Death toll of Russian attack on Nova Poshta depot rises to 8

A 29-year-old worker at a Nova Poshta postal depot in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine, who was injured during a missile strike by Russian forces on October 21, tragically passed away in the hospital on November 3. This unfortunate development raises the death toll from the attack to eight, as reported by Governor Oleh Syniehubov. Additionally, seven more victims are currently receiving medical treatment, and their conditions are reported to be stable.

The missile strike took place at a postal depot operated by Nova Poshta, Ukraine's largest privately-owned postal service. Situated in the village of Korotych, located in Kharkiv Oblast, the attack resulted in the deaths of at least six postal employees at the time it occurred, with 17 individuals suffering injuries.

Nova Poshta's co-founders announced that, in response to this devastating incident, the company plans to establish additional bomb shelters within its depots. Notably, the Korotych depot did have a bomb shelter; however, the victims were unable to reach it as only 15 seconds elapsed between the sounding of the air raid alert and the missile strike. Nova Poshta co-founder Viacheslav Klymov revealed this information, emphasizing the dire circumstances faced by the wounded workers.

Korotych is situated approximately 16 kilometers west of Kharkiv, 33 kilometers from the Russian border, and approximately 135 kilometers away from the front lines. The northeastern region of Kharkiv Oblast continues to experience frequent attacks by Russian forces, given its close proximity to Russia and the front lines.

Russian border restrictions make it harder for Ukrainians to reunite with deported children

The BBC's Russian Service reported on November 2 that restrictions imposed by Russia on Ukrainians attempting to enter the country have made it significantly more challenging for Ukrainian families to repatriate children who were forcibly deported. Russia introduced these restrictions on Ukrainian citizens seeking entry via land border crossings on October 16, effectively preventing Ukrainians over the age of 14 from crossing into Russia via Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, or Finland. Instead, they will only be admitted through Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport.

Representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have expressed their concerns about how these new limitations are affecting efforts to return deported Ukrainian children to their families. The Ukrainian Network for Children's Rights stated that these restrictions "have a serious impact on the fragile processes of returning Ukrainian children stolen by Russia and forcibly displaced by Russia."

According to the Ukrainian government, more than 19,500 children have been illegally deported to Russia during the ongoing war, but only 386 of them have been successfully returned. Russian authorities typically require mothers or close female relatives to travel to Russia to collect their children. Since direct travel from Ukraine is impossible due to the ongoing conflict and Russia's occupation of parts of the country, these women often choose to travel through the Baltic nations to return to Ukraine. However, the recent restrictions have effectively barred this route.

The Save Ukraine Foundation, which helps reunite families with deported children, highlighted the challenges created by these restrictions, stating that their work has become more complex, requiring individualized routes and assistance for specific families and children.

Notably, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights Maria Lvova-Belova in March, accusing them of being complicit in the abduction of Ukrainian children.

Ukraine shot down 24 Russian drones, 1 missile

In response to a night of attacks by Russian forces on November 3, Ukrainian air defense successfully destroyed 24 drones and one X-59 guided missile, according to the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces. The Russian forces launched a significant drone attack, deploying 38 Shahed drones along with an X-59 missile. Ukrainian air defense units managed to intercept and neutralize 24 of the drones and successfully shot down the missile.

Local authorities in Kharkiv reported a large-scale drone attack during the night. Additionally, the General Staff reported that Russian forces conducted 70 airstrikes and seven missile attacks on Ukraine during the previous day. These attacks targeted various regions, including parts of Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, and Kherson oblasts. Over 100 settlements in Ukraine's eastern and southern regions were subjected to artillery fire as well.