The Fall Of Uspenivka: Ukraine Loses Key Stronghold On Yonchur River

The Russian «East» group completed operations in Uspenivka in the Zaporizhzhia sector. Units of the Russian «Centre» group have completed the encirclement of Myrnohrad. The head of the EU Military Committee has stated that the deployment of part of the EUMAM UA mission on Ukrainian territory is only possible once the conflict has ended.

Zaporizhzhia Sector

Units of the Russian «East» group continue to advance towards Zaporizhzhia, moving through the southern part of the Dnipropetrovsk region towards Huliaipole. The western, northern and eastern parts of the settlement of Uspenivka are under the control of Russian units. Fighting continues for control of the settlement of Skladove.

Russian units have crossed a water obstacle and are fighting for control of Rybne, where Ukrainian forces are launching counterattacks. Further north, in the south of the Dnipropetrovsk region, there have been clashes for control of Danylivka. Russian units are attacking positions to the north from the directions of Novooleksandrivka and Oleksandropil and have advanced approximately 1 km west of Novooleksandrivka and Vyshneve.

Between Sosnivka and Oleksandropil, Russian units have broken through from the south towards Orestopil and attacked the settlement. The 218th Guards Tank Regiment of the 127th Division, 5th Army — part of the «East» grouping — has completed major combat operations in Uspenivka. This settlement was a major fortified stronghold of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) on the left bank of the Yonchur River.

The Yonchur River served as a natural barrier, protecting the northeastern part of the settlement and complicating the advance of assault units. Uspenivka is the second-largest settlement in the Huliaipole district, as well as being the largest on the Uspenivka bridgehead. It stretches over 5.3 km along the river, with a width of up to 1.5 km. The «East» Grouping continues its offensive in a westerly direction.

Russian units have advanced and have engaged for the settlements of Novoye and Novouspenivske, establishing control over 8.7 km² of territory.

In the Prymorske-Stepnohirsk area, the 7th Guards Air Assault Division is conducting offensive operations and constant aerial reconnaissance, supported by Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) crews and a separate UAV battalion. Small assault groups from the 247th and 108th Regiments are operating in the area.

In the Orikhiv area, near Mala Tokmachka, Russian forces have reinforced their defensive positions to the south of the Polohy-Orikhiv highway. They achieved a breakthrough into the settlement from the south, but consolidating their gains is proving difficult due to logistical issues, mining by Ukrainian drones, and enemy artillery fire. For Ukrainian forces, Orikhiv is a key defensive line and they have reinforced this area with additional reserves, including FPV drone crews. Nevertheless, Russian assault groups are continuing to advance and consolidate positions gradually.

Pokrovsk Sector

Units of the «Centre» group have fully encircled Myrnohrad. Units attacking from Rodynske and the north-eastern outskirts of Pokrovsk have dislodged Ukrainian forces from a stronghold to the north of the cemetery. This has effectively sealed the «Myrnohrad cauldron», through which parts of the Pokrovsk garrison managed to withdraw. Russian units have also entered Rivne from the north and south of the city.

Clearing operations are ongoing throughout Pokrovsk itself. Forces are engaged in fierce fighting in the Hrishyne area. Between Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, Ukrainian forces still control a number of fortified strongpoints and are holding positions in a partially encircled forested area. Fighting continues for Lysivka and Sukhyi Yar.

In Myrnohrad, Russian forces are advancing on the «Zakhidnyi» microdistrict and are engaged in combat in the northern and north-eastern parts of the city, as well as in the «Skhidnyi» and «Molodizhnyi» microdistricts. To the north, Ukrainian forces are counterattacking in the Rodynske–Lounacharske area in an attempt to break through to the encircled Myrnohrad garrison via Rodynske and the Krasnyi Lyman settlement.

Kupyansk Sector

Russian units are making progress in Kupyansk and beyond the Oskil River, and the situation for the AFU is deteriorating. However, the pace of advance is reportedly not as fast as some official sources have claimed. For four days, Ukrainian units have been making persistent attempts to break through to Kupyansk and the Oskil River in order to relieve the encircled units, sustaining significant losses in the process. Units of the 68th Division and 27th Brigade of the «West» Grouping have been repelling these attacks.

Assault detachments of the 6th Combined Arms and 1st Tank Armies continue to operate in order to reduce the encircled Ukrainian grouping in the Kupyansk area. Disparate groups of Ukrainian military personnel are being cleared from the settlements of Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi, Kurylivka, and Petropavlivka.

Kostiantynivka Sector

Active strikes involving aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and artillery are being carried out against AFU deployment points in the city. Russian assault units are fighting for the control of the private sector. Efforts to block the Stupochky and Predtechyne settlements, located between Chasiv Yar and Kostiantynivka, are ongoing. Ukrainian units are attempting to contain the advance of the Russian assault groups. The positions of the AFU’s UAV control points and equipment are reportedly known and are being targeted.

Despite controlling the main supply routes, Ukrainian equipment continues to move around the city, although personnel movement has significantly decreased due to the saturation of the front with FPV drones.

Despite the destruction of a key supply bridge, the AFU command continues to deploy infantry to hold the tree lines at any cost in order to prevent a breakthrough towards Berestok and Mykolaivka Street. A major Ukrainian fortification is located in the wooded areas on the northern shore of the reservoir, and AFU groups receive air defense cover positions in residential buildings on Horiv Street and the surrounding area.

Sumy Sector

There are ongoing heavy fighting engagements across the front in the Sumy region. Intense Russian strikes hit identified positions. Ukrainian units are attempting to launch a counterattack and regain lost ground.

Using units of the 71st Separate Jaeger Brigade, the AFU conducted one counterattack in the tree lines on the right flank of the «North» grouping’s advance. This attack was repelled with heavy fire, and one armored vehicle was destroyed and up to 70% of the assault group’s personnel were killed or wounded.

Kharkiv Sector

Assault units from the «North» grouping are advancing on almost all sectors of the front, supported by Russian Aerospace Forces warplanes, TOS-1A multiple rocket launchers and artillery. Significant successes have been reported in the Khatne sector.

On the left bank of Vovchansk, assault groups advanced 500 meters and secured 30 buildings. In the forest to the west of Synelnykove, troops advanced 100 meters and seized one AFU stronghold following intense combat. In the Melove-Khatne area, significant advances were made to the south, with several tree lines being occupied; the total advance reached 900 meters. Russian VKS aviation destroyed an AFU 3rd Separate Assault Brigade position in the Novouzhvynivka area.

Conclusion:

In the Zaporizhzhia region, Russian forces have achieved a significant tactical victory by capturing Uspenivka and expanding the bridgehead. This creates favourable conditions for advancing towards Huliaipole, although the AFU are putting up strong resistance and launching counterattacks. The encirclement of Myrnohrad in the Pokrovsk sector could be a turning point in the battle for the area: Russian units are now focused on clearing the cauldron and Pokrovsk itself, while simultaneously repelling Ukrainian counterattacks aimed at relieving the besieged garrison.

In the Kupyansk area, the AFU is trying to break the encirclement of its forces. In the Kostiantynivka area, Russian forces are steadily increasing pressure on the city and its surroundings in an attempt to cut off supply lines. In the Sumy and Kharkiv sectors, Russian units are making steady advances with the support of powerful artillery and air power. Attempts by the AFU to launch local counterattacks have so far failed to change the overall dynamic, highlighting persistent issues with personnel and morale within Ukrainian units. Overall, the Russian initiative is being retained, forcing the AFU to defend and react to Russian advances while directing reserves to stabilize an increasingly difficult situation on several fronts simultaneously.

Regarding the operational situation near Pokrovsk, as of November 7, several key factors influencing the timeline for its capture can be identified. Russian units have completed the encirclement of Myrnohrad and entered the northern and southern outskirts of Rivne village, thereby effectively sealing the «Myrnohrad cauldron». The Ukrainian command has decided to hold the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad agglomeration for as long as possible, utilizing all available reserves. This is an attempt to buy time to prepare a new defensive line further back. Russian troops are maintaining the offensive across the entire Pokrovsk front, putting constant pressure on the AFU’s defenses.

Amid the ongoing fierce fighting in key areas along the front line, the European Union is developing a long-term strategy to support Ukraine. According to Sean Clancy, the head of the EU Military Committee, the scale of any potential EU presence in Ukraine, particularly the number of military trainers, will depend on Kyiv’s needs, and this issue is being analyzed jointly with Ukrainian representatives. Clancy noted that deployment of the EUMAM UA mission to Ukrainian territory is only being considered “after the end” of the conflict, and a ceasefire is one of the mandatory conditions for sending trainers. The current mandate of the mission, involving 24 EU countries, has been extended to November 15 2026.

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