Russian troops advance near Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast and Urozhaine in Zaporizhzhia Oblast – ISW

Russian troops carried out offensive actions near Avdiivka on 17 November and made advances. In addition, progress in the Russian troops' offensive in the east of the settlement of Urozhaine (9 kilometres south of Velyka Novosilka) has been confirmed. Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW)

Details: ISW published geolocation images on 16 November showing that Russian troops have made a slight advance in the industrial zone southeast of the settlement of Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast.

Ukraine's General Staff reported that Russian troops unsuccessfully attacked near Keramik (14 kilometres northeast of Avdiivka), Stepove, and Avdiivka, east of Novobakhmutivka (7 kilometres northwest of Avdiivka) and south of Tonenke (6 kilometres west of Avdiivka). A Russian military blogger claimed that Russian forces launched unsuccessful attacks near the settlement of Pervomaiske (10 kilometres southwest of Avdiivka). Russian sources claimed on 16 and 17 November that fighting continued south of the settlement of Sieverne (6 kilometres west of Avdiivka), north of the settlement of Krasnohorivka toward Novokalynove, near Stepove, Sieverne, an industrial zone, and Avdiivka Coke Plant.

The Russian military blogger admitted that Russian forces still have to occupy large areas, including some of those that are heavily fortified. Russian troops continued limited offensive actions near the border of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts on 17 November and progressed. Geolocation images published on 16 November show that Russian troops have advanced east of the settlement of Urozhaine (9 kilometres south of Velyka Novosilka).

Ukraine's General Staff reported that Russian soldiers conducted an unsuccessful assault action near the settlement of Staromaiorske (9 kilometres south of Velyka Novosilka). Ukrainian troops conducted offensive operations near Bakhmut and progressed on 17 November. Geolocation images published on 17 November show that Ukrainian troops were advancing southeast of Pivdenne (24 kilometres southwest of Bakhmut).

Ukrainian troops continued counteroffensive actions west of Zaporizhzhia Oblast on 17 November and made a minor confirmed advance. Geolocation images published on 16 November show that Ukrainian forces have advanced slightly to the southwest of Robotyne. Russian military bloggers claimed that Russian forces repelled small attacks conducted by Ukrainian infantry near Robotyne and Verbove (9 kilometres east of Robotyne).

Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian troops continued ground operations on the Kherson Oblast's east (left) bank on 17 November. Russian military bloggers said fighting is ongoing near the settlement of Poima (12 kilometres east of Kherson and 4 kilometres from the Dnipro River), Pishchanivka (13 kilometres east of the city of Kherson and 3 kilometres from the Dnipro River), and Krynky (30 kilometres northeast of the city of Kherson and 2 kilometres from the Dnipro River). Russian sources also stated that Ukrainian forces are maintaining their positions in the centre of Krynky.

They noted that Ukrainian troops were controlling 10 square kilometres of territory near Krynyky as of 16 November.

To quote the ISW's Key Takeaways on 17 November:

• Ukrainian officials stated that Ukrainian forces have established bridgeheads on the east (left) bank of Kherson Oblast and are conducting ground operations aimed at pushing Russian forces out of artillery range of the west (right) bank of the Dnipro River.
• Russian forces appear to be applying lessons learned from attempts to man Russian multilayered defences in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast during the Ukrainian counteroffensive to current Russian defensive operations in Kherson Oblast.
• Russian forces conducted a series of drone and missile strikes against Ukraine on the night of 16 to 17 November.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the Israel-Hamas war has negatively affected Ukraine's shell supplies.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov attempted to dismiss criticisms of the Russian government and the war in Ukraine as inevitable yet unfounded and urged Russian citizens to self-censor.
• Russian authorities detained several Federal Security Service (FSB) employees on 16 November for accepting a five-billion-ruble (£55.6 million) bribe in connection with the dismissal of a corruption case.
• Russian forces continued offensive operations along the Kupiansk-Svatove-Kreminna line, near Bakhmut, near Avdiivka, west and southwest of Donetsk City, in the Donetsk-Zaporizhzhia Oblast border area, and in western Zaporizhia Oblast and advanced in several sectors of the front.
• The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (UK MoD) reported on 17 November that the Russian military is likely using updated surveillance aircraft due to concerns over Ukraine deploying Western-provided combat aircraft.
• Yale School of Public Health's Humanitarian Research Lab (Yale HRL) reported on 16 November that Russian and Belarusian authorities have forcibly deported at least 2,442 Ukrainian children between the ages of six and 17 to Belarus via Russia since 24 February 2022.

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