Russia 1 – Kupyansk/Svatove Line
Russian forces made no confirmed advances in this sector.
Russia 2 – Svatove/Kreminna Line
Russian forces made no confirmed advances in this sector.
Russia 3 – Avdiivka/Marinka/Vuhledar Line
Russian forces made no confirmed advances in this sector.
Ukraine 1 – Liberate Bakhmut
Ukrainian forces made no confirmed advanced in this sector. Ukraine claims to have had unspecified success near Klishchiivka (4.5 miles SW of Bakhmut).
Ukraine 2 – Drive to Berdyansk
Ukrainian forces made no confirmed advances in this sector.
Ukraine 3 – Drive to Melitopol
Ukrainian troops made confirmed advances east of Novoprokopivka and have liberated a square mile of territory in this sector this week. One Russian source reported that Ukrainian forces attacked as far west as Kopani.
Ukraine 4 – Liberate Eastern Kherson
Ukrainian forces made no confirmed advances in this sector.
President Zelensky predicted that Russia will soon increase their threat of using nuclear weapons this winter and called on the West to stand firm.
Ukrainian Main Military Intelligence Directorate Head Kyrylo Budanov announced that Ukraine will continue its counteroffensive operations into late 2023. Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley said that Ukraine has about 30-45 days of “fighting weather” left this year. But if Ukraine experiences a hard freeze this winter, they could continue until the end of the year.
Russia conducted another series of drone strikes targeting Kyiv Oblast in the early morning hours. Ukraine shot down 26 of the 33 drones. Targets hit include a power station, a school, residential buildings, and a rehabilitation center. Russia also claimed to hit a weapons depot, but that was not confirmed. One person was injured.
Russia concluded its final day of voting and reports are coming in of electoral falsifications and intimidation. For example, the result of one local election was announced even before the polls had closed. In the occupied territories, Russian officials went door-to-door to force people to go to the polls to boost the turn-out and thus make the election more legitimate. The local voters were watched by officials as they cast their vote.
Ukraine launched a drone and blew up one of the polling stations in occupied Zaporizhia Oblast. Local Ukrainians are showing courage by protesting outside polling stations and refusing to vote.