ISW: Ukrainian army pushes back Russian troops near Bakhmut & Avdiivka

The Ukrainian troops are continuing to conduct offensive operations in the Bakhmut direction. The Ukrainian armed forces pushed back Russian troops from positions north of Khromovoye and east of Kleshchievka and successfully counterattacked in the Avdeevka area.

RBC-Ukraine reports, citing the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Situation in Kharkiv and Luhansk regions

Geolocation footage published on November 30 shows that Russian troops allegedly advanced southeast of Olshany (15 km northeast of Kupyansk). Russian sources claimed that heavy fighting continued at Sinkovka.

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that Ukrainian forces repelled Russian assaults near Sinkovka and northeast of Petropavlovka, near Stelmakhovka, Torskoye, and in Serebryansky forestry.

The representative of the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lt-Col Vladimir Fityo, said that Russian troops have somewhat reduced the intensity of shelling in the Kupyansky and Limansky directions, and in the latter, Russian troops are regrouping. Fiete added that Russian troops have a large stock of glide bombs and use them to strike the Kupyansk-Liman front line.

Ukrainian military observer Konstantin Mashovets claimed that Russian troops were advancing west and south of Kremennaya.

Fighting in the Donetsk region

The Russian forces continued offensive operations near Bakhmut on December 1 but made no confirmed advances.

Ukrainian military observer Konstantin Mashovets said that Russian forces had allegedly captured unspecified positions north of Bogdanovka, northeast of Khromovy, and north of Kurdyumovka (13 km southwest of Bakhmut).

Russian “military correspondents” claimed that Russian troops were fighting along the O0506 highway north of Khromovoy and T0504. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian troops unsuccessfully attacked near Bogdanovka, Ivanovsky, Kleschievka, and Andreevka.

The speaker of the Ukrainian Ground Forces said that Russian troops have intensified operations along the entire eastern front. Russian troops reportedly redeployed units of the 98th and 106th Guards Airborne Divisions (Airborne) in the direction of Liman to positions between Khromov and Bogdanovka to strengthen forces in the area. Fiete noted that Russian troops are also equipping units in this direction with armored vehicles.

Chechen head Ramzan Kadyrov published footage showing how the Chechen special forces detachment Akhmat and units of the 4th motorized rifle brigade of Russia allegedly operate near Kleshchievka.

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that Ukrainian troops continued their offensive south of Bakhmut. Mashovets claimed that Ukrainian troops had pushed Russian troops back from positions north of Khrove and east of Kleshchievka.

Geolocation footage released on December 1 shows that Russian troops have allegedly advanced east and southeast of Stepnoye (3 km northwest of Avdeevka).

The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian troops carried out unsuccessful assaults south of Novokalinovye and near Stepnoye, Avdeevka, Tonenkoye, Severnoye, and Pervomaisky. Mashovets claimed that Ukrainian forces counterattacked and repulsed unidentified positions near Avdiivka.

The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian troops carried out an unsuccessful assault near Marinka and Novomikhailovka. The speaker of the Russian Southern Group of Forces, Vadim Astafeev, said that Russian troops repelled two Ukrainian attacks near Marinka.

"Southern Axis"

Russian and Ukrainian sources noted a general lack of activity in the area of the Donetsk-Zaporizhzhia region border on December 1. The Ukrainian General Staff did not report Russian assaults in this direction for 24 hours.

The Russian Vostok battalion, which is reportedly stationed in the area, claimed that Ukrainian and Russian forces were engaging in mutual artillery fire, waiting for the mud to freeze so they could resume ground attacks.

The Ukrainian General Staff reported unsuccessful Russian assaults near Rabotino and west of Verbovoy. A source associated with the Russian airborne forces complained that Russian units north of Verbovoy are having difficulty delivering ammunition and supplies to forward positions due to heavy Ukrainian artillery fire, the use of drones, and strong winds.

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that Ukrainian troops are conducting an offensive operation in the Melitopol direction. A Russian blogger claimed that Ukrainian forces attacked near Rabotino with a group of up to 20 people, one tank, and two armored fighting vehicles.

On December 1, Ukrainian troops continued fighting on the eastern (left) bank of Kherson region. The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces stated that Ukrainian forces maintain positions on the eastern bank of the Dnieper River.

The Russian “military correspondent” claimed that Ukrainian forces tried to transfer another group of personnel to Krynki by boat on the night of November 30 to December 1. Russian bloggers maintained that Ukrainian troops were trying to advance in the forest areas south of Krynki.