Russia-Ukraine war: Frontline update as of November 20
Illustrative photo: Defense inflicts heavy losses on Russian forces (Getty Images)
The Ukrainian army continues to hold its positions along key directions, repelling large-scale attacks by Russian forces as the intensity of assaults and strikes increases across the entire frontline, according to an update from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
As of 10:00 PM Kyiv time on 20 November, 161 combat engagements took place along various sections of the frontline.
Ukrainian units continue to consistently hold back enemy pressure, as Russian forces keep deploying aviation, artillery, and large numbers of loitering munitions.
Over the past day, 39 airstrikes were recorded, during which Russian forces used 82 guided bombs, and also carried out more than 2,000 drone attacks and over 3,000 artillery strikes on Ukrainian positions.
Northern directions
In the Northern-Slobozhanskyi and Kursk directions, one engagement was recorded, accompanied by airstrikes and more than one hundred attacks.
In the Southern-Slobozhanskyi sector, Russian forces attempted six advances in the areas of Synelnykove, Vovchansk, and Kolodiazne.
Eastern front
In the Kupiansk direction, Russia carried out two attacks toward Pishchane.
In the Lyman direction, Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled ten assaults near Novoyehorivka, Hrekivka, Myrne, Shandryholove, and nearby settlements.
Donetsk direction
In the Sloviansk direction, Russia launched thirteen assaults near Serebrianka, Siversk, Dronivka, and Zvanivka.
In the Kramatorsk direction, six attacks were recorded; fighting continues in two locations.
In the Kostyantynivka sector, twenty-three assaults took place, most of them near Pleshchiivka, Shcherbynivka, and Sofiivka.
Pokrovsk direction
A total of fifty-six assaults took place today. According to preliminary information, Ukrainian forces eliminated fifty-nine Russian troops and neutralised another twenty-four. Two pieces of equipment, a UAV control point, and five personnel shelters were also destroyed.
Southern directions
In the Oleksandrivka direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled sixteen attacks; in the Huliaipole area, ten. Two attempts to advance near Orikhove were stopped, and in the Prydniprovskyi direction, Russia made one unsuccessful attempt to approach the Antonivskyi Bridge.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll agreed on an accelerated timeline for drafting an agreement intended to become a comprehensive plan to end the war and outline the next steps toward lasting peace.
According to reports, in developing the anticipated peace plan, the United States maintained contacts with both Kyiv and Moscow. Sources close to President Donald Trump noted that he had repeatedly expressed a desire to end the war during his campaign, but later showed growing frustration with both sides over their reluctance to move toward signing an agreement.
