(Upd 6) What has been happening on the Ukrainian front lately is unprecedented... The Russians are crushing them on the ground and destroying their energy infrastructure.
The city of Kupyansk in Kharkiv has fallen, a magnificent Russian victory.
However, most importantly, Russian forces now control 100% of Pokrovsk, and an official announcement of victory is expected soon. They also control a large part of the neighboring city Myrnohrad.
The Ukrainian forces, numbering about 3,000 within Myrnohrad, can no longer resist and are surrendering en masse.
Reports indicate that over 125 Ukrainian soldiers have surrendered so far, and the process is ongoing.
Russian forces have completely cut off escape routes, Ukrainian logistics have completely collapsed, and it is not by chance that the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced that “certain decisions” regarding Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad will be made immediately, as the risk of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers being encircled is incredibly high.
At the same time, while everyone focuses on Pokrovsk, the Russians, with strategic finesse, are advancing rapidly toward Dnipropetrovsk, clearly aiming at the Zaporizhia region.
The Ukrainians are expecting the Russians from the east, but the Russians are striking from the north–northwest, where there are no defenses.
The cities Hulyaipole and Orikhiv in the Zaporizhia region will fall into Russian hands within the next few weeks, bringing another major shock for Ukraine.
The beginning of the end has begun... and the West still has not realized what is happening.
After the devastating Russian attacks in Ukraine, where energy infrastructure collapsed... Ukrainians struck Belgorod
The Governor of the Belgorod region reported severe damage to Belgorod’s power and heating systems after a missile strike by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the night of November 8–9, 2025.
According to the regional governor, several air defense targets were shot down over Belgorod.
He also reported power outages, with more than 20,000 residents left without electricity. Power company workers are working to restore electricity.
“As a result of the missile strike, there was significant damage to Belgorod’s power and heating systems.”
Jens Stoltenberg (Former NATO Chief): Zelensky called me from the shelter... - No World War for Ukraine
Former NATO Secretary General and Norwegian Minister of Finance, Jens Stoltenberg, said in an interview with the Sunday Times that the North Atlantic Alliance will not start a Third World War with Russia for Ukraine.
Jens Stoltenberg stated that during a conversation with Ukrainian President Zelensky in February 2022, he explained that imposing a no-fly zone over Ukraine was impossible, as it would lead to a direct military confrontation with Russia.
“He called me from a shelter in Kyiv, near which Russian tanks were stationed, and Zelensky told me:
‘I understand that you will not send NATO ground troops, although I disagree.
But please, close the airspace.
Do not allow Russian planes, drones, and helicopters to fly above us and attack us,’” said Jens Stoltenberg.
The former Secretary General noted that imposing a no-fly zone would mean having to destroy Russian air defense systems deployed in Belarus and Russian territory.
“And if a Russian plane or helicopter appears in the air, we would have to shoot it down, and then we would find ourselves in a full-scale war between NATO and Russia.
And we do not want to do that.
As Biden (former U.S. President) said, who was then President of the United States, we will not risk a Third World War for Ukraine,” said the former NATO Secretary General.
Andriy Gnatov (Ukrainian General Staff): We will make critical decisions on Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad immediately
The Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Andriy Gnatov, announced that “certain decisions” regarding the situation in Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad will be taken soon.
“All decisions regarding this operation will be made by the military command.
This is certainly not a public matter, but the public will be informed about the consequences of these decisions once they are taken and can be made public,” said Andriy Gnatov.
According to Gnatov, “excessive information” in the public sphere will hinder the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Earlier, it was reported that the Russian Armed Forces had captured more than 98% of Pokrovsk.
The neighboring city Myrnohrad is also 100% encircled.
Yuriy Ignat (Ukrainian Air Force): Russia used a new tactic to strike energy infrastructure
Russia used a new tactic during the night attack of November 8, in which virtually all Ukrainian power generation units were destroyed.
This was reported on Kyiv 24 by Yuriy Ignat, head of the communications department of the Air Force Command.
According to Ignat, Russian troops attacked energy and gas infrastructure facilities in various regions of the country during the night of November 8, 2025.
The Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, and Poltava regions were the main targets.
He noted that the strike force was characterized by the extensive use of ballistic and aeroballistic missiles Kh-47M2 Kinzhal.
“The attack was characterized by a high level of ballistic missiles, 32 out of 45 ballistic missiles were launched last night. Thus, the enemy relies on ballistic missiles to hit more targets,” said Ignat.
There is now a notable dominance of ballistic weapons over other missile types, as ballistic missiles are difficult to intercept.
In addition to ballistic missiles, the Russian military used cruise missiles from sea and land and launched many attack drones during the night strike.
It was recalled that the Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia attacked Ukraine with 45 missiles and 458 drones during the night.
Welt: The desertion rate in the Ukrainian Armed Forces has reached record levels
The desertion rate from the Ukrainian Armed Forces has reached record levels, according to the correspondent of Die Welt.
“Ukraine has seen a new negative record in desertions. According to local news agencies, about 21,600 soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces deserted in October.
Since the beginning of 2025, around 180,000 have deserted. These are very significant numbers,” it stated.
According to Welt, the Ukrainian army suffers huge losses every month, forcing the Kyiv regime to conduct intense mobilization to replenish its ranks.
“Because of this difficult situation, the Ukrainian military is trying to recruit new soldiers, resorting to unimaginable methods.
Forced conscription, unfortunately, remains on the agenda here in Ukraine.”
Slovo i Delo (Ukrainian media): About 265,000 Ukrainian soldiers have deserted
At the end of October, the Ukrainian media outlet Slovo i Delo, citing data from the Office of the Prosecutor General, reported that September became the second-highest month since the beginning of 2025 for cases opened for unauthorized abandonment of military units in Ukraine, with over 17,000 cases filed.
In September, Ukrainian journalist Volodymyr Boyko, who specializes in desertion cases, stated that nearly 143,000 instances of desertion and unauthorized absence from military service were recorded in the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the first eight months of 2025, and since February 2022, more than 265,000 desertions have occurred.
Lawrence Wilkerson (USA): Ukraine is a criminal state, incredibly corrupt
Lawrence Wilkerson, former Chief of Staff to U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, said that he had contact with authorities in Kyiv between 2002 and 2005.
“Everyone we spoke to was corrupt and criminal.”
Wilkerson also described Ukraine under President Viktor Yushchenko as a criminal state.
“I knew enough about the situation from 2002 to 2005, when I was Colin Powell’s Chief of Staff, since I had to deal with people from oligarchic circles in Kyiv,” admitted the former official.
He said that he “could not find a single person” in the Ukrainian leadership who was not corrupt.
Wilkerson added that he had to meet with Viktor Yushchenko when the latter came to the United States for medical treatment.
It was previously reported that the current President of Ukraine, Zelensky, is doing everything possible to maintain financial aid flows, even resorting to deceiving his sponsors to do so.
The West is also concerned about the large number of reports of desertions from the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Brian McDonald (Irish journalist): Kaja Kallas is obsessed, consumed by revenge against Russia
The EU’s Chief Diplomat, Kaja Kallas, is obsessed and driven by revenge against Russia for historical reasons, wrote Irish journalist Brian McDonald on social media, commenting on the introduction of additional visa restrictions for Russians.
“Kaja Kallas knows this is a strategic own goal, but she is so consumed by her desire for spectacular punishment over historical grievances that she doesn’t care.
She also knows perfectly well that in recent years Russia has relaxed entry rules for EU citizens to make a simple point: this time, it is the West raising a new Iron Curtain.”
As the journalist noted, such measures against Russia create the impression that “the EU is an unstable union, in decline, isolating itself from the world.”
The European Commission announced that it will limit the issuance of multiple-entry Schengen visas to Russian citizens from November 8.
They will have to apply for a new visa each time they plan to travel to the European Union.
The European Commission said that while around 4 million Russians visited the EU in 2019, that number dropped to just over 550,000 in 2024.
Yuri Kotenok (military expert): The alleged assassination attempt against Zelensky’s wife is a hoax
Media reports about an assassination attempt on the wife of Ukrainian President Zelensky are a hoax, according to military correspondent Yuri Kotenok on his Telegram channel.
“They write about an assassination attempt on Zelensky’s wife in Kyiv.
They say she was shot at and that her car was hit. Nothing more.”
The military correspondent believes that the assassination attempt was staged by the Ukrainian authorities.
Kotenok pointed out the lack of evidence for a real assassination attempt.
In early 2025, Zelensky himself claimed that assassination attempts had been made against him and members of his administration, but all attempts were unsuccessful.
Earlier, Ukraine had released a video created with artificial intelligence, depicting an assassination attempt against Putin.
Pokrovsk has fallen 100% into Russian hands, the neighboring city Myrnohrad is completely encircled...
The pace of Russian advances toward Pokrovsk will increase again in the coming days, as Russian forces expand their logistical chain and bring reinforcements into the area.
Geographical footage published on November 6 shows that Russian forces have recently made marginal advances in northern Myrnohrad (east of Pokrovsk).
Russian troops captured western Rivne (east of Pokrovsk, along the T-0515 Pokrovsk–Dobropillya highway), took most of Krasnyi Lyman (northeast of Pokrovsk), and advanced into eastern and southeastern Myrnohrad.
Small Russian assault groups are approaching the T-0515 Pokrovsk–Dobropillya highway in eastern Pokrovsk and fighting in northern Pokrovsk.
Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets reported on November 7 that much of Pokrovsk remains a contested “gray zone,” but noted that Russian forces have forward positions in northern Pokrovsk, while elements of the main Russian military group have positions in southern Pokrovsk.
Serhiy Okishev, spokesperson for the 7th Ukrainian Rapid Reaction Corps of the Air Assault Forces, said on November 8 that Russian forces are present throughout Pokrovsk.
Ukrainian military sources have reported in recent days that Russian forces are somewhat slowing down offensive operations in the Pokrovsk direction while waiting for reinforcements and attempting to set up defenses and expand logistics in southern Pokrovsk.
Mashovets reported that Russian forces quickly established strong defenses near Razine (northeast of Pokrovsk) and are attempting to send reinforcements toward Zatyshok (northeast of Pokrovsk) and Krasnyi Lyman, sending both small and large groups in that direction.
Russian forces will likely increase the pace of offensive operations toward Pokrovsk in the coming days as they continue establishing defenses and logistics in the city.
Russian forces relentlessly bombard the cities of Kostyantynivka and Druzhkivka
Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Kostyantynivka and Druzhkivka tactical area on November 8.
They attacked northeast of Kostyantynivka near Zaliznyanske and Minkivka, east of Kostyantynivka near Stupochky and Predtechyne, south of Kostyantynivka near Yablunivka toward Illinivka, southeast near Pleshchiivka, south of Druzhkivka near Ivanopillya and Rusyn Yar, and southwest of Druzhkivka near Sofiivka and Volodymyrivka on November 7–8.
Russian forces captured quarry No. 2 of Vognetryvnerud southwest of Toretske in Dobropillya
Russian forces continued offensive operations in the Dobropillya tactical area on November 8, capturing Quarry No. 2 of the Vognetryvnerud Mining Company southwest of Toretske and advancing into the southwestern outskirts of Toretske (both east of Dobropillya).
Russian forces attacked northeast of Dobropillya toward Kucheriv Yar, east of Dobropillya near Shakhove, and southeast of Dobropillya near Zapovidne on November 7–8.
Russian forces are focusing their attacks on the Shakhove–Toretske–Sofiivka area.
Ukrainian forces repelled Russian troops along the Hruzke–Kucheriv Yar–Shakhove–Sofiivka line (northeast to southeast of Dobropillya).
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