A Russian shadow laboratory for new military tactics is rapidly advancing, according to Kyiv military sources. The most elite drone center, Rubicon (also spelled Rubikon), is now focused on eliminating Ukrainian operators and operates in hot spots along the front, the Financial Times reported. 

Ukrainian soldiers say the defense of Pokrovsk was “like a holiday” for Ukrainian forces before Rubikon entered this sector of the front.

Armed, aggressive Russia is experimenting with new methods of warfare. Without support from the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the form of air defence, electronic warfare, and intelligence, Russian offensives become more dangerous.

New survival rule on the front 

“Be humble, be silent, mask your position, and don’t move when it’s not necessary. Best to sit in your trench and watch Instagram," jokes Ukrainian operator Dmytro.

According to experts, Rubikon has roughly 5,000 fighters and large financial resources. Its task is to disrupt Ukrainian logistics, destroy drone command teams, and train other Russian units.

Russian Rubikon has no days off

“They have a lot of people, and that means they can work 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They can change teams every five hours, they can sleep. It’s more difficult for us because we don’t have many people to rotate all the time, and we still need to sleep," said another Ukrainian soldier. 

Meanwhile, Rob Lee of the Philadelphia-based Foreign Policy Research Institute notes that Rubikon has become a center of Russian army innovation, developing new tactics and technologies. 

"It’s more than a unit; it is a centre — a centre for all kinds of unmanned systems development," he says. 

Now Kyiv must counter the highly organized Rubikon strategy by developing its own clear, centralized battle plan, he added.

In response, the Ukrainian forces are creating their own “anti‑drone” groups, changing tactics, better camouflaging positions, and restricting movement.

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Ukrainian FP-2 drone carrying 105kg warhead eliminates Rubikon officers in occupied Avdiivka

Maximum access to technology

Earlier, LIGA.net reported that Russian military intelligence and Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov stand behind the Rubikon center, according to a Ukrainian Defense Intelligence officer with the callsign "Azimut". 

The officer added that Rubikon shows “strong political will and a large role” of Russian special services directly in organizing this structure.

The intelligence officer also noted that elitism indeed exists within Rubikon. For example, recruiters for this unit have the right to take personnel from any units.

“They simply arrive — and have full access to pilots from other combined-arms units," said the officer. 

Therefore, he noted, due to political will, this formation has “maximum opportunities for its development and maximum access to financing and technologies.”

Earlier, the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence reported that its soldiers had discovered the Rubikon base in Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast. The city fell under Russian control in 2014.

Using precise coordinates of Russia's position, Ukrainian intelligence operators directed its new FP-2 unmanned aerial vehicle, equipped with a 105-kilogram warhead, toward the Russian target amid dense urban terrain. 

As a result of the strike, Ukrainian Intelligence eliminated Russian officers and drone operators from the unit who were inside their headquarters.

The possibility of using €140 billion of frozen Russian assets for a reparations loan to Ukraine is a unique opportunity for the state. Especially since the US has ceased military aid following Donald Trump's election. However, legal challenges in using these assets are compounded by concerns over how the money might be utilized amid the backdrop of a new corruption scandal, La Repubblica reports.

On 10 November, EU-backed anti-corruption agencies uncovered a large scheme, "Midas", involving four Ukrainian ministries and the country's top energy company. The case is especially painful to the ordinary Ukrainians, who continue to endure up to 12-hour blackouts following Russian missile attacks.

According to investigators, the perpetrators demanded kickbacks amounting to 10–15% of Energoatom contract values. Contractors had to pay to avoid blocked payments or the loss of supplier status. Timyr Mindich, one of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's closest associates, oversaw the operation of a so-called “laundromat”, where funds were stolen.

The embezzlement of state funds in the energy sector, exceeding $100 million, has raised significant concerns in Europe.

The "Midas" corruption case under Europe's scrutiny

During the Eurogroup meeting on 12 November, where instruments for financing Ukrainian resistance over the next two years were again discussed, several finance ministers repeatedly referred to this corruption case.

Moreover, the scandal in Ukraine erupted after the release of the latest European Commission report on the EU candidate countries, presented last week. It provides a clear assessment that Ukraine has made limited progress in the fight against corruption.

The report also mentions the temporary suspension in July of the independence of the anti-corruption agencies, which are currently handling the case involving the embezzlement of $100 million in state funds. These institutions, according to the report, report growing pressure from state authorities.

The US has imposed new sanctions on 32 legal entities involved in the supply network for components used to produce Shahed-136 kamikaze drones. Among them are two companies registered in Ukraine, according to the US Department of the Treasury. 

Ukrainian companies under foreign control

The adversary may aim to use this information as “evidence” of corruption, internal collaboration with the enemy, or other theories. While the companies are formally registered in Ukraine, control is effectively in foreign hands.

An Iranian citizen, Bahram Tabibi, “used his Ukrainian shell companies” to “purchase and supply aerospace materials” for the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company, the producer of the Shahed drones.

Russia uses three distinct turboprop Shahed drone variants — all packed with foreign parts

The supplies included position indicators, magnetometers, AC generator components, engines, and other equipment.

The companies named are LLC "GK Imperativ Ukraine" and LLC "Ecofera"

According to the Opendatabot portal, LLC "GK Imperativ Ukraine" was registered in 2018 in Kharkiv and is engaged in trade. The company’s owner is an Iranian citizen, Bahram Tabibi Jabali.

As for LLC "Ecofera," no publicly available information has been found. 

Some European countries believe that Russian leader Vladimir Putin will eventually win in Ukraine, according to Bundestag member Jürgen Hardt from the ruling Christian Democratic Union, UkrInform reports. This conviction persists despite Ukraine successfully defending against the attacks of the world’s largest country for 11 years. 

A major fire broke out today, 13 November, at one of the petrochemical plants in Nizhnekamsk, Tatarstan. According to preliminary reports, the blaze started in one of the production units of the “Nizhnekamskneftekhim” enterprise, which is among the key facilities in Russia’s petrochemical industry, Astra reports.

Black smoke over the industrial zone as a signal of problems in Russia’s economy

Photos shared on local social media show thick black smoke rising above the industrial area. No casualties have been reported to date, and the cause of the fire has not been officially determined.

Production facilities fueling the war are at risk

The plant specializes in the construction, repair, and modernization of petrochemical and energy industry facilities, performing the full cycle of work, from manufacturing metal structures to installing technological equipment.

Experts note that such incidents reduce the production capacity of Russia’s petrochemical sector — one of the industries directly financing the war against Ukraine. Even if officially labeled as “fires,” the real economic damage to Russia could be significant.

A war that destroys not only Ukraine but Russia itself

Nizhnekamsk is located more than 1,000 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, but the war Russia is waging increasingly “comes back home,” damaging its economy, technological potential, and sense of security.

Ukraine has received €5.9 billion from the EU under ERA Loans and the Ukraine Facility, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced. A key feature is that part of these funds is financed from profits on frozen Russian assets.

“Today, there is an important decision in support of our country from our partners. Importantly, the ERA Loans mechanism is financed from profits from frozen Russian assets, which makes Russia pay for its aggression,” Zelenskyy said.

Ukraine aims to access €140 billion of frozen Russian assets in Europe and use them to support the war effort

According to Zelenskyy, only pressure can work to achieve peace, so efforts must be intensified to use Russian assets.

The majority of these funds are held in the Euroclear financial depository in Belgium. A decision on whether to transfer the funds to Ukraine is expected in December 2025, Politico reports. 

Previously, Zelenskyy stated that it would be a significant loss for Russia if Ukraine were to succeed in accessing €140–160 billion of frozen Russian assets.

“We are counting on a swift political decision regarding the reparations loan and full use of these funds for Ukraine’s defense. I thank President Ursula von der Leyen for her leadership and support of Ukraine,” he summarized.

ERA Loans and Ukraine Facility — financial instruments for security and reforms

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliya Svyrydenko has explained that €4.1 billion under ERA Loans is the final tranche of an €18 billion program, financed from profits on frozen Russian assets.

“This is an example of how Russia begins to pay for its crimes. At the same time, it is a signal of European solidarity and determination to support our ability to endure,” the official noted.

An additional €1.8 billion was received under the Ukraine Facility, reflecting confidence in Ukraine’s implementation of reforms and its European integration.

Russian drones and aircraft have breached NATO airspace. This is a strategic attempt by Russian President Vladimir Putin to intimidate European allies supporting Ukraine, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Bloomberg.

Special operation of fear against Europe, the biggest Ukraine's ally in Russia's war

According to the Ukrainian president, the drone attacks were "psychological intimidation, without a doubt." They scared some European leaders from sending air defense systems to Ukraine.

“I think he scared them, that was his goal, and he achieved it,” Zelenskyy said.

Russia wants to drive the Ukrainians from their homes by winter terror 

Meanwhile, Russia has moved from a strategy of conquering Ukraine to a strategy of its destruction. This year, Putin has lost hundreds of thousands of soldiers in exchange for less than 1% of Ukraine’s territory. This means Moscow is ready to pay any price for the occupation. 

Russia is conducting thousands of air strikes on the power grid, central heating, and gas infrastructure as winter approaches.

The goal is to render parts of the country’s east uninhabitable, crash the industry, and provoke mass emigration and panic.

Members of Ukraine’s EU-backed anti-corruption agency and the FBI are coordinating actions in the 2025 top energy investigation, which involves the alleged laundering of $100 million, ZN.UA reports, citing its own sources. 

Recently, representatives from both agencies met in connection with the case of Energoatom, Ukraine's sole nuclear operator.

According to investigators, the perpetrators demanded kickbacks amounting to 10–15% of Energoatom contract values. Contractors had to pay to avoid blocked payments or the loss of supplier status. Timyr Mindich, one of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's closest associates, oversaw the operation of a so-called “laundromat”, where funds obtained through illegal means were laundered.

In the embezzlement case, five individuals have been detained, and seven alleged members of the criminal organization have already been formally charged. Among those searched were Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko, who has since resigned, and Mindich, who is hiding abroad.

FBI returns to Ukrainian investigations 

A new FBI officer has recently arrived in Kyiv, and one of his first meetings was specifically focused on the Mindich case. The FBI representative works within the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine under an interagency memorandum originally signed during the bureau’s founding.

The case highlights Ukraine’s commitment, with strong European Union support, to eradicating corruption at the highest levels of government. However, the investigation must yield results and lead to the arrest of jail officials involved in the scheme. The case is especially painful to ordinary Ukrainians, who continue to endure up to 12-hour blackouts following Russian missile attacks.

For comparison, the stolen $100 million could have purchased 27 Patriot missiles or 40,000 Sting interceptor drones. 

After a brief technical pause that coincided with the US President Donald Trump administration, the document was re-signed following NABU Director Semen Kryvonos’s visit to the US. Since then, constant operational cooperation between NABU and the FBI has been restored for cases involving high-level corruption.

Ukraine has become a drone superpower, producing about 4 million unmanned aerial vehicles of various types each year. For comparison, some estimates put US military drone production at roughly 100,000 units per year, Bloomberg reports. 

Ukraine’s drone era began with Turkish Bayraktar TB2s. Ukraine purchased its first Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicles in 2019. These drones have significantly strengthened the capabilities of Kyiv's forces since the beginning of Russia's full-scale war. Today, Ukraine produces most of its drones itself with the support of its allies. 

Ukraine's drone variety exceeds NATO arsenals

Now, Ukrainian companies, facing acute funding shortages, are eager to share their drone expertise and create safer production lines aimed at European armies that want to stockpile weapons.

“It’s not just the quantity of drones, it’s the variety. Probably more than all NATO countries combined right now," said RAND analyst Michael Bohnert.

That variety includes long-range strike drones, as well as inexpensive first-person-view (FPV) attack drones.

Increasingly, Ukrainian air defenses are also using interceptor drones. Ukraine and the UK plan to begin joint production of such drones in the coming months to counter swarms of Russian drones.

FlyWell wants $50 million to manufacture drones on European soil

• Some Ukrainian drone makers have already entered the EU market. For example, Skyeton opened a facility in Slovakia and has announced partnerships with Denmark and the UK. The company produces reconnaissance UAVs capable of flying for up to 24 hours.
• Another Ukrainian firm, TSIR, is now operating in Finland and is preparing to launch a production line for tactical quadcopters that can cover up to 15 kilometers and are used for reconnaissance and strikes along the front line, in a joint venture with Finnish partner Summa Defence Plc.
• FlyWell brings together several Ukrainian companies that produce aerial, ground, and maritime drones intended for reconnaissance and strikes on Russian targets from the front line to ranges of up to 2,000 kilometers. FlyWell plans to raise about $50 million to fund European manufacturing and R&D projects.

Currently, Summa Defence is self-funding production and has already created prototypes of three models that could enter mass production immediately after testing in Ukraine, CEO Yussi Holopainen said. Some of the output is intended for NATO countries, but Ukraine remains the priority.

Offices in Berlin and Copenhagen

Denmark allocated nearly $77 million this year to help Ukrainian arms manufacturers establish operations on its territory. The first project is expected to begin producing rocket fuel this year for Fire Point, a Ukrainian company developing the Flamingo cruise missile with a range of 3,000 kilometers.

Ukraine plans to open offices in Berlin and Copenhagen this year to market weapons, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on 3 November. This is about joint production and the export of weapons that Ukraine can afford to sell in order to raise funds for domestic production of scarce items that Kyiv currently lacks funding for.

The southern front, lacking forests and urban fortifications, remains one of the most challenging areas for Ukraine to defend. Therefore, Kyiv forces don't have options to hide somewhere to repel the rapidly advancing Russian attacks to the center of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, says military observer Denys Popovych, according to NV. 

The region's center, the city of Zaporizhzhia, would give Russia a stronghold for an offensive toward Kryvyi Rih and Dnipro. Its capture would also be accompanied by war crimes and crisis, including population displacement and the suppression of cultural identity, as it has been in other occupied territories. 

He explains that Russia is attempting to recreate the same scenario in the Huliaipole area of Zaporizhzhia, as it was in Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad in Donetsk Oblast. 

Ukrainian paratroopers execute daring parachute-free airdrop under fire near Pokrovsk, breaking through Russian lines

Dangerous “pockets” are forming north of the city

Russian invaders are trying to encircle this city, which is important from a logistical point of view, to surround it from the north.

“If we look at the map, we can see that such pockets are forming there, and this threatens that the city could be encircled from the north and the scenario of the Pokrovsk–Myrnohrad agglomeration could be repeated,” Popovych says.

At the same time, he added that if the Defense Forces fail to stop Russia in this direction, the occupiers may first threaten Huliaipole, and then move closer to Zaporizhzhia, he adds. 

According to the expert, the difficulties for Ukrainian defenders lie, in particular, in the fact that in the south of Ukraine, there are neither forests nor urban areas convenient for building defensive lines.

Kyiv forces withdraw to save personnel's lives

On 11 November, Vladyslav Voloshyn, Spokesperson for the Defense Forces of the South, stated that the situation in Zaporizhzhia has rapidly deteriorated, per RBC. The Ukrainian Armed Forces withdrew from positions near five settlements. 

“In Zaporizhzhia, particularly in the Oleksandrivka and Huliaipole directions, intense fighting has been going on for several days. The Russians are using all types of available weapons to push the Armed Forces of Ukraine out of their positions,” said Voloshyn.

According to him, in the past few days, up to a hundred combat clashes have been recorded on the Zaporizhzhia front.

As a result, Ukrainian forces were forced to withdraw from positions near the settlements of Novouspenivske, Nove, Okhotnyche, Uspenivka, and Novomykolaivka in order to preserve the lives of personnel. There, the Russian assault fired more than 400 artillery shells daily, using about 2,000 munitions.

“Unfortunately, the numerical advantage of the Russians is making itself felt ... which could endanger Huliaipole,” the DeepState emphasized.

According to the experts, Huliaipole had long remained impregnable to the Russians, who attempted to attack it from various directions, including the Marfopillia area. Now, there is a risk of opening a new route that could complicate the defense of this strategic point.

Ukraine is fighting enemies both abroad and within the system. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, during meetings in Canada with his counterparts from France, Germany, and Italy, assured that all those involved in corruption schemes in Ukraine will be held accountable.

An investigation into the alleged embezzlement of $100 million from Energoatom, Ukraine's only company that operates all of the nuclear power plants, is underway. It has been revealed EU-backed anti-corruption agencies have uncovered a large-scale bribery and $100 million scheme involving four ministries. The case is especially painful to ordinary Ukrainians, who continue to endure up to 12-hour blackouts following Russian missile attacks.

The minister is visiting Canada to take part in the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting at the invitation of Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand.

The talks are expected to be dominated by Russia's escalating war in Ukraine, stalled US-led peace initiatives, and growing trade frictions within the alliance.

Ukraine is working on building the trust of its international allies 

“Those involved in corruption schemes will be brought to justice,” he emphasized.

In a high-profile corruption case involving Energoatom, Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office have detained five individuals. In total, seven members of the criminal organization have been formally charged.

The special operation to document the group’s activities lasted over 15 months, beginning in the summer of 2024. During this period, investigators collected a substantial amount of data, including thousands of hours of audio recordings.

Reports indicate that the head of the scheme is businessman Timur Mindich, who is also a co-owner of the entertainment studio Kvartal 95 and an associate of the president.

Mindich reportedly fled abroad a day before the raids, in which millions of dollars in cash were seized. This has raised suspicions that he may have been forewarned about the operation.

“I reaffirmed that those responsible for corruption will be held accountable. This is the firm position of President Zelenskyy and our government,” Sybiha claimed.

On social media, Sybiha called the meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, and the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, "productive."

Sybiha: winter defenses needed, Russian assets must be seized

He also noted that discussions covered the 20th EU sanctions package and efforts to use frozen Russian assets.

“We also focused on strengthening our air defense and energy resilience ahead of winter, including through the PURL and SAFE mechanisms,” the foreign minister added.

Sybiha thanked allies preparing new military and energy aid packages and invited his colleagues to visit Ukraine.

Rubio arrives in Niagara: talks on Ukraine and Gaza continue

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also arrived in the Niagara region of Canada to participate in the G7 foreign ministers meeting. He is expected to address questions from G7 partners regarding President Donald Trump’s initiatives to end the war in Ukraine, as well as the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

The meeting comes shortly after efforts to organize a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump were suspended last month, Reuters reports. Officials cited that Moscow’s refusal to cease hostilities in Ukraine overshadowed the planned negotiations.

An investigation into the alleged embezzlement of $100 million from Energoatom, Ukraine's only company that operates all of the nuclear power plants, is underway. On 12 November, a Ukrainian court ordered 60 days of pre-trial detention for Energoatom’s Executive Director for Security, Dmytro Basov, after EU-backed anti-corruption agencies uncovered a large-scale bribery and kickback scheme, UkrInform reports. 

The court set bail at $951,000 for Basov. If posted, he must:

• appear upon summons by investigators,
• surrender his international passports,
• remain at his registered residence,
• refrain from contact with witnesses in the case.

What was Basov's role in the scheme?

The investigation has implicated at least four ministers from Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers. Over 70 searches have been conducted across several regions.

According to NABU (National Anti-Corruption Bureau) and SAP (Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office), members of the criminal network demanded and received kickbacks of 10–15% from Energoatom contractors. During raids, officials seized over $4 million in cash, RBC reports. 

Basov, codenamed “Tenor” in investigative materials, allegedly coordinated the shadow network, overseeing procurement and financial operations.

Elite property and Mercedes GLE 300D

Basov previously led a department in the Prosecutor General’s Office investigating organized crime and later worked at the State Property Fund before becoming Executive Director for Physical Protection and Security at Energoatom.

He was dismissed from the Prosecutor General’s Office in 2019 amid corruption scandals but was later reinstated through court proceedings, receiving $59,500 in compensation for “unlawful dismissal.”

After joining Energoatom, Basov’s family’s wealth grew rapidly. In 2024, Nataliia Basova, his wife, purchased a 70 m² apartment in the elite White Lines residential complex in Kyiv.

Journalistic investigations reveal that over the past few years, she has spent approximately $360,000 on luxury assets, including another apartment (127 m²) in the French Quarter complex, valued at no less than $140,000, and several vehicles, such as a Mercedes GLE 300D, a Range Rover, and a Mercedes GLC 220D.

Her declared income does not justify these expenditures. Shortly before the purchases, the couple officially divorced.

EU Response

The European Commission has declined to comment on the ongoing investigation but reaffirmed that fighting corruption remains one of the key prerequisites for Ukraine’s EU accession, Suspilne writes.

“Combating corruption requires sustained efforts to ensure strong institutional capacity and respect for the rule of law. The independence of anti-corruption bodies must be safeguarded — they are a cornerstone of Ukraine’s rule of law as a future EU member state,” the Commission’s press service stated.

The EU has urged Ukraine to consolidate its progress in major corruption cases, particularly in asset seizure and confiscation, and to prioritize those with the highest public impact.

“We will continue to closely monitor the rule of law situation and stand ready to provide support,” the statement added.

Ukraine remains heavily dependent on EU support as it continues to resist Russia’s war. Ukrainian citizens endure immense hardships but remain steadfast in their commitment to defending their sovereignty.

Meanwhile, Moscow seeks to exploit such scandals for propaganda purposes, attempting to spread narratives suggesting that Western nations should reduce their aid to Kyiv.

The Russian army is punishing military personnel who failed to meet recruitment targets for the occupation army. They have begun to send them directly to the front, according to Ukraine's Defense Intelligence. 

The Russian regime is ready to destroy anyone, even its own citizens, to continue the war

Russia is fighting in Ukraine thanks to secret international logistics. North Korea arms Russia and receives classified technologies in return. According to analysis, about 70% of the ammunition used by Russia in the war against Ukraine is manufactured in North Korea, Japanese outlet Kyodo News reports. 

Since the start of the all-out war in 2022, Pyongyang has supplied Moscow with about 6.5 million munitions in exchange for Russian military technologies to produce its own weapons.

The documents received by the journalists also indicate the transfer of air defense technologies, space developments, and $20 billion in aid, including nuclear technologies, to North Korea.

China supplies electronic components for tanks and missiles through sanctions circumvention

The documents show that approximately 90% of electronic components for Russia's defense, including semiconductors, originate from China.

In return, Moscow supplies China with energy resources, rare metals, and dual-use goods for both civilian and military purposes, including components for aircraft and submarine production.

Iran assists Russia with drones and explosives, and receives air defense systems

Additionally, Iran has provided Russia with about 2,200 drones and technologies for producing explosives. In exchange, Tehran received air defense systems and radars from Moscow, deepening military cooperation in the region.

Ukrainian defense experts emphasize that the logistics network from North Korea, China, and Iran supports Russia’s war, highlighting the need to isolate Moscow through Western sanctions.

Russia does not plan to stop killing Ukrainians. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has stated that the war against Ukraine will only end “when Russia achieves the goals it has set," UNIAN reports, citing Russian sources. 

“I would like this conflict to end as soon as possible. It can only end when Russia achieves the objectives it initially set,” Peskov said.

Moscow shifts responsibility for failed negotiations onto the West

The Kremlin's spokesperson claimed that Moscow supposedly wants the war to end through political and diplomatic means. He also shifted the blame for the stalled negotiations once again onto other countries.

He claimed that the Russian side remains open to such a path, but the situation is currently on hold, not because of Russia.

“Our interlocutors do not wish to continue the conversation; they are being actively encouraged by Europeans, who believe that Ukraine can win the war and secure its interests by military means,” Peskov added.

Since 2022, Russia has demanded Ukraine's de facto capitulation, calling for its disarmament and the reduction of its military to leave it vulnerable to future invasions.

In August 2025, Putin confirmed that Russia’s conditions for ending the war, announced back in the summer of 2024, remain unchanged.

Last year, he insisted on the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the occupied territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. Moscow has illegally incorporated these Ukrainian regions into its Constitution. Additionally, Russia demands that Ukraine renounce NATO membership, enshrine a non-nuclear status, and lift sanctions.

On the night of 8 November, Ukrainian soldiers shot down a Russian reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) "Skat 350M" or "Stingray" worth $400,000. Footage of the strike was released on the brigade's channel on 10 November, reported the 3rd Separate Heavy Mechanized "Iron" Brigade. 

"Another celestial episode, at the 'Iron Birds'. The interceptor batteries of the anti-aircraft missile-artillery division destroyed a Russian UAV," the Ukrainian warriors say.

What is the SKAT350M? 

The Skat 350M is designed for aerial surveillance and target search in optical and infrared bands. It is the result of a comprehensive modernization of the Supercam 350 UAV, Militarnyi reported. 

At the "Kalashnikov" enterprise, the platform was given improved aerodynamic properties, and the ground control system was updated with new wing and control surface designs.

In 2024, the occupiers claimed that they used the reconnaissance capabilities of the SKAT 350M to guide S-400 missiles against Ukrainian rocket systems, as well as to guide Lancet loitering munitions.

The Skat 350M is an expensive and comprehensive reconnaissance complex, so its destruction weakens Russia's capabilities to guide high-precision strikes and correct strikes.

Human error when approaching the wreckage of Russian drones can lead to death. Increasingly more Russian "Gerbera" drones, which were previously used for reconnaissance, have begun to be found with warheads inside, says Ukrainian electronic warfare expert Serhii Beskrestnov, also known as "Flash". 

At the same time, Russian forces use an extremely dangerous scheme in which the detonator is activated during the drone's flight, as a result of which it triggers on impact. 

Therefore, transporting a fragment in a car/trunk/bag is deadly dangerous: a bump on the road or shaking can cause an explosion.

From a reconnaissance drone to a lethal trap

He also showed the warhead with a detonator that he found inside one of the "Gerberas".

"In one photo the warhead OFBCh-2 with a UZ-2 detonator. In the second photo the warhead's connection inside the UAV," he notes.

Why "cutting the wires" won't save: detonator set to combat-ready

Flash explains that a signal from the flight controller goes to a relay, which closes and supplies voltage from three batteries to the detonator connector. This is likely to occur according to an altitude criterion.

"This signal does not detonate the warhead, as many think. This signal sets the detonator to combat-ready. Such a scheme allows the crew that launches the "Gerbera" not to take risks," the expert explains.

That is, activation of the detonator occurs during flight. On impact with the ground, the detonator triggers, and the warhead explodes. 

At the same time, he warns: the detonator may not trigger during a smooth landing of the drone; however, it remains in the combat-ready position. That is why such a drone must under no circumstances be thrown or transported in a trunk.

"The main mistake that can cost lives: it is not an electric detonator. Do not think that you cut the wires or disconnected the connector, and everything will be fine. The warhead's detonator is already in the combat position," emphasizes Flash.

This detonator also has self-destruction contacts, "so what nastiness the Russians may come up with in the future, no one knows," the specialist added.

Therefore, if a person finds such a drone, follow the official warnings of rescuers and do not approach the wreckage, do not transport it, and do not try to disassemble it.

Russia is applying the “psychological warfare” once used by Andrei Gromyko, the Soviet diplomat during the Cold War, to the West. Moscow now uses the same tactics to try to occupy Ukraine. Gromyko, who served as Soviet Foreign Minister for over 40 years, employed this strategy whenever the USSR sought to extract maximum concessions from the West, says former Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Army Valerii Zaluzhnyi, as per The New York Post. 

How did it work?

Gromyko dragged out negotiations, drained his interlocutors’ patience, and dominated the conversation until they gave in. Every one of his pauses was tactical. Every speech was a test of endurance. The result was confusion and fatigue, leaving others eager for quick, simple solutions just to achieve at least something, explains Zaluzhnyi.  

This method perfectly serves the Kremlin’s current objectives. Drawn-out talks on “ending the war” create an illusion that Russia genuinely seeks peace, while in reality, they give Moscow time to kill as many Ukrainians as possible during the talks and rearm for the next stage of aggression.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has mastered this Soviet art.
His toolbox includes:

• endless monologues;
• selective quotations;
• and endless digressions designed to blur facts and exhaust listeners until they lose focus.

Moreover, the Kremlin sends envoys with no mandate to compromise because real power in Russia remains concentrated in one man’s hands, for endless talks. 

The four stages of the "Gromyko's scheme"

Every meeting with Russian officials about ending the war, such as those in Istanbul, follows a familiar four-step pattern:

The only language the Kremlin understands is consistency backed by strength.

Diplomats must be trained like soldiers

That is why Ukraine must train its negotiators with the same rigor it trains its soldiers, Zaluzhnyi claims. 

Diplomacy succeeds only when reinforced by force.

Europe's security at stake, not only Ukraine's survival 

Despite these lessons, some in the West still urge Ukraine to negotiate with those who came to kill it, the former chief commander continues. 

He says that Ukraine has fought for 11 years and will not let Soviet methods destroy its state. For Ukraine, peace talks have become another battlefield, one where every mistake is irreversible.

What the West forgets is this:

• At stake is not just Ukraine’s survival, but Europe’s security.
• Any “peace” that rewards Russian aggression is an invitation to more wars

Peace on Russian terms is not peace — it is surrender. Real peace cannot be achieved by signing papers while Russian missiles continue murdering civilians. 

"Ukraine does not reject peace. We reject capitulation disguised as peace," claims Zaluzhnyi. 

A just settlement must restore Ukraine’s territorial integrity, ensure accountability for war crimes, and guarantee that no aggressor will ever again threaten Europe from Moscow.

“Anything less would betray not only Ukrainians but the principles that keep the free world safe and free. Our strength lies not only in our soldiers but in our clarity of purpose: peace through victory, not illusion," he adds. 

Russia is turning the consequences of its own crime into a military advantage. The invaders have destroyed the Kakhovka Reservoir and are now using the exposed bottom as a staging ground for maneuvers and attacks, UNIAN reports. 

Russian soldiers are attempting to bypass Ukrainian positions in Zaporizhzhia by moving across its exposed bed, according to Vladyslav Voloshyn, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Defense Forces of the South.

Occupiers searching for flanking routes in their crime area

Voloshyn explains that the reservoir has effectively turned into a large meadow overgrown with lush vegetation.

“The Russians are trying to use this dense vegetation and the bottom of the former Kakhovka Reservoir to outflank our positions in the settlements of Plavni and Prymorske, to attack us from the west,” Voloshyn says.

He adds that personnel from Ukrainian Defense Intelligence units have carried out clearance operations near the islands of Velyki Kuchuhury, located within the former reservoir area. The Russian forces also attempted to infiltrate past Ukrainian positions in this sector.

“This zone is being monitored under special control,” the spokesperson emphasized.

Russia blew the dam, gained weeks, lost soldiers, but did not achieve a perfect result

Russia’s destruction of the Kherson dam temporarily improved its defensive posture in Kherson Oblast and delayed Ukrainian operations in the south, but it did not produce any lasting military superiority. That has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians. Some Russian troops also died during the operation. 

The destruction exposed sediments containing more than 90,000 tonnes of hazardous heavy metals, a toxic cocktail that had quietly accumulated on the reservoir floor since 1956.

However, Ukrainian forces continue to hold nearly 20% of Kherson Oblast, including the central city of Kherson. 

Ukraine may replicate Brazil’s model for localizing production of the Swedish JAS 39 Gripen E/F fighters. The first domestically assembled aircraft could appear as early as 2034–2035, according to Defense Express. 

The Gripen E is a 4++-generation multirole fighter capable of speeds up to Mach 2, equipped with advanced radar, AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, and precision strike capability. 

Gradual expansion of Ukrainian defense industry participation in Gripen's assembly

According to Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal, assembly is planned under the Brazil model to begin in 2033, with Ukrainian defense industry involvement gradually expanding, starting from kit assembly and moving toward manufacturing individual components directly in Ukraine.

Preparatory work, including the establishment of new production lines and training of specialists, is scheduled to start by 2030. Initially, assembly will rely on kits, with full-cycle production to be rolled out later.

The first 22–24 Gripen E/F fighters will be produced directly by Saab in Sweden, while the remaining approximately 125 aircraft will be assembled in Ukraine.

If a formal agreement with Saab is signed in 2026, deliveries of the first jets from Sweden are expected to begin around 2035. Preliminary calculations suggest that full production of 150 fighters could be completed between 2045 and 2050.

Gripen E/F to become Ukraine's main combat aircraft for decades

The first Gripen aircraft to arrive in Ukraine will be used Gripen C/D jets, which Sweden plans to deliver in 2026. These aircraft will provide an interim rearmament stage for the Air Force before production of the new E/F version begins.

Experts emphasize that the Gripen E/F will become Ukraine’s primary combat aircraft for decades.

“Gripen is the aircraft that Ukrainian pilots will be flying well into 2070 and beyond,” the analysts predict.

Saab is also reportedly exploring options for a parallel production line in Canada due to growing international demand.

After the strike on the building, Mayor Filatov stated that one and a half sections will need to be demolished, requiring the relocation of 72 apartments in the drone-damaged building. Two building sections remain off-limits due to the risk of structural collapse. 

“My mother was pinned to her bed by a window frame during the explosion" 

Evhen was waiting for rescuers to find his brother under the debris, when Suspilne journalists asked him for a comment on the strike. Emergency employees already recovered a body of his sister-in-law from the rubble. 

“Their neighbors called me. The rescuers couldn’t give any information — we’re just searching. I will hope until the very end, until I see the body. There is always hope," he said.

In a neighboring section, Olena lives on the sixth floor above her parents. Her mother was pinned to a bed by a window frame during the explosion.

“My mother is fine, but their apartment is uninhabitable — no heating, broken windows. I don’t know how they will live there. My apartment is okay, but it’s scary, of course," she revealed. 

Serhii, a soldier from another part of the city, came to the destruction site to help the family of his comrade Volodymyr, who lived on the fifth floor.

“We evacuated him, his wife, and child. They only took their documents. Their apartment is partially damaged, and we can’t access it yet. We’re helping them recover belongings and change clothes," he said. 

Inna shared that her 20-year-old daughter and her daughter’s boyfriend were injured and trapped under debris on the third floor. Both are currently in intensive care.

“My daughter has leg injuries and shock, and the boy has a broken arm. I was at work when a friend called to tell me about the strike. Nothing is left of the apartment. I have no words…”

1,200 Dnipro residents face winter without heat

The police reported that 121 people filed claims regarding property damage from the Dnipro attack, with 111 apartments confirmed damaged. At least 1,200 residents may face winter without heating, underscoring the humanitarian consequences of Russia’s attack.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian services are continuing doing all they can to eliminate the consequences of the Russian strike.

On 8 November, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the attacks must trigger a unified global sanctions response.

He emphasized that the world must act on frozen Russian assets and increase support for Ukraine to prevent the Kremlin from destroying the country’s civilian energy system before winter.

Experts warn that this winter could be one of the toughest in Ukraine’s history. The world’s response will determine whether the aggressor can be contained or whether the global community allows the destruction of sovereign nations by force. 

Ukraine is paying a terrible price for its resistance to Russia's genocide war and occupation. On the night of 8 November, all of Ukraine came under fire. The Russian army launched over 450 attack drones and 45 missiles, targeting residential buildings and energy infrastructure across the country.

According to Centrenergo, a company supplying electricity to central and eastern Ukraine, its three thermal power plants have been forced to shut down following the attacks. Eight regions are facing widespread power outages, and in Kyiv, residents are left without electricity for up to 12 hours a day.

In Dnipro, a drone strike on a residential building killed three people. 

“More pressure on Moscow”: Zelenskyy calls for stronger sanctions

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the attacks must trigger a unified global sanctions response.

“Every strike by Moscow on our energy sector must be met with sanctions on the entire Russian energy sector, without exception. Nuclear energy, the military-industrial complex, and trade in oil and gas must all be under sanctions," Zelenskyy claimed. 

He emphasized that the world must act on frozen Russian assets and increase support for Ukraine to prevent the Kremlin from destroying the country’s civilian energy system before winter.

25 ballistic and seven hypersonic missiles

According to Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat, Russia used a record number of ballistic missiles in this latest strike, per 24 Channel. 

“Twenty-five Iskander-M/KN-23s and seven Kinzhal missiles. A total of 32 missiles followed ballistic trajectories. This is Russia's new tactic," he said. 

The main strikes hit the regions of Kharkiv, Kyiv, Poltava, Dnipro, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, and Odesa.

Largest national oil and gas company says Russia wants to freeze Ukrainians 

Naftogaz CEO Serhii Koretskyi said the 8 November strike was the ninth deliberate attack on civilian gas infrastructure since early October. 

“This is yet another act of terrorism aimed at depriving Ukrainians of gas, heat, and electricity during the winter," said the head of the the largest national oil and gas company of Ukraine.

Ukraine strengthens energy ties with the West

On the eve of the strikes, Ukraine signed an agreement to import US liquefied natural gas (LNG) via Greek terminals. According to the Ministry of Energy, the deal represents a long-term partnership through 2050, ensuring stable gas supplies and integrating Ukraine into European energy routes.

“We are building a resilient system for the delivery and storage of American gas to prevent Moscow’s energy blackmail,” said Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk.

Russia’s deadly winter offensive tests the world

The Kremlin is now operating even more clinically and cynically than before. Russian capabilities and tactics are evolving faster than Ukraine can improve its air defenses, both missile interceptions and electronic warfare measures around sensitive sites. It appears this winter will be a test of endurance like no other.

The Kremlin has changed the way it is terrorizing Ukrainians when temperatures are going low, by concentrating on specific regions, striking in waves, and using new variants of cheap Shahed drones.

The drones are also attacking differently, approaching from near‑vertical trajectories and flying above the effective range of machine guns, almost like missiles.

Beyond the cost of damaged infrastructure, recent attacks are forcing Ukraine to spend a staggering $1.9 billion on imported gas.

Experts warn that this winter could be one of the toughest in Ukraine’s history. The world’s response will determine whether the aggressor can be contained or whether the global community allows the destruction of sovereign nations by force. 

The era of nuclear arms reduction is officially over. The world is returning to a trend of expanding nuclear arsenals, intensifying nuclear rhetoric, and abandoning arms control agreements, says Hans Kristensen, Associate Senior Researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s (SIPRI) Weapons of Mass Destruction Program, per Newsweek.

According to Kristensen, the world is witnessing the growth of nuclear stockpiles, the escalation of rhetoric, and the rejection of arms control.

The US launches Minuteman III after Russian military drills 

In recent weeks, the US has conducted a test launch of a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile, without a warhead, but with a clear political message. 

The test was a response to recent Russian military drills, which took place after the collapse of the planned US President Donald Trump– Russian President Vladimir Putin meeting in Budapest regarding the war in Ukraine. Russia has not demonstrated readiness to make concessions or even discuss compromise conditions to end hostilities. 

The US military said the purpose of the launch was to evaluate the reliability, readiness, and accuracy of the weapon system.

The Kremlin starts with a “Yars” launch 

Before the American Minuteman III was launched, Russia launched a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, which hit its target at the Kura range in Kamchatka.

The Kremlin stated that the exercise aimed to test the readiness of its military command structures. Putin personally observed the process.

Following the tests, Trump stated that he could work on denuclearization with Russia and China, but acknowledged that both countries could catch up to the US within four to five years.

China, the US, and Russia form a new nuclear triad

All three nuclear powers — China, the United States, and Russia — now possess a complete nuclear triad: intercontinental missiles, ballistic missile submarines, and nuclear-capable aircraft. This ensures that each has the ability to deliver a retaliatory strike, even after sustaining an initial attack.

It remains unclear whether Beijing or Moscow will respond with new tests. One thing is clear: the world has entered a phase of dangerous nuclear modernization.

In the skilled hands of Ukrainian soldiers, an old body armor becomes a combat marvel. The Pansarbandvagn 301 is a Swedish armored personnel carrier developed in the 1950s and 1960s. Despite its venerable age, this vehicle continues to perform combat missions. Now, as part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, specifically within the 39th Separate Coastal Defense Brigade.

The Swedish PBV-301 in the 39th brigade turns logistics into survival on the front

The brigade reports that the PBV is used for logistical support in the unit’s area of responsibility.

“This armored vehicle supplies ammunition and food, transports and retrieves fighters from positions, and evacuates the wounded,” the soldiers say.

The brigade notes that the vehicle is “not bad, and in skilled hands it is even capable of small miracles.”

From ammunition runs to casualty evacuation

According to the troops, the main effectiveness of the PBV-301 depends on the training of the mechanic-driver. For this reason, practical training sessions are regularly held under the guidance of experienced instructors.

“Such exercises allow drivers to practice driving on difficult sections of terrain and to become accustomed to the physical and psychological stresses,” the instructor says.

Training under fire: how instructors temper PBV mechanic-drivers so they can run routes that don’t work the first time

He emphasized that completing combat missions requires considerable endurance and strength of spirit from the driver.

“There are routes you can do on the first try, and there are ones you have to ‘run’ several times. We train, provide guidance, and offer assistance. Because there is no better motivation than a well-prepared crew,” he explains.

Russian pockets found and erased. The 91st Separate Battalion, in cooperation with the Ukrainian Air Force Command, destroyed a shelter with the occupiers with scarce guided aviation bombs on the Pokrovsk direction.

Ukraine’s domestic production of guided aerial bombs is in the early stages of development. The Ukrainian Air Force currently uses Western-made weapons: GBU-39, GBU-62 of various calibers.

How the 91st detects and calls in aviation strikes on Russians 

On the monitors of the battalion’s command center, they detected several Russian positions with concentrations of occupiers.

“The unit alone cannot completely eliminate them — guided aerial bombs are needed,” the 91st battalion explained.

The battalion command decided to develop the operation in close coordination with aviation. In the released footage, you can see how the aviation bombs, also known as KABs, hit the target within minutes.

“The shelter with personnel was eliminated. Short. Precise. Effective,” the battalion reported.

Hundreds of KABs and FPV attacks on the city, where 1000 people remain

Meanwhile, Artem Prybilnov, head of communications for the Ukrainian 155th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after Anna of Kyiv, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that Russia increased KAB strikes on the Pokrovsk agglomeration to a record number in recent days.

For several days, there were hundreds of KABs per day.

Prybilnov noted that when Ukrainian positions are detected, the Russians strike them with 15 FPV drones and "always drop guided aerial bombs." They also use artillery and mortars.

He also said that Ukrainian fighters in Pokrovsk “are not retreating; we are moving to reserve positions because the defensive lines were completely destroyed and are not recoverable.”

As of 7 November, Ukrainian defenders repelled 58 Russian assaults in Pokrovsk, according to the Ukrainian General Staff. 

Nearly 1,200 civilians remain in the city. Evacuation from the community is practically impossible due to the security situation, reports Dmytro Petlin, head of the duty operations, communications, alert, and public information department of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration’s Civil Protection, according to a Ukrinform.

The Russians are killing all civilians in their path, and orders to do so have been intercepted from several sources.

Assault groups, disguises, and flags

Ukrainian press officer of the 425th Separate Assault Regiment “Skelia” with the callsign “Pysmennyk” or "Writer" says that the Russians are moving across Pokrovsk constantly, sometimes dressed as civilians, per Armiia TV.

No such group recently raised a Russian flag on the Pokrovsk City Council building. After verifying this information, it was decided to restore the Ukrainian flag. Assault groups were formed to carry out this task.

Moldova is breaking cultural ties with Russia. On 5 November, the Moldovan government officially approved an initiative to close the Russian Cultural Center in the capital Chișinău, known as the “Russian House", as per Nokta. 

The decision has been made following the termination of the bilateral agreement with Russia regarding the establishment and operation of cultural centers in Moldova. 

The “Russian House” in Chișinău became tool of Kremlin influence

Under the agreement on cultural institutions, a Russian Center for Culture and Science was established in Chișinău in 2009 under the management of the Russian embassy.

Minister of Culture Cristian Jardan stated that the “Russian House” functioned not as a cultural center, but as an outpost of Kremlin influence.

“This center was not truly cultural under its cover; activities were conducted that undermined Moldova’s sovereignty,” Jardan emphasized.

Termination of the deal — a response to hybrid threats

Minister of Foreign Affairs Mihai Popșoi explained that the closure of the Russian center is a deliberate political move aimed at protecting national security.

The step was taken following the fall of Russian drones in southern Moldova: in Gagauzia and Taraclia. In May, the parliamentary committee on foreign policy supported ending the 1998 agreement with Moscow.

Despite previous announcements of closure, the “Russian House” had continued its activities, holding events with participants from the Russia-backed Transnistrian region. The center’s operations are now officially terminated.

The government stresses that the ending of the agreement will not have economic or legal consequences for Moldova.

This move sends a clear signal that Chișinău is decisively breaking away from Russian influence, opting for sovereignty and European integration.

Assault troops of the 425th Separate Assault Regiment “Skelia” have cleared the Pokrovsk City Council building of Russian occupiers. The Ukrainian flag now flies over it once again, the regiment has reported. 

Ukrainian assault troops broke through Russian defenses

During the operation, two Ukrainian assault groups were tasked with entering central Pokrovsk and clearing the city council building of occupiers.

Watch the video for the Ukrainian flag installation on X.

“Despite the transport being hit by a waiting enemy ambush, the troops managed to enter the city. They came under fire but managed to eliminate the Russians. The only wounded soldier continued to carry out his combat mission,” the military said.

The element of surprise proved decisive

According to the unit, the operation was meticulously planned. Using the element of surprise, the fighters not only reached their target but also cleared the building, where Russian troops were indeed stationed.

The Pokrovsk City Council building is situated in the southern part of the city, deep within the so-called “grey zone.”

Meanwhile, the General Staff of Ukraine reported that Russian forces continue to suffer losses in the battle for the city. Ukrainian Defense Forces units have been reinforced, and the defense of the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad agglomeration continues.

“There is no encirclement of our units or formations,” the report emphasized.

Ukraine is fighting for 20% of Pokrovsk 

According to the General Staff, measures are being taken to block enemy forces attempting to infiltrate and regroup in the city, with active resistance to Russian infantry groups trying to gain a foothold.

At the same time, the military reports that 80% of the city remains under occupation as the Russians have thrown 170,000 troops at the Pokrovsk front. 

“We’ve lost 80% of the city and are still fighting for the remaining 20%, but even there, we are losing," say the Ukrainian defenders. 

The fighters, who remain in the city add they don't expect to withdraw from Pokrovsk's twin city of Myrnohrad. 

Traces of the Russians disappear in the dust of clearance operations in Kharkiv Oblast. Nearly sixty Russian saboteurs are still hiding within the city. Ukrainian forces are actively hunting them down, says Yurii Fedorenko, commander of Ukraine's 429th Separate Unmanned Systems Regiment Akhilles, per Suspilne. 

In September 2025, the Russian Defense Ministry publicly confirmed its plans to expand military operations deeper into Kharkiv Oblast following the potential capture of Kupiansk.

In a social media statement, it declared that its forces "intend to leverage the seizure of Kupiansk to attack further into eastern Kharkiv Oblast in several directions simultaneously."

When the fog sets in ... 

The Russians are using almost no armored vehicles, except during foggy conditions when Ukrainian drones are less effective.

“When fog falls and drones can’t operate properly, the occupiers try to move logistics equipment and manpower closer to the front line, sometimes in light armored vehicles,” Fedorenko says.

Continuous infantry "infiltration"

The main tactic of Russian forces remains constant fire pressure and continuous infantry infiltration. The Russians continue to storm Ukrainian lines, forming a “chain” and attempting to slip between defensive positions. Kupiansk, however, has now been largely cleared of infiltrators.

“In the right-bank part of Kupiansk and its northwestern outskirts, where the Russian had managed to penetrate earlier, their sabotage and reconnaissance groups have been eliminated,” Fedorenko adds.

According to the Ukrainian soldier, it took enormous effort for the Kyiv forces to achieve this, although some small reconnaissance and sabotage groups remain. 

Zelenskyy: "We will clear everything — dates already set"

On 3 November, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced plans to completely clear Kupiansk of Russian occupiers, according to UkrInform. 

“We will clear everything. The dates have already been set, but it’s too early to share details,” Zelenskyy said.

The situation in the Kupiansk direction remains difficult, but Ukrainian forces are holding back the occupiers and preventing them from reaching the city center.

Prague, which supplied Ukraine with 850,000 large-caliber shells in 2025 under the so-called “Czech Initiative,” has sharply changed its position on aid to Kyiv following the election victory of the right-wing populist ANO movement led by Andrej Babiš, Politico reports.

Throughout his campaign, Babiš criticized Western military assistance to Ukraine and emphasized the need for neutrality, effectively arguing that Kyiv should be left to face Russian aggression on its own.

The end of the pro-Ukraine consensus

Filip Turek, an ultranationalist politician expected to become the next Czech foreign minister, stated that his government will uphold the country’s NATO commitments and international law but will “prioritize diplomatic efforts” to end the war and shift from military to humanitarian aid, focusing instead on “Czech security needs.”

Prague seeks “neutrality” over backing Kyiv

Turek insists that Prague’s official stance on Russia “will not change,” yet the new government plans to emphasize sovereignty and non-interference, aiming to “avoid escalation that could threaten the Czech Republic’s energy security or economic stability.”

This marks a potential pivot from Prague’s active leadership in European support for Ukraine to that of a neutral observer, or even a restraining voice within the EU.

Turek’s rhetoric echoes that of Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, whose government systematically blocks EU aid initiatives for Ukraine. Brussels officials are already referring to Prague as a potential new ally for Orbán, one that may advocate for a ceasefire rather than supporting Ukraine's victory.

Russian drones now build a web of relays and defy electronic warfare. Russia is rapidly deploying and refining remote control of long-range drones over mesh networks. In October 2025, the occupiers already used this approach to hunt Ukrainian trains, says Serhii Beskrestnov, also known as Flash, as per Defense Express.

From Chinese mesh modems to relay drones that keep functioning under fire

Flash explains that Russia turned to Chinese manufacturers to turn the idea into reality. It specially ordered mesh modems, nominally labelled as Wi-Fi gear, operating in the 1300–1500 MHz band, and uses technology that differs from conventional Wi-Fi.

Each unit costs approximately $7,000 and can deliver an output of 10–20 W per channel, allowing for links of 100 km or more.

These modems provide a digital, encrypted connection that is relatively resistant to electronic interference by using cross-frequency distribution techniques. Each modem also acts as a relay: airborne modems on drones form a chain network in which data packets automatically reroute if a node disappears.

As a result, even if many platforms are shut down, the network remains operational. The drones that survive keep the links and forward data. 

“Each modem is not just a transmission point but also a relay for others. In the air, modems on drones create communications channels between themselves. Each of them tries to link to the next, and if one drops out, the information is routed around through another channel,” Beskrestnov explains.

From Gerbera to Shahed: scaling the tech for attacks on moving targets

Russia has been refining this technology for about a year. Flash noted that even if 80% of the drones are destroyed, the remainder can still relay information. Initially, Moscow tested the system on small foam drones, such as the “Gerbera", used for rear-area reconnaissance and relaying signals back toward Russian territory.

Seeing the concept’s effectiveness, the Russians began installing mesh modems on Shahed drones, enabling online control from Russian soil.

Technically, the network can provide throughput up to ~50 MB/s, and in degraded conditions, around 2 MB/s, which is enough to stream optimized high-definition video and allow FPV control with acceptable latency.

Although Shaheds are not highly maneuverable, their capabilities are sufficient to attack predictable moving targets, such as trains whose speed and route are known. An operator controlling a drone online can approach from the rear and strike a locomotive or tanker.

“These Shaheds can not only hit GPS coordinates like a substation but can also strike its most vulnerable point... We prioritize detecting these modems by their signal and jamming them with electronic warfare,” Flash says.

Modems that only switch on near the target, and ground relays on balconies

A Shahed with a mesh modem may only power the modem at a specific coordinate near the target — i.e., these modems don’t need to broadcast continuously and may activate just before strike.

Beyond airborne nodes, the Russians can set up ground relays: the modems are compact and can be installed on balconies or rooftops with internet access. Such ground nodes don’t need high antennas to communicate with nearby UAVs.

Can the system be countered?

Flash stresses that, despite the system’s complexity, it can be defeated by electronic warfare. However, the effectiveness of countermeasures depends on how widely and well Russia implements mesh technology: if Moscow deploys it not just on Shaheds but on other long-range platforms, it will gain a robust, fast, and wide two-way data channel.

Any mitigation depends on the volume, quality, and scale of Russia's deployment.

"It’s crucial not to miss the moment when Russia multiplies use of this tech across many platforms, not only Shaheds. Because that would create a resilient, fast, broad two-way data channel,” the Defense Express experts say.

Ukraine's loss of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast could be perceived as a symbolic defeat in Washington. That's why Kyiv is determined to avert it at all costs. The occupation of the city may become the largest defeat since the beginning of the year, as Russia has committed all its forces to capturing the city, BILD reports. 

Ukrainian fighters report a critical situation near Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, where fierce battles are ongoing.

Senior Ukrainian officer: “We’ve lost 80% of the city, fighting for the remainder”

According to sources in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Russian troops have breached the boundaries of Pokrovsk and are advancing toward fully encircling Ukrainian units.

Officially, Ukraine says that the city is “holding." In reality, however, Ukrainian military personnel report a very different situation, as the Russians have thrown 170,000 troops at the Pokrovsk front. 

“We’ve lost 80% of the city and are still fighting for the remaining 20%, but even there, we are losing. The troops in Myrnohrad and further south are in an even worse situation. They are practically surrounded,” a senior officer said.

Another soldier defending Myrnohrad confirmed his statements. 

“Even if we were ordered to withdraw, we probably wouldn’t survive. Most likely, none of us would make it alive to Rodynske. It’s better to stay in position and wait until we are either liberated or captured,” he said.

Bakhmut-like strategy: political and military risks of defending the city

Many compare the situation to Bakhmut, when the Ukrainian president, contrary to the generals’ advice, delayed giving a withdrawal order.

“Yes, the situation is similar. We defend heroically, claim that Russia is in worse condition than it admits, and then we retreat,” a Ukrainian diplomat said.

Meanwhile, the president’s supporters believe that continuing the defense has political motives, in particular because Kyiv fears that the loss of Pokrovsk could be seen as a symbolic defeat in Washington.

The ratio of Russia’s use of ballistic missiles with 480 kg warheads to cruise missiles has increased in 2025 compared to previous years. Additionally, the Russians are refining their deployment methods for Iskander-M systems, which are capable of destroying residential buildings, making it more difficult for Patriot systems to intercept them, according to RBC-Ukraine.

The missile subtly changes course while the battery tries to keep up automatically

This challenge is compounded by the fact that the Iskander-M missile can make minor course adjustments as it approaches its target.

As Yurii Ihnat, Head of Communications for the Air Force Command, has noted that the Patriot system intercepts ballistic missiles automatically, which makes it harder to determine the precise moment to engage a maneuvering missile.

Ballistic missiles make sharp trajectory changes

Russian occupiers have also begun using Iskander-M more frequently and from multiple directions, often combining them with other tools, such as drones and cruise missiles.

“This, in turn, makes them even harder to intercept. A Patriot battery during an attack can only 'look' in one direction. It cannot engage targets 360 degrees around it,” the military official added.

Despite these challenges, Patriot systems continue to operate effectively, achieving confirmed interceptions of both Iskanders and Kinzhal missiles.

On the night of 4 October, Ukraine's Special Operations Forces and the insurgent movement “Chernaia Iskra" or the Black Spark destroyed a transport-and-loading vehicle for the Iskander operational-tactical missile system used to kill the Ukrainians. The operation took place on Russian territory. 

Destroying Iskander launchers is challenging due to their constant mobility and ability to relocate.

The operation occurred near the village of Ovsyannikove in Kursk Oblast. This region borders Ukraine's Sumy Oblast. The destroyed vehicle was used to transport, load, and prepare missiles for launch that were fired into Ukrainian territory.

A tactic of a thousand cuts against the enemy

The Ukrainian troops and partisans also destroyed a 1L122 “Garmon” radar station. The radar had been operating near the village of Nyzhnii Reutets in Kursk Oblast, Russia.

The compact radar was designed to detect and track aerial targets, as well as provide target designation.

"Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces continue to inflict a 'thousand cuts' on the enemy, hastening its operational and strategic collapse," they said on the Telegram channel. 

Earlier, Ukrainian air defenders shot down the Russian army’s newest reconnaissance drone, "Kniaz Veshchiy Oleg", named after the ruler of Kyivan Rus. 

He was totally hammered when he went to sign Russia's army contract. A captured Russian soldier, Mikhail Krasnachokov, taken by paratroopers of Ukraine's 79th Brigade, has explained the reason behind his wish to take part in the killing of the Ukrainians, as per ArmyInform. 

His motivation was money: working as a tractor driver, he earned $495 but had to give most of it to alimony.

"My wife tried to stop me, but I didn't listen — I was drunk," the Russian admitted.

At the same time, Ukrainian troops emphasize that despite Russia's degradation, the enemy should not be underestimated, as there are countless soldiers like him. Ukrainian paratroopers refer to this as the "dangerous power of numbers."

Contract signed over vodka

The captive, Krasnachokov, born in 1983, is from the Altai region. 

"I was at home, drinking vodka, got completely drunk, woke up in the morning, nursed a hangover, and went to the military enlistment office — already totally drunk," he recalls.

He signed the contract on 17 November, and the next day was sent for "training," which lasted three months.

"In the morning, we rode motorcycles, then dug trenches. After lunch — training ground, walking through trenches without ammunition, learning how to 'assault,'" the Russian POW remembers.

According to him, the unit was typical for the Russian army: "All alcoholics, one drug addict."

Regret came fast

"I regretted it immediately, as soon as they took us away," he says.

Krasnachokov reveals that the command intimidated soldiers to prevent them from refusing to fight.

"If you say you don't want to go, they'll crush their own tanks on you. Those who refused to advance were given TM mines to carry. Refuse — they shot you on the spot," he says. 

His unit, the 5th Motorized Rifle Battalion, was ordered to "hold the defense."

"Four motorcycles went one by one. Two blew up, didn't make it. The first time mortars started hitting us — our own. I was completely shocked," he remembers. 

After one motorcycle exploded, he was injured by shrapnel in his arm. He switched to another bike, and together they made their way to the basement.

"We stayed in the basement for four days. On the fourth day, your troops began clearing operations. They shouted, 'Who's here? Surrender!' — and we shouted back, 'We surrender!'"

The captive confirmed that after capture, Ukrainian troops did not beat him, feed him, give him water, or allow him to smoke.

"I tell my countrymen: don't sign a contract. That money isn't worth your life. They won't show this on TV," the Russian soldier concludes. 

They failed to steal history. Ukrainian air defenders shot down the Russian army’s newest reconnaissance drone, "Kniaz Veshchiy Oleg", named after the ruler of Kyivan Rus, who, as legends said, could foresee the future, according to the 63rd Separate Mechanized Brigade. 

“At the same time, in the swamps where Moscow would later rise, frogs croaked. Naming your drone after a proto-Ukrainian warrior and politician is just another attempt to steal our history,” the 63rd Brigade added.

Despite its grandiose name, the Russian drone failed to predict its own destruction.

“For the first time in the history of this war, Ukraine has recorded the downing of Russia’s newest reconnaissance drone with the peculiar name "Kniaz Veshchiy Oleg", the statement concluded.

Earlier, the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence, also known as HUR, destroyed the base of Russian invaders belonging to the most elite and secretive drone Rubikon center in Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast. 

The Rubikon unit specializes in the use of unmanned systems, including combat drones, during Russia’s genocidal war against Ukraine. It is considered one of the most effective and combat-ready structures of the Russian army.

The situation in Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, is absolutely critical. Russian occupiers continue to amass forces. The DeepState monitoring project reports that the invaders have already established control over parts of the city, setting up positions and logistics hubs to support further infiltration. 

A logistical trap for Ukrainian forces and lost possibilies

At the same time, Ukrainian soldiers continue to carry out clearing operations and neutralize Russian troops using all available capabilities, with drone pilots playing a key role in securing Pokrovsk. 

The occupiers are attempting to secure the area between Pokrovsk and Hryshyne, while Ukrainian special units continue clearing operations to maintain control of this critical logistical corridor. 

“However, this does not solve the main problem — blocking the Russians on the southern outskirts to prevent further infiltration into the city. Given that they are already establishing positions and taking control of the area, this possibility is effectively lost," the experts say. 

An occupation, even without strong fortifications

The situation also threatens Myrnohrad, Pokrovsk's twin city, with being cut off entirely from the outside world. 

"Its capture would be especially damaging because the occupiers could take it without even properly fortifying their positions," the DeepState experts add.

Russians are leveling Pokrovsk within the city and along the flanks of the defensive line

Meanwhile, Spokesperson for the 7th Rapid Response Corps of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces Serhii Okishev says that active operations are ongoing in the northeastern part of Pokrovsk to clear Russian occupation forces, according to Ukrinform.

Okishev notes that Russian forces are using artillery, drones, and guided aerial bombs. The fighting is concentrated both within the city and along the flanks of the defensive line.

Putin sets deadline for Pokrovsk conquest, throws 17,000 more soldiers thrown into burning city

Russian troops are attempting to advance through the urban areas and establish positions on the outskirts. 

Fighting continues in the Pokrovsk area between Ukrainian special forces and Russian occupation troops. The operation aims to protect a strategically important logistical area and neutralize Russian attempts to expand their fire control over critical supply routes.

Ukrainian airborne forces have cleared a path through hell in Donetsk Oblast. Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence fighters broke through a ground corridor and reinforced the “Tymur” special unit operating in the combat zone after a no-parachute landing in the Pokrovsk sector.

“Following a successful airborne operation, HUR special forces that had secured their designated positions were reinforced by additional units after a ground corridor was established,” HUR said.

According to the Defense Intelligence, the operation is taking place in one of the key districts of Pokrovsk, an area critical for frontline logistics. Ukrainian forces are conducting combat operations aimed at disrupting enemy attempts to expand fire control in this direction.

Special units operate in coordination

HUR noted that other intelligence special units are also active in the sector, though the specifics of their missions are not disclosed for security reasons.

“Coordinated work continues together with all components of Ukraine’s Security and Defense Forces,” the agency added.

Exclusive HUR footage showing precision assault in Pokrovsk

Additionally, HUR released an exclusive video of a special forces combat operation in Pokrovsk, showing for the first time the full cycle of actions, from a no-parachute insertion to a close-quarters assault.

Cockpit footage shows helicopter crews approaching at very low altitude to avoid Russian FPV drones and air-defence systems.

On the ground, fighters immediately occupy their assigned lines and begin assault operations.

The video shows the operation supported by:

• strike FPV drones and spotter/correction drones;
• artillery and rocket strikes on Russian positions;
• armoured vehicles operating in close coordination with assault groups.

Breaking the ring: Defense forces strengthen the Northeastern flank

At the same time, Serhii Okishev, spokesperson for the 7th Rapid Response Corps of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces, stated that the main objective of the Defense Forces is to push the enemy back further along the northeastern outskirts, according to UkrInform. 

“This will allow us to break the ring so that the enemy loses its fire control over our logistics,” Okishev emphasized.

He added that in this scenario, Ukraine’s Defense Forces would begin to control the Russian supply lines.

Zelenskyy meets airborne troops holding Pokrovsk

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the soldiers of the 25th Separate Sicheslav Airborne Brigade, which defends the city of Pokrovsk and its surroundings. 

“Brigade commander Andrii Turchyn briefed the president on the operational situation in his unit’s area of responsibility, the supply of necessary equipment and provisions, logistics, and troop rotations,” the President's Office reported. 

The threat Ukraine feared is becoming real. Russia is developing bombs that could strike far beyond the front lines. According to the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence, Russian forces have increased the range of their aerial bombs from 140 km to 200 km by using guided modular planning bombs (KMPB) equipped with turbojet engines, Telegraf has reported. 

Russian bombs reach beyond air-defense envelopes and threaten rear areas

The Ukrainian Defense Intelligence, also known as HUR, noted earlier munitions with shorter reach were used by the enemy primarily to strike targets in the frontline and border regions of Ukraine.

"The new bomb will be no exception, and its up to 200 km range will allow Russian aircraft to remain outside the engagement envelopes of Ukraine’s air-defense systems," said HUR.

In practical terms, today’s threats can now affect infrastructure and facilities that were previously considered relatively protected.

Chinese, American, and Swiss components helped to build deadly weapon

HUR also pointed to the origins of components for these munitions. According to the intelligence service, they are largely built using Chinese parts, while the high-explosive aviation bombs of the Kometa type are fitted with universal modules.

They also employ electronic components of Western manufacture, including products from companies in Switzerland and the US. 

The combination of accessible imported parts and adapted technologies provides the adversary with new capabilities for large-scale strikes.

Ukraine must adapt to changes in Russia's range and tactics

The emergence of bombs with a range of up to 200 km requires defense systems to revise their tactics and coverage zones, and to strengthen reconnaissance for early detection of launchers and attacking aircraft.

The battlefield conditions are changing, increasing the need for integrated air defense measures and the adaptation of air defense strategy. 

No fortress of the Russian occupier is beyond reach. The Ukrainian Defense Intelligence, also known as HUR, has reported its soldiers discovered the base of Russian invaders belonging to the most elite and secretive drone Rubikon center in Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast. The city fell under Russian control in 2014.

The Rubikon unit specializes in the use of unmanned systems, including combat drones, during Russia’s genocidal war against Ukraine. It is considered one of the most effective and combat-ready structures of the Russian army.

How Rubikon hunts skies over Ukraine

The unit has a clear internal structure, with individual teams specializing in different tasks:

• countering night bombers
• combating Ukrainian reconnaissance drones
• using FPV and Molniya strike drones
• conducting electronic reconnaissance to locate Ukrainian UAVs and their operators.

Experts note that Rubikon’s distinctive feature is its advanced electronic reconnaissance capability, allowing it to effectively detect Ukrainian drones and their operators, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 

Ukraine's HUR itself is also calling the unit one of the most capable structures of the Russian occupation forces, one on which the aggressor state spends significant resources.

The FP-2 drone turns Russian stronghold into smoking crater

Using precise coordinates of Russia's position, Ukrainian intelligence operators skillfully directed an FP-2 unmanned aerial vehicle, equipped with a 105-kilogram warhead, toward the Russian target amid dense urban terrain.

Structurally, the FP-2 is similar to its predecessor, the long-range FP-1, which Ukrainian forces have already used for strikes deep in Russian territory. However, the FP-2 has a shorter range of 200 kilometers, compared to 1,400 for the FP-1, but carries a much heavier warhead.

As a result of the strike, Ukrainian intelligence eliminated Russian officers and drone operators from the Rubikon unit who were inside the headquarters.

Ukraine is fighting back not only on the frontline but also against those who exploit the war for their own benefit. Ukrainian law enforcement has uncovered a large-scale fraud scheme that has stolen $480,000 from volunteers and soldiers. 

An organizer of the scheme was extradited from Armenia and handed over to Ukrainian authorities on 28 October at the Krakivets checkpoint on the Polish border, according to the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's office.

According to the investigation, an organized group created fake online stores and social media pages, posting ads for the sale of cars, drones, thermal imagers, and other equipment for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

To gain trust, the perpetrators posed as volunteers, sharing photos and “reports” from the front lines.

The mask of trust 

After receiving advance payments, which sometimes amounted to hundreds of thousands of hryvnias, the fraudsters disappeared without a trace.

The organizer and three accomplices have been charged. Indictments have already been sent to court against three members of the group. They face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.

Ukraine needs international assistance now more than ever, as Russia’s war continues into its fourth year.

To ensure that goodwill remains a force for good, it is crucial to verify volunteers and donate only through trusted organizations.

The Kremlin is breaking Ukraine's alliance with Poland at the hands of the Poles. The General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces reports that large-scale operations aimed at undermining Polish-Ukrainian ties have intensified across the country.

Russian narrative operations are creating an "atmosphere of fear and anxiety regarding Ukrainian claims in Poland" and are taking actions aimed at destroying positive Polish-Ukrainian emotional relations, inciting anti-Ukrainian sentiment.

Fear becomes a weapon against Ukrainians 

The operations are divided into real actions and intensive online narratives. The first ones include arson of Ukrainian vehicles and the masking of anti-war murals.

Online narratives are being spread through portals and accounts that promote hate speech against Ukraine.

In particular, an increase in anti-Ukrainian behavior has been observed in locations where weapons or other support are being transferred to Ukraine, such as in Gdynia and Gdańsk.

The fire of propaganda: distorting historical narratives

According to the General Staff, the aim of these actions is "to instill fear and a sense of threat in our society due to the presence of Ukrainians in Poland." In the Russian information space, this creates a narrative that the attack on Ukraine also represents support for Poles in retaliation for the Volyn tragedy, supposedly improving Poland’s perception of Russia’s actions.

Russia’s actions portray Ukrainians as a greater threat to Poland than Russia itself. The goal is to direct emotions toward Ukraine, while Polish citizens, wishing to return to their comfort zone, may pressure their government into making decisions that are contrary to national interests.

The light of truth: separating victim from aggressor 

The General Staff calls for resilience against emotional manipulation, as it is unfounded, and emphasizes that the sabotage incidents are part of a coordinated Russian operation.

"Separating Poland from Ukraine would ease the burden of war for Russia," and any actions that undermine support for Ukraine, whether narratively or emotionally, serve Russian aggression.

The aggressor is in the East, and it is Russia; therefore, maintaining support for Ukraine is critically important for regional security, the Polish General Staff claims. 

On 3 November, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that missile production is progressing well, with mass production of several systems expected to be completed by the end of the year. He also mentioned the deployment of new missile models and the expansion of production capacities, particularly for interceptor drones and maritime unmanned vehicles, UNIAN reports. 

Tools of response and strategic pressure

“We are deploying new missiles, including the ‘Flamingo,’” Zelenskyy said.

He did not specify quantities but has noted that the country expects mass production by year-end. He also emphasized the “Neptune” series, already in production and delivering strong results.

“We have standard and extended versions, both performing very well," he explained. 

According to Zelenskyy, these systems are effective against energy infrastructure strikes, targeting resources that fund the aggressor.

Scaling production: 600–800 interceptor drones Per Day

Ukraine is also accelerating production of interceptor UAVs, aiming to reach 600–800 units per day by the end of November, “if all goes according to plan.”

Zelenskyy acknowledged potential setbacks, such as attacks on factories or damage to workshops, but stressed that “so far we have not lost any type of long-range weapon.”

The industry is working alongside the military, with repair teams and logistics restoring production capacity even after strikes.

Berlin and Copenhagen as first hubs of weapon exports

Zelenskyy announced the creation of two European export hubs: “These are for weapons we can afford to sell. The first two will be Berlin and Copenhagen, decided at the company level, and operational this year.”

Revenue from exports will support domestic production of scarce systems. Ukraine also has a surplus of maritime drones and certain artillery systems available for export, provided that proper safety and regulatory oversight are in place.

The Ukrainian president proposed a fair financial mechanism: partners could fully fund the production of scarce weapons in Ukraine, with the resulting systems to be split equally, a method to rapidly mobilize both partner and Ukrainian industrial capacity.

His name was Volodymyr Sviatnenko, 43, known as Znakhar. He was an unmanned aerial vehicle pilot serving in the 35th Separate Marine Brigade. A Russian ballistic missile killed him in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on 1 November, when he, together with other military personnel, gathered for a ceremonial formation to receive awards. Now, the families of the Ukrainian defenders want to know why that happened. 

He survived the frontlines but was killed at parade

His brother, journalist Dmytro Sviatnenko, said on social media that Volodymyr had been fighting for the Ukrainian Army since 2023.

“He endured hell in Krynky, Kurakhove, Marianka, Krasnohorivka… He was killed by Russians. But not on the battlefield. Deep in the rear,” he wrote in his post. 

Dmytro added that his brother and comrades gathered on the parade ground to receive their military awards.

"The best were gathered. The best pilots and infantry soldiers of the brigade. By order. In the open. A ballistic missile hit. A story of negligence (or possible negligence) repeated itself," he said. 

According to the journalist, Volodymyr was highly valued in the brigade, and the press service even produced a story about him. He was held up as an example to others. 

“He carried the wounded, saved comrades – his call sign ‘Znakhar’ was well-earned. From an anti-tank sailor, he became a UAV pilot. He was the first to fly using optics. He taught and motivated his comrades," Sviatnenko said. 

The journalist also added that his brother had been allowed to travel abroad on leave, from where he returned to service.

Were safety protocols ignored? Ukraine investigates

After the attack, the State Bureau of Investigation reported it had launched a pre-trial investigation into the deaths and injuries of Ukrainian soldiers. 

Preliminary findings indicate that around 5:00 p.m. on 1 November, Russian forces carried out a missile strike on a Ukrainian military base, resulting in casualties.

An investigative and operational team immediately arrived at the scene to establish all the circumstances.

Among other things, investigators are checking whether safety requirements for personnel were followed during the air alert and whether proper shelters were organized for the military.

The pre-trial investigation is being conducted under Part 4 of Article 425 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, specifically regarding negligent treatment of military service committed under martial law conditions.

How Russian strike unfolded across Dnipropetrovsk Oblast

On 1 November, Russians also struck the village of Novotroitske in the Samarskyi District of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast with a ballistic missile and a drone. Among the dead and injured were two children.

The occupiers also attacked the cities of Nikopol, Pokrovska, Marhanets, and Chervonohryhorivka communities in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast using FPV drones and artillery fire.

Ukraine's Eastern Military Group reported that the missile and drone strike resulted in deaths and injuries among Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel.

An inspection was initiated regarding the timeliness of missile warnings, restrictions on personnel placement, holding meetings and assemblies in open areas, and the use of locations not intended for such purposes.

In these minutes, Ukrainian defenders are conducting clearing operations in Pokrovsk to prevent the city from being captured by Russian forces. The soldiers are pushing the aggressor back and working to prevent a strategic breakthrough in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine's 7th Rapid Response Corps reports.

Ukraine reinforces positions as Russia tightens its advance with every second

According to the reports, Russia has concentrated nearly 170,000 troops on the Pokrovsk front. The occupiers are continuing to infiltrate the city and conducting free reconnaissance from drones. Meanwhile, Ukrainian soldiers refuse to leave the ground. 

“Over the past few days, the Defense Forces have created conditions to replenish our troops in the area of responsibility with additional personnel and equipment,” Ukraine's 7th Rapid Response Corps said. 

The Ukrainian forces prevented the Russians from cutting off the road connecting Pokrovsk and Rodynske. 

“To counter the enemy, we are continuing to deploy more assault units and special forces,” the report states.

According to Ukraine's 7th Rapid Response Corps, the city’s defenses have already been reinforced with additional forces.

“We have clear plans to counter the enemy and maintain close coordination to stabilize the situation," it said. 

Pokrovsk’s twin city also appears in Russian "combat pocket"

According to some sources, up to a thousand Russian troops may be present in the city. The railway line running through Pokrovsk effectively divides it in half. OSINT sources have started marking the southern part of the city as a gray zone or under Russian control.

Nevertheless, there is currently no encirclement or “cauldron.” The occupiers are conducting raids into the central, western, and northern parts of the city, engaging in close combat.

An additional threat comes from simultaneous enemy pressure on Myrnohrad, Pokrovsk’s twin city. Both localities are now effectively in a “pocket,” with logistics hampered by constant FPV drone attacks on supply routes, RBC reports. 

“The fate of Pokrovsk will be decided in the coming weeks. If we lose Pokrovsk, we’ll likely have to abandon Myrnohrad without a fight. And then this problem will spread further north in Donetsk Oblast," a source said. 

Meanwhile, Russian occupation forces reportedly have a new “deadline” for seizing the entire Donetsk Oblast by the end of February 2026. That means that the region is expected to remain the epicenter of fighting throughout the coming winter.

Belgium, home to NATO's headquarters, has acknowledged the security problem to counter waves of drones spotted in many European states this fall. The country has admitted it is struggling to deal with the targets spying on a critical military base that hosts its advanced fighter jets, Business Insider reports.

Theo Francken, the Belgian defense minister, said on 2 November that the country detected at least three large drones flying high above the Kleine-Brogel air base in a single night.

Drones in the sky over Kleine-Brogel, where nuclear weapons are reportedly stored

The base, in northeastern Belgium, houses the country’s fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcons, and Brussels plans to station its new F-35 Lightning II aircraft there.

It is also believed that the US stores several dozen nuclear weapons at Kleine-Brogel as part of its nuclear deterrence strategy in Europe.

Francken said that a deployed drone jammer failed to neutralize the drones. He suggested that the failure might have been caused by issues with distance or by the jammer not being tuned to the correct radio frequency.

He added that a police helicopter and several vehicles were mobilized to pursue one of the drones, but they eventually lost track of it after following the system for several kilometers.

Francken said that “additional counter-drone air systems are urgently needed.”

The Kremlin's shadow over Europe

Although he did not specify who was operating the drones, European leaders have repeatedly suggested that Russia is behind a series of recent similar incursions into NATO territory.

On 28 October, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia employed oil tankers to launch and control drones targeting European nations. This way, the launch of drones may be invisible.

Drone warfare experience from Ukraine is shaping Europe's new air defense

A series of incidents has pushed Europe to look for cost-effective ways to counter enemy drones, which are often much cheaper than the interceptors NATO has traditionally relied on for aerial threats.

Some NATO allies, including Denmark and Poland, have sought to strengthen their air defenses with help from Ukraine, which frequently faces hundreds of Russian drones in a single night.

Ukraine has turned a Russian Black Sea base into a burning metal. The Ukrainian Navy has reported that it has struck an elite Russian special forces unit stationed on the occupied Sivash drilling platform near annexed Crimea, Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports. 

Ukrainian drones are driving the Russians from the Black Sea towers

In October 2025, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported that Russia deployed its naval detachment “Española” to the Boiko Towers.

The group presents itself as Russia’s potential “first maritime private military company” and is reportedly seeking legal status under a future Russian law on private military companies.

According to available information, Española was created under Sergey Aksyonov, the Kremlin-appointed head of occupied Crimea, to strengthen coastal defense.

Along with Russian surveillance and reconnaissance equipment, a Russian anti-tank missile crew was destroyed,” the Ukrainian Navy reported.

Now, Russian propagandists are attempting to portray this strike as a Ukrainian loss, claiming a Ukrainian Navy boat was destroyed by a Lancet loitering munition.

In reality, Ukrainian forces successfully used a kamikaze drone to hit the occupiers' position.