Victory Chronicles-DAY 1343

Ukrainian forces have pushed Russian troops back near the villages of Kucheriv Yar and Novyi Shakhove in the Pokrovsk district of eastern Donetsk region, according to DeepState, a Ukrainian group of independent military analysts that have ties to Ukraine’s Defense Ministry.

The analysts said the counterattack helped Ukraine reclaim limited ground in one of the most intense sectors of the front line, an area that has seen heavy fighting for months as Russia seeks to encircle the strategic hub of Pokrovsk, a key logistics point for Ukrainian forces in Donetsk . 

Meanwhile, Deep State noted that Russian forces have made incremental strides elsewhere, advancing near the village of Zvirove in Donetsk region and Stepova Novoselivka in Kharkiv region.

These movements reflect what observers describe as Russia’s ongoing tactic of stretching Ukrainian defenses thin through simultaneous assaults among multiple fronts. 

Ukraine rescues 17 children from occupied areas amid ongoing deportations. Seventeen children have been safely repatriated from Russian-occupied areas, the Bring Kids Back UA initiative said,  a small but vital victory in a wider effort to reunite families who are torn by war.  to government-held Ukraine from territories under Russian control, 

Among them is a 17-year-old boy who was forced into a so-called military camp near the Zaporizhzhia regional city of Melitopol, where he faced 6 a.m. wake-ups, drills, trench digging and weapons handling and was told his school certificate would be withheld without proof of attendance.

Another 17-year-old, whose relatives serve in Ukraine’s armed forces, was harassed after occupiers searched his family home and seized his electronic devices. A 7-year-old was hidden by grandparents to keep him from being taken. A 12-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy who feared attending Russian-run schools have also returned.

All the children are now safe and receiving psychological support, assistance with documents and temporary housing while authorities work to reunite them with family members.

Russian drones target Ukrainian power crews in northeastern Ukrainian Chernihiv region. Russian forces struck Ukrainian energy workers as they repaired power lines near the Chernihiv border, the regional utility company said on Oct. 28.

The attack followed an earlier strike that damaged a major facility in Koriukovka, leaving tens of thousands without power. Repair teams began restoration efforts the same day, but operations were interrupted when a reconnaissance drone circled the area. Once other crews resumed work, Russian combat drones struck the site, damaging vehicles, though the workers themselves took shelter safely. 

Officials noted a worrying trend of Russian forces increasingly targeting emergency repair crews in so-called double-tap strikes, underscoring the challenges of restoring critical infrastructure amid ongoing conflict. Analysts warn such attacks not only endanger civilians and workers but also prolong outages, amplifying humanitarian and logistical pressures in frontline regions.

Ukrainian defense intelligence strikes two Russian radar systems and S-300 air defense system. Ukraine’s military intelligence agency said its special unit, known as the Ghosts, struck two Russian radar stations and a surface-to-air missile launcher in the easternmost Donetsk region over the past two weeks.

The attacks targeted two 48Ya6-K1 “Podliot” radar systems and a 9A82 launcher from the S-300V air defense complex. The operations were part of a campaign to weaken Russia’s air defense network across occupied parts of eastern Ukraine.

Depending on the model and configuration of the S-300, it is valued at $120-$150 million.

The agency said Ukrainian fighters also destroyed a truck transporting Russian troops and eliminated the soldiers on board. Videos released by intelligence units show the precision strikes hitting Russian positions and equipment.

Key Takeaways

• The Kremlin is intensifying its cognitive warfare effort aimed at coercing the United States to make decisions about the war in Ukraine that are favorable to Russia, including by blaming the United States for Russia’s own failure to meaningfully engage in negotiations.
• Kremlin officials continued to reject  U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed ceasefire while reiterating Russia’s commitment to its original war aims.
• Russia continued nuclear saber-rattling efforts in response to Trump’s dismissal of the Russian Burevestnik missile test.
• Both Ukrainian and Russian forces continue to advance in the Pokrovsk direction, underscoring the fluid and interspersed nature of the frontline on this sector of the front.
• Ukrainian sources continue to note the porous nature of the frontline and Russia’s reliance on infiltration missions within Pokrovsk.
• The Russian military command is reportedly deprioritizing offensive operations in the Dobropillya tactical area to focus on Pokrovsk itself.
• Ukrainian strikes on the Belgorod Reservoir dam (southeast of Belgorod City and 11 kilometers from the international border) along the Siverskyi Donets River are reportedly degrading Russian positions in the border areas northeast of Kharkiv City.
• Balloons flying into Lithuania from Belarusian airspace are impeding operations at the Vilnius Airport.
• Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Kupyansk, Pokrovsk, and Hulyaipole and in the Dobropillya tactical area. Russian forces recently advanced in northern Kharkiv Oblast and near Pokrovsk and Hulyaipole.

• Russia passes law allowing year‑round conscription
• Russian oil giant Lukoil sells its foreign assets due to sanctions
• Zelenskyy: Gripen aircraft are capable of landing on the runway and using all missiles available in Ukraine
• China begin to abandon Russia’s preferred oil grade following U.S.sanctions
• Reuters: Many Indian refiners pause new Russian oil orders, await clarity
• German foreign minister: this winter could be decisive for Ukraine 
• EU seeks to integrate Ukraine into its Space Program and secure a satellite system