In southern Donetsk oblast, Russian forces have made advances in several areas along a 20km wide front. Russian forces have seized control of several small towns and advanced up to 9km in some areas within the space of a week. These advances follow from Russia gaining control of Vuhledar at the beginning of October 2024. Also in southern Donetsk oblast, Russian forces seized the town of Hirnyk and claim to have captured Kurakhivka. 15km southeast of Pokrvosk, Russia seized Selydove, which likely further sets conditions for Russia to threaten the logistics hub of Pokrovsk. Russia continues to prioritise the southern Donetsk frontlines maintaining favourable force ratios in this sector, which partly explains the increased pace of Russian advances. Despite heavy personnel losses, Russia continues to recruit in high numbers to sustain its operations in southern Ukraine.

Approximately 2000 One Way Attack Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (OWA UAVs) were launched by Russia against Ukraine over the month of October 2024, exceeding September's numbers by approximately 700, and increasing significantly for the third month in a row. With continuing Russian investment in a range of OWA UAVs, diversification of supply, and expansion of launch-sites, firing rates have been trending consistently upwards since mid-2024. Through the first week of November Russian firing rates remained high and in-line with recent weeks. With launch sites being reasonably simple and easy to re-establish if targeted, should production remain uninhibited, the primary limiting factor for Russian OWA UAV operations is likely human resource relative to launch capacity. It is likely that the high figures seen through September and October to date will become normal.

According to the Russian Investigative Committee, on 18 October 2024, 3 individuals were remanded in custody for charges relating to the misappropriation of real estate belonging to the Russian Ministry of Defence. The suspects include the former head of the Assets Department of Main Directorate for the Outfitting of Troops, who with the other suspects is accused of misappropriating 15 properties worth over 244 million roubles ($2.5m USD) in the Moscow Region, while administrating the bankruptcy of a Defence Ministry associated construction entity. Separately former Russian National Guard Deputy Director Sergei Mileiko is facing corruption charges for inflating the prices of uniforms during a procurement by over 400m roubles ($4.2m USD). Arrests and criminal proceedings against Defence and Defence Industry officials have continued apace since Spring 2024, as Russian investigative authorities almost certainly attempt to achieve a level of control over the massive scale of corruption in the Russian defence sector, for both practical and demonstrative political reasons.

💢Latest situation from the Kursk front

💢Pentagon announced earlier today that the Arleigh Burke-Class Guided-Missile Destroyers, USS Stockdale (DDG-106) and USS Spruance (DDG-111), were Attacked on Monday by the Houthi Terrorist Group in Western Yemen, while crossing through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. The Ships were Attacked by 8 Aerial-Attack Drones, 5 Anti-Ship Ballistic Missiles, and 3 Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles; all of which were Intercepted by the Destroyers using their Aegis Weapon System, causing No Damage or Injuries to US Servicemembers. Both the US Navy and Air Force responded with several Overnight Strikes on Tuesday, against Houthi Weapon Storage Facilities in Western Yemen; with the F-35C Multirole Stealth Strike Fighter seeing its Combat Debut, as Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 (VMFA-314), stationed aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), participated in the Strikes.

🚨CENTCOM: US Central Command Forces Strike Iranian Aligned Targets in Syria in Response to Attacks on US Personnel on 12 November. Today, US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted strikes against an Iranian- backed militia group's weapons storage and logistics headquarters facility. These strikes were in response to a rocket attack on US personnel at Patrol Base Shaddadi. There was no damage to US facilities and no injuries to US or partner forces during the attack, these strikes will degrade the Iranian backed groups' ability to plan and launch future attacks on US and Coalition forces who are in the region to conduct D-ISIS operations. We have made it clear that attacks on US personnel, partner forces and facilities will not be tolerated and that we retain the right to defend ourselves. US Central Command, alongside our regional partners, will aggressively pursue any threat to US forces, allies, partners, and security in the region, said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM commander

💢Trump nominated Peter Brian Hegseth as the new Secretary of Defense

💬The United States avenge his death, his death on this day will cause the downfall of the Islamic regime of Iran. Trump, give attack order

💢After expelling western troops, Niger authorities invited Russian companies to explore and extract natural resources, including uranium, on the territory of this African country. #comic

💢Sweden will allocate at least $6.9 billion to Ukraine in 2024-2026 as part of military aid package

💢Taiwan plans to purchase 60 F-35A fighters, 4 E-2D Hawkeye airborne early warning and target designation aircraft, 10 Aegis-class air defense ships, 400 missiles for the Patriot air defense system from the United States worth at least $15 billion

💢Hideout of Hezbollah terrorists in the southern Beirut was destroyed

💢North Korean M-1978 “Koksan” 170mm Self-Propelled Guns have been spotted on Trains within the City of Krasnoyarsk in Central Russia

💢Over 2,300 Ukrainian soldiers will return to Ukraine until the end of November after completing their training course in France