Russo-Ukrainian war, day 983: Ukraine races to develop long-range missiles while preparing for two US election scenarios

Exclusives

The West must help Israel and Ukraine defeat evil, says Likud’s Chairman of the Liberals Weitmann. “We’ll not tolerate Russia’s support of genocidal maniacs and will help Ukraine win once we’ve defeated our chief enemies. But you need to be creative too, so if you need nukes, why not eye Belarus?”

Ukraine plans for two Americas: Harris aid or Trump peace push. As Americans swing between Trump’s peace push and Harris’s support vows, Ukraine races for breakthroughs in both White House scenarios.

As of 2 NOV 2024, the approximate losses of weapons and military equipment of the Russian Armed Forces from the beginning of the invasion to the present day:

Military

Ukraine repels Russia’s massive 96-drone assault, other strikes kill one, injure at least 22 civilians. Air defenses successfully intercepted 66 Shaheds. Russia’s additional artillery and aerial strikes cause civilian casualties and infrastructure damage.

ISW: North Korean troops in Russia equal one week of frontline losses. Russia’s daily casualty rate of 1,200 troops suggests North Korean military support may offer only temporary relief to manpower shortages.

Syrskyi: Ukrainian Forces currently holding back one of Russia’s most powerful offensives since 2022. The Kurakhove direction has emerged as the primary hotspot of combat operations, with Ukrainian forces repelling 52 Russian attacks in a single day.

Frontline report: Russia uses North Korean troops for Kursk push to meet Putin’s February retake deadline . Despite North Korea’s reputation for skilled special forces, video evidence shows young inexperienced conscripts arriving at Russian bases, raising doubts about their readiness for complex offensive operations at unfamiliar territory and with a language gap, as they share one translator for every 40 soldiers along the Kursk front.

BILD: Russian troops breach Ukrainian defenses in Donbas, setting stage for winter battles, expert warns. Finnish military expert Emil Kastehelmi reports a large-scale Russian offensive stretching across Donetsk, with over 100 battles in recent days.

BI: Russia retakes territories in Kursk Oblast, but extended push into Ukraine’s strongholds may stall. While Russian forces gain ground in Kursk, experts predict greater difficulties in taking and holding Ukraine’s remaining strong positions.

New Russian forces target Kupiansk as Ukrainian troops hold strong. Russia intensifies its offensive on the Kupiansk front, deploying fresh mechanized units, while Ukrainian defenders continue to block their advances.

Intelligence and Technology

Ukraine initiates two-year 5G testing program in three cities. The Ukrainian government has cleared regulatory hurdles for 5G implementation while ensuring military communications security.

Belgium’s Thales signs memorandum of defense cooperation with Ukraine. Ukraine’s defense industry is set to receive technology transfer and components for missile production through a new partnership with Belgium’s Thales.

Ukraine tests domestic long-range missiles, eyes 2025 for full production launch, says defense official. Flight tests of domestically developed cruise and ballistic missiles are yielding positive results, according to defense export chief Oleksii Petrov in an interview to OBOZ.UA.

Russia deployed over 7,000 North Korean soldiers to areas near Ukraine – intelligence. North Korean soldiers, dubbed “special Buryats” by Russian forces, have received night vision equipment and thermal imaging devices for potential deployment in Ukraine.

International

Reuters: New German leftist BSW party threatens pro-Ukraine stance in eastern state coalitions. The party is leveraging its position in three German states to pressure mainstream parties into opposing military support for Ukraine.

US citizen claims two-year intelligence activity against Ukraine. Daniel Martindale, an American citizen, appeared at a Moscow press conference on 2 Nov, where he claimed to have provided Russian forces with Ukrainian military coordinates since 2022.

Ukraine’s Dnipro Oblast receives 100 generators from Germany. Educational and medical facilities in Dnipro Oblast will receive German-provided generators amid infrastructure challenges due to Russian persistent shelling and attacks

Washington Post: Zelenskyy’s team remains “optimistic” about potential Trump win, sees chance for reset. Despite public criticism of Ukraine aid by a presidential candidate Donald Trump, senior officials in Kyiv believe President Zelenskyy’s interpersonal skills could forge a productive relationship with Trump if he returns to the White House, while another candidate Kamala Harris could continue “too cautious” decision-making by the current administration.

UK calls special UN security meeting to mark 1,000 days of Ukraine full-scale war. A British diplomat Barbara Woodward announced UN Security Council session on 18 November and underlined that many conflicts in the world can be linked to Russia.

Reuters: US warns of “concerning” Russia-China military activity in Arctic region. US Arctic Ambassador Michael Sfraga expressed concerns over the increased joint operations between Russia and China in international waters near Alaska, including coordinated bomber flights and coast guard operations.

Poland proposes defense loans to Ukraine amid tensions over MiG fighter jets. After Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s claims that Poland hasn’t delivered MiG-29s, Sikorski suggests Ukraine buy arms on credit.

Berlin says weapon shortages, not finances, hinder timely Ukraine aid. Germany is continuously assessing additional military support options and encourages its partner nations to conduct similar reviews.

Russian attack near Dnipro injures 8, including 2 children. A Russian strike on 2 Nov. damaged infrastructure and wounded five near Dnipro, a city that has faced repeated attacks on critical facilities including the recent targeting of Mechnikov Hospital.

Russian missile strike on Kharkiv police station kills one, injures 46 people. The Russian forces launched a S-300 missile to attack a police facility in central Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine.

Russian drone strikes across six districts in Kyiv ignite fire in high-rises, damage civilian homes. A police officer suffered smoke inhalation while helping residents escape a burning 16-story building in Kyiv’s Sviatoshynsky district.

Political and Legal Developments

Zelenskyy criticizes US, UK, Germany over long-range weapons restrictions as North Korean threat looms. Ukrainian president revealed Ukraine could launch preemptive strikes against North Korean forces if Western allies lifted weapons restrictions on long-range strikes inside Russia, instead of merely observing the situation.

Pyongyang pledges loyalty to Russia “until victory” over Ukraine. North Korea’s FM Choe Son Hui hailed Putin’s “wise leadership” ahead of talks in Moscow, and insisted that Russia will “achieve a great victory.”

US congressman calls for NATO to permit Ukrainian strikes into Russia over North Korean involvement in war. US Congressman Mike Turner urges NATO to lift restrictions on Ukrainian strikes into Russian territory and consider direct action against North Korean forces in Ukraine.

Read our earlier daily review here.

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