In the east of Ukraine, the offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine continues, or rather, coverage from the flanks in the area of Svatov, a key center of defense of Russian forces in the north of the Luhansk region. Military analyst Def Mon analyzed and geolocated several videos and concluded that the line of operations of Ukrainian troops now lies further east. In addition, fighting has intensified in the south, the analyst writes, citing reports of fires (information about fires can be tracked using the NASA FIRMS system).
The active offensive of Russian troops continues in the area of the city of Pavlovka in the Uludar direction, which is under the control of Ukraine – the Armed Forces of Ukraine were able to return the city in the summer, now the situation in this area is difficult for defense. The RF Armed Forces are advancing in the southern and eastern parts of the city. According to the analyst, on November 2, the Armed Forces of Ukraine managed to recapture Pavlovka, as well as Pervomayskoye, Novomikhailovka, Vodiane and Prechistovka in the Donetsk region.
The Russian war correspondent Kotenok reported that on the night of October 31 to November 1, internal troops of the “DPR” suffered losses near Vuhledar. At the same time, the pro-Russian blogger Semyon Pegov (wargonzo) openly wrote that “in the Uludar sector, the Russian Armed Forces were shelling the city itself.”
Ukrainian troops continue operations to block the Svatovo-Kreminnaya highway in order to break the supply and communication lines of the RF Armed Forces. Also, Ukrainian troops continue to advance on the positions of the Russians, located north of the Kupyansk-Svatovo highway.
According to military expert Leonid Dmitriev, from a military point of view, the events in the Ugledar-Volnovakha region are now more important than even the capture of Svatov. “The actual fire control of Volnovakha and Melitopol by the Armed Forces of Ukraine promises significant problems for the southern grouping of the RF Armed Forces. Svatovo, like Bakhmut, is beautiful, of course: military victories in heavy battles, but, in fact, Starobelsk or Troitskoye in the north are important for the Armed Forces of Ukraine – logistics hubs with the railway.
Active fighting continues near Bakhmut. On November 2, a video of the shelling of the city with incendiary ammunition appeared. According to the Conflict Intelligence Team, these are most likely 9M22S shells for the Grad launcher.
CIT analysts point out that civilians live in Bakhmut, not everyone has been evacuated, shelling the city is a war crime. The territory is under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, so there is no doubt that it is the Russian Armed Forces that are firing.
According to the analytical project WarMonitor, fighting continues in Bakhmut to the east and southeast of the city, as well as in the south – south of Ivangrad and Experienced. Trench battles also ensue.
By Wednesday evening, November 2, shelling of Nova Kakhovka resumed in southern Ukraine, pro-Russian Telegram channels reported. There is a fire in the area of the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station. In addition, another blow was dealt to the Antonovsky bridge. The video was published by Ukrainian journalist Andrei Tsaplienko, and pro-Russian bloggers also published reports of the blow to the bridge. One of these, Yuriy Podolyaka, reported that the strike was carried out by "a volley of 18 HIMARS, 6 of which penetrated the air defense system, that is, it is very likely that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are starting to prepare for an attack." At the same time, military expert Leonid Dmitriev notes that the strikes were not carried out on the Antonovsky bridge, but on a pontoon crossing, which is located nearby.