Update on the situation, Sunday november 16 at 9 p.m.
Ukrainian forces maintain control over most of Kupiansk, a key transportation hub in Kharkiv Oblast, and deny reports of encirclement, according to a statement from the joint forces group. Russian soldiers positioned in the northern districts of the city are reportedly cut off from ground supply lines.
Elsewhere, the Ukrainian army announced strikes overnight against a Russian refinery in Novokuybyshevsk, Samara Oblast, as well as a drone storage site belonging to the elite Rubicon unit and a fuel and lubricant pumping station, both located in the occupied portion of Donetsk Oblast.
Following a two-day disruption caused by Ukrainian missile and drone fire, tanker loading operations resumed sunday at the Russian port of Novorossiysk in Krasnodar Krai, Reuters reported, citing two industrial sources.
The russian Defense Ministry claimed the capture of Rivnopillia and Mala Tokmatchka in Zaporizhia Oblast, adding to previous claims of territorial gains in the region this week.
In international developments, Greek public company DEPA and Ukrainian Naftogaz signed a declaration of intent for natural gas supplies to Ukraine from December 2025 to March 2026.The agreement was signed in the presence of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is scheduled to visit Paris on Monday.
The Ukrainian army also announced that foreign volunteers joining ukrainian forces will now be able to select their combat brigade, field of activity, and specialty based on their training, experience, and preferences.
