Ukraine troops near the frontline in the Donetsk region in the east of the country, October 30, 2024

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Map: Institute for the Study of War

UPDATE 1657 GMT:

Russia launched a record 145 drones at Ukraine overnight.

Air defenses downed 62 drones over 13 Ukrainian regions. Another 67 UAVs were lost to electronic counter-measures, and 10 flew into Moldovan, Belarusian, and Russian airspace.

Apartment buildings and private property were damaged in Odesa, but no fatalities were reported. No damage was reported in Kyiv.

UPDATE 1646 GMT:

Responding to Donald Trump’s declaration that he can end Russia’s war in 24 hours, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said, “Decisions on the war in Ukraine can neither be made over the heads of Ukrainians nor over ours.”

Tusk said Trump’s ideas are just in the discussion stages, but the Prime Minister stressed that Europe will have to bear more responsibility for its security.

Ukraine Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said Kyiv is “grateful” for Tusk’s commitments: “[Ukraine should] determine the parameters of the path to a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace.”

UPDATE 1635 GMT:

US and Ukrainian officials say Moscow has assembled 50,000 soldiers, including North Korean troops, to reclaim Ukraine-held areas of the Kursk region in western Russia.

A US assessment concludes that Russia has massed the force without having to pull soldiers from its offensive in eastern Ukraine.

Ukrainian officials say they expect such an attack involving the North Korean troops in the coming days.

Ukraine seized around 1,300 square km (500 square miles) and 100 settlements in a cross-border incursion from August 6. Russia has clawed back part of the territory.

UPDATE 0643 GMT:

Independent Russian outlet Mediazona and BBC Russia have confirmed the names of 77,143 Russian soldiers slain in Vladimir Putin’s 32 1/2-month invasion of Ukraine.

Since the last update at the end of October, the names of 1,761 Russian soldiers have been added to the list.

The journalists note that the actual figures are likely significantly higher. Their verified identities come from public sources such as obituaries, posts by relatives, regional media reports, and statements from local authorities.

In an interview published on Friday, UK Defense Minister John Healey said October 2024 was the deadliest month for the Russians, with 41,980 killed and wounded.

UK defense intelligence estimates Russia has likely suffered more than 696,000 losses since the launch of the full-scale invasion in Feburary. Ukraine’s General Staff reported 707,540 Russian losses as of November 9.

Ukraine’s military commander-in-chief, Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, has warned of the intensity of Russia’s 13-month in the east of the country.

After a conversation with the US European command, Gen Christopher Cavoli, Skyrski summarized his presentation:

The situation remains challenging and shows signs of escalation. The enemy, leveraging its numerical advantage, is continuing offensive actions and is focusing its main efforts on the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove directions.

Until the autumn, Russia had struggled to advance in the Donetsk region, losing tens of thousands of troops and seizing only one town, Avdiivka.

But with Ukraine’s forces facing exhaustion, a huge disadvantage in artillery, and Russia’s guided bombs, the offensive accelerated in recent weeks, taking towns such as Vuhledar and Selydove.

Ukraine’s general staff reported 40 armed clashes around villages near Kurakhove, as Russian forces try to encircle the town.

Syrskyi added about North Korea’s deployment of around 10,000 soldiers to support Moscow, “We have numerous reports of North Korean soldiers preparing to participate in combat operations alongside Russian Forces.”

In his nightly address to the nation, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy focused on Russia’s airstrikes across the country: