Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian unit withdrew in 'uncoordinated manner' near Huliaipole, Russian troops entered flanks
Editor's note: This was Ukraine war latest for Nov. 27. Read the latest updates for Nov. 28 here.
Hello, this is Yuliia Taradiuk reporting from Kyiv on day 1,373 of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The top story of the day so far:
A Ukrainian unit withdrew from its position near Huliaipol in an 'uncoordinated manner,' allowing Russian troops to penetrate the flanks of Ukrainian forces, Vladyslav Voloshyn, spokesman for the Southern Defense Forces, said on Nov. 27.
Huliaipole, despite being one of the most stable parts of the front line for most of the full-scale war, is now threatened by Russia's brisk push into eastern Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Its defense helps slow Russia’s push west and complicates any attempt to link its advances in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia.
Voloshyn, in a comment to news agency Interfax-Ukraine, said that Ukrainian troops were regrouped to preserve personnel and defend more effectively, but one of the units withdrew chaotically.
"This exposed one of the flanks of our operational structure in this area, leaving the personnel of the adjacent unit without cover. The enemy, taking advantage of this situation and difficult weather conditions, entered the flank of the Defense Forces," Voloshyn said.
Previously DeepState open-source mapping project reported that Russian troops had reached the outskirts of Huliaipole overnight on Nov. 27, and there were unconfirmed reports on Telegram indicating that Russian infiltration groups had reached the city itself.
DeepState said the situation has "stabilized" thanks to the coordination of the Southern Operational Command, the 225th Separate Assault Battalion, and other units.
"The chaos in the battle formations has almost completely disappeared, the enemy has significantly slowed down in the direction of Huliaipole itself, and a new line of defense has been established," it said.
On Nov. 26. Russian forces completed the capture of Vysoke, the Ukrainian analytical and mapping group as DeepState reported. Vysoke lies just northeast of Huliaipole.
The loss of the settlement reflects steady Russian advances ahead of the winter fighting season.
Amid chaotic Ukrainian withdrawal, Russian forces reportedly execute 5 POWs in Zaporizhzhia Oblast
Last updated 6:51 p.m. Kyiv time.
At least five Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) were executed by Russian soldiers amid a chaotic withdrawal near Huliaipole, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, it was reported on Nov. 27.
According to analytical organisation DeepState, Ukrainian soldiers were taken captive and shot dead on Nov. 26 near Zelenyi Hai village, in the Huliaipole sector.
"The enemy captured the soldiers in the forest, lined them up, and shot them after interrogation," DeepState said on Telegram.
Speaking to Interfax-Ukraine on Nov. 27, Spokesperson of the Southern Defense Forces Vladyslav Voloshyn acknowledged that Ukrainian forces had withdrawn from positions in the area, but one unit "withdrew from the occupied positions in an uncoordinated manner."
Putin refuses to budge on territorial demands in Ukraine ahead of Witkoff's Moscow visit
Last updated 4:37 p.m. Kyiv time.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Nov. 27 reiterated his demand that Ukrainian forces withdraw from their current positions as a condition for a ceasefire, even as the U.S. attempts to reinvigorate peace talks.
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, who faces scrutiny after a leak reportedly caught him coaching a Russian official on how to sway the White House, is expected to travel to Moscow to discuss the latest peace efforts with Putin.
The Russian leader confirmed a visit by the U.S. delegation next week.
"Ukrainian troops will withdraw from the territories they occupy, and then the fighting will cease," the Russian president told reporters. "If they don't withdraw, we'll achieve this through military force."
Moscow has repeatedly rejected calls by Kyiv and its Western partners for a ceasefire, instead demanding that Ukraine cede the entire Donbas region.
Explosion, possible drone strike reported in Grozny, Chechnya
Last updated 3:20 p.m. Kyiv time.
An explosion occurred at a military base in Grozny, Chechnya, several Telegram channels reported on Nov. 27.
According to the Crimean Wind channel, it was caused by an attack drone. The Kyiv Independent could not verify the reports.
Grozny is the capital of Russia's predominantly Muslim republic in the North Caucasus ruled by Vladimir Putin's ally, dictator Ramzan Kadyrov.
It is home to several bases belonging to pro-Kremlin Chechen fighters often referred to as the Kadyrovites.
'Historical precedent' — Ukraine, UK sign licence agreement for Octopus interceptor drones
Last updated 12:27 p.m. Kyiv time.
Ukraine and the U.K. have signed a licence agreement to produce Octopus interceptor drones, Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on Nov. 27.
"This is a historical precedent and the next important step that will allow the production of Ukrainian interceptors in the United Kingdom, which have proven their effectiveness in the fight against (Russian attack drones)," Shmyhal said in a post on Telegram.
Russian Shahed-type drones, originally designed in Iran and mass-produced in Russia under the name Geran-2, have become a central weapon in Moscow's strikes against Ukraine.
Kyiv has rapidly developed its drone capabilities since 2022, evolving from modifying commercial aircraft to producing attack drones and reconnaissance systems on a large scale.
The Octopus drone is one of several interceptor drones in development.
At least one killed, 37 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day
At least one person has been killed and 37 others injured in Russian attacks against Ukraine over the past day, local authorities reported on Nov. 27.
Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia attacked overnight with 142 attack drones of various types, including around 90 Shaheds. Ukrainian air defenses shot down or suppressed 92 drones, while strikes were recorded at 18 locations, with debris falling at three more, the Air Force said.
In southern Kherson Oblast, 2 people, including a child were killed, 13 people, including a child, were injured over the past day as Russian forces hit at least three apartment blocks and 26 houses in towns and villages across the region, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported.
In eastern Donetsk Oblast, one civilian was killed in Druzhkivka, four were injured elsewhere in the region, Governor Vadym Filashkin said on Telegram on Nov. 27.
In southern Zaporizhzhia Oblast, one woman was injured, Zaporizhzhia Governor Ivan Fedorov said on Telegram.
In Sumy Oblast, a 53-year-old man was killed, and 37-year-old man was injured as a result of Russian drone strikes as Russia carried out about 40 attacks on 21 settlements over the past day, Sumy Governor Oleh Hryhorov said on Telegram.
In Kharkiv Oblast, two people were injured, Kharkiv Governor Oleh Syniehubov said on Telegram.
In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, regional authorities reported overnight drone attacks with three people being injured.
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,169,690 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
Russia has lost around 1,169,690 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on Nov. 27.
The number includes 1,140 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
According to the report, Russia has also lost 11,373 (+1) tanks, 23,628 (+3) armored fighting vehicles, 68,351 (+109) vehicles and fuel tanks, 34,709 (+21) artillery systems, 1,550 (+1) multiple launch rocket systems, 1,253 (+1) air defense systems, 430 (+2) airplanes, 347 helicopters, 85,174 (+214) drones, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.
