Russian forces conducted another series of drone and missile strikes against Ukraine on the night of October 29 and 30.
Some North Korean advance units have reportedly reached the Russian city of Kursk, an area where Ukrainian forces have maintained control following a surprise counteroffensive in August.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces launched one missile of unknown model from Belgorod Oblast towards Sumy Oblast and 62 drones (including Shaheds and unspecified drone models) from Oryol Oblast and Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Krasnodar Krai Oblast.[65] The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Ukrainian forces shot down 33 drones over Kyiv, Cherkasy, Khmelnytskyi, Kharkiv, Zaporizhia, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, Chernihiv, and Poltava oblasts, and that 25 drones were "locally lost," likely due to electronic warfare (EW) interference.[66] ...Ukrainian regional authorities reported that Russian drone strikes damaged a kindergarten and residential building in Solomyanskyi Raion, Kyiv City; civilian infrastructure and private homes in Bohodukhivskyi Raion, Kharkiv Oblast; and a TV tower in Lozivskyi Raion, Kharkiv Oblast.[68]
The German-based Kiel Institute published a report in September 2024, which assessed that Ukrainian air defenses had a 30 percent interception rate against Russian missiles and a 66 percent interception rate against Russian drones.[70] The report specified that Ukrainian air defenses had interception rates of 50 percent against Kalibr cruise missiles, 22 precent against Kh-59s and Kh-69 cruise missiles, four percent against Iskander ballistic missiles, and less than one percent against Kh-22 anti-ship missiles. The report estimated that Russian forces are using more than 1,000 glide bombs per month.
www.understandingwar.org/...
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Ukrainian forces shot down 33 drones over Kyiv, Cherkasy, Khmelnytskyi, Kharkiv, Zaporizhia, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, Chernihiv, and Poltava oblasts
- Western intelligence officials reportedly stated that North Korean troops are in an unspecified area in occupied Ukraine.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky highlighted enhanced Ukraine-South Korea cooperation amid since-retracted reports that South Korea would consider providing direct military assistance to Ukraine.
- The Kremlin is reportedly struggling to prepare for the September 2026 Russian State Duma elections campaign due to uncertainty about the course of the war in Ukraine, suggesting that the Kremlin is not confident that Russia will be able to win the war over the next two years.
- The Kremlin simultaneously continues to militarize various levels of Russian government, likely in preparation for long-term war efforts in Ukraine and confrontation against NATO despite the reported lack of preparation for the Duma elections.
- The US Treasury and State departments sanctioned nearly 400 entities and individuals from over a dozen countries on October 30 in one of the largest concerted efforts to address Russian sanctions evasions via third parties to date.
- Ukrainian forces recently regained positions near Pokrovsk.
- Russian forces recently advanced in Kursk Oblast and near Kreminna, Chasiv Yar, Pokrovsk, and Kurakhove.
- Russian occupation authorities continue to advertise Russian military service to civilians in occupied Ukraine.
https://t.co/BcMFhMVJ39
Russian forces recently advanced in the main Ukrainian salient in Kursk Oblast amid continued fighting in the area on October 30. Geolocated footage published on October 29 indicates that Russian forces recently advanced in central Novoivanovka (southeast of Korenevo).[14] Russian sources, including the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD), claimed that Ukrainian forces counterattacked southeast of Korenevo near Darino, Nizhny Klin, Nikolayevo-Darino, Novoivanovka, and Tolsty Lug and southeast of Sudzha near Plekhovo.[15] …. A Russian source claimed that Russian forces entered Plekhovo, but later stated that Russian military sources in the area reported that Russian forces are unable to gain a foothold in the area.[17] The spokesperson of a Ukrainian brigade operating in Kursk Oblast reported on October 29 that Russian forces have switched to using motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and trucks following Ukrainian strikes against Russian heavy equipment.[18] The spokesperson stated that elements of the Russian 155th Naval Infantry Brigade (Pacific Fleet, Eastern Military District [EMD]) are operating in Kursk Oblast but are less combat effective following their defeat in Vuhledar in Winter 2022-2023 and are supplementing their previously "elite" forces with convict recruits. The spokesperson reported that elements of the 810th Naval Infantry Brigade (Black Sea Fleet, Southern Military District [SMD]) and 56th VDV Regiment (7th VDV Division) are also operating in Kursk Oblast. Elements of the Russian 137th Airborne (VDV) Regiment (106th VDV Division) are reportedly operating near Zeleny Shlyakh (southeast of Korenevo).[19]
www.understandingwar.org/...
www.understandingwar.org/...
www.understandingwar.org/...
www.understandingwar.org/...
www.understandingwar.org/...
