The rate of Russian advances in the Pokrovsk direction has temporarily slowed but will likely increase again in the coming days as Russian forces extend logistics and bring reinforcements in the area. Geolocated footage published on November 6 indicates that Russian forces recently marginally advanced into northern Myrnohrad (east of Pokrovsk), a relatively small quantity and area of assessed Russian advances in the Pokrovsk direction compared to recent days.[1] Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian forces seized western Rivne (east of Pokrovsk along the T-0515 Pokrovsk-Dobropillya highway), seized most of Krasnyi Lyman (northeast of Pokrovsk), and advanced in eastern and southeastern Myrnohrad.[2] One milblogger claimed that small Russian assault groups are approaching the T-0515 Pokrovsk-Dobropillya highway in eastern Pokrovsk and are fighting in northern Pokrovsk but are struggling to consolidate positions due to Ukrainian drone strikes.[3] Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets reported on November 7 that much of Pokrovsk is a contested “gray zone” but noted that Russian forces have forward positions in northern Pokrovsk while elements of the main Russian force grouping have positions in southern Pokrovsk.[4] Ukrainian 7th Rapid Reaction Corps of the Air Assault Forces Spokesperson Serhiy Okishev stated on November 8 that Russian forces do not aim to establish a foothold within Pokrovsk itself but continue efforts to penetrate through the town to its northern outskirts and are dressing as civilians, a resort to perfidy under international law, to do so.[5] Okishev stated that Ukrainian forces partially restored their logistics north of Pokrovsk and transported ammunition into the town.
Ukrainian military sources have indicated in recent days that Russian forces are somewhat slowing down their offensive operations in the Pokrovsk direction while waiting for reinforcements and are attempting to establish defenses and extend logistics into southern Pokrovsk.[6] Mashovets reported that Russian forces quickly established strong defenses near Razine (northeast of Pokrovsk) and are attempting to send reinforcements toward Zatyshok (northeast of Pokrovsk) and Krasnyi Lyman and are sending small and large groups toward Krasnyi Lyman.[7] Russian forces will likely increase the tempo of their offensive operations in the Pokrovsk direction in the coming days as Russian forces continue establishing defenses and logistics in the town.
Russia launched over 500 drones and missiles at Ukraine overnight on November 7 to 8 as it continues its long-range strike campaign against critical Ukrainian energy infrastructure ahead of winter 2025-2026. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces launched 503 drones and missiles, including 25 Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles from Kursk, Voronezh, and Rostov oblasts; 10 Iskander-K cruise missiles from Kursk and Voronezh oblasts; seven Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles from Tambov Oblast; and three Kalibr missiles from the Black Sea.[8] The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces also launched 458 Shahed-type, Gerbera-type, and other drones – of which roughly 300 were Shahed-type drones – from the directions of Kursk and Oryol cities; Millerovo, Rostov Oblast; Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Krasnodar Krai; and occupied Hvardiiske, Crimea. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Ukrainian air defense downed 406 drones and nine missiles, 26 missiles and 52 drones struck 25 locations, and downed debris fell on four locations. The Kirovohrad Oblast Prosecutor’s Office reported that Russian forces struck the Kremenchuk Hydroelectric Power Plant in Svitlovodsk, Kirovohrad Oblast, with nearly 15 drones and two missiles.[9] The Horishneplavnika City Council reported that Russian forces conducted missile strikes against several energy facilities in Horishni Plavni, Poltava Oblast, causing significant damage and power outages in the city.[10] The Ukrainian State Emergency Service reported that Russian forces struck an energy infrastructure facility in Odesa Oblast, causing fires.[11] The Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor’s Office reported that Russian forces conducted a combined Geran-2 drone and Iskander-M ballistic missile strike against energy and gas infrastructure in Kharkiv Oblast, killing a gas company operator.[12]
Ukrainian State-owned company Tsentrenergo reported that Russian strikes caused fires and stopped electricity output at the Zmievska Thermal Power Plant in Slobozhanske, Kharkiv Oblast, and the Trupilska Thermal Power Plant in Ukrainka, Kyiv Oblast.[13] Russian opposition outlet SOTA noted that these two thermal power plants supplied 14 percent of Ukraine’s electricity.[14] Tsentrenergo reported that Russian forces used an unprecedented number of drones and missiles, amounting to several per minute, against the plants on November 7 to 8 and that the strikes destroyed all restoration progress made at the plants after Russian strikes damaged the plants in 2024. Russia has recently increased strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure to disrupt the Ukrainian power system on a large scale ahead of winter 2025-2026, in what ISW continues to assess is a Russian effort to degrade Ukraine’s energy security and industrial capacity and demoralize the Ukrainian populace.[15]
Russian forces also struck civilian and residential infrastructure in Dnipropetrovsk and Kyiv oblasts. Acting Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration Head Vladyslav Haivanenko reported that Russian strikes killed three civilians and injured 12 others.[16] Kyiv Oblast Military Administration Head Mykola Kalashnyk reported that Russian missile and drone strikes injured five civilians and damaged residential infrastructure.[17] Ukrainian officials also reported that Russian forces struck Mykolaiv, Sumy, and Chernihiv oblasts.[18]
Ukrainian railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia reported that Russian strikes against railway infrastructure in Poltava Oblast resulted in several train delays and disrupted power supply to several stations.[19] Geolocated footage indicates that Russian forces struck a key railway depot in Hrebinka, Poltava Oblast, which connects Kyiv and Poltava oblasts.[20] ISW recently assessed that Russia has been intensifying its strike campaign against railway infrastructure as part of its battlefield air interdiction (BAI) efforts aimed at disrupting Ukraine’s use of its intermediate rear area for logistics.[21]
Key Takeaways
- The rate of Russian advances in the Pokrovsk direction has temporarily slowed but will likely increase again in the coming days as Russian forces extend logistics and bring reinforcements in the area.
- Russia launched over 500 drones and missiles at Ukraine overnight on November 7 to 8 as it continues its long-range strike campaign against critical Ukrainian energy infrastructure ahead of winter 2025-2026.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed Southern Military District (SMD) Commander Colonel General Alexander Sanchik as Deputy Minister of Defense for Logistics on November 8.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed Colonel Yuriy Cherevashenko as the commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Air Defense Systems service on November 7.
- Russian forces advanced near Pokrovsk.