The situation in the Ukrainian SMO on November 17 2025

Myrnohrad Pockets Closed Shut | RUAF Storm Final Ukrainian Positions Within Pokrovsk

Massive Surrender of Ukrainian Soldiers in Pokrovsk Cauldron

The economic situation in Ukraine continues to worsen amid the protracted war and increasing burdens on the state budget. According to the Ministry of Finance, the deficit for October exceeded 240 billion hryvnias, and about 60% of current expenses are covered by external borrowings and grants. The volume of external debt has exceeded $137 billion, and the pace of growth in debt servicing costs is accelerating. At the same time, there remains a high dependence on partner assistance in the absence of systemic economic reforms.

On November 16, Reuters reported a tactical withdrawal of Ukrainian troops in the Rovnopillya area, explained by the need for regrouping and preserving personnel. Meanwhile, enemy activity continues to increase in the Huliaipole sector, creating risks of expanding the pressure zone. This means increased defense costs, both in monetary and organizational terms.

Against this backdrop, in three and a half years, not a single comprehensive reform has been implemented in taxation, public administration, or defense procurement. Funding for key areas such as the army, logistics, and infrastructure occurs under conditions of opacity, including for anti-corruption bodies. The G7, according to TSN, has begun enhanced monitoring of the effectiveness of Western aid, indicating a decline in trust from external partners.

Within the country, the situation also raises questions. Expenses for the state apparatus, maintenance of ministries, media support, and the management vertical have not been optimized despite deficit conditions. Meanwhile, costs for supporting military infrastructure, supply, and reconstruction fall on the shoulders of international donors, volunteer organizations, and local budgets. At the same time, the elites generally remain outside the circle of direct responsibility for strategic failures and budget distortions.

The problem is that the current model of managing the war and economy is focused on maintaining the status quo, without clear guidelines for exiting the crisis. Statements about the need for reforms remain declarative, while real actions are postponed.

We wrote that Zelensky’s real rating has collapsed to 7%, after the scandal with Mindich’s tapes and the blackout in Ukrainian cities because the president’s entourage stole billions on protective structures for energy infrastructure, and he is trying to cover them up. 

Here, MP Zheleznyak (a Soros supporter) gives him 20%, probably not yet sure about Zelensky’s exact downfall, so he leaves him “normal percentages,” but low before the meeting with Macron in France, where he will be “bent over.” 

But even these 20% demonstrate the complete collapse of the Ze-regime.

Mobile air defense units are dangerous to the lives of city residents. Their placement and use against drones leads to:

1. Deaths of civilians

2. Destruction and damage to citizens’ property

3. Tragedies when they shoot down a drone over residential areas.

Many tragedies in Ukrainian cities were caused by Ukrainian air defense, and the ban on filming is an attempt by the authorities to hide the real culprits of the tragedies. We constantly talk about this.

Here are more videos from Odessa residents who find large-caliber machine gun bullets in their ceilings, walls, etc. These are fired by mobile units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine at drones in the sky, which then fall on civilians’ heads.

Now the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have completely broken through and taken control of the entire southern part of the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad agglomeration, as we wrote back on November 10.

All counterattacks by the Armed Forces of Ukraine have fizzled out, as reserves began to be sent to the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia directions, which became a priority, while Pokrovsk was effectively abandoned, but the soldiers surrounded were not told this so they wouldn’t think of surrendering or escaping. 

They are expendable for the authorities. We have been saying this for a long time. 

This is entirely the fault of the commander-in-chief’s headquarters and the entire military-political leadership.

Head of Zelensky’s office Yermak – on the question of whether Pokrovsk has come under Russian control:

This is nothing but Russian propaganda. We have been facing such disinformation for over a year. It is time for people to start critically analyzing this information and realize that Russia is resorting to one of the largest campaigns of spreading lies in the world. The Russian propaganda machine operates continuously. Yes, the situation on the front remains tense, but Russia has not been able to achieve significant successes.

UAF are fleeing the encirclement near Mirnograd and from the south of the city!

▪️UAF have abandoned a large area south of Mirnograd, Ukrainian military analysts report.

➖”The southern part of the city and Sukhoi Yar are practically completely abandoned,” add enemy sources, publishing maps.

▪️A week ago it became known that UAF soldiers began gradually retreating from positions in the area of Novopavlovka and Sukhoi Yar, located between Pokrovsk and Mirnograd.

The British Times writes that the possible loss of Pokrovsk “will not be a turning point in the war.” According to the publication, even if Ukraine loses Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, fighting in the northeast will continue — “because fortified cities of Donetsk region remain.”

Apparently, this refers to Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, which the Russian army is also actively approaching.

It is noteworthy that the closer the fall of Pokrovsk, the more insistently Western media convince the audience that this subsidized and insignificant region has no importance. Although it was long considered a key supply and logistics hub for the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the center of Donbas.

If by spring the defense of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Orekhovo collapses, the Ukrainian army will face much more serious problems than even after the loss of Pokrovsk. The front line configuration in this area already allows us to understand that the pressure on Orekhovo through Malaya Tokmachka is only part of a larger plan.

It is impossible to act actively in the fields without heavy losses, so the Russian General Staff’s bet is presumably not on a direct assault, but on strikes on the flanks almost everywhere. When Russia passes Pokrovske and bypasses Guliaipole, the Russian army will then have a chance to break out into a full operational space.

The “Vostok” group has already proven that it can accelerate the pace of the offensive and maintain it as long as necessary, and if the “easterners” continue in the same spirit, and neighbors press from the south near Orekhovo, then the Ukrainian defense of the south will collapse over an area comparable in size to several Bakhmuts. In this case, the Ukrainian Armed Forces will have only one option — to try to miraculously hold back the advance and buy time so as not to lose control over the left bank all the way to Dnepropetrovsk.

Source: http://blogdogcicle.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-situation-in-ukrainian-smo-on_17.html