Russians launched a mass drone attack on Kyiv

A Russian drone strike on November 2 sparked fires in a 16-story residential building and an office building in Kyiv, local authorities reported.

Ukrainian forces successfully intercepted 39 out of 71 Shahed-type and other drones launched overnight by Russia, according to the Air Force. It was noted that 21 drones were “lost,” and five more returned to Russian territory.

The Kyiv City Military Administration confirmed that all drones posing a threat to the city were neutralized but did not provide specific numbers on those intercepted over Kyiv. The air raid alert in the capital lasted for over five hours, with reports of explosions in Kyiv and surrounding areas.

Debris from the downed drones hit an office building in Kyiv's Shevchenkivskyi district, igniting a fire on one of its floors. Additional debris was discovered in the Solomianskyi, Dniprovskyi, Pecherskyi, and Holosiivskyi districts of the city.

Energy infrastructure in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast sustained damage, leading to brief power outages for some residents, according to DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy company. No casualties were reported, though one elderly woman suffered from shock, and a police officer experienced smoke inhalation.

The November 2 strike is the latest in a string of drone attacks targeting civilian infrastructure in Kyiv. On October 29, Russia launched a drone assault on the capital, injuring six people in the Solomianskyi district.

Kyiv’s military reported that over 2,000 drones were launched by Russia last month, targeting both civilian and military sites across Ukraine, as Kremlin forces continue their offensive operations in the eastern and southern regions.

The fire in the 16-story residential building, located in Kyiv’s Sviatoshynskyi district, affected approximately 50 square meters on the upper floors. The blaze has since been extinguished. Several apartments on the 15th and 16th floors were damaged, with the top floor suffering the most significant destruction. Local authorities noted that 18 residents were evacuated by first responders.

Russia deploys 7,000 North Korean soldiers to areas bordering Ukraine

In the last week of October, Russia deployed over 7,000 North Korean soldiers to regions near Ukraine, according to Defence Intelligence of Ukraine.

Ukrainian intelligence reported that at least 28 military transport aircraft were used to transfer these troops. The North Korean forces were armed with a variety of weaponry, including 60mm mortars, AK-12 assault rifles, PK machine guns, Dragunov and Chukavin sniper rifles, as well as Feniks anti-tank missile systems and anti-tank grenade launchers.

Additionally, the soldiers were equipped with night vision devices, thermal imagers, collimator sights, and binoculars.

Defence Intelligence of Ukraine highlighted that the North Korean troops being deployed to support Russia's war efforts against Ukraine are undergoing training at five different training grounds located in Russia’s Far East.

Ukraine facing one of Russia's most powerful offensives since start of the all-out war

According to Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi on November 2, Ukrainian forces are countering one of the "most powerful" Russian offensives since the start of Moscow’s full-scale invasion.

Throughout 2024, the defense of Ukraine's front line has been particularly challenging, especially in Donetsk Oblast, where Russia has maintained significant offensive pressure.

Following discussions with a Czech Armed Forces delegation, Syrskyi described the battlefield situation as difficult and emphasized the ongoing need for Ukrainian units to replenish their resources.

The General Staff of Ukraine reported 126 clashes between Ukrainian and Russian forces along the front line as of November 2. Russian offensives remain concentrated on the eastern front, notably on the Toretsk, Kurakhove, and Pokrovsk axes in Donetsk Oblast, where Ukrainian troops, despite being outnumbered and outgunned, are gradually withdrawing.

Ukrainian military officials have also warned of escalating Russian operations in southern Zaporizhzhia Oblast in recent weeks.

In Kharkiv Oblast, Ukrainian forces successfully liberated and cleared the village of Kruhliakivka in mid-October, an area deemed significant for the defense of Kupiansk, according to Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR). Meanwhile, Russian forces are reportedly trying to establish crossings near the Oskil River to advance toward Kupiansk.

The developments coincide with reports of Russia planning to involve over 7,000 North Korean troops to bolster its war efforts, deploying them to regions near the Ukrainian border.

In a recent interview, President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Ukraine’s international partners for their "zero" response to the deployment of North Korean troops. He argued that if Kyiv were allowed to use Western long-range weaponry on Russian territory, it could preemptively target "every camp" where North Korean forces are gathering.