Victory Chronicles-DAY 1349

The United Kingdom has delivered a new batch of long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine, ensuring Kyiv can maintain its ability to strike deep behind Russian lines as the war heads into another harsh winter, Bloomberg reported on Nov. 3, citing people familiar with the matter. 

Officials said the resupply seeks to keep Ukraine’s stockpiles sufficient through the colder months, when transfer was made to ensure Ukraine’s stockpile remains sufficient through the winter, when London fears the Kremlin may intensify attacks on civilians and energy infrastructure. The exact number of missiles supplied has not been disclosed.

Storm Shadow missiles are air-launched, precision-guided weapons with a range of more than 250 kilometers (155 miles). Britain has not publicly detailed how many have been sent since the start of the war and typically avoids announcing such deliveries in advance.

One-hundred sixteen journalists killed in Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion. A total of 116 Ukrainian and foreign journalists have been killed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, a figure that now stands as both a statistic and a silent memorial to the pursuit of truth, Ukraine’s National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting said on Nov. 2.

Among them were 18 reporters who died doing what journalists have always done in times of war, and that is bearing witness so the world might see. They “risked their lives so the world could learn the truth about Russian aggression,” the Council said in the statement. At least 26 Ukrainian civilian media workers and one journalist who joined the Armed Forces remain in Russian captivity, officials added.

Marking the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, Ukraine’s National Committee for Cooperation with UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) urged international partners not to turn away. The committee called Russia’s actions “unprecedented crimes” against those whose only weapon is a camera, a pen, or the courage to ask questions under fire.

Russian drone and artillery attacks kill one civilian, injure four in Dnipropetrovsk region. Russian forces launched multiple drone and artillery strikes on Ukraine’s southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region overnight, killing one person and injuring four others, including a child, regional officials said.

In Pavlohrad, a 55-year-old man was killed when drones hit the area, sparking a fire at an industrial site. Three others, including an 8-year-old girl, were injured. The attack also damaged a residential building and several cars.

Russian drones and artillery also targeted the Nikopol district, striking the towns of Pokrovska, Myrivska and Marhanets. A 75-year-old man was injured, and local authorities reported damage to a sports school, homes, garages, vehicles and power lines. Emergency crews worked through the night to extinguish fires and restore electricity.

General staff confirms third strike on Saratov refinery and other enemy targets. Ukraine’s General Staff said on Nov. 3 that Defense Forces struck the Saratov oil refinery for the third time in Russia, setting fire to processing units, and also hit several logistical sites in the Russian occupied part of Luhansk. Military officials reported impacts and a blaze near the plant’s ELOU AVT-6 vacuum distillation unit, part of one of Russia’s oldest refineries. Residents in Saratov reported explosions overnight and independent monitors later geolocated footage to the complex. Russia’s aviation agency said airport operations in the region were limited for more than six hours.

Ukrainian forces also reported strikes on a supply warehouse in Rozkishne and fuel-handling equipment in Dovzhansk, aimed at degrading the occupier’s ability to resupply front-line units.

Key Takeaways

• Russian forces continue to intensify offensive operations in and around Pokrovsk to seize the town and collapse the Ukrainian pocket. Both Ukrainian and Russian forces recently made tactical advances in the Pokrovsk area.
• Russian forces have likely deprioritized offensive operations in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area in favor of completing the seizure of Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad. Russian assault tactics in the Pokrovsk direction are resulting in high casualty rates.
• Ukrainian forces struck oil and electrical infrastructure in Russia on Nov. 1-2.
• Belgian officials reported unidentified drone incursions near the Kleine Brogel Air Base in Belgium from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2.
• Russian authorities continued attempts to shut down Russian insider source VChK-OGPU as part of a crackdown on social media sources that share insider information about the Kremlin and Russian security services.
• Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Dobropillya tactical area. Russian forces recently advanced in the Kupyansk and Pokrovsk directions and in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area.

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