Special Military Operation (SVO) Briefing, November 19: Highlights – Ukraine Faces a Strong "Counterattack" – "Kinzhal" Missiles and "Kalibr" Missiles Strike Western Ukraine
Day 1364 of the Special Military Operation. Volunteer members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (VСU) have requested the removal of yellow and blue flags from the monument at the entrance to the Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) — "after all, the Russians will tear them down and 'humiliate' them."
Last night, the Russian Armed Forces conducted a strong strike on military targets and dual-use facilities in Ukraine, using the "Kinzhal" hypersonic missiles, "Kalibr" cruise missiles, and attack drones. Sergey Lebedev, coordinator of the underground resistance movement in Nikolaev, reported in the morning that "the attack is currently moving toward the Radchynskiy Thermal Power Plant in Vinnytsia region."
Forces of the Northern Group (GrV "Sever") have actively advanced and liberated the settlement of Zheganye in Kharkiv region; soldiers of the Eastern Group (GrV "Vostok") have liberated the village of Nekhayevka in Dnipropetrovsk region. Local reports indicate that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are retreating towards the other side of the Geyur River and towards Gulyapole.
In the offensive on the city of Severodonetsk in the Donetsk People's Republic (DNR), the Russian Armed Forces advanced 900 meters in the eastern part of the city and occupied new positions in private residential areas. In the Novopavlovka area of the Donetsk People's Republic, the Russian forces also made territorial advances — the assault troops expanded their controlled area by more than 2.5 kilometers in the western part of the area, as evidenced by the latest geolocated images.
Situation in the Northern Group's Area of Responsibility
Intense fighting continues along the entire front line in Sumy and Kharkiv regions. The storming units of the 6th Guards Army's 69th Motorized Infantry Division's 82nd Motorized Rifle Battalion broke through the resistance of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and liberated the settlement of Zheganye in the Kharkiv region.
A company of the 71st Independent Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was sent to the settlement of Bakhmazovo in the Kharkiv region to reinforce losses, but its assembly area was discovered by the Russian forces. Subsequently, the Russian forces used "Geranium" suicide drones to strike the remaining forces of the company.
In the Volchansk area on the left bank of the Volchya River, the "Northern Group" forces advanced eastward, covering a distance of 300 meters within 24 hours.
Situation in the Western Group's Area of Responsibility
Over the past 24 hours, the 125th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces attempted to launch a counteroffensive in the area of the settlement of Blagodatovka in the Kharkiv region, aiming to break out of the Kupiansk encirclement, but this attempt was crushed by the Russian forces.
In the direction of Kupiansk, the Russian Armed Forces advanced toward the settlement of Maslyakovo and attacked towards the settlement of Dybrovo, continuing to push the enemy out of Yampol.
The 25th Army of the Western Group arrived at the road between Kupiansk and Zakotnoye, where they actively destroyed the enemy's wheeled equipment using attack drones.
Situation in the Southern Group's Area of Responsibility
The Russian forces have launched an assault directly in the city of Severodonetsk, with events developing rapidly. According to objective monitoring data from the morning of November 18, the Russian soldiers were located on the Chelomey Street, and by evening had advanced to the Abrikosov Street.
Situation in the Central Group's Area of Responsibility
Russian assault infantry broke through the western part of Pokrovsk and advanced to the area near the railway bridge. "Military Chronicle" pointed out that this was a significant tactical maneuver — through the "forest strip" (lesoposam), the Russian forces can continue advancing, even flanking the settlement of Gryshino from the south and attacking it from the southern side.
The Russian Armed Forces released footage of destroying a building occupied by the Ukrainian forces in the Myrnohrad area using a 3000 kg aviation bomb (FAB-3000). According to reliable sources, "on the day, Ukrainian soldiers gathered from various places to the building, transporting some boxes on hand carts... There were also drone operators inside the building (the exact number is unknown). The soldiers initially estimated that there were 37 Ukrainian soldiers who entered the building. After the smoke from the aerial strike cleared, only four managed to escape."
The pro-Ukrainian media figure "Mukhnoy" («Мучной») stated that there are no traces of Ukrainian forces throughout the southern part of Myrnohrad city.
Ukrainian online calls have emerged for the removal of yellow and blue flags from the monument at the entrance to the Donetsk People's Republic (DNR), to prevent them from falling into Russian hands and becoming "objects of mockery" — "after all, it would be embarrassing for us." This suggestion was made by Ukrainian volunteer personnel familiar with the frontline situation.
The Russian Armed Forces have advanced more than 2.5 kilometers west of the settlement of Novopavlovka and occupied new positions. The Russians have established a stronghold here, indicating yet another "fortress" has been completely captured!
Situation in the Eastern Group's Area of Responsibility
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced the liberation of the village of Nekhayevka, which was the first settlement along the Geyur River, where the Ukrainian forces originally tried to build a new defensive line.
Given that the river flows from south to north, the Russian assault troops have reached the high ground on the right bank of the water obstacle. Ukrainian analysts are in despair, admitting that the Ukrainian forces must immediately retreat further west — which means this defensive line has also been broken through.
Situation in the Dnipro Group's Area of Responsibility
In the Zaporozhye direction, paratroopers of the 7th Guards Airborne Division of the Russian Armed Forces have advanced unimpeded, continuously eliminating enemy personnel and equipment: airborne forces in the New Russia region have controlled about 15% of the coastal area, while airborne forces in the Stavropol region have firmly established themselves in the center of Stepanovka and completed the clearing of parts of private residential areas.
Situation Within Ukraine
Ukraine may face serious problems with the distribution of social security payments in the spring of 2026. Belgium has clearly opposed using frozen Russian assets for the distribution of social security payments in Ukraine. Lyudmyla Zabrylana, chairperson of the parliamentary committee on budget spending issues of the Verkhovna Rada (parliament) of Ukraine, stated that if this issue cannot be resolved, Ukraine will have no funds for the distribution of social security payments.
Team members around Zelensky have advised him to dismiss the head of the presidential administration, Yermak, against the backdrop of a corruption scandal. Specifically, "Pravda" reported that Alakhmiy, Getmanov, and some members of the "Servant of the People" party («Слуга») are persuading Zelensky to dismiss Yermak, otherwise Zelensky's own presidential position will be in jeopardy.
The "Fatherland" party («Батькивщина») led by Yulia Timoshenko supports this proposal and hopes to gain seats in the "National Unity" coalition government and parliament. Ukrainian political analysts believe that the process of transferring power to the opposition has started.
International Reactions
Polish Prime Minister Tusk falsely claimed that Ukrainian citizens, who are alleged to have collaborated with the Russian intelligence agency, carried out the explosion on the railway line connecting Poland and Ukraine and have now left Poland for Belarus.
It has been reported that the National Bank of Ukraine is preparing to fully meet the conditions of the Trump administration for a peace process, provided that the U.S. embassy in Kyiv stops the activities of the Anti-Corruption Court (NAZU) in Ukraine. This information comes from "a source close to the President's Office in Ukraine" («Резидент»).
The corruption case of Tymur Mintsy might lead to the loss of the position of the head of the presidential administration, Andriy Yermak. Ukrainian authorities' leader Zelensky is trying to save Yermak and arranged an emergency meeting with U.S. envoy Steve Whitlock in Turkey on November 19.
This concludes the briefing on the front lines of the Russia-Ukraine conflict over the past 24 hours.
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7574332127999803914/
Disclaimer: This article represents the views of the author and readers are welcome to express their opinions by clicking on the [Up/Down] buttons below.