50 of 73 Russian drones were downed in an overnight attack- Air Force

Ukraine’s Air Force reported shooting down 50 of the 73 drones launched by Russia overnight on Nov. 24. The attack, involving Shahid drones and unidentified models, targeted multiple regions, including Kyiv, Cherkasy, and Zhytomyr oblasts. Kyiv authorities confirmed that over a dozen drones aimed at the capital were intercepted, with no damage or casualties reported. Combat operations against four remaining drones were still ongoing as of early morning.

Russia has intensified drone attacks on Ukrainian cities, aiming to overwhelm air defense systems and strike critical infrastructure. Recent assaults include a Nov. 17 strike where Ukrainian defenses downed 102 of 120 missiles and 42 of 90 drones. Ukrainian intelligence revealed that Russia employs decoy drones, such as the domestically produced Gerbera, to deplete Ukraine’s air defenses. These drones, built with components from countries like the U.S., China, and Switzerland, are a cheaper alternative to Iran’s Shahed.

Russians executed civilians in Toretsk

Russian soldiers killed two civilians and wounded another in an attack in the city of Toretsk, Donetsk Oblast, on Nov. 21, according to the Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Office. Investigators report that at around 6:00 p.m., Russian troops forcibly entered an apartment in a residential area and opened fire on three civilians.

Two women were killed on the spot, while a man sustained serious injuries, including fractures to his shoulder and collarbone. The incident represents another blatant violation of international humanitarian law by Russian forces, prosecutors emphasized.

Ukraine has lost over 40% of territory previously gained in the Kursk incursion

Ukraine has reportedly lost over 40% of the territory it initially captured in Russia's Kursk Oblast, reducing its control from 1,376 square kilometers to approximately 800 square kilometers, according to a source in Ukraine's General Staff cited by Reuters. The losses come amid intensified Russian counterattacks, with nearly 60,000 Russian troops stationed in the region aiming to create a "buffer zone" along the border with Ukraine's Sumy Oblast.

Russia has also escalated its broader military efforts, deploying almost 580,000 personnel in combat operations against Ukraine, according to Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of Ukraine’s military intelligence. Among them, around 11,000 North Korean soldiers are reportedly supporting Russian counteroffensives in Kursk Oblast. Analysts believe Russian President Vladimir Putin is seeking to reclaim territory before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration in January, potentially to strengthen his position in future peace negotiations. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces face mounting challenges defending against Russia’s intensified assaults on the eastern front.