Russian troops renew assaults in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts

Since the start of the week, Ukrainian forces have repelled 29 Russian attacks in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, according to a statement from Operational Command South on Oct. 11.

The command reported that Ukrainian defense forces in Kherson Oblast successfully repelled 29 assaults, with five occurring in Kherson and two in Zaporizhzhia over the past day. Despite the intense assaults, no territorial gains were made by Russian forces.

Russia employed 318 FPV drones, including three Lancet-type drones, and dropped 428 general-purpose bombs during these attacks, according to the statement.

This aligns with earlier warnings from Ukraine’s forces that Russia may attempt a breakthrough in the Orikhiv and Mala Tokmachka areas in Zaporizhzhia Oblast in the coming days.

Meanwhile, Moscow's forces continue their push in the eastern part of Ukraine. Kyiv recently announced a tactical withdrawal from Vuhledar on Oct. 2, after Russian forces outnumbered Ukrainian defenders approximately 9:1. Russian troops first overwhelmed the town’s flanks before advancing into the urban area, as described by Oleksandr Okhrimenko, commander of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade, in an interview with Glavkom on Oct. 8.

70% of Ukrainian soldiers return to front line after being wounded, but there is shortage of combat medics

More than 70% of Ukraine's wounded military personnel have returned to active duty after receiving treatment, though the situation varies across different fronts.

Andrii Kazmirchuk, Commander of Ukraine’s Medical Forces, shared in an interview that these 70% of recovered personnel form the backbone of the military contingent. Despite continuous training efforts, there is still a pressing need for doctors at the front lines.

Kazmirchuk emphasized that combat medics, who operate directly on the battlefield alongside their comrades, are a particularly vulnerable group. While they receive training, they are no longer under the direct supervision of the Medical Service of the Medical Forces Command, instead reporting to units across different branches of the Armed Forces. The responsibility for staffing combat medics falls to these units, with the Medical Forces providing specialized training.

Over 75% of combat medics have now graduated from the School of Tactical Medicine, where they receive training in line with international standards. Kazmirchuk noted that only about 10% of combat medics have formal medical training, but the battlefield requires a focus on saving lives rather than comprehensive treatment. “When a soldier is trained, he is saved,” he said.

The military faces shortages of key medical professionals, especially surgeons, anesthesiologists, and supporting staff such as operating nurses and transfusion experts.

For the first time this year, battlefield medics have been authorized to use specific medications in their work.

Russia attacks Kyiv Oblast with drones for almost eight hours, air defence shot down all targets

On the night of 10-11 October, Ukraine's air defense successfully intercepted all Russian attack drones targeting Kyiv Oblast, with no casualties reported. The air raid, lasting almost eight hours, saw extensive UAV attacks on the region.

Ruslan Kravchenko, Head of the Kyiv Oblast Military Administration, stated that air defense units effectively destroyed the drones. There were no strikes on critical or residential infrastructure, and no civilian injuries occurred. Debris from the downed drones was found in open areas outside settlements.

Operational teams are currently managing the aftermath of the attack.

Russians attacked Odesa Oblast with ballistic missiles destroying two storey building

Late in the evening of 10 October, tragedy struck Odesa Oblast as Russian forces launched a devastating attack using ballistic missiles. The peaceful quiet of a two-storey building, which housed both civilians and workers, was shattered in an instant.

Emergency services rushed to the scene, battling through the rubble to rescue those trapped beneath. They managed to save four lives, but for others, it was too late. Among the victims were a 43-year-old woman, a 22-year-old man, and heartbreakingly, a 16-year-old girl. Another woman, pulled from the wreckage, fought for her life in the hospital but later succumbed to her injuries.

The missiles—presumed to be the powerful Iskander-M ballistic type—had left behind a scene of chaos. Ten others were injured, with nine requiring hospitalization. Four of those remain in critical condition, while psychological support teams worked at the site, offering help to those who had witnessed the horror firsthand.

This was not just a random act of violence; it was a targeted strike on civilian infrastructure. The building that crumbled was a home for workers of a private company, and nearby production facilities were also obliterated in the blast.

As law enforcement and emergency responders continued to document the scene, it became clear that this was another dark chapter in Russia’s ongoing assault on Ukrainian civilians, a harrowing reminder of the human toll of the conflict.