Recent Russian advances through Pokrovsk are the culmination of a 21-month campaign to seize the town and a five-month dedicated battlefield air interdiction (BAI) effort to degrade Ukrainian defensive capabilities. Russian gains on the Pokrovsk sector have been in large part enabled by the Russian targeting of Ukrainian drone capabilities. A Ukrainian drone unit operating in the Pokrovsk direction reported that Russian forces are sending nearly 100 fireteams consisting of up to three personnel each into Pokrovsk per day.[1] The Ukrainian drone unit stated that these Russian fireteams are overwhelming Ukrainian positions such that Ukrainian drone operators do not have time to launch drones. Ukrainian military sources have recently reported that Russian infiltration groups are deliberately targeting Ukrainian drone crews to engage them in close combat, inhibiting Ukrainian drone operations.[2] Combined Russian ground tactics and the implementation of BAI effects have created an environment in which it is very difficult for Ukrainian forces to operate drones. BAI is the use of airpower to strike targets in the near rear of the frontline to impact battlefield operations in the near term; it aims to deny the adversary the use of crucial logistics lines and facilities necessary to sustain battlefield operations.[3] Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets indicated that Russian forces created the drone denial environment in Pokrovsk using dedicated tactics that degraded the organization and efficacy of Ukrainian defensive and drone operations ahead of Russian infiltration missions, which also further degraded these Ukrainian operations.[4] Mashovets reported that the Russian military command established a new three-phased process for infiltrations: preparation, execution, and exploitation.[5] Mashovets stated that in the preparation phase, the military command prioritizes identifying Ukrainian tactical and tactical-operational ground lines of communication (GLOCs) supporting forward Ukrainian positions, Ukrainian drone operator positions and drone launch sites, and other exploitable areas.[6] Mashovets stated that Russian forces send in Spetsnaz forces to conduct the initial infiltration missions and subsequent surprise attacks against Ukrainian positions during the preparation phase, after which standard assault forces conduct their own infiltration missions in the execution phase.[7] Mashovets stated that Russian forces send out many small assault groups for further infiltration missions and to consolidate and reinforce positions during the exploitation phase, likely hoping to overwhelm Ukrainian forces while sustaining heavy casualties.[8] Mashovets’ reporting is consistent with ISW’s recent observations of the conduct of Russian infiltration missions.[9]
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The enemy dropped 5,328 KABs - the highest number since the beginning of 2025.
Russian forces launched a series of drone and missile strikes against Ukraine overnight on November 3 to 4
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces launched one Iskander-M ballistic missile from Rostov Oblast and six S-300 anti-aircraft guided missiles from Kursk Oblast.[146] The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces also launched 130 Shahed-type, Gerbera-type, and other strike drones, including about 80 Shaheds, from the directions of Kursk and Oryol cities; Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Krasnodar Krai; and occupied Cape Chauda, Crimea. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Ukrainian forces downed 92 drones and that one missile and 31 drones struck 14 locations in Ukraine. Ukrainian officials reported that Russian strikes damaged civilian, residential, port, and energy infrastructure in Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Odesa oblasts.[147]
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense (MoD) reported on November 4 that Russian forces dropped 5,328 guided glide bombs on Ukrainian positions and frontline settlements in October 2025, the highest number of glide bomb strikes in a single month in 2025.[148] The Ukrainian MoD reported that Russian forces have launched about 40,000 guided glide bombs in the first ten months of 2025 – as many glide bombs as Russia launched in all of 2024.
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Ukraine repelled an overnight air attack: Russia launched one Iskander-M, six S-300s, and 130 attack drones, including around 80 Shaheds, from multiple directions. As of 09:00, air defenses downed or jammed 92 drones across northern, southern, and eastern regions.
Ukraine continued its long-range strike campaign against Russia’s energy sector and defense industrial base on the night of November 3 to 4. The Ukrainian General Staff reported on November 4 that Ukrainian forces struck the Lukoil-Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez Oil Refinery in Kstovo, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast overnight.[49] Ukrainian intelligence sources told Ukrainian outlet Suspilne on November 4 that the strike involved over 50 Bober and FP-1 drones and took place during repairs at the facility following previous Ukrainian strikes.[50] ISW previously observed reports of strikes against the facility on January 29, August 3, and October 16.[51] Geolocated footage published on November 4 shows fires near the refinery.[52] Russian opposition outlet ASTRA reported that the refinery processes 17 million tons of oil a year and is vital for oil supplies to the Moscow region.[53] Nizhny Novgorod Oblast Governor Gleb Nikitin claimed on November 4 that Russian forces downed 20 Ukrainian drones over Kstovsky Raion.[54] The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces also struck the Roskhim Sterlitamak Petrochemical Plant in the Republic of Bashkortostan, damaging a workshop.[55] The Ukrainian General Staff reported that the plant produces aviation kerosene components that Russia uses to manufacture high-octane aviation gasoline. Geolocated footage published on November 4 shows fires at the facility.[56] Sterlitamak Mayor Emil Shaimardanov claimed on November 4 that an explosion partially collapsed the water treatment plant of the facility.[57] Bashkortostan Republic Head Radiy Khabirov claimed on November 4 that two Ukrainian drones attacked the facility and that fragments fell near an auxiliary workshop.[58] Ukrainian forces also struck the Rylsk electrical substation in Kursk Oblast overnight.[59] Geolocated footage published on November 4 shows fires at the substation.[60] Volgograd Oblast Governor Andrei Bocharov stated on November 4 that falling Ukrainian drone fragments started a fire overnight at the Frolovskaya electrical substation in Volgograd Oblast.[61]
One of the Russian Black Sea Fleet’s (BSF) four anti-submarine corvettes is reportedly on fire in occupied Crimea. The Crimean-based Telegram channel Crimean Wind reported on November 4 that one of the BSF’s Project 1124M Albatross-M Grisha-class anti-submarine corvettes is on fire at the pier in Sukharna Bay in occupied Sevastopol, Crimea.[145] Crimean Wind reported that the BSF only has four Project 1124M corvettes, two of which the BSF evacuated to Novorossiysk, Krasnodar Krai in 2024, and two of which remained in occupied Sevastopol.
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- Recent Russian advances through Pokrovsk are the culmination of a 21-month campaign to seize the town and a five-month dedicated battlefield air interdiction (BAI) effort to degrade Ukrainian defensive capabilities.
- The current battlespace in the Pokrovsk direction took Russian forces 21 months to achieve.
- Russian forces began achieving partial BAI effects against Ukrainian ground lines of communication (GLOCs) in the Pokrovsk direction in July 2025, at which point Russian forces effectively denied Ukrainian forces the ability to use Pokrovsk as a logistics hub.
- These Russian BAI interdiction efforts have not proven as effective across the entire frontline, however, and will not necessarily be exportable to other parts of the theater.
- Russian forces continue advancing through Pokrovsk, and Ukrainian forces continue defensive efforts in the Pokrovsk direction.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin signed two laws on November 4 that likely aim to facilitate the use of Russia’s inactive reserve in a protracted war in Ukraine and a possible war against the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), as well as the use of the active reserve in combat in Ukraine.
- Russian forces continue to commit war crimes against Ukrainian civilians.
- Russian forces advanced in northern Sumy Oblast and within and near Pokrovsk. Ukrainian forces advanced in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area.
General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Operational information as of 22:00 on November 4, 2025, regarding the Russian invasion
Since the beginning of this day, there have been 144 combat clashes.Today, the occupiers launched one missile and 35 air strikes, used six missiles, and dropped 57 guided aerial bombs. In addition, the Russians used 3,029 kamikaze drones and carried out 3,668 shelling attacks on the positions of our troops and populated areas.
- In the North Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, the enemy carried out five air strikes, dropped a total of 10 guided aerial bombs, and carried out 135 shelling attacks, including eight from multiple launch rocket systems.
- In the South Slobozhanskyi direction, our troops stopped seven enemy attacks in the areas of the settlements of Vovchansk, Synelnykove, and Dvorichanske. Two more combat clashes are ongoing.
- In the Kupiansk direction, the enemy carried out five offensive actions near the settlements of Pishchane, Borivska Andriivka, and Petropavlivka.
- In the Lyman direction, Russian invaders attacked Ukrainian positions ten times during the day near the settlements of Hrekivka, Novoselivka, Koroviy Yar, Drobysheve, and in the direction of Lyman. One combat engagement is ongoing.
- In the Sloviansk direction, the Defense Forces repelled 13 enemy attacks near Serebryanka, Vyimka, Pereizne, Siversk, and in the direction of Dronivka.
- In the Kramatorsk direction, one combat engagement took place in the area of the settlement of Stupochky.
- In the Kostyantynivka direction, the Russians attacked the positions of the Defense Forces 11 times. The occupiers concentrated their main offensive efforts in the areas of the settlements of Shcherbinivka, Pleshchiivka, Oleksandro-Shultyne, Ivanopilya, Yablunivka, and in the direction of the settlements of Berestok and Sofiivka.
- In the Pokrovsk direction, the invading units attempted to break through our defenses 49 times in the areas of the settlements of Shakhov, Novoye Shakhov, Chervonyi Lyman, Myrnohrad, Novoeekonomichne, Rodynske, Lysivka, Novopavlivka, Pokrovsk, Zvirove, Udachne, Molodetsk, Novomykolaivka, Novoukrainka, and Dachne. In five locations, combat clashes continue to this day.
Today, Ukrainian soldiers neutralized 107 occupiers in this direction, 55 of them irrevocably. They also destroyed 21 unmanned aerial vehicles, two vehicles, four pieces of special equipment, and one unmanned aerial vehicle control center. In addition, Ukrainian soldiers hit two vehicles and two unmanned aerial vehicle control centers.
- In the Oleksandrivka direction, the enemy attacked 15 times in the direction of the settlements of Yegorivka, Novoivanivka, Yalta, Sosnivka, Stepove, Verbove, and Novohryhorivka. The areas of the settlements of Pokrovske and Oleksiivka were subjected to air strikes.
- In the Huliaipole direction, the Defense Forces repelled three Russian attacks near Novomykolaivka. The enemy carried out air strikes on the areas of the settlements of Solodke, Polohy, and Ternuvate.
- In the Orikhiv direction, the enemy made three attempts to break through the defenses of our defenders in the areas of the settlements of Stepove and Novoandriivka. The defense forces successfully stopped all enemy attacks.
- In the Prydniprovsk direction, the enemy made three futile attempts to advance towards the Antonivsky Bridge.
- In other areas, the situation has not changed significantly.
Today, we would like to commend the soldiers of the 34th Separate Coastal Defense Brigade, who are steadfastly holding back the enemy.
