DTG: 201600Z NOV 25
REPORTING PERIOD: 201200Z NOV 25 – 201600Z NOV 25
ANALYST CONFIDENCE (Overall): MEDIUM. Tactical aggression is sustained on primary axes, while RF internal friction is confirmed. UAF AD capacity remains stressed.
Pokrovsk Axis (Donetsk): Remains the primary kinetic effort. The use of the FAB-3000 on Mirnohrad confirms RF intent to minimize internal urban combat costs by pre-clearing obstacles. This is the execution phase of the RF breakthrough MLCOA.
Velyka Novosilka/Gulyaypole Axis (Zaporizhzhia): RF claims the capture of Veseloe are repeated and amplified across RF sources (e.g., Операция Z, Сливочный каприз). UAF forces must assume a tactical loss or severe threat to this position until ISR confirms otherwise. The operational intent remains fixing UAF reserves.
Aviation Threats (KAB/UAV): Air Force command confirms new KAB launches by tactical aviation on the border of Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts. This indicates immediate, synchronized air support for the ground offensive on both the Pokrovsk and Gulyaypole axes. Additionally, Pavlohrad (Dnipropetrovsk Oblast) was hit by 5 "Shahed" UAVs overnight, confirming sustained pressure on rear area C2/logistics nodes.
1.2. Weather and Environmental Factors Affecting Operations
No reported change. Ground conditions remain conducive to mechanized maneuver on main roads and cleared paths.
1.3. Current Force Dispositions and Control Measures
RF Posture: High synchronization between deep/operational strikes and tactical ground assault.
Near Front: Commitment of mechanized forces following FAB-3000 preparation. Continued false/amplified claims of success (Veseloe) to force UAF redeployment.
UAF Posture: UAF appears to be holding the line under heavy fire and maintaining deep-strike capabilities (Perm rail sabotage confirmed). UAF continues rapid defensive adaptation, including the reported codification of anti-drone shotgun ammunition from multiple domestic producers, enabling wide-scale point defense against low-altitude threats.
2. ENEMY ANALYSIS (Threat Assessment)
2.1. Enemy Capabilities, Intentions, and Courses of Action
Capabilities:
Ordnance Escalation: Confirmed use of FAB-3000 to destroy hardened defense points prior to assault, a critical capability for breach operations. (HIGH CONFIDENCE)
Sustained UAV Saturation: Capacity to launch coordinated drone attacks on multiple rear centers (Pavlohrad, Chernihiv) while simultaneously executing ground offensives. (HIGH CONFIDENCE)
IO Warfare: RF successfully amplifies politically destabilizing narratives (US 'peace plan') while maintaining high internal control (arrest of MoD officer in Sevastopol for corruption, removal of 'Party of Growth').
Intentions:
Immediate Breakthrough: Overrun the defenses near Mirnohrad and exploit the breach toward Pokrovsk.
Degrade UAF Logistical Depth: Target energy infrastructure (Chernihiv) and C2/marshalling areas (Pavlohrad) to impede the UAF response to the main ground effort.
Undermine Political Resolve: Leverage foreign official statements (Rubio) to increase pressure for negotiations based on disadvantageous terms.
2.2. Recent Tactical Changes or Adaptations
Air-Ground Synchronization: The combination of FAB-3000 ground clearing followed immediately by KAB launches on the multi-oblast border indicates a highly coordinated air-ground offensive designed to prevent UAF reserves from consolidating.
Internal RF Accountability/Control: The arrest of an RF MoD officer in Sevastopol regarding corruption in Black Sea Fleet maintenance (TASS, ASTRA) suggests ongoing internal purges or efforts to address corruption that directly impacts military readiness. (ANALYTICAL JUDGEMENT: This suggests RF C2 is attempting to eliminate friction points that undermine strategic power projection, possibly in reaction to increased UAF success against the BSF.)
2.3. Logistics and Sustainment Status
RF Logistics (Strategic): Continues to face CRITICAL FRICTION. The Perm rail sabotage compounds the Sverdlovsk disruption. These deep rear logistics strikes directly impact RF's long-term ability to sustain the war effort by delaying troop rotations, heavy equipment, and fuel from the East.
RF Logistics (Naval): The corruption arrest in Sevastopol highlights vulnerabilities in naval maintenance/readiness, which impacts RF's ability to reconstitute its Black Sea Fleet missile launch capacity. (MEDIUM CONFIDENCE)
2.4. Command and Control Effectiveness
RF C2 remains effective at coordinating multi-domain strikes and maintaining high operational tempo across multiple axes. However, internal corruption issues (Sevastopol arrest) and social pressures (targeting of 'magic' scammers preying on soldiers' families) suggest friction in the civil-military interface and logistics bureaucracy. (MEDIUM CONFIDENCE)
3. FRIENDLY FORCES (Blue Force Tracking)
3.1. Ukrainian Force Posture and Readiness
Counter-UAS Posture: UAF has shown an impressive, rapid adaptation to the drone threat by codifying domestic anti-drone shotgun ammunition. This enhances the distributed defense capability of infantry units.
AD Stress: The new wave of strikes (Pavlohrad Shaheds, Chernihiv infrastructure, KAB launches) confirms UAF AD assets are being stressed by a high operational rate of fire and wide geographic dispersal of targets.
Mental Health/Resilience: The establishment of a Mental Health Center in Zaporizhzhia highlights the ongoing, necessary commitment to maintaining troop and civilian resilience under continuous fire.
3.2. Recent Tactical Successes or Setbacks
Successes: Confirmed strategic sabotage of Perm fuel rail lines (Perm is deep rear, demonstrating maintained deep-strike reach). Successful domestic codification of new anti-drone ammunition.
Setbacks: Confirmed heavy FAB-3000 strike on Mirnohrad, signaling the immediate start of the main RF mechanized thrust. Continued casualties and search/rescue operations in Ternopil (22 still missing) underscore the high human cost of the MDCOA energy/terror strikes.
3.3. Resource Requirements and Constraints
ISR/BDA: Confirmation of the situation in Veseloe/Gulyaypole is the highest tactical priority.
Anti-KAB Capability: Defense against heavy glide bombs (KABs) is critical, particularly as they are now supporting the Pokrovsk breach effort (Donetsk/Dnipropetrovsk/Zaporizhzhia border). UAF requires systems capable of intercepting these low-radar cross-section/high-speed threats.
4. INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT (Cognitive Domain)
4.1. Propaganda and Disinformation Campaigns
US Political Friction: RF IO is actively amplifying the statement attributed to Senator Marco Rubio ("Ukraine must make difficult concessions") to align with the narrative that US support is conditional and requires Ukraine to surrender territory. (HIGH CONFIDENCE)
Internal Focus: RF domestic media emphasizes internal clean-up (Sevastopol arrest, 'magic' scammer check) and historical narratives (Putin referencing Nuremberg) to maintain legitimacy and shift focus from battlefield setbacks (like rail sabotage).
RF Claims of Victory: High-volume claims of capturing Veseloe serve to manage internal expectations and create external pressure on UAF forces to commit reserves.
4.2. Public Sentiment and Morale Factors
Public sentiment is severely strained by the simultaneous factors of high casualty events (Ternopil S/R) and the continued targeting of core infrastructure (Pavlohrad, Chernihiv).
The political narrative surrounding "concessions" must be forcefully and immediately countered to prevent political fracturing and demoralization among frontline units.
4.3. International Support and Diplomatic Developments
The presence of high-level US DoD officials in Kyiv serves as a counter-signal to the political IO, reinforcing commitment, but the narrative amplified by Rubio's statements (even if taken out of context) damages the unity of the negotiating position.
5. PREDICTIVE ANALYSIS (Future Operations)
5.1. Most Likely Enemy Courses of Action (MLCOA) - Next 12 Hours
(HIGH CONFIDENCE - Synchronized Breach and Interdiction)
Sustained Mechanized Thrust (Pokrovsk): The 40th/155th OMBR assault forces will maximize penetration speed in the Mirnohrad breach zone, aiming to fix UAF forces and gain ground before UAF reserves can be fully committed.
KAB Saturation Support: RF tactical aviation will execute continuous KAB strikes along the breach axis and suspected reserve staging areas (Donetsk/Dnipropetrovsk junction) to suppress UAF maneuverability.
GLOC Interdiction (Kostiantynivka): Spetsnaz teams, having observed UAF reserve commitment, will likely trigger their planned interdiction operation on the Kostiantynivka GLOC to maximize the tactical isolation of forward UAF units.
5.2. Most Dangerous Enemy Courses of Action (MDCOA) - Next 48 Hours
(HIGH CONFIDENCE - Operational Paralysis)
Combined Breach/Encirclement: Successful RF breach at Mirnohrad coincides with the Kostiantynivka GLOC closure for >12 hours. RF forces bypass Pokrovsk and drive for the major supply route connection, forcing a full UAF operational collapse in the sector due to lack of resupply and effective C2.
Strategic Missile Strike (GRAU): The high activity spike at the GRAU Arsenal culminates in a massed ballistic missile strike targeting UAF AD networks (suppression) and critical fuel/logistics hubs in Central/Western Ukraine (e.g., Lviv, Poltava), severely degrading UAF capacity to sustain defensive operations past the next 7 days.
5.3. Timeline Estimates and Decision Points
Timeframe
Event/Decision Point
Triggering Indicator
0-4 Hours (TACTICAL)
Confirmed SpN GLOC Activation: Interdiction fire or confirmed IED detonation on the Kostiantynivka-Pokrovsk road.
SIGINT/HUMINT confirmation of RF fire teams engaging vehicles or traffic reports confirming road closure/ambush. (DECISION POINT: J3 must launch immediate QRF/Hunter-Killer teams to secure the GLOC and secure alternate routes.)
4-12 Hours (OPERATIONAL)
Failure of Mirnohrad Blocking Position: UAF forces lose the designated final blocking position 5km West of Mirnohrad (near the breach).
UAV/Ground observer BDA confirming RF heavy armor beyond the 5km line. (DECISION POINT: J3 must initiate the deployment of the strategic reserve to the secondary defensive line covering Pokrovsk.)
AD systems detect incoming massed saturation strike waves. (DECISION POINT: UAF High Command must enact all pre-planned contingency defensive measures, including maximum dispersal of AD assets and C2 nodes.)
6. INTELLIGENCE GAPS AND COLLECTION REQUIREMENTS
Priority
Gap Description
Collection Requirement (CR)
Confidence (Pre-Analysis)
CRITICAL - TACTICAL EXPLOITATION
RF Control of Veseloe: Has RF secured and held Veseloe, or is this an IO claim? What is the current UAF disposition in the immediate area?
ISR/UAV (Velyka Novosilka/Gulyaypole Axis): Immediate high-res ISR to verify ground control and unit locations.
LOW
CRITICAL - STRATEGIC WEAPONRY
GRAU Arsenal Cargo Profile: Determine missile types (Iskander/Kh-101) being staged to forecast the next strike profile and optimal AD deployment.
GEOINT/SAR (GRAU): Task high-res imagery analysis focused on crate size and transport manifests. (UNSATISFIED - PRIORITY 1)
LOW
HIGH - COUNTER-FORCE CLAIMS
ATACMS BDA Verification: Confirm or deny RF claims of destroying two UAF ATACMS launchers in Kharkiv.
KAB Launch Zones: Precisely determine the RF tactical aviation operating area for the new KAB launches (Donetsk/Dnipropetrovsk/Zaporizhzhia border) to optimize counter-air targeting.
SIGINT/ELINT (Frontline Radar): Focus on monitoring RF aviation communications/radar signatures in the identified boundary area.
MEDIUM
7. ACTIONABLE RECOMMENDATIONS
J3/OC East: Execute Anti-GLOC Synchronization and AD Prioritization (IMMEDIATE).
Action: Immediately commit QRF teams to patrol and pre-clear potential ambush/IED zones along the Kostiantynivka GLOC. Simultaneously, direct priority AD resources (including the newly codified anti-drone teams) to protect the Pokrovsk-Kostiantynivka supply corridor against loitering munitions and attack helicopters.
Rationale: The threat of SpN interdiction is synchronized with the Mirnohrad breach. Maintaining the GLOC is paramount to prevent the MDCOA.
J2/STRATCOM: Neutralize Political IO (URGENT).
Action: Issue a high-level, coordinated rejection of any suggestion of forced concessions. Use the confirmed success of the Perm rail sabotage and the RF internal corruption arrests (Sevastopol) as evidence of mounting RF weakness. This provides a strong narrative counterpoint to both the terror strikes (Ternopil) and the political pressure (Rubio statement).
Rationale: Preventing cognitive domain failure is critical to sustaining military effort during kinetic peak.
J4/Logistics Command: Initiate Forward AD Fuel/Munition Pre-Positioning (CRITICAL).
Action: Based on the confirmed strikes on Pavlohrad (Shaheds) and the new KAB launches, pre-position high volumes of AD interceptors and fuel/reloading equipment near critical forward AD batteries in the Dnipropetrovsk/Zaporizhzhia border area to mitigate AD attrition and accelerate reload times.
Rationale: RF is attempting to exhaust UAF AD capabilities through saturation; improved forward logistics for AD systems directly increases survival and effectiveness rates.