RU POV: Russian and Ukrainian advances from Day 1304 to 1308 of the War - Suriyakmaps

Russian Forces Advance: 2.76 km²

Upper Left Advance = 1.67km2, Middle Left Advance = 1.09km2

We begin on the Oskil River front, where Russia has continued slowly pushing out from Serednje, capturing some treelines north and west of it.

Fighting is ongoing in neighbouring Shandryholove, however with Russia in control of most of the village and the last parts being assaulted now, it will fall soon.

Russian Forces Advance: 7.40 km²

Advance = 7.40km2

Southeast on the Lyman front, Russian assault groups cleared the last remaining section of the Serebryansky forest over the past 3 days, confirming full control of the forest. This marks the end of the longest running battle of the war, which began in late September/October 2022. The vast majority of the progress in the battle occurred in the final 6 weeks, with there being several years of incredibly static, low intensity fighting, neither side able to break the deadlock.

As for strategic effects, this puts Ukraine’s forces on the Siversk front in trouble of being flanked and cutoff from behind if Russian troops are able to cross the Siverskyi Donets River. Russia is already assaulting Yampil (above the @) to try move towards Lyman, but they will also be looking to cross the river and attack Dronivka. If Russia is able to captured the settlement they will be able to use it as a forward base to flank Siversk from the north and cut off the Ukrainian troops trying to retake Serebryanka (under the a).

Russian Forces Advance: 1.67 km²

Advance = 1.67km2

Heading over to the Novopavlivka front, over the past two weeks Russian troops have slowly cleared Muravka, taking control of the village. Similar to the battle for Uspenivka, Muravka was an incredibly awkward battle for both sides to fight due to there being minimal cover in and around the village as well as having to cross open fields or a river to reach it in the first place (both Russia and Ukraine struggled to get anyone in there).

From here Ukraine may try to cross back into Muravka by fording the Solona River to the north, although they will struggle to do much else as supplying them would be difficult. Russia is likely planning to push onto Novopavlivka, however they won’t be doing it from Muravka due to the reasons mentioned above, so this area should remain relatively quiet.

Russian Forces Advance: 8.25 km²

Advance = 8.25km2

Onto the Hulyaipole front, Russian forces have continued pushing west, expanding control of the fields around Novoivanivka and beginning to bombard Novohryhorivka (their next target). I’ve mentioned many times before the issues Ukraine is facing on this front and why Russia is able to advance so easily, but I’ll link several videos to provide specific examples (video 1, video 2, video 3, video 4, video 5). Russian drone and artillery are so oppressing here that Ukraine just can’t set up any proper defences, with most of their forces getting picked off long before fighting begins within the settlements.

So it’s turned into a cycle of withdraw back to the nearest settlement/fortifications > try coordinate a defence, supply points, determine safe movement routes > get smashed by Russian drones and artillery before all that can happen > be forced to abandon the settlement or lose most of the garrison before Russia walks in and clears it with a squad or two. This will only change if Ukraine can halt Russia long enough to get set up or if they are reinforced by more units (unlikely for now).

Russian Forces Advance: 9.45 km²

Advance = 9.45km2

Moving on up to the northern front, Russian infantry groups have built on their previous successes in the Kharkiv border area, expanding their control and capturing a few more treelines and a small forest area between Ambarne and Odradne. As mentioned last time, this is being done slowly with few troops, taking advantage of Ukraine not having the numbers to cover this area.

Russian Forces Advance: 0.62 km²

Advance = 0.62km2

Following on from picture 1, Russian assault groups cleared and captured the last section of Shandryholove, now in control of the entire village.

Russian Forces Advance: 6.27 km²

Top Advance = 5.80km2, Bottom Left Advance = 0.47km2

Down to the Kostyantynivka front, on the north side, Russia has continued to chip away at the small pocket east of Predtechyne, clearing another group of fields and some forest areas, as well as entering the last big forest area in the pocket. There is almost no chance Ukraine can hold this, but they are stalling for time as long as possible as it prevents Russia from consolidating in that area and increasing the pressure on Kostyantynivka.

To the southwest, Yablunivka has seen no updates in over a month until now. Many sources say Russia controls the entire town, whilst others (like Suriyak) say the last street north of the river was still contested. Regardless of whether fighting was ongoing on that street or just north of it, Suriyak has now indicated that Russia has captured about 1/3 of the remaining houses, but we are unlikely to see much more movement here as Russian focus is on other areas.

Ukrainian Forces Advance: 2.06 km²

Advance = 2.06km2

Over to the Pokrovsk front, the situation of the Russian forces in the salient continues to deteriorate. Ukraine launched an attack south of Nykanorivka, attempting to reach Boikivka. Whilst they were unable to enter the village, Ukraine is exerting an immense amount of pressure at the base of the salient, threatening to encircle the Russian forces still inside if they do not hold Boikivka and Novotoretske.

Russian Forces Advance: 2.61 km²

Top Right Advance = 0.43km2, Bottom Left Advance = 2.18km2

A little south on the same front, Suriyak has marked Russia as retaking control of part of central Novoekonomichne. I have almost no information from this area, with there being hardly any mentions of it since the Ukrainian counterattacks at the beginning of September, so I can’t comment on the situation here.

On the opposite side of Pokrovsk, one of the treelines and adjacent fields south of the city has come under Russian control, as Ukraine have no been able to contest it for some time now. There is also increasing Russian pressure on Novopavlivka (below the r) being reported, although from what little we know it does not seem like Russia has consolidated there.

Russian Forces

No Advance

Following on from the previous picture, Russia has also reportedly begun to try clear the high rises in the southern side of the city. As with all other changes claimed in Pokrovsk over the past couple of months, the information blackout makes it difficult to determine what is actually happening and where the fighting is occurring, so take these with a grain of salt.

Russian Forces Advance: 1.78 km²

Middle Left Advance = 0.52km2, Lower Left Advance = 1.26km2

Over on the Pokrovske front, Russian troops have begun to expand the buffer around Berezove following its capture a few days prior, as well as pushing into Kalynivkse and clearing the village (following extensive droning/bombardment).

Russian Forces

No Advance

Following on from picture 6, Ukraine reportedly tried to re-enter Shandryholove, but was unsuccessful. Russia still needs to try push over the Nitrius River to expand the buffer around the settlement, otherwise Ukraine will keep being able to send small groups in to try infiltrate and stall out the battle.

A little to the south, Russian assault groups have been working on trying to break into Derylove and Novoselivka, which are their next targets on this front.

Russian Forces Advance: 3.20 km²

Top Advance = 0.21km2, Lower Left Advance = 0.60km2, Bottom Left Advance = 2.39km2

Following on from picture 7, Russia made another push to clear out the remainder of the small pocket east of the city, moving up the treelines near Predtechyne.

To the southwest, Russian assault groups began to attack Pleshchiivka and Nelipivka (below the r), taking over houses on the south side of both settlements.

Adjacent to this, other Russian groups to the south reorganised over the past few weeks, recapturing Katerynivka after Ukraine’s short lived counterattack and once again moving into southern Kleban-Byk. Progress here has always been slow due to Ukraine being well dug in in the village and Russia allocating their forces to pushing elsewhere at the same time (see 2 above paragraphs). At the same time the last couple of houses of Scherbynivka were finally captured, confirming full Russian control of that town (although they have effectively controlled it for a month by now).

Russian Forces Advance: 6.28 km²

Upper Left Advance = 3.51km2, Middle Left Advance = 2.46km2, Lower Left Advance = 0.31km2

Following on from picture 11, Russian forces further expanded control of the fields north of Berezove and captured the remainder of Kalynivske. Like with all the other battles in this area, the Russians will be looking to quickly move onto the next settlement and begin bombing and harassing the Ukrainians, which will almost certainly be Verbove (for this set of Russian groups).

Russian Forces Advance: 1.63 km²

Advance = 1.63km2

Following on from picture 5, Russia slightly expanded their control of the area west of Odradne, taking over a small forest strip.

Russian Forces Advance: 1.75 km²

Bottom Left Advance = 0.81km2, Lower Left Advance = 0.94km2

Following on from picture 12, Russian assault groups were able to make progress in both Novoselivka and Derylove, establishing a foothold in both settlements. The former is the more important battle here, as capturing Novoselivka will give Russia access to significant area of forest (useful for both hiding troops and advancing) as well as open the way for them to completely split the Lyman and Oskil River fronts by reaching the Siverskyi Donets River.

Ukrainian Forces Advance: 2.49 km²

Advance = 2.49km2

Following on from picture 8, Ukraine has been pushing hard towards the base of the salient, sending many assault groups towards Novotoretske and even managing to infiltrate the centre of the village. Control of the settlement is split with it being unclear who currently controls the centre, but Ukraine is trying to establish a foothold.

Fighting is ongoing on the other parts of salient in and around Ivanivka, Nove Shakhove, Nykanorivka and Zatyshok.

Ukrainian Forces Advance: 0.69 km²

Advance = 0.69km2

On the Novopavlivka front, whilst Russia was working on clearing Muravka, Ukraine managed to infiltrate Novomykolaivka with a small number of infantry over the past few weeks, crossing over the Solona River. As with the other smaller infiltrations in this area, Ukraine’s goal is to stall the Russians and try divert some of their resources to dealing with the smaller groups, weakening their pushes elsewhere. For now the Russians are simply working on the area with FABs and it wouldn’t surprise me if the Ukrainians left once again only to try again later.

Russian Forces Advance: 1.77 km²

Advance = 1.77km2

Onto the western side of the Zaporizhia frontline, over the past week Russian assault groups have managed to make their way into western Stepnohirsk, moving up past the interchange, capturing the houses south of the stream and also crossing to the north side.

This battle also has a similar information blackout to Pokrovsk, although somewhat less severe, so it is quite difficult to tell exactly what is happening. From what we do know and the smaller clips that have been published the Russians have made it across the stream in several places and fighting is currently ongoing for the central part of the town, which does not bode well for Ukraine.