War in Ukraine today: latest news, 16 November, 2024 (photo)

It has been the 997th day of the Ukrainian resistance to the russian military aggression. 

What happened in Ukraine today:

Here is operational information of the General Staff as of 4 pm:   

The russian army does not stop trying to advance into the depths of Ukraine’s territory. On 16 November, the enemy attacked the positions of the Defense Forces of Ukraine 75 times. It was most active towards Kurakhove and Pokrovsk, where it conducted almost half of all attacks. 

The border areas of Sumy oblast continue to suffer from russian artillery shelling – the settlements of Oleksandrivka, Hrabovske, Pavlivka, Tymofiivka, Zhuravka, Volfine, Velyka Pysarivka, Khrinivka and Basivka were affected. Mazenivka and Novenke came under enemy air strikes.

russian occupiers also carried out 10 strikes on their own territory, and 11 drones struck Kursk oblast.

Towards Kharkiv, russian terrorists attempted to conduct offensive actions near Vovchansk and Strilecha four times, two attacks were repelled. 

Towards Kupiansk, the enemy attacked eight times. Ukrainian defenders repelled enemy assaults near Pishchane, Kolisnykivka, Kruhliakivka and Zahryzove. 

Towards Lyman, enemy units continue to attack in the areas of Hrekivka, Cherneshchyna, Tverdokhlibove, and Terny.Ukrainian troops repelled six out of seven enemy attacks in this area.  Airstrikes were launched near Borova, Ivanivka and Dronivka.

 

Towards Siversk and Kramatorsk, the enemy did not conduct any offensive actions, but conducted airstrikes in the vicinity of Kreminna and Khromivka.

Towards Toretsk, two hostile attacks occurred. The enemy attacked near Toretsk and Shcherbynivka. One attack was stopped. The aggressor’s aircraft bombed Ivanopillia, Kostiantynivka and Svitlodarsk.

Towards Pokrovsk, the occupiers carried out 14 attacks in the vicinity of Myroliubivka, Lysivka, Promin, Krutyi Yar, Petrivka, Novooleksiivka and Pustynka. The defense forces, restraining the enemy’s onslaught, repelled half of the enemy’s attacks.

The situation is the hottest towards Kurakhove, where there are currently 16 combat engagements, with the enemy most actively trying to advance in the vicinity of Nova Illinka, Berestky, Novoselydivka, Voznesenka, Sontsivka, Novodmytrivka, Zoria, Kurakhove, Dalne, Katerynivka and Antonivka. Eleven battles are still ongoing.

Towards Vremivka, the invaders attacked the positions of Ukrainian troops seven times near Romanivka, Sukhi Yaly, Novodarivka and Rivne, three engagements are still ongoing. The enemy was firing with NARs and KABs in the vicinity of Velyka Novosilka.

The enemy did not conduct any offensive actions towards Huliaipole and Orikhiv.

The enemy tried to attack the positions of Ukrainian defenders towards Kerson twice without success. He launched an airstrike with NARs against Olhivka.

No significant changes occurred in other sectors.

Mykola Kuleba, founder of the charity organization Save Ukraine, 15 children  were returned from the temporarily occupied Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts to the territory of Ukraine. In total, since the beginning of the invasion, Save Ukraine has managed to return 538 children.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, tests of 4 types of Ukrainian missiles are underway. Naval drones from the tests reached their targets and actually destroyed a large part of the russian Black Sea Fleet.

Recent war events in the east of Ukraine

Kharkiv oblast

Andrii Besedin, Head of the city administration, says that russians have dropped five KAB-1500s on Kupiansk since the beginning of October.

Viktor Kovalenko, head of the RMA, informs that around 15:35, the russian military launched four air strikes on the outskirts of the villages of Kostiantynivka, Stohniia, Odnorobivka and Tymofiivka in Zolochiv community. According to him, there was no information about injuries or damage.

The press service of the regional administration reports that around 12:00, a russian unidentified aerial vehicle hit a private yard in the village of Osynove in Kharkiv region. Two elderly people were injured, and another woman suffered an acute stress reaction. A 66-year-old woman and a 75-year-old man sustained shrapnel wounds, and a 62-year-old woman suffered an acute stress reaction. The roof of a summer kitchen on an area of 30 square meters was on fire. In addition, a residential building was damaged.

The day before, at 21:14, Kupiansk district, Velykyi Burluk community, the village of Velykyi Burluk was damaged. The shelling partially destroyed the building of the lyceum and the court. The glazing of the windows in three two-storey apartment buildings, the windows of the hospital and the village council were damaged.

At 20:30 Izium region, Izium community, Izium town were shelled. The shelling destroyed the warehouse of the enterprise, damaged the facades, windows and doors of private houses.

Yesterday, an emergency medical team came under enemy mortar fire in Zolochiv community. The team and the vehicle were not injured.

Towards Kharkiv, the enemy tried to storm our positions near Vovchansk and Vysoka Yaruha. Seven attacks were repelled by the defense forces, and two firefights are ongoing.

Towards Kupiansk, the enemy conducted offensive actions near Kolisnykivka, Kopanky and Nadiia. Fourteen battles were completed, one is still ongoing.

71 people were evacuated from Kupiansk and Borova sectors.

Donetsk oblast

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports that most of the attacks by russian troops on the eastern front occurred towards Pokrovsk. The occupiers stormed Ukrainian positions 38 times, including near Promin, Lysivka, Myrolyubivka, Petrivka and Pustynka.  

 Another 35 attacks were repelled by Ukrainian troops in the Kurakhove sector near Berestky, Novoselydivka, Voznesenka, Novodmitrivka, Maksymilianivka, Dalne and Antonivka. 

 russians tried to advance towards Lyman 16 times. They attacked near Novoiehorivka, Makiivka, Terny and Torske. 

Donetsk oblast State Emergency Service said that rescuers extinguished a fire in Ivanopillia, which was shelled by russians in the morning of November 16. The occupiers dropped two guided aerial bombs on the village and damaged the administrative building and 10 private houses. Rescuers extinguished the fire over an area of 200 square meters.

Petro Andriushchenko, Advisor to the mayor of Mariupol, says that the russian military continues to move equipment from Zaporizhzhia oblast towards Kurakhove through Mariupol. Earlier, the occupants were moving tanks and armoured vehicles from the territory of russia.

Serhii Horbunov, Head of the RMA, reports that russian troops shelled Kostiantynivka for the second time in a day. The city was hit by aircraft. The shelling damaged an apartment building, private houses, an office building, a former factory and a pharmacy, a bus and a power line.

Operational situation in the region as of the morning of November 16:

Pokrovsk region. A person was killed in Kurakhove, numerous houses were damaged; 13 houses in the community were damaged. In Pokrovsk, 2 houses were damaged.

Kramatorsk region. An administrative building, a shop and a catering establishment were damaged in Lyman. A person was killed in Sloviansk, a warehouse and a power line were damaged. A warehouse was damaged in Mykolaiivka. In Romanivka of Illinivka community, 11 objects were damaged. In Kostiantynivka, 3 houses and 2 non-residential buildings were damaged; in Novodmytrivka, 9 private houses, 2 multi-storey buildings, 2 administrative buildings, a utility building, a gas pipeline and 2 power lines were damaged; in Ivanopillia, numerous houses and 2 administrative buildings were damaged.

Bakhmut region. In Siversk, 4 private houses were destroyed, 2 private houses and a multi-storey building were damaged; in Riznykivka, 3 houses were destroyed. One person was killed and one wounded in Chasiv Yar community.

russians fired 21 times at the settlements of Donetsk oblast. 555 people were evacuated, including 89 children.

Vadym Filashkin, Head of Donetsk Military Administration, informs that russians killed 3 residents of Donetsk oblast: in Chasiv Yar, Sloviansk and Kurakhove. Another 1 person was wounded.

 Luhansk oblast

The invaders sent 38 drones at Ukrainian fortifications and villages in Luhansk oblast. 10 of them tried to carry out combat missions near Balka Zhuravka, 28 – near Makiivka. The enemy also fired at these settlements from artillery pieces. The enemy conducted offensive actions in the areas of Nadiya, Novoiehorivka and Makiivka. In the Liman sector, the occupants were supported by bomber aircraft.

According to Luhansk Military Administration, the part of the territory of the so-called “luhansk people’s republic” where it is allowed to use the Internet will be disconnected from foreign content. The shutdown will begin in December. The occupation authorities and russian banking institutions have received warnings.

Artem Lysohor, Head of Luhansk Regional Military Administration, says that by January 2026, residents of the occupied Luhansk oblast must replace Ukrainian licence plates with russian ones. Otherwise, the documents will become invalid. There are many cases when the replacement of licence plates is preceded by the mandatory procedure of inheritance registration in case of the testator’s death. If the car is not new, it costs more than the vehicle itself.

What is happening now in the north of Ukraine

Kyiv oblast

According to Kyiv RMA, the enemy attacked Kyiv oblast with drones at night. There were no hits to critical and residential infrastructure. There were no casualties among the population. In one district of the region, the attack damaged the windows of two apartments and balconies.

Kyiv RMA said that the air raid in Kyiv lasted almost 3 hours. During this time, the Armed forces detected and neutralised up to a dozen enemy UAVs in the airspace around the city. The falling debris in the Obolon district of the capital damaged balconies and windows in a multi-storey residential building. 

Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwai visited Bucha, where he prayed at the memorial to the victims of the russian occupation for the repose of the souls of the victims. Takeshi Iwai arrived in Ukraine on an unannounced visit on Saturday for talks with officials.

Details of the plan to support Ukraine next year were discussed with the Swedish delegation in Kyiv. The meeting with Brigadier General Johan Axelsson, Director of the Technical Systems Test and Evaluation Department of the Swedish government’s FMV procurement agency, took place at the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine. They discussed the volume of weapons and military equipment and financing mechanisms.

Olena Zelenska, President’s wife, visited Hansen’s Town for internally displaced persons who lost their homes due to russia’s armed aggression in Kyiv oblast. There, she met with Dell Loy Hansen, a partner of the Foundation, an American businessman and philanthropist, and the team that implements his projects in Ukraine. The town is already home to more than 300 IDP families, including nine large foster families from Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Kharkiv and other oblasts.

Kyiv RMA said that Kyiv oblast will receive 24 mobile boiler houses for social institutions purchased at the expense of philanthropists. They will be used to heat educational institutions, hospitals and housing. An important factor is their mobility, which allows them to be quickly moved and installed in new locations if necessary. In total, the Coca-Cola system of companies, together with the Ukrainian Red Cross, will donate 60 boilers to communities across Ukraine this year.

On 14 November, the Ukrainian Women’s Guard held a warm women’s creative circle in Kyiv to provide psychological support, adaptation and rehabilitation for participants using the traditional art of embroidery. The event was timed to coincide with the International Day of Embroiderers.

As part of the Drones for Victory campaign, schoolchildren of the Bucha community raised more than UAH 1.6 million at charity fairs in September, the city council reported. These funds made it possible to purchase 91 kamikaze drones, which will soon be sent to the frontline.

The conference of the Georgiy Gongadze Mediadni Prize 2014 has started in Kyiv. This year’s discussions at the conference will focus on the challenges faced by journalists in the third year of the full-scale war.

Zhytomyr oblast

Zhytomyr RMA said that Zhytomyr oblast will receive almost UAH 110 million to cover the housing needs of 52 people, including veterans, IDPs, people with disabilities as a result of the war and families of the fallen. In total, 1,836 families affected by the war will receive housing across the country.

There are already 18 rehabilitation units for veterans in hospitals in Zhytomyr oblast. There are also 27 veterans’ hubs in the oblast to ensure effective social integration of Ukrainian heroes.

Zhytomyr RMA said that a state-of-the-art rehabilitation centre of the Mission to Ukraine international charity foundation has been opened in Zhytomyr to support children with special needs. UAH 162 million of sponsorship funds were spent on the construction. The centre will provide psychological, physical, social and other types of assistance.

Sumy oblast

 During night and morning, russians carried out 3 shelling attacks on border areas and settlements in Sumy oblast, resulting in 20 explosions. The attacks targeted Khotin and Seredyna-Buda communities.

On 15 November, russians carried out 32  shelling attacks on border areas and settlements in Sumy oblast, resulting in 71 explosions. The attacks targeted Khotin, Bilopillia, Krasnopillia, Velyka Pysarivka, Hlukhiv, Seredyna-Buda, and Znob-Novhorod communities.

Krasnopillia community: VOG drops from UAVs (6 explosions), artillery fire (8 explosions), mortar fire (14 explosions), FPV-drone strike (1 explosion) took place.

Znob-Novhorod community: FPV-drone strike (1 explosion), mortar fire (6 explosions).

Seredyna-Buda community: dropping of VOG from a UAV (1 explosion), mortar shelling (1 explosion) was recorded.

Bilopillia community: the enemy hit by FPV-drones (2 explosions), by mortars (2 explosions), dropped the VOG from the UAV (4 explosions).

Khotin community: VOG drops from UAVs (3 explosions), FPV-drone strike (1 explosion), artillery shelling (2 explosions), tank shelling (11 explosions) took place.

Velyka Pysarivka community: russians dropped 6 mines on the territory of the community. Also struck by FPV-drone (1 explosion).

Hlukhiv community: the enemy attacked by an FPV-drone (1 explosion).

In Sumy, gifts are being collected for Ukrainian defenders to be delivered by St. Nicholas Day. The charitable initiative was organised by representatives of the Sumy Promotion Agency and volunteers from the Sumy Women’s Battalion. The campaign, titled “A Thank-You Package for the Defender,” began on 25 October. Since then, the first gifts have been gathered at the promotion agency.

Chernihiv oblast

The russian army attacked three border communities in Chernihiv oblast, using FPV-drones, drops from UAVs and by mortars.

Novhorod-Siverskyi community:

3 explosions (hits, probably by a 120mm mortar) near Krasnyi Khutir village.

Semenivka community:

6 explosions (hits, probably by a 120mm mortar) near Leonivka village;

2 explosions (hits, probably by a 120mm mortar) in Hremiachka village;

1 explosion (hit, release of an explosive device from an unmanned aerial vehicle) in the area of Liskivshchyna village.

Snovsk community:

2 explosions (hits, probably by FPV-drones) in the area of Huta Studenetska village;

3 explosions (hits, probably by a 120mm mortar) near Khrinivka village.

No casualties or injuries among the local population were reported as a result of the shelling.

On 15 November, Chernihiv residents paid tribute to Oleksii Tepliakov, a soldier of the 1st Separate Tank Siversk Brigade, who died on the front line. The soldier lost his life on 7 November, 2024. He was laid to rest at the Yatsevo city cemetery in Chernihiv.

Recent events in the central regions of Ukraine

Dnipropetrovsk oblast

Mykola Lukashuk, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Council, reported that about a dozen attacks – the enemy was constantly attacking Nikopol region throughout the day. They used artillery, kamikaze drones, dropped ammunition from drones and shelled from Grad. They targeted the region centre, Myrove and Marhanets communities.

In Nikopol, a 75-year-old woman was injured in an enemy shelling. A multi-storey building, 10 private houses, 10 outbuildings, a transport company, 3 garages, solar panels, a greenhouse, a power line and a gas pipeline were damaged. 

​​ Kirovohrad oblast

Andrii Raykovych, Head of Kirovohrad RMA, reported that during an air raid over Kirovohrad oblast, the Armed forces destroyed an enemy Shahed. 

Poltava oblast

A memorial service for the fallen soldier Kyrylo Sadovskyi was held at the Holy Dormition Cathedral. The 22-year-old soldier died defending Ukraine from the russian army.

Cherkasy oblast

Ihor Taburets, Head of Cherkasy Regional Military Administration, reported that at night, 11 Shaheds were destroyed in Cherkasy oblast. 

In Cherkasy, 15 children of the military are learning mountaineering as part of a sports initiative project.

Latest news from the front of the southern regions of Ukraine

Zaporizhzhia oblast

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Defence Forces in Orikhiv axis repelled a russian attack toward Novoandriivka.

Ivan Fedorov, Head of the RMA,  reported that russian forces launched drone strikes on Zaporizhzhia and Zaporizhzhia oblast. Critical infrastructure, commercial buildings and roads were damaged. Preliminary reports indicate no casualties or injuries.

On 15 November, russian forces carried out 464 strikes on 17 cities and villages in Zaporizhzhia oblast. 275 drones of various modifications targeted Zaporizhzhia, Lobkove, Huliaipole, Zaliznychne, Shcherbaky, Novoandriivka, Novomykolaivka, Novodanylivka, Mala Tokmachka, Bilohiria and Novodarivka.

Mykolaiv oblast

Vitalii Kim, Head of Mykolaiv RMA, stated that on 15 November at 12:20pm, russian forces attacked Kutsurub community by an FPV drone. There were no casualties or injuries reported.

Odesa oblast

According to the Ukrainian Navy, as of 6am on 16 November, no russian ships were present in the Black Sea or the Sea of Azov.

Kherson oblast

Based on the information provided by the RMA, around 5pm, russian forces attacked Kherson suburb of Komyshany by a drone. 2 men, aged 41 and 19, suffered concussions, blast injuries and shrapnel wounds and were hospitalised.

At midnight, russian forces struck Tsentralnyi district of Kherson. A 57-year-old man sustained blast and traumatic brain injuries and a head contusion.

In the morning, russian forces attacked Kozatske in Kherson oblast by artillery and drones, injuring 2 men. Both were hospitalised with shrapnel wounds to their legs.

The russian forces dropped explosives from a drone onto a car in Dniprovskyi district of Kherson. A 43-year-old man sustained nose injuries and burns to his face and hands. Medical assistance was provided.

Latest news for today in the western regions of Ukraine

Volyn oblast

Lutsk community sent a Mitsubishi L200, 14 DJI Mavic 3PRO, 17 DJI Mavic 3T, DJI Mavic 3, 2 Lenovo Tab tablets, 2 sets of Therm Tec Cyclops thermal imaging binoculars + autonomous monitor and AGM NVG-50 night vision binoculars to the military thanks to the budget funds.

Zakarpattia oblast

The RMA reported that mobile operators record 300,000 IDPs in the oblast.

Ivano-Frankivsk oblast

Ivano-Frankivsk City Council signed a memorandum with the United Families of Ukraine public union. The document talks about cooperation in helping military personnel, their families and IDPs.

Lviv oblast

British farmers send 26 more off-road vehicles for the needs of defenders on the front lines thanks to the Pickups for Peace initiative, which was started by British farmer Mark Laird. Together, this is already 500 pickups since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

Rivne oblast

Another hospital in Rivne received humanitarian aid, namely, antibiotics, painkillers and other important medicines, thanks to the Viktor Shakirzyan Foundation and a charitable foundation from Italy.

Ternopil oblast

Ternopil City Council reported that 33 soldiers of the community will receive a one-time cash payment in the amount of UAH 10,000 for equipment.

Khmelnytskyi oblast

This year, Khmelnytskyi oblast will receive an additional almost UAH 109m to provide housing for 48 people, including families of veterans from among IDPs and persons with disabilities due to the war of 1.2 groups. Thanks to the initiative of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, by the end of the year, more than UAH 4.1bn will be allocated from the state budget to cover the need for housing for 1,836 such families in Ukraine.

Chernivtsi oblast

The RMA reported that Chernivtsi oblast will receive UAH 30.2m from the state budget to provide housing for 14 people — war veterans from among IDPs, people with disabilities of groups 1 and 2 as a result of the war and families of fallen heroes. 

International support of Ukraine in the russian-Ukrainian war (russia’s invasion of Ukraine)

The Development Bank of the Council of Europe will provide Ukraine with a €200m loan. The funds will be used to help IDPs

Estonia will send a new package of military aid, which will include naval uniforms, surveillance devices, sights, ballistic protection and various ammunition, to Ukraine. The package will be raised from the stocks of the Estonian Defense Forces of Estonia, taking into account the needs of Ukraine, but at the same time in such a way that the defence capability of Estonia itself is not affected.

The UN announced that almost 40% of the population of Ukraine is in need of humanitarian assistance. Matthias Shmal, assistant Secretary General of the UN, coordinator of the UN system in Ukraine, noted that thanks to the $1.8bn received from the international community for humanitarian aid, the UN together with its partners this year were able to provide at least one type of humanitarian aid to 7.2m people.

Takeshi Iwaya, Head of the Japanese Foreign Ministry, arrived in Ukraine on an unannounced visit. He will meet with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybih and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine. The purpose of the visit is to demonstrate Tokyo’s position towards Ukraine in its struggle with russia and North Korean troops.

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Materials compiled by Tetiana Kliuchnyk-Horobets, Tetyana Pidgorna, Olena Reka, Yana Hushchyna, Tamara Moshkovska, Sofia Ratynska, Ioanna Kryvenko, Helena Albahachiieva, Kristina Maknynia 

Translated by Tetyana Pidgorna, Yana Hushchyna, Alla Litrovnyk, Liudmyla Stadnykova, Ilona Korolevska, Tetiana Moiseienko, Marharyta Koval, Tetiana Kurbatova

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