Main events of November 2 and 3:

• Ukraine faces one of Russia’s ‘most powerful’ offensives since start of total war, Syrskyi says
• North Korean soldiers sent to Ukraine border equipped with standard infantry weapons, military intelligence says
• Locations of Ukrainian weapons systems revealed on Google Maps, says official
• Russia launched about 900 bombs, 500 Shahed drones and 30 missiles against Ukraine over the past week, Zelensky says.
• Ukraine will produce anti-drone missiles with a Belgian manufacturer

Ukrainian troops are holding back one of Russia’s “most powerful” offensives since the start of Moscow’s full-scale war, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said Nov. 2.

Throughout 2024, Ukraine has faced a challenging situation in its defense of the front line, particularly in Donetsk Oblastwhere Russia has constantly concentrated its offensive potential.

After a meeting with a delegation of the Czech Armed Forces, Syrskyi He described the situation on the battlefield as difficult.

“The active hostilities that continue in certain areas require a constant renewal of the resources of Ukrainian units,” he said. saying.

Since the beginning of the day, there have been 126 clashes between Ukrainian and Russian forces along the front line, the Ukrainian General Staff reported. saying in its last update on November 2.

Russia continues to advance its offensives throughout the Eastern Front, mainly in the ToretskKurakhove and Pokrovsk axes in the Donetsk Oblast, where Ukrainian soldiers, outnumbered and outgunned, are forced to retreat little by little.

In recent weeks, the Ukrainian military has warned that Russia is stepping up its operations in the south. Zaporozhye Oblast.

In Kharkiv Oblast, Ukrainian forces liberated and “cleansed” the village of Kruhliakivkawhich Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) described as important for the defense of Kupiansk.

Meanwhile, Russian troops are reportedly trying to establish crosses near the Oskil river advance towards the city of Kupiansk.

The reports came as Russia is planning involve North Korean troops to assist in their war effort, with more than 7,000 soldiers deployed near the Ukrainian border.

In a recent interview, President Volodymyr Zelensky damned Ukraine’s partners respond “zero” to the deployment of North Korean troops for the war in Ukraine. He said that if Kyiv had permission to use Western long range weapons on Russian territory, it could preemptively attack “all camps” where North Korean troops are gathering.

Russia seized more territory last week than at any other time in 2024, Bloomberg reports

Russia has captured 1,146 square kilometers (442 square miles) in Ukraine since Aug. 6, about a quarter more than in the first seven months of the year, Bloomberg reported.

North Korean soldiers sent to Ukrainian border equipped with standard infantry weapons, military intelligence says

Russia has armed North Korean troops deployed near the border with Ukraine with infantry weapons, Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) reported on November 2.

According HURNorth Korean soldiers received 60mm mortars, AK-12 rifles, machine guns, sniper rifles, Feniks anti-tank guided missiles and portable anti-tank grenade launchers.

They also reportedly received some night vision devices, thermal imaging cameras, collimator scopes, and binoculars.

According to the Financial timesUkrainian intelligence officials are skeptical about the combat effectiveness of North Korean troops, citing communication problems with their Russian counterparts as the main obstacle Moscow and Pyongyang will have to overcome.

Russia deployed more than 7,000 North Korean troops from Russia’s Primorsky Krai to the Ukrainian border, the agency said.

These figures almost match those announced by Washington earlier this week. United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying that some 8,000 North Korean troops are concentrated in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, where Ukraine began a cross-border incursion in August and still holds significant stretches of territory.

North Korea has sent almost 12,000 troops to Russiaincluding 500 officers and three generals, HUR reported. Soldiers are reportedly currently undergoing training at five military camps in the Russian Far East.

North Korea’s entry into the war This comes as Russia’s long and grueling campaign in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast has dramatically picked up pace in recent days. Analysts say Russian forces are advancing at a pace not seen since the first months of the war.

China was well aware of North Korean troop deployment beforehand, expert says

Beijing was quick to claim it had no knowledge of Russia’s growing partnership with North Korea. The United States seized the opportunity, hoping to pressure China to deter North Korea from taking an active part in Russia’s war against Ukraine. Observers, however, remain skeptical about Chi…

Locations of Ukrainian weapons systems revealed on Google Maps, official says

The locations of Ukrainian weapons systems are shown in newly updated images on Google’s free online map, Google Maps reported on November 3, Andrii Kovalenko, head of the counter-disinformation department of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.

After “a public reaction”, Google Representatives have reached out to the Ukrainian side and the company is already working to fix the issue, Kovalenko said in a later update on social media.

The official previously complained that his department He had been trying to contact the American corporation Google to fix the problem quickly, but did not receive an immediate response.

“In the future we will also talk about how to quickly resolve any (similar) problem,” Kovalenko added in a later post.

He also said that “the Russians are already actively sharing these images” without revealing further details about the content of the images.

Poland offers to provide weapons to Ukraine on ‘defense loan’, says Sikorski

Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski said kyiv could buy weapons on credit from Polish factories. The loan can be repaid after the reconstruction of the country, he added.

Russia launched around 900 bombs, 500 Shahed drones and 30 missiles at Ukraine over past week, Zelensky says

Russia attacked Ukraine with more than 900 bombs, almost 500 Shahed drones and around 30 missiles over the past week, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on the morning of November 3.

The majority of these attacks targeted civilian facilities and critical infrastructure, according to zelenski.

zelenski said via its Telegram channel that such attacks would be “impossible” if allies provided Ukraine with enough long range strike capabilitiesimposed “truly effective sanctions” against Russia that would prevent it from importing critical components for the production of drones and missiles, and make political decisions “that can destroy Russia’s will to fight.

“Ukraine deserves the same reliable security as all our other partners in the free world,” concluded the Ukrainian president.

Russian attacks against Ukraine killed three people and injured 24 others, in addition to destroying and damaging multiple homes and infrastructure facilities in the last day, regional authorities reported on November 3.

Zelensky calls for tougher sanctions as Russia launched 2,000 drone strikes against Ukraine in October using foreign-made parts.

“This volume of ‘Shahed’ drones means more than 170,000 components that should have been blocked from reaching Russia,” Zelensky said in his afternoon speech. “Microchips, microcontrollers, processors and many other parts are essential to enable this terror.”

Ukraine to produce anti-drone missiles with Belgian manufacturer

Belgian manufacturer Thales has agreed with the Ukrainian defense industry on joint production of missiles to counter drones, Minister of Strategic Industries Herman Smetanin reported on November 2.

“This cooperation will strengthen the Ukrainian defense industry and the protection of critical infrastructure against enemy drones,” Smetanin saying.

In recent months, Russia has stepped up drone strikes, while reducing its use of more powerful and harder-to-intercept ballistic and cruise missiles.

More than 2,000 attack drones were launched against Ukraine during October, the General Staff reported on November 1, which exceeds the previous record set in September by almost 700.

The two companies signed a memorandum of cooperation. Work between kyiv and Brussels is expected to expand in the future to technology transfer and the production of missile components, the minister added.

Such is reportedly the only company in the world that develops, manufactures and supplies a complete rocket system, including fire control systems, weapons and ammunition. It is specialized in the field of 70mm air-to-ground rocket systems.

At least seven countries resist Ukraine’s invitation to NATO membership, Politico reports

Belgium, Slovenia and Spain are among the countries that are reluctant to grant Ukraine an invitation to join NATO, Politico reported on October 23, citing unnamed officials.