrainian General Staff said Moscow forces had unsuccessfully attacked south of Novokalinovo, east of Novobakhmutovka and near Severny and Avdiivka.
However, Russian sources claim that on November 18 and 19, Russia struck near Pervomaisky (10 km southwest of Avdeevka) and Severny; west of Krasnogorovka; south of the dump northwest of Avdiivka; east of the coal plant, in the direction of Novokalinovo and from the industrial zone southeast of Avdiivka.
Russian sources also said that on November 18 and 19, fighting remained fierce in the industrial zone, coal plant and the village of Stepnoye.
The representative of the Ukrainian Tauride group of forces, Colonel Alexander Shtupun, said on November 19 that the number of deserters and Russian soldiers refusing to conduct offensive operations is increasing.
Russia suffered heavy losses near Avdiivka and was forced to use mobilized troops and conscripts, Shtupun added.
Map of the Ukrainian war at the hottest fronts as of November 19 (Photo: ISW).
Ukraine holds positions on the left bank of the Kherson region
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said its forces held positions on the left bank of the Dnieper River in the Kherson region and continued to fire on the enemy, Ukrainska Pravda reported.
"Defense forces continue to hold positions on the left bank of the Dnieper and Kherson regions. They continue to fire at the enemy," the Ukrainian General Staff said.
During the day, 45 clashes occurred. Russia carried out 16 air strikes and 41 multiple rocket launcher attacks on Ukrainian positions. The enemy also attacked important infrastructure facilities with attack UAVs of the "Shahed-136/131" type.
Of the 20 Russian UAVs, 15 were shot down by Ukrainian forces and air defenses. There were casualties and some houses and civilian infrastructure were damaged by Russian attacks.
In the Kupyansk direction, the enemy unsuccessfully attacked the areas of Sinkovka, east of Petropavlovka and Ivanovka, Kharkov region, where Ukrainian forces repelled seven attacks.
On the Bakhmut front, Russia attacked near Kleshchiivka and Andriivka in the Donetsk region, where Ukrainian troops repelled 11 attacks.
In the direction of Avdiivka, Moscow forces operated unsuccessfully south of Novokalinovo, east of Novobakhmutovka, Severny and Avdiivka in the Donetsk region, where Ukraine repelled nine attacks.
In the Marinka direction, Russia attacked the Marinka and Pobeda areas of the Donetsk region, where Kiev forces repelled 13 attacks.
At the same time, Ukraine continued to conduct offensive operations in the direction of Melitopol and Bakhmut, causing losses to enemy forces in terms of manpower and equipment, exhausting Russia on the entire front line.
90% of Ukrainians are stressed because of the war
Ukrainska Pravda reported that during a meeting with African media representatives in Kiev, the First Lady of Ukraine, Elena Zelenskaya, noted that 90% of Ukrainians are stressed because of the war.
The First Lady noted the importance of the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Program, as 90% of Ukrainians are currently experiencing stress due to the war.
“All Ukrainians hope that the conflict will be just a phase in our lives,” she said. “The aggression of others will not make us cruel, because we cling to human values. We can survive and develop if we keep this in ourselves.”
Ukraine destroyed more than 700 pieces of equipment, 7,000 Russian soldiers in a week
Kyiv Independent reported that First Deputy Defense Minister Oleksandr Pavliuk reported on Telegram on November 19 that over the past week, Ukrainian forces destroyed 711 units of Russian equipment and eliminated 7,029 enemy soldiers.
According to Mr. Pavliuk, since November 13, Russia has lost 86 tanks, 94 armored personnel carriers, 185 artillery pieces, 17 multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), 8 air defense systems, 170 vehicles and 18 special equipment.
In addition, Ukrainian forces destroyed 123 UAVs and one Russian aircraft, Pavliuk said.
Earlier in the day, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said Russia had lost 318,570 soldiers since the start of the conflict in February 2022.
That figure includes 1,190 casualties suffered by Russian forces in the past day alone. Ukrainian air defenses shot down 15 of the 20 drones in the Russian nighttime attack. The General Staff did not say whether the remaining five drones hit their targets.
However, Kiev Governor Ruslan Kravchenko wrote that an infrastructure facility was damaged by the attack. Initial information suggests there were no casualties. The airstrike warning lasted five hours.
A day earlier, Ukraine shot down 29 of 38 Russian Shahed UAVs.
The Ukrainian General Staff also said that Russia lost 5,435 tanks, 10,166 armored fighting vehicles, 10,120 vehicles and tankers, 7,744 artillery pieces, 898 multiple launch rocket systems, 588 air defense systems, 323 aircraft, 324 helicopters, 5,755 UAVs, 22 ships and one submarine.
Ukraine tries to push back Russian forces on the east bank of the Dnieper River
AP reported that the Ukrainian military's latest update on the Dnieper River situation said its forces are aiming to push back Russian troops stationed on the eastern bank.
The wide river is a natural dividing line along the southern front. Since withdrawing from the city of Kherson and retreating across the river a year ago, Moscow's forces have regularly shelled Ukrainian-held riverbank targets, preventing Kiev's forces from advancing toward Crimea.
Southern Operations Command spokeswoman Natalia Humeniuk said Ukrainian forces were trying to “push back Russian units as far as possible to make it easier for the (western) bank of the Kherson region to be shelled less.”
In response, Russia used tactical air power, including Iranian-made Shahed UAVs, to try to suppress Ukrainian forces, Ms. Humeniuk said.
Ukraine's General Staff said its troops repelled 12 Russian attacks from Friday to Saturday (November 17-18).
Russian Su-34 attacks Ukrainian command post and armored vehicles (Source: RIA).
Russian UAVs attack Kiev in waves
Reuters reports that there has been more information about UAV attacks on Kiev.
Serhiy Popko, head of Kiev's military administration, explained why raid warnings were repeatedly announced in the Ukrainian capital.
"Russian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were launched in groups and attacked Kiev in waves, from different directions, constantly changing their direction of travel along the flight path," he said.
After a 52-day pause, Moscow resumed airstrikes on Kiev. On Saturday, November 18, Ukrainian officials said all drones aimed at Kiev had been destroyed, but some had struck infrastructure elsewhere.
Reuters could not independently verify the reports and there was no immediate comment from Russia.
Mr. Zelensky calls for changes in the activities of the Ukrainian army
Responding to questions about the speed of the counterattack, President Volodymyr Zelensky demanded rapid changes in the operations of the Ukrainian army and announced the dismissal of the commander of the country's medical force, the Guardian reported.
The Ukrainian president's move was announced on Sunday 19 November as he met with Defence Minister Rustem Umerov and coincided with debate over the conduct of the 20-month conflict, with questions about how the counter-offensive in the east and south is progressing.
“In today's meeting with Defense Minister Umerov, priorities were set,” Zelensky said in his nightly video address.
"There is very little time left to wait for results. We need to act quickly for the upcoming changes," Mr. Zelensky said, adding that he had dismissed Major General Tetiana Ostashchenko and appointed Major General Anatoliy Kazmirchuk, head of a military hospital in Kiev, as the new commander of the military medical force.
The Ukrainian military reports what it describes as progress in retaking captured areas in the east and south and last week confirmed that Kiev forces had taken control of areas on the east bank of the Dnieper River, south of Kherson.
Ukraine's Chief of the General Staff, General Valery Zaluzhny, said in a speech that the conflict was entering a new exciting phase and Ukraine needed more sophisticated technology to counter the Russian military.
While repeatedly saying progress would take time, Mr Zelensky denied the war was at a stalemate and called on Kiev’s Western partners, primarily the US, to maintain the level of military support.
The dismissal of General Ostashchenko comes a week after a Ukrainian news agency reported that her dismissal and that of others was imminent after consultations with medical staff and other officials responsible for supporting the military.
According to Reuters, AP, Guardian, Kyiv Independent, Ukrainska Pravda, Rybar, Ayden, Geroman
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