Photo : the National Guard of Ukraine
Photo : the National Guard of Ukraine
WAR ON GROUND
On 10 November, a wave of drone attacks was reported in Odesa city. The attack was observed as the biggest since 2022. According to the report in Deutsche Welle, one was killed, nine were injured and seven residential buildings were damaged. The same was confirmed by Odesa’s mayor on witnessing several drone attacks. On the same, Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stated that 145 drones were launched by Russia making it the largest overnight attack since the war began. According to him, 800 guided bombs, 600 drones and close to 20 missiles were targeted against Ukraine. He recalled more support from the West for increased defence.
On 10 November, Ukraine’s Military Commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi reported on North Korean troops preparing for combat along with Russian forces in Ukraine. He indicated reports from the ground stating the “signs of escalation” in the frontline sections of the war against Russia.
On 09 November, Syrskyi reported on the Ukrainian military destroying more than 52,000 Russian drone strikes in October. These included, 129 Russian artillery systems, 221 Russian radio systems and 4,000 Russian soldiers killed or injured.
THE MOSCOW VIEW
On 10 November, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin signed the defence pact with North Korea. The Russian parliament published the ratified treaty on signing into law. The treaty requires Russia and North Korea to provide military support “without delay” under an attack. It also pledges to deter Western sanctions and coordinate at the UN forum.
On 10 November, the Russian Defence Ministry reported on Russian forces capturing Vovchenko, a village in eastern Donetsk, five kilometres from Kurakhove, an industrial city and Vovcha River. The industrial city was captured in May 2023 similar to Bakhmut. According to the ministry: “Units of the Centre armed group have liberated the town of Voltchenka.” On the same day, it also claimed to have struck 70 Ukrainian drones across six areas of Russia. This includes, Tula, Bryansk, Kaluga, Oryol and Kursk.
On 10 November, Russian President Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov observed “positive signals” from the US elections. Highlighting Donald Trump’s campaign where he pledged to a deal toward peace, Peskov said that it was positive since it was not about bringing “strategic defeat” and was about peace. He also said that it would be hard to predict: “…to what extent he's going to stick to statements that he made on the campaign trail.”
THE WEST VIEW
On 10 November, White House's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan stated that US President Joe Biden would lobby the next administration to continue US’s support to Ukraine. Biden and Donald Trump are expected to meet in the Oval Office to discuss the transition. Sullivan said: “The President will have the chance to explain to [President-elect] Trump how he sees things, where they stand.” Over the next 70 days, Biden can frame a case to ensure the next government continues to support Ukraine. He also revealed the White House’s plan to spend an additional USD six billion ahead of the transition.
On 10 November, the UK’s Chief of Defence, Admiral Tony Radakin stated that close to 1,500 were dead and injured every day in Ukraine as of October. It was seen as the worst month of casualties. Whereas in Russia, 700,000 were reportedly killed or wounded since the war. Radakin said Russia was making gains while the losses were “enormous” and risking the economy due to high defence spending.
On 09 November, Poland’s Prime Minister Donal Tusk announced arranging talks among the allies in Europe and NATO to discuss transatlantic cooperation and war in Ukraine post-the US elections. This comes as Trump often criticised the US funding to Ukraine and pledged to end the war. Tusk highlighted the critical challenge to the war following the latest political landscape and affirmed dialogue between cooperating countries on “geopolitical and transatlantic situation.”
On 09 November, EU’s Foreign Policy Commissioner Josep Borrell visited Kyiv for the last time before the power transition. He said: “We have been supporting Ukraine since the beginning, and on this my last visit to Ukraine, I convey the same message: we will support you as much as we can.” He stated the uncertainty over the changed political atmosphere in the US and insisted on building a united and stronger Europe to support Ukraine. According to the report in Deutsche Welle, the EU has been the major contributor to Ukraine however faces the drawback of not having an independent military and being limited to giving wide assistance to Ukraine creates uncertainty among the individual EU countries on who would replace the US share. Till now Europe has given EUR 125 billion to Ukraine with EUR 40 billion from the EU. Whereas the US has given EUR 90 billion exclusively making it the most crucial supporter.
References
Valerie Hopkins, “Russia Says It Shot Down Waves of Drones Above Moscow,” The New York Times, 10 November 2024
“Putin Finalizes North Korea Defense Deal,” The Moscow Times, 10 November 2024
Alex Boyd, “Moscow targeted as Ukraine and Russia trade huge drone attacks,” BBC, 11 November 2024
Burc Eruygur, “Russia claims it took control of another settlement in Ukraine’s Donetsk region,” Anadolu Agency, 10 November 2024
Victor Goury-Laffont, “October was worst month for Russia since start of Ukraine war, UK official says,” Politico, 10 November 2024
Valentyna Romanenko, “Russia launches over 100 drones on Ukraine, Ukraine's air defence downs 46,” Ukrainska Pravda, 11 November 2024
“Ukraine drone attacks spark fire in Russia's Bryansk, Kaluga regions,” Reuters, 10 November 2024
“Ukraine updates: Russia says dozens of drones target Moscow,” Deutsche Welle, 10 November 2024
“Ukraine updates: Musk reportedly joined Trump-Zelenskyy call,” Deutsche Welle, 09 November 2024