Russo-Ukrainian war, day 1354: Russia may have tricked Ukraine into deploying reinforcements away from Pokrovsk

Exclusives

Dobropillia diversion: did Russia trick Ukraine into losing Pokrovsk?. A Russian incursion north of Pokrovsk in August diverted Ukrainian reinforcements. Was it all in the Kremlin's plan?

The Boomerang Soldiers: How Romania's commandos became mercenaries—then came back to coup Bucharest. Instructors who fought for Wagner in Africa trained operatives in Balkan forest camps. Those operatives deployed to sabotage Moldova's vote, storm Romania's capital, and fight in Ukraine—the same personnel, modular missions.

Military

From Europe's worst ecocide to military flanking route—Russia weaponizes wasteland it created. Ukraine destroys Russian air defense launcher near Yevpatoria, hits arsenal near Simferopol (VIDEO). Ukrainian Special Operations Forces destroyed an S-400 Triumph launcher and an ammunition depot in occupied Crimea on 6 Oct., targeting Russian military infrastructure near Yevpatoria and Simferopol

Intelligence and technology

What Brazil spent peacetime perfecting, Ukraine will master in wartime: inside Gripen localization plan. Ukraine signs for 150 Gripens. FPV drone on fiber optics hits emblem on evacuation vehicle carrying foreign reporters in Donetsk Oblast. A Russian drone struck a clearly marked humanitarian vehicle carrying Austrian and Spanish journalists at the entrance to Kostyantynivka on 8 November. "Proud that it will save lives": French fishermen donate old nets to Ukraine to protect against drones. Ukraine faces more than 500 Russian drones daily, but French fishermen have found an unexpected solution in their scrap piles, according to The Guardian

International

Trump cracks Western sanctions unity with Hungary exemption on Russian oil. Budapest meeting rewards Orban's loyalty with one-year sanctions waiver

Humanitarian and social impact

Power cut hits 20,000 in Belgorod after air raid alert, thermal plant reportedly targeted. As Kyiv continues to suffer from electricity disruptions, Russia's Belgorod faced its own blackout on 8 Nov.—over 20,000 subscribers lost power following a missile alert and reports of air defense activation, with a thermal station reportedly targeted. What Dnipro residents heard in latest Russian attack made them pray: Inside eight hours of hoping and losing everything to Kremlin's terror. "'I will hope until I see the body," brother waited at rubble as Dnipro declared mourning for Russian strike victims. Three thermal power plants down, 12-hour blackouts introduced in Ukraine, as Russia executes freeze-out terror. Putin abandons occupation for a strategy of rendering Ukraine unlivable.

New developments

Ukrainian gallerists break into art basel Paris with war stories told through animals and ruins. Ukrainian artist Nikita Kadan presents war through suffering animals and nameless personal stories rather than explosions and destruction at Art Basel Paris, where his works priced from €3,500 to €120,000 Read our earlier daily review here.