A joint investigation by Bellingcat/AFP published on October 28 revealed that almost 80% of the buildings in Vovchansk were destroyed or damaged since Russia launched its offensive.
After the full-scale Russian invasion, the town of Kharkiv Oblast in Kharkiv Oblast – once home to 17,000 people – became a hotly contested area.
Vovchansk was under Russian occupation until 2022, when the Ukrainian counter-offensive liberated it. The town then faced heavy fighting after Russia launched a new offensive in May 2024. This forced many residents to flee.
The civilians told journalists harrowing tales of their escape from Russian occupiers who, at times, deliberately targeted civilians in their attempts to flee.
According to the report a library, school and church were amongst the many buildings destroyed.
Bellingcat and AFP, citing satellite images, said that 60% of the buildings in the town had been destroyed and 18% had been partially damaged. Only 22% of buildings were still standing as of late September.
Despite Russia’s surprise attack in May, the Russian offensive has quickly stalled, with Russian troops suffering heavy losses.
Since then, the intensity has decreased compared to other sectors of Ukraine’s east near Pokrovsk Vuhledar and Toretsk.
According to the Ukrainian army, Russian tactics typically involve destroying towns and villages using artillery and bombs, before moving in to “capture”, the ruined settlements.
Anastasia Bobovnikova said that the Russian assault on Toretsk in the Donetsk Oblast left no buildings intact, as she explained on October 14.
This is the first official visit of President Volodymyr Zelensky to the island nation. He will meet with the prime ministers from Iceland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
After the full-scale Russian invasion, the town of Kharkiv Oblast in Ukraine, which once numbered 17,000 people, was heavily contested.
Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General, said: “I can confirm today that North Korean troops were sent to Russia and that North Korean military forces have been deployed in the Kursk area.”
Bloomberg reported that even if Kamala Harris is in the White House her administration would struggle to get significant resources for Ukraine passed through the U.S. Congress.
The State Emergency Service reported that at least 21 people, including five children were injured in multiple air strikes by Russia on Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv Oblast overnight.
South China Morning Post, a Hong Kong-based newspaper, reported on October 28 that a group of nearly 200 ex-North Korean troops asked to be sent to Ukraine to demoralize and influence Pyongyang’s troops to join the war on Russia’s side.
“I believe that many countries will try to manipulate our electorate. They’re going try to manipulate our election. “That’s what they do”, J.D. Vance told CBS News.
In a debate with the incumbent president on October 27, Alexandr Stoianoglo, a candidate for the Moldovan presidency, claimed that he would continue to support Ukraine. This statement was dismissed by Maia Sandu.
The KADORR Group announced that Adnan Kivan had passed away. He was the owner of the KADORR Group, and the English-language Kyiv Post.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged “Georgia’s political leaders to respect rule of law, repeal laws that undermine fundamental freedoms, as well as address deficiencies in the election process together.”
The Russian forces have suffered 1,680 casualties in the last day alone.
State Emergency Service reported that at least 21 people, including five children, were injured in multiple air strikes launched by Russia on Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv Oblast overnight on October 28.
“Modi is the Prime Minister of a very large country in terms of population, influence, and impact. A country of this size cannot simply say that it is interested in the end to the war. It is all interested. “PM Modi can influence an end to the Ukraine war,” said President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“Our interest is peace.” I think that Ukraine is not as important as other regions in the world. “I’m just putting my cards out there,” Republican senator and vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance said.
Operation UNIFIER of the Canadian Armed Forces announced on October 26 that Canada had provided Ukraine with a shipment of Light Armored Vehicles 6.0 ACSVs specially configured as ambulances.
Alexander Gusev, regional governor of Voronezh Oblast in Russia, said via his official Telegram Channel that debris from drones that fell to the ground struck two industrial sites on the evening October 27.
On October 27, Russian airstrikes in Ukraine’s southern Kherson Oblast killed at least five civilians and injured four others. The area is still divided by the frontline and is frequently subjected to Russian artillery, missiles, and drone strikes.
Dmytro Lubinets, the Ombudsman, said that “the alleged shooting of women by occupying forces in Selydove was a war crimes.” “I immediately wrote to international organizations, the UN and ICRC. I am waiting for the response.”
Grant Shapps, former U.K. defense secretary, argues that “now is the time to not only provide long-range authorization for our Storm Shadow rockets but to also do so without waiting for a Washington decision.”
“I think he is clearly an opponent.” J.D., the Republican candidate for vice president, said that he is a competitor. Vance replied when asked if the Russian President Vladimir Putin was an enemy.
“These elections cannot recognized. This is the equivalent of recognizing Georgia’s submission to Russia. No one can take Georgia’s European Future away.”
HUR reported that Russian police officers stopped a Kamaz truck on the Kursk-Voronezh Highway on October 27. The truck had civilian license plates. The vehicle was reported to be loaded with North Korean soldiers.
“During our observations, we noted the instances of vote buying and dual voting before and during the elections, especially in the rural areas,” said Ioanbulai, the leader of the delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
In an interview with state media published on October 27, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the Russian Defense Ministry was considering “various options.”
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