Ukraine and Russia Both Launch Record Drone Attacks On Each Other - Day 991 (November 10, 2024)

Summary of the Day:

Ukrainian forces conducted a significant drone offensive overnight, targeting Russian ammunition warehouses at the 1060th Logistics Center in Bryansk Oblast. Russian officials reported intercepting 84 drones total, with 32-34 shot down over Moscow Oblast, marking one of the largest drone attacks on the Moscow region since the conflict began. Some drone debris damaged infrastructure in Ramenskoye Raion.

Russian forces have made advances in the Pokrovsk direction, though specific details about territorial gains were not provided in the source material.

In documented war crimes, Ukrainian authorities are investigating new evidence of Russian forces executing an unarmed Ukrainian prisoner of war. Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets has reported this Geneva Convention violation to the UN and International Committee of the Red Cross, adding to a pattern of Russian forces mistreating Ukrainian POWs across different areas of the conflict.

Picture of the Day:

People collect drinkable water from a collection point created by an NGO in Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast. Around 10,000 civilians remain in Pokrovsk, surviving without basic amenities under the constant threat of artillery and aerial bombs. (Diego Fedele/Getty Images)

Beyond Ukraine – The March Towards World War

Russia’s drone warfare is escalating beyond Ukraine’s borders, as evidenced by two Russian decoy drones found in Moldova’s Kaushan and Rishkan districts. This violation of Moldovan airspace represents a dangerous expansion of the conflict, threatening regional stability. The incident, part of a massive 145-drone attack against Ukraine, demonstrates Russia’s willingness to endanger neighboring neutral countries and risk wider international conflict. Moldova’s Foreign Ministry official Mihai Popsoi’s strong condemnation underscores growing concerns about Russia’s disregard for international borders and peace. This spillover effect could potentially draw more countries into the conflict, destabilizing the fragile peace in Eastern Europe.

The Path to Peace

In a notable diplomatic development, President-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held their first post-election phone call on November 7, focusing on achieving peace in Ukraine and Europe. The Washington Post reported Trump indicated potential willingness to accept Russian retention of some occupied Ukrainian territory as part of a peace deal, while his team proposed freezing the front line and using European troops as a buffer zone. The call and subsequent proposals have sparked varied international reactions: Ukraine’s foreign ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi emphasized their lack of prior knowledge about the Trump-Putin conversation, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk insisted on including Ukrainian input in future decisions, Hungary’s Orban predicted an end to U.S. support, and France’s Foreign Minister Barrot expressed belief in continued U.S. backing for Ukraine. While Trump engaged directly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and emphasized America’s strong military presence in Europe, Ukraine maintains its goal of restoring its 1991 borders, including Crimea and Donbas. Russia has expressed openness to considering Trump’s proposals while continuing its 2024 offensive.

Situation On The Land, Sea, and Air in Ukraine

Ukrainian authorities, including Ombudsman and Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets, are investigating and filing complaints with the UN and International Committee of the Red Cross over new evidence of Russian forces executing an unarmed Ukrainian prisoner of war, which emerged in a video on Telegram on November 9 showing a wounded soldier from the Sumy region being shot after a brief interrogation, despite other Russian soldiers reportedly urging against it, saying “No, commander, no, Tolya.” While the exact location and timing remain unverified, this incident, which violates the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law, adds to a documented pattern of Russian forces mistreating Ukrainian prisoners of war across different areas of the conflict.

A screenshot from the video of a wounded Ukrainian

Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk stated that Russia is bolstering air defenses around the Kerch Strait Bridge, adding new defense systems and protective structures to safeguard this strategic crossing.

Ukrainian Operations in the Russian Federation – Initiative None

Russian and Ukrainian forces made recent advances in Ukraine’s main salient in Kursk Oblast. Ukrainian forces moved north of Novoivanovka, while Russian forces advanced south of the same settlement and near Pogrebki. Russia claimed Ukraine counterattacked near Novoivanovka, Darino, Zeleny Shlyakh, and Novaya Sorochina. No fighting was reported in Glushkovsky Raion.

Russia has amassed approximately 50,000 troops, including about 11,000 North Korean soldiers who have already experienced combat and casualties, for a major offensive in Kursk Oblast while maintaining its presence and continuing to make gains near Toretsk, Chasiv Yar, and Kupiansk in Donetsk Oblast in eastern Ukraine, according to U.S. and Ukrainian officials cited by the New York Times. The deployment follows Russia’s significant losses in October, reportedly averaging 1,500 casualties per day, with U.S. officials predicting heavy casualties for both Russian and North Korean forces in the upcoming offensive, particularly noting that North Korean troops, operating as light infantry without armored support, will be especially vulnerable to Ukrainian artillery and drone attacks.

In a significant escalation, Ukraine launched its largest drone attack, with Russia reporting 70 drones intercepted across several regions, including 34 in Moscow Oblast, coming immediately after Russia’s own record drone assault on Ukraine where 145 drones were launched overnight, with Ukrainian forces intercepting 62. The three-hour assault disrupted operations at three major Moscow airports, caused some damage with one reported injury, and successfully targeted Russian ammunition warehouses, including the 1060th Logistics Center in Bryansk Oblast causing multiple explosions, with the UK Defense Ministry noting these attacks caused Russia’s largest ammunition losses of the war. Ukraine’s military strategy has increasingly emphasized drone warfare, with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reporting 52,000 Russian targets hit by drones in the previous month, while Russia claimed to have intercepted a total of 84 Ukrainian drones, with some drone debris damaging infrastructure in Ramenskoye Raion.

Kharkiv Front – Initiative Russia

Russian forces continued attacks near Vovchansk and Starytsya northeast of Kharkiv City without making gains. A Ukrainian spokesperson reported increased Russian glide bomb strikes on civilian infrastructure in Kharkiv City. A Ukrainian soldier indicated that Russian forces are attempting to reach the Vovcha River using untrained troops, while noting reduced Russian MLRS use due to weather-related logistics issues.

Luhansk Front – Initiative Russia

Russian forces continued operations along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line with no confirmed frontline changes. While Russian military bloggers claimed advances near Kalynove, Holubivka, Vyshneve, and Kopanky, these claims lack visual confirmation. Fighting continued across multiple locations including Kindrashivka, Kucherivka, Kruhlyakivka, Lozova, Zeleny Hai, Hrekivka, Nevske, Terny, Torske, and Serebryanka.

Donetsk Front – Initiative Russia

Siversk

Russian forces continued attacks near Bilohorivka and Verkhnokamyanske in the Siversk direction but failed to make any confirmed advances.

Chasiv Yar

Russian forces continued attacks near Chasiv Yar, Klishchiivka, Stupochky, and Bila Hora without confirmed advances. Ukrainian spokesperson Major Anastasiya Bobovnikova reported that Russia is building up contract forces and equipment in the Chasiv Yar and Toretsk areas, but Ukrainian artillery and drone strikes are preventing Russian forces from crossing the Siverskyi Donets-Donbas Canal.

Toretsk

Russian forces continued attacks near Toretsk, Dyliivka, Shcherbynivka, and Nelipivka without confirmed advances. Major Bobovnikova reported that Russian forces are conducting fewer but larger assaults in the Toretsk direction, resulting in 50-70 daily casualties – about 5% of Russia’s total daily losses.

Pokrovsk

Russian forces advanced south of Novooleksiivka in the Pokrovsk direction. While Russian military bloggers claimed additional advances near Lysivka, Petrivka, Hryhorivka, Dachenske, Yurivka, and Pustynka, these remain unconfirmed. Fighting continued near Promin, Myrolyubivka, Lysivka, Selydove, Hryhorivka, and Petrivka.

Kurakhove

Russian forces continued attacks in the Kurakhove direction without confirmed frontline changes. While Russian sources claimed advances near Pobieda, Illinka, and Sontsivka, only partial control of Sontsivka (29%) is confirmed. Russia has seized Vovchenka. Fighting continued near Zorya, Novodmytrivka, Sontsivka, Illinka, Berestky, Novoselydivka, and Dalne. A Ukrainian spokesperson reported ongoing Russian mechanized assaults, increased drone usage, and heavy airstrikes and artillery against Kurakhove.

Southwest of Donetsk City

Russian forces continued operations near Vuhledar without confirmed frontline changes. While Russian military bloggers claimed advances near Maksymilyanivka, Trudove, and Bohoyavlenka, these remain unconfirmed. Fighting occurred near Maksymilyanivka, Antonivka, Katerynivka, Trudove, Kostiantynopolske, Uspenivka, Bohoyavlenka, and Maksymivka.

Zaporizhia Front – Initiative Russia

Zaporizhia-Donetsk Border Area

Russian forces conducted limited attacks near Makarivka in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia border area without confirmed advances. Ukrainian spokesperson Colonel Voloshyn reports Russian forces are preparing for assaults.

Zaporizhia Line

Russian forces attacked near Mala Tokmachka and Novoandriivka without confirmed advances. Colonel Voloshyn reported Russian forces are concentrating near Kamyanske, Hulyaipole, and Robotyne for increased attacks. He noted Russia dropped about 500 guided glide bombs in southern Ukraine in October, with one-third occurring in the final week.

Kherson (Dnipro River) Front – Initiative Russia

Russian forces launched attacks along the Dnipro River area, focusing on the eastern bank of Kherson Oblast. While the frontline remained unchanged, Russian troops were reported operating in the Dnipro River Delta islands.

Ukraine News

In a record-breaking overnight attack, Russia launched 145 drones against Ukraine from multiple locations including Crimea and Russian territory, with Ukrainian forces shooting down 62 drones across 13 regions (Odesa, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Kharkiv, Poltava, Sumy, Vinnytsia, Khmelnytskyi, Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk), while 67 were disabled by electronic warfare, and 10 drones strayed into neighboring countries with two crash-landing in Moldova. While the attacks damaged civilian infrastructure in Odesa but caused no casualties, President Zelensky reported that in the week of November 3-9, Russia had deployed over 800 glide bombs, 600 drones, and 20 missiles against Ukraine, following October’s record of over 2,000 drone strikes, suggesting a shift in Russian tactics from missiles to drones and potentially signaling preparation for a larger assault.

Ukraine implemented nationwide emergency blackouts following the threat of Russian air attacks. The Air Force detected Russian Tu-95MS bombers and MiG-31K jets capable of carrying Kinzhal missiles. Cities affected include Mykolaiv, Kyiv, Cherkasy, Sumy, Zhytomyr, Kirovohrad, and Kharkiv. Ukraine’s grid operator Ukrenergo ordered these preventive measures to protect the power system. Officials warn that Moscow may be preparing for massive strikes against Ukrainian nuclear facilities as winter approaches, with Ukrenergo’s director calling this potentially the “most difficult” winter since the invasion began. Recent reduction in Russian missile attacks may indicate preparation for a larger offensive rather than restraint.

Innocent Victims Of War

The casualty count of civilians in the past 24 hours: (Russian War Crimes)

DEATHS: 6 INJURIES: 22

Russian drone strikes on the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv killed five people and injured one woman. The attack destroyed a house and damaged a four-story apartment building, causing fires.

A Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia in the early hours killed one man and injured 21 people, including five children aged 4 to 17. Three strikes using FAB-500 bombs damaged a residential building, a dormitory, and a car dealership. Eight victims were hospitalized, including a 4-year-old boy.

An apartment building damaged after a Russian drone strike on the city of Mykolaiv. (Ukraine’s State Emergency Service / Telegram)

Ukraine’s Allies

The Biden administration is working to secure additional aid for Ukraine from Congress in its final 70 days, with White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan confirming that $6 billion in previously approved military assistance will be delivered before January 20, 2025, while emphasizing to CBS News that abandoning Ukraine would increase European instability as the administration aims to strengthen Ukraine’s battlefield position amid Russia’s growing military cooperation with North Korea. Following Donald Trump’s re-election and his stated intention to end the Ukraine-Russia war “in one day” through deal-making (signaled by Donald Trump Jr.’s social media post mocking President Zelensky), European leaders are mobilizing: Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk is organizing urgent meetings with French, British, Nordic, Baltic leaders and NATO’s head to create a unified European position protecting Ukraine’s interests in future peace negotiations, while U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron meet in Paris on November 11 to discuss Ukraine’s defense needs, and EU diplomat Josep Borrell pledges “unwavering” support, all reflecting growing anxiety that potential US policy shifts could pressure Ukraine into an unfavorable peace settlement with Russia, especially as Ukraine faces intensifying aerial attacks and territorial losses despite Russian casualties.

Russian War Losses (Today/Total)

U.K. Defense Staff Chief Admiral Radakin reports Russian forces are suffering unprecedented casualties, with approximately 1,500 troops killed or wounded daily in October – the war’s deadliest month yet. The total Russian casualties are estimated at nearly 700,000. Despite these heavy losses, Russia is making territorial gains in Ukraine, particularly in southern Donetsk Oblast, near Toretsk, Chasiv Yar, and Kupiansk. The high casualty rate may have influenced Russia’s decision to deploy North Korean troops. Despite recent political developments, including Trump’s election victory and suggestions of territorial concessions, Radakin affirms Western allies remain committed to supporting Ukraine “for as long as it takes.”

Troops +1770