Units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation remain in the village of Novopavlivka in the Dnipropetrovsk region, receiving reinforcements ferried in old UAZ “Bukhanka” vans. Ukrainian forces are making every effort to drive the enemy out; Russian troops have split into small assault groups and pushed into the village’s western outskirts.
Intense fighting is underway in Novopavlivka - “it’s so hot the ground underfoot is smoking,” wrote a Ukrainian soldier with the call sign “Muchnoy” on the Telegram channel Muchnoy Jugend.
Reports of a Russian push into Novopavlivka surfaced on the morning of November 19. The soldier published a front-line map showing the combat zone, stretching from the southern outskirts — which Russians penetrated a few days earlier - across the eastern edge and farther north. A lighter shade marks a failed attempt by Russian forces to break west.
“The battle is literally for every house. The enemy tried to press the northwest sector — moved in, took several homes, but couldn’t hold them,” the post said.
According to the Ukrainian soldier, Ukrainian forces are using FPV drones extensively to halt the Russian advance. Meanwhile, Russian troops are trying to bring in reinforcements, breaking them into small groups that are holding “in scraps” at several points in the village. “Muchnoy” said the area has turned into a gray zone with constant “short push-ins and pullbacks, close-quarters clashes.” He noted there has not yet been a complete neutralization of the enemy forces; Ukraine is doing everything possible to prevent pressure on its flanks.
“It’s too early to talk about a full sweep; the Russians are stubborn and are trying to cobble together at least some outline of a defense. There’s no pause in the work there — the Cossacks are literally putting out a fire that keeps trying to jump to our flank!”
On Friday, November 14, “Muchnoy” reported Russian troops had appeared in Novopavlivka. According to the DeepState combat map, Russian forces were 5–6 kilometers from the village edge but used foggy weather to slip inside. The Ukrainian soldier said the enemy pushed several IFVs forward that reached the southern outskirts because reconnaissance drones could not take off in poor visibility. Over the next 24 hours, DeepState analysts marked a gray zone stretching nearly to Novopavlivka’s central streets.
In its morning report on November 19, Ukraine’s military command said there were 50 Russian assault attempts in total on the Pokrovsk axis. Among the 14 settlements attacked was Novopavlivka, as well as nearby villages including Filial and Dachne.
On November 18, a Ukrainian soldier described the situation in Novopavlivka on the fourth day after Russian troops broke through under cover of fog. He said the village’s streets were gripped by “close contact and chaos.”
