War

Ukraine war latest live: 'Russia has not achieved planned result' in Pokrovsk, Zelensky says

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Ukraine war latest live: 'Russia has not achieved planned result' in Pokrovsk, Zelensky says
A soldier walks through the city past destroyed residential buildings in Pokrovsk on April 8, 2025. (Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images)

Hi, this is Yuliia Taradiuk reporting from Kyiv on day 1,342 of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Today's top story so far:

Russia outnumbers Ukrainian troops eight-to-one in their offensive to capture the semi-surrounded city of Pokrovsk in eastern Donetsk Oblast, President Volodymyr Zelensky told journalists on Oct. 27.

"(Russian troops) have devoted such forces to the Pokrovsk (sector) that Ukraine cannot devote to one direction (of the front) — one to eight people," Zelensky told journalists in a briefing, Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne reported.

"Imagine how many Russian forces are there. But at the same time, they have not achieved the planned result."

After capturing Avdiivka, a long-time Ukrainian stronghold located over 40 kilometers (about 25 miles) southeast of Pokrovsk, in February 2024, Russian troops have gradually advanced toward Pokrovsk, once a key Ukrainian logistics hub tucked away in a relatively safe part of Donetsk Oblast.

Russian troops have surrounded Pokrovsk from three sides, leaving about a 15-kilometer (about nine miles) gap for the Ukrainian military to bring in troops and supplies, according to the Ukrainian open-source battlefield monitoring group DeepState.

Russian troops outnumber Ukraine 8-1 in Pokrovsk sector, Zelensky says
Russia outnumbers Ukrainian troops eight-to-one in their offensive to capture the semi-surrounded city of Pokrovsk in eastern Donetsk Oblast, President Volodymyr Zelensky told journalists on Oct. 27. ”(Russian troops) have devoted such forces to the Pokrovsk (sector) that Ukraine cannot devote to one direction (of the front) — one to eight people,” Zelensky told journalists in a briefing, Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne reported. “Imagine how many Russian forces are there. But at the sam

Death toll of Oct. 22 attack on Kyiv rises to 3, Klitschko says

The death toll of the Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv has risen to three,  Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Oct. 28.

A woman was hospitalized in serious condition following the attack. She died in a hospital on Oct. 28, according to Klitschko.

A large-scale missile and drone attack on energy infrastructure across Ukraine killed six people and injured at least 44 overnight on Oct. 22, according to authorities.

In Kyiv, three people were killed and 29 were injured, while four were killed in the Brovarsky district of Kyiv Oblast, regional authorities said.

6 killed, 29 injured in Kyiv and oblast during mass Russian overnight missile and drone attack
Explosions rocked Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities overnight on Oct. 22 as Russia launched a large-scale aerial attack against Ukraine.

Ukraine says it struck 2 Russian radar stations, launch pad for missile system, HUR releases video

Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) said on Oct. 28 that it struck two Russian radar stations and a launch pad for a Russian anti-aircraft missile system in the eastern Donbas region.

Attaching drone footage of the claimed attacks, HUR said in a Telegram post that its "Ghost" special forces unit "systematically" targeted Russian air defense systems in the Donbas over the past two weeks, destroying two 48Ya6-K1 Podlet low-altitude radar and a 9A82 launcher from the S-300V complex.

The Kyiv Independent couldn't independently verify HUR's claim. The Russian Defense Ministry has not reacted to the report on the recent damage its air defense systems took in the Donbas, as neither side rarely admits war setbacks.

HUR's statement comes as Ukrainian forces are slowly pushed back from their strongholds in the Donbas, outnumbered and overwhelmed by the relentless Russian small infantry assaults across the front.

Ukraine says it struck 2 Russian radar stations, launch pad for missile system, HUR releases video
Attaching drone footage of the claimed attacks, HUR said in a Telegram post that its “Ghost” special forces unit “systematically” targeted Russian air defense systems.

At least 4 killed, 12 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day

At least four people have been killed and 12 others injured in Russian attacks against Ukraine over the past day, local authorities reported on Oct. 23.

Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 26 out of the 38 Shahed-type attack drones and other drones launched by Russia overnight, according to the Air Force. Twelve strikes were recorded at four locations.

In Kherson Oblast, two people were killed, six were injured due to Russian strikes, according to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin.

Critical and social infrastructure in residential areas of Kherson Oblast was targeted, according to Prokudin. One high-rise building and six houses, along with farm buildings, a garage, and several cars, were damaged.

In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, one person was killed, 5 injured as a result of Russian attacks on several districts, according to Governor Ivan Fedorov.

In Donetsk Oblast, Russian attacks killed one civilian and injured one, according to Governor Vadym Filashkin. According to Filashkin, 17 houses, three apartment buildings, one infrastructure facility, and two vehicles were damaged.

No injuries reported after Russian attacks on Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts.

General Staff: Russia has lost 1,137,850 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022

Russia has lost around 1,137,850 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on Oct. 28.

The number includes 1,060 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

According to the report, Russia has also lost 11,299 tanks, 23,508 armored fighting vehicles, 65,786 vehicles and fuel tanks, 34,044 artillery systems, 1,529 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,230 air defense systems, 428 airplanes, 346 helicopters, 75,054 drones, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.

More than Tomahawks: What Ukraine’s soldiers say they actually need
While Ukraine also lacks Western-supplied weapons, soldiers and commanders say shortages of basics — cars, drones and people — make holding back Russia extremely difficult. Even as Kyiv seeks U.S. approval for Tomahawks, they say critical, rudimentary gear is the more pressing need.
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Yuliia Taradiuk

Reporter

Yuliia Taradiuk is a Ukrainian reporter at the Kyiv Independent. She has been working with Lutsk-based misto.media, telling stories of Ukrainian fighters for the "All are gone to the front" project. She has experience as a freelance culture reporter, and a background in urbanism and activism, working for multiple Ukrainian NGOs. Yuliia holds B.A. degree in English language and literature from Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University, she studied in Germany and Lithuania.

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