Key developments for Nov. 2-3:
Syrskyi: Ukraine is facing one of Russia’s most powerful offensives since the start of the all-out war
Military intelligence reports that North Korean soldiers are sent to the Ukrainian border with standard infantry weapons.
Official: Google Maps reveals locations of Ukrainian weapons systems
Zelensky: * Russia launched 900 bombs, 50 drones Shahed and 30 missiles against Ukraine in the past week.
* Ukraine to produce anti drone missiles with Belgian manufacturer
On Nov. 2, Commander-in Chief Oleksandr Sryskyi stated that Ukrainian troops were holding back “one of Russia’s most powerful” offensives, since the beginning of Moscow’s full scale war.
Ukraine has faced challenges in 2024 in defending its front line, especially in Donetsk Oblast where Russia has consistently focused its offensive potential.
Syrskyi, after a meeting with the Czech Armed Forces delegation, described the situation as difficult on the battlefield.
He said that “active hostilities which continue in certain areas requires constant renewal of resources of Ukrainian units”.
In its latest update, the Ukraine General Staff reported that 126 clashes have occurred between Ukrainian and Russian troops along the front lines since the start of the day.
Russia continues its offensives on the eastern front. This is mainly on the Toretsk-Kurakhove-Pokrovsk axes of Donetsk Oblast where Ukrainian soldiers who are outnumbered and outgunned are forced to retreat little by little.
In recent weeks, Ukrainian military warned Russia was escalating their operations in southern Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
In Kharkiv Oblast in mid-October, Ukrainian forces liberated Kruhliakivka and “cleared it out”, which Ukraine’s Military Intelligence (HUR), described as being important for the defence of Kupiansk.
Meanwhile, Russian troops are reported to be attempting to establish crossings at the Oskil River in order to advance towards the city of Kupiansk.
The reports come as Russia plans to use North Korean troops in its war effort. More than 7,000 soldiers are deployed near the Ukrainian border.
In a recent radio interview, Volodymyr Zelensky attacked the “zero” response of Ukraine’s partners to the deployment of North Korean soldiers for the war in Ukraine. He said that if Kyiv was allowed to use Western long range weapons on Russian soil, it could target “every camp” in which North Korean troops were gathering.
Military intelligence reports that North Korean soldiers are sent to the Ukrainian border with standard infantry weapons.
Ukraine’s military intelligence service (HUR) reported that Russia had armed North Korean troops near the border of Ukraine with infantry arms.
According to HUR’s report, North Korean soldiers were equipped with 60-mm mortars and AK-12 rifles. They also received machine guns, sniper weapons, Feniks guided anti-tank missiles, as well as hand-held antitank grenade launches.
The soldiers also received thermal imagers and collimator sights as well as night vision devices.
According to the Financial Times, Ukrainian intelligence officials have doubts about the combat effectiveness of North Korean troops. They cite communication issues with their Russian equivalents as the biggest hurdle Moscow and Pyongyang must overcome.
The agency reported that Russia had deployed more than 7,000 North Korean soldiers from Primorsky Krai in Russia to the Ukrainian border.
These numbers are almost identical to those that Washington announced earlier this week. U.S. Secretary Antony Blinken stated that 8,000 North Korean soldiers are gathered in Russia’s Kursk Oblast. This is where Ukraine began an incursion across the border in August, and still holds large swathes.
HUR reported that North Korea sent 12,000 troops, including 500 officers, to Russia. Five military camps in Russia’s Far East are currently training soldiers.
North Korea’s entry in the war comes as Russia’s long-running campaign in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk oblast has gained dramatic momentum in recent days. Analysts claim that Russian forces are advancing faster than they have in the past few months.
Official: Google Maps reveals locations of Ukrainian weapon systems
Locations of Ukrainian weapons systems were shown in recently updated images on Google’s free online map, Google Maps, Andrii Kovalenko, the head of the counter-disinformation department at Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, reported on Nov. 3.
Google representatives contacted Ukrainian officials after “a public response.” The company is working to fix the problem, Kovalenko stated in a social media update.
The official complained that his department tried to contact the U.S. based company Google to fix the issue quickly but did not get an immediate response.
In a later post, Kovalenko said: “In the future we will also discuss how to solve (similar) problems quickly.”
He also said “the Russians have already shared these images” without providing any additional details about the content of the images.
Zelensky reports that Russia launched around 900 bombs and 500 drones Shahed as well as 30 missiles against Ukraine in the past week.
Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, said that Russia had attacked Ukraine with more than 900 bombs and almost 500 Shahed drones in the past week.
According to Zelensky, the majority of these strikes targeted critical infrastructure and civilian facilities.
Zelensky stated via his Telegram account that such attacks would not be possible if allies provided Ukraine sufficient long-range strike capabilities, imposed “truly effective sanctions” against Russia to prevent it from importing crucial components for the manufacture of drones and rockets, and made political decisions that “can destroy Russia’s willingness to fight.”
The Ukrainian president concluded that “Ukraine deserves to be as secure as our other partners in free world.”
Regional authorities reported that Russian attacks on Ukraine killed three people, injured another 24, and destroyed and damaged multiple homes as well as infrastructure facilities in the last day.
Ukraine to produce anti drone missiles with Belgian manufacturer
Herman Smetanin, Minister of Strategic Industries, said on Nov. 2 that the Belgian manufacturer Thales had agreed with the Ukrainian defense sector to produce missiles against drones in a joint venture.
Smetanin stated that “this cooperation will strengthen the Ukrainian defence industry and protect critical infrastructure from enemy drones.”
In recent months, Russia increased drone strikes while reducing the use of cruise and ballistic missiles that are more powerful and difficult to intercept.
The General Staff reported that more than 2,000 drones were launched in October against Ukraine, breaking the previous record of nearly 700.
The two companies have signed a memorandum on cooperation. The minister said that the work between Kyiv, Belgium and other countries will expand in the future to include technology transfer and the production of missile components.
Thales is the only company in the world that develops, manufactures and supplies a complete rocket systems, including weapons, ammunition and fire control systems. It is a specialist in air-to-ground rocket systems of 70mm.
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