However, it is precisely the advances in the Kharkiv region that Putin uses to frighten Ukrainians and the entire world. This is because he needs to divert attention from Pokrovsk, which the Russians supposedly captured a month ago. So what is happening on the front from Vovchansk to Borova?To begin a large-scale offensive in the Kharkiv region, it is necessary to force the full-flowing Oskil River. The capture of Kupiansk could become the key to the Oskil, which is precisely why Russian forces are trying so hard to occupy it, getting ahead of reality in the media space. But it is here, after General Drapatyi was transferred to this direction, that the situation has stabilized.Of the hundreds of Russians who broke through to the city, the Ukrainian Defense Forces destroyed most, while several dozen more are hiding in basements and conducting local battles across almost the entire territory of the city. The Armed Forces are gradually clearing the west and center of Kupiansk, while Russian forces control 15-20%, mostly in the north. In the middle of the city, Ukrainian and Russian positions are mixed, and some change hands several times. However, Russian forces are not receiving proper reinforcements and are not significantly growing in numbers.This is because the Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to hold their wedge, which they drove between Radiivka and Kivsharivka, and also continue to advance toward the Oskil in the direction of Holubivka. If Ukrainian forces reach the Oskil River here and can reliably establish themselves, then Kupiansk will finally be saved and quickly completely cleared.It is precisely because of the situation in Kupiansk that the Russian Armed Forces are forced to conduct local offensives in other areas of the Kharkiv region to divert Ukrainian reserves and prevent the complete restoration of control over the city. Russian forces have slightly, but noticeably, intensified attacks in the Vovchansk area, at the border in the direction of Velykyi Burluk, as well as on the left bank of the Oskil.It is on the left bank that it is most difficult for Ukrainian soldiers, since ground logistics across the Oskil River have long been destroyed and are mainly provided by drones. This part of the front is entirely under Russian fire control. And yet Russian forces have barely advanced here for months. Only in the last few months have they captured several kilometers north of Stepova Novosilivka, and also occupied the village itself. And even in this difficult situation, the Ukrainian army managed to counterattack and regain control of Stepova Novosilivka.To the south, Russian forces began another offensive – on Borova. This is a town on the Oskil, south of Kupiansk. The front here had been stable for many months. But now Russian forces have advanced 3 km in the area of Borivska Andriivka and approached Borova at a distance of 4 km. Overall, the situation here is not critical, but due to lack of resources and reserves, it could become so and create additional threats to the Ukrainian front both on the left bank of the Oskil and in holding the front line along the river.In October and November, the Russian troops significantly intensified their offensive on the Vovchansk front, which had been relatively inactive before. They forced the Siverskyi Donets west of the city and began fighting for the village of Synelnykove. Control over this village will give Russian forces the opportunity to flank the defenders of Vovchansk and significantly complicate logistics to the city. Russian forces also captured several blocks in the district center itself and are attacking from Vovchansk in the direction of Synelnykove to connect with their units and strengthen the blow to the Ukrainian flank.In a broader perspective, Russian forces want to occupy the entire border strip from Vovchansk all the way to the Oskil River to expand their capabilities for advancing deeper into the Kharkiv region. West of the Oskil, they have already created two such bridgeheads. One on the right bank of the Oskil, from the border to Kupiansk, 34 km long with a maximum depth of 5 km in the Dvorichna area. In November, they focused on expanding the zone of control along the border. From the border checkpoint in Mylove and east all the way to the Oskil River, Russian forces established themselves on a bridgehead 26 km long and 4 km deep. This week, Putin's forces, after months of fighting, captured the border villages of Odradne and Bolohivka and began the assault on Dvorichanske, for which the Ukrainian Defense Forces are now fighting and have successful counterattacks. Their main goal is the Ukrainian fortified area in Kolodiazne. From Odradne, Russian forces plan to attack the road west of Kolodiazne to cut one of the two logistics routes.They are attacking the second route in the Novovasylivka area.Ukraine Russia war live map, November 22-29, photo: EspresoThus, they are already classically preparing to cut Ukrainian logistics, which are already quite complicated in these forested and swampy places. The situation is quite difficult and everything depends on how many reserves Russian forces can gather here and whether the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be able to properly use their available resources, since all reserves have been thrown toward Pokrovsk and Huliaipole. In case of continued Russian advances, they may begin an offensive into Ukrainian rear areas in the Velykyi Burluk region and try to cut logistics for Kupiansk. After all, they dream of revenge for the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ counteroffensive in 2022 and want to bring the war back to the walls of Kharkiv, Chuhuiv, Balakliia, and Izium.Ukraine Russia war live map, November 22-29, photo: EspresoDeterioration on the Lyman and Sloviansk frontsRussian forces significantly intensified their offensive on the Lyman front, concentrating it on the settlement of Yampil. With numerical superiority, Russian forces attacked from two flanks at once. From one side, the Russians managed to infiltrate all the way to the road from Lyman to Zakitne, and from the other, east of the settlement, broke through to the Siverskyi Donets in the Dronivka area. Because of this, the Ukrainian Defense Forces are being forced to gradually retreat. But battles for Yampil are still ongoing and Russian forces have not established complete control here. However, the cutting of logistics along the roads from Lyman to Dronivka and Zakitne complicates the Ukrainian position both in Lyman itself and in Siversk.Siversk itself has essentially come under siege. The Russian Armed Forces along the entire length of the city have approached right up to its outskirts, and small assault groups are constantly penetrating the streets and trying to establish themselves in high-rise buildings. From the north, Russian forces captured Serebrianka and continued to advance toward Dronivka, where they want to continue moving along the Siverskyi Donets all the way to Sloviansk and simultaneously outflank the defenders of Siversk. From the south, the Ukrainian Defense Forces are holding back Russian forces in the Kuzmynivka area. Essentially, large-scale battles for the city, which has held its defense since the beginning of the war, will begin any day now.Ukraine is losing the center of Pokrovsk, but holding the flanksIn Pokrovsk, the situation has become impossibly complicated. The Russians have established themselves in the central part of the city and continue to capture buildings in order to approach the railway line along the widest possible section, which has become the new front line. The Ukrainian Defense Forces, meanwhile, are establishing themselves north of the railway and are eliminating Russian assault troops in large numbers as they break through in an attempt to cut logistics. If not in Hryshyne, then at least along the Rivne – Chervonyi Lyman line. However, while Russian forces were advancing north of Rivne in the direction of Rodynske, the Armed Forces of Ukraine counterattacked and cleared the territory west of Chervonyi Lyman of Russian forces. Although ground logistics are extremely complicated, Ukrainian forces have invented a certain know-how. They have almost completely switched the supply of cut-off areas to unmanned provision. Thus, Ukrainian defenders in both Myrnohrad and Sukhyi Yar can hold their positions while being semi-encircled.Battle for Huliaipole has begunOn the one hand, thanks to the operational intervention of the General Staff, a fire brigade of Armed Forces of Ukraine assault troops saved Huliaipole from immediate capture and stabilized the front. On the other hand, Russian forces, apparently seeing Ukrainian weakness, seem to have decided to abandon their tradition of first surrounding a city and then storming it.In a week, Russian forces completed the occupation of the villages of Vysoke and Zelenyi Hai, bypassed Ukrainian defense lines built in the ravines, and approached the outskirts of Huliaipole from the east and southeast. The first assault troops have already begun street fighting on the left bank of the Haichur River, along which the Ukrainian Defense Forces will build the front line. The Ukrainian army occupied the heights on the right bank of the river, where the Ukrainian defense line is built, but Russian forces may try to capture Huliaipole from the south, since they established themselves on the right bank of the river in the Marfopil village area back in 2022. And although Ukrainian defenses here have been solidly built over the years, the new circumstances of the offensive from the east as well may shake them.North of Huliaipole, the Russians are still trying to advance into Ukrainian rear areas, but their offensive has been exhausted by strikes from the Armed Forces of Ukraine and has significantly slowed. Only near Rivnopillia did Russian forces break through 2 km to the west. However, in the most important area for Ukraine around the villages of Danylivka and Yehorivka, Ukrainian soldiers have cemented their defense.In the Pokrovske and Novopavlivka areas, the front has stabilized, with positional battles ongoing without any Russian advances.The maps were created based on information received from the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ General Staff, as well as from other open and verified sources. At the same time, the maps are not completely accurate and only conditionally reflect the trends in the combat zone.