Hi, this is Yuliia Taradiuk reporting from Kyiv on day 1,342 of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Today's top story so far:
Russia outnumbers Ukrainian troops eight-to-one in their offensive to capture the semi-surrounded city of Pokrovsk in eastern Donetsk Oblast, President Volodymyr Zelensky told journalists on Oct. 27.
"(Russian troops) have devoted such forces to the Pokrovsk (sector) that Ukraine cannot devote to one direction (of the front) — one to eight people," Zelensky told journalists in a briefing, Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne reported.
"Imagine how many Russian forces are there. But at the same time, they have not achieved the planned result."
After capturing Avdiivka, a long-time Ukrainian stronghold located over 40 kilometers (about 25 miles) southeast of Pokrovsk, in February 2024, Russian troops have gradually advanced toward Pokrovsk, once a key Ukrainian logistics hub tucked away in a relatively safe part of Donetsk Oblast.
Russian troops have surrounded Pokrovsk from three sides, leaving about a 15-kilometer (about nine miles) gap for the Ukrainian military to bring in troops and supplies, according to the Ukrainian open-source battlefield monitoring group DeepState.
Ukraine says it struck 2 Russian radar stations, launch pad for missile system, HUR releases video
Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) said on Oct. 28 that it struck two Russian radar stations and a launch pad for a Russian anti-aircraft missile system in the eastern Donbas region.
Attaching drone footage of the claimed attacks, HUR said in a Telegram post that its "Ghost" special forces unit "systematically" targeted Russian air defense systems in the Donbas over the past two weeks, destroying two 48Ya6-K1 Podlet low-altitude radar and a 9A82 launcher from the S-300V complex.
The Kyiv Independent couldn't independently verify HUR's claim. The Russian Defense Ministry has not reacted to the report on the recent damage its air defense systems took in the Donbas, as neither side rarely admits war setbacks.
HUR's statement comes as Ukrainian forces are slowly pushed back from their strongholds in the Donbas, outnumbered and overwhelmed by the relentless Russian small infantry assaults across the front.
At least 4 killed, 12 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day
At least four people have been killed and 12 others injured in Russian attacks against Ukraine over the past day, local authorities reported on Oct. 23.
Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 26 out of the 38 Shahed-type attack drones and other drones launched by Russia overnight, according to the Air Force. Twelve strikes were recorded at four locations.
In Kherson Oblast, two people were killed, six were injured due to Russian strikes, according to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin.
Critical and social infrastructure in residential areas of Kherson Oblast was targeted, according to Prokudin. One high-rise building and six houses, along with farm buildings, a garage, and several cars, were damaged.
In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, one person was killed, 5 injured as a result of Russian attacks on several districts, according to Governor Ivan Fedorov.
In Donetsk Oblast, Russian attacks killed one civilian and injured one, according to Governor Vadym Filashkin. According to Filashkin, 17 houses, three apartment buildings, one infrastructure facility, and two vehicles were damaged.
No injuries reported after Russian attacks on Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts.
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,137,850 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
Russia has lost around 1,137,850 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on Oct. 28.
The number includes 1,060 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
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