Russia’s war on Ukraine. 13.11.2023

Operational situation

In the operational zone of the Ukrainian Operational-Strategic Group of Forces (OSG) “Khortytsia” on the Kupyansk direction, the enemy, with the support of aviation, conducted unsuccessful assault operations in the areas of Synkivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, and Kyslivka where the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 11 Russian attacks. On the Lyman direction, with aviation support, the enemy carried out unsuccessful assault actions near Novoyehorivka where Ukrainian troops repelled 4 attacks. On the Bakhmut direction, with aviation support, the enemy conducted assault actions in the areas of Dubovo-Vasylivka, east of Klishchiivka, and Andriivka, where Ukrainian forces repelled about 10 attacks. The Ukrainian Defense Forces continue inflicting losses on the enemy in personnel and equipment, and consolidating their achieved positions.

In the “Tavriya” OSG operational zone on the Avdiivka direction, the enemy persists in their attempts to encircle Avdiivka employing aviation. Ukrainian troops steadfastly hold the defense and inflict losses on the enemy. The enemy’s offensive actions southeast of Novokalynove, east of Novobakhmutivka, Avdiivka, and Severne were unsuccessful. The Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 17 attacks in this area. On the Mariupol direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 24 Russian attacks in the areas of Maryinka and Novomykhailivka. On the Shakhtarsk direction, the enemy, with aviation support, conducted unsuccessful assault actions near Staromayorske. The Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 2 attacks. On the Zaporizhzhya direction, the enemy did not conduct assault actions. The Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to conduct an offensive operation on the Melitopol direction, inflict losses to the Russian forces in personnel and equipment, and wearing down the enemy along the entire front line.

In the operational zone of the “Odesa” OSG, the Ukrainian Defense Forces conduct counter-battery warfare and inflict damage on the enemy’s rear areas.

Russian forces continued their offensive actions on the Kupyansk – Svatove line, near Bakhmut, near Avdiivka, west and southwest of Donetsk.

General conclusion:

• There is high level of combat activity throughout the entire front line from Urozhaine to Staromykhailivka and Russian forces have launched an offensive on adjacent sectors of the front.

Change in the line of contact (LoC):  

• There were 69 combat engagements on various fronts.
• On the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces have advanced to positions west of Serhiyivka, moved close to Lyman Pershyi, Kyslivka, and Makiyivka, and carried out unsuccessful assaults near Synkivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Stelmakhivka, Nadiya, Novoyehorivka, and Serebryansk Forestry. The enemy is regrouping, as in the last month of combat, they failed to achieve strategic success.
• The “Khortytsia” OSG troops are clearing the captured Russian positions south of Pershotravneve.
• On the Bakhmut direction, the “Khortytsia” OSG forces continued to storm Russian positions near Klishchiivka and Kurdyumivka, repelling over 10 Russian attacks near Dubovo-Vasylivka, Khromove, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, and Ivanivske.
• Russian forces are actively defending, intensifying efforts to reclaim previously lost positions on the Bakhmut direction, displacing Ukrainian forces from positions near Bohdanivka.
• On the Avdiivka direction, Troops of the “Tavria” OSG repelled more than 18 Russian attacks near Avdiivka, Severne, Tonenke, and Pervomaiske. They displaced Russian forces from Stepove after the enemy temporarily occupied positions in the village. There were over 22 assaults near Maryinka and Novomykhailivka. The “Tavria” OSG units conducted successful counterattacks near Avdiivka, achieving minor successes. They advanced south of Avdiivka in the area of the E50 Donetsk–Yenakiyeve highway, regained control over previously lost positions towards Vodyane, and made progress northeast of Mykilske.
• Russian forces are launching  powerful assaults west of the 230 “Terikon” height and near the Avdiivka coking plant.
• Berdyansk direction: the enemy unsuccessfully stormed the “Tavria” OSG positions near Zolota Nyva and Staromayorske, attacked south of Velyka Novosilka, near Vuhledar, and attempted to breach the Ukrainian defense near Mykilske.
• Tokmak direction: the troops of the “Tavria” OSG made slight progress near Novoprokopivka, south of Robotyne, and took positions northwest of Verbove. They achieved success west of Robotyne and repelled units of the 136th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade from tactical heights in this area.
• Russian forces achieved minor success north of Kopani, regained previously lost positions between Robotyne and Novoprokopivka. Units of the 392nd Motorized Rifle Regiment are storming Ukrainian positions near Pyatykhatky.
• On the Kherson direction, the forces of the “Odesa” OSG made slight progress towards Krynky, advancing near Poyma, Pishchanivka, and Pidstepne. They are progressing towards the E58 Oleshky–Kamianka highway, relocating additional personnel to the Krynky area and attempting to cut Russian materiel supply lines and strike infrastructure connecting the Russian front line with the rear areas in the occupied Crimea, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts. They may pose a threat to Russian positions near the intersection of the E58 and E97 roads south of the Poyma–Pishchanivka–Pidstepne line.
• Russian forces attempted but failed to displace Ukrainian units from Krynky.
• In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, there was 1 Russian ship on combat duty in the Black Sea; there was 1 enemy ship in the Azov Sea and 2 in the Mediterranean Sea, including 1 cruise missile carrier. The total salvo of the sea launched cruise missiles is 8 missiles.

Possible operation situation developments:

• The Russian military command will intensify its efforts in the Avdiivka direction, primarily in the area of Stepove and the Avdiivka coke-chemical plant, with the aim of encircling Avdiivka.
• The command of the enemy’s “Dniepr” Operational Grouping will seek a tactical solution to counteract the expansion of the “Odesa” OSG bridgeheads on the left bank of the Dnipro River.
• Russian forces are unlikely to completely regain the initiative in the forthcoming months, and their capacity to launch a large-scale offensive, which could impede the Defense Forces’ resource allocation for counteroffensive operations, remains improbable.
• In the near future, we should expect intensive Russian attempts, if not to eliminate the Ukrainian bridgeheads, at least to block, isolate and reduce them. Primarily, the enemy will try to disrupt the logistical support routes for the advanced units of the “Odesa” OSG on the left bank.

Russian operational losses from 24.02.22 to 13.11.23

Personnel – almost 312,550   people (+800);

Tanks 5,354 (+5);

Armored combat vehicles – 10,079 (+6);

Artillery systems – 7,569 (+10);

Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 881 (0);

Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 580 (0);

Vehicles and fuel tanks – 9,949 (+5);

Aircraft – 322 (0);

Helicopters – 324 (0);

UAV operational and tactical level – 5,634 (+2);

Intercepted cruise missiles – 1,561 (+1);

Boats/ships – 23 (0).

Humanitarian +general:

• According to information provided by the Situation Center of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Russian troops shelled 9 regions of Ukraine over the past day. A total of 107 towns and villages and 48 infrastructure objects were attacked with various types of weapons. A man was killed and his wife was injured in Kherson Oblast, and 3 people were injured in Donetsk Oblast. The number of casualties is being updated/clarified.
• In the afternoon of November 13, the Russian army heavily shelled the central part of Kherson, injuring six people. A 62-year-old woman and a 45-year-old man died of injuries. Before that, they shelled the hospital in Kherson destroying an ambulance and other vehicles. The Russian forces also fired artillery at a car on the outskirts of Kherson, killing a pensioner and injuring a two-month-old girl and her mother.
• As of mid-November 2023, Ukraine has successfully restored 834 healthcare facilities. Among them, 421 objects have been fully restored, and an additional 413 have been partially restored, the Ministry of Health reported.
• The Russian occupation authorities took a 10-year-old boy Vadym from Enerhodar to occupied Melitopol after the child’s grandfather died. The “social security services” of the occupiers refuse to give information to the boy’s relatives regarding his whereabouts, the [legally elected Ukrainian] Melitopol mayor Ivan Fedorov reported.

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