Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian soldiers raise flag on Pokrovsk city council building, release video
Hello, this is Yuliia Taradiuk reporting from Kyiv on day 1,351 of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Today's top story so far:
Ukraine's 425th Separate Assault Regiment raised a Ukrainian flag over the city council building in Pokrovsk, the brigade said on Nov. 5.
The brigade released a video detailing the operation, showing what it said were two Ukrainian assault groups advancing and entering Pokrovsk at night.
The video shows a military vehicle being hit by a Russian drone during the operation. One Ukrainian soldier was slightly injured.
"He refused to be evacuated, saying he would complete the task. He reached the target and raised the flag," Fighter, a commander of the 1st assault battalion of the 425th regiment, said in the video.
Ukrainian drone operators later "eliminated" Russian soldiers, and Ukrainian troops reached the city council building in Pokrovsk.
"We did our job — advanced into the building, cleared out the enemy, hung the Ukrainian flag," Kep, a soldier of the brigade, added.
Pokrovsk serves as a major road and rail hub in eastern Ukraine. Its full capture could enable further Russian advances deeper into Donetsk Oblast — a region Moscow has sought to fully occupy since launching its war against Ukraine in 2014.
The defense of the major city in Donetsk Oblast, which has held out for over a year of heavy fighting as one of the main hotspots of the front line, looks to have begun falling apart as Russian soldiers in their hundreds have broken into the city limits, spreading in all directions.
Russia should 'begin preparations for full-scale nuclear tests immediately,' defense minister says
Last updated 5:30 p.m. Kyiv time.
Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov said on Nov. 5 that Russia should begin immediate preparations for full-scale nuclear tests.
He spoke at a televised meeting of Russia's Security Council chaired by President Vladimir Putin.
"The U.S. is engaged in the accelerated modernization of its strategic offensive weapons," Belousov said. "I believe it is advisable to begin preparations immediately."
Russia's Tuapse oil refinery reportedly halts operations after Ukrainian drone strike
Last updated 4:57 p.m. Kyiv time.
The Russian oil refinery in Tuapse halted processing on Nov. 2, a day after a Ukrainian drone attack, Reuters reported.
In a Nov. 5 report citing industry sources, Reuters said the refinery suspended operations due to damage to port infrastructure.
A source at the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) told the Kyiv Independent that Ukrainian drones struck an oil terminal and an oil tanker in Russia's Krasnodar Krai late on Nov. 1.
Five drone strikes were recorded, according to the SBU. Following the strikes, a tanker caught fire, and at least four piers used to load and unload tankers were rendered inoperable, and port buildings were also damaged.
Reuters, citing LSEG data, reported that three tankers were docked at the port during the attack for loadings of naphtha, diesel, and fuel oil.
Iskander launcher support vehicle destroyed in Kursk blast, Ukrainian special forces confirm
Last updated 3:40 p.m. Kyiv time.
A transport-loading vehicle for Russia’s Iskander ballistic missile system was destroyed on Nov. 4 in the Kursk region, Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces (SSO) confirmed on Nov. 5.
The strike was carried out jointly with the Russian partisan movement Chornaya Iskra ("Black Spark") near the village of Ovsyannikovo, SSO wrote on Telegram.
The vehicle was used to transport, reload, and prepare Iskander missiles that had been launched against Ukrainian territory.
Russia seeks foothold in Pokrovsk, but no encirclement, Ukrainian military says
Last updated 2:33 p.m. Kyiv time.
Russian Forces are trying to gain a foothold in the industrial zone and residential buildings of the embattled city of Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, a soldier told Suspline on Nov. 5.
"Archeologist," the soldier from the 25th Airborne Brigade, which is serving in the Pokrovsk area, said that Russia's goal is to close in from the south through Pokrovsk, bypass it, and cut off Ukraine's logistics.
"Just recently, we eliminated a group that was trying to cut off logistics, specifically the road to Rodynske (city in the north of Pokrovsk)," Archeologist said.
Ukraine's General Staff said in a Nov. 5 Telegram post that Ukrainian forces are taking "active countermeasures" to prevent Russians from consolidating their foothold in Pokrovsk, and that Ukrainain soldiers have not been encircled.
"Our units and divisions are not surrounded," the statement says.
Ukrainian forces said on Nov. 3 that they stopped a Russian attempt to advance north of Pokrovsk, a key logistics hub in Donetsk Oblast, which is semi-circled by Russian forces and the site of fierce fighting.
Reports over the weekend suggested that HUR launched a special operation involving airborne assault units in Pokrovsk under the command of HUR chief Kyrylo Budanov.
Reuters reported on Oct. 31 that the raid began earlier this week, when Ukrainian special forces landed from a Black Hawk helicopter in areas compromised by Russian drone activity.
Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) on Nov. 4 released footage of what was said to be an ongoing special operation in Pokrovsk.
The video showed both drone and on-the-ground footage of drone strikes, tanks, infantry, helicopters, and artillery, providing an insight into the scale of the battle to save the city from encroaching Russian forces.
HUR said the footage showed the work of the Timur Special Unit. "Fierce battles are taking place with the Russian occupiers," it added.
Norway to allocate $7 billion in aid to Ukraine in 2026
Last updated 1:52 p.m. Kyiv time.
Norway will provide Ukraine with $7 billion in 2026 to support its defense sector, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on X on Nov. 5.
Shmyhal is currently on a visit to Norway, where he met with Norwegian Defense Minister Tore O. Sandvik and thanked him for the country’s “weighty contribution” and continued support for Ukraine.
Ukraine will for the first time participate in the meeting of defense ministers of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), to which Sandvik invited Shmyhal during their talks.
Following the meeting, the two sides signed a memorandum establishing unified quality standards for defense products produced or supplied under joint agreements.
At least 5 killed, 16 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day
At least five people have been killed and 16 others injured in Russian attacks against Ukraine over the past day, local authorities reported on Nov. 5.
Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 61 out of the 80 Shahed-type attack drones and other types of drones launched by Russia overnight, according to the Air Force. In total, 18 drones hit seven locations, and fallen debris was recorded at two locations.
In Donetsk Oblast, one person was killed and six others injured, according to Governor Vadym Filashkin.
In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, men aged 47 and 35 were killed, and four others were injured on Nov. 4 in an attack on the center of a village in the Synelnykove district, Governor Vladyslav Haivanenko. Nearly 50 shops and shopping pavilions, a coffee shop, a hair salon, and a five-story building were damaged, along with cars.
Elsewhere in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, three people were injured in overnight air attacks.
In Kharkiv Oblast, two women aged 62 and 42 were killed in the city of Kupiansk, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.
In Kherson Oblast, three people were injured, according to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin. Strikes were reported in 29 settlements, including the city of Kherson.
"Russia is consistently and deliberately terrorizing Ukrainian civilians," the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said on Nov. 5, in a summary of the civilian casualties reports.
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,145,670 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
Russia has lost around 1,146,570 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 Nov. 5.
The number includes 900 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
According to the report, Russia has also lost 11,329 (+3) tanks, 23,535 (+3) armored fighting vehicles, 66,574 (+70) vehicles and fuel tanks, 34,273 (+24) artillery systems, 1,535 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,237 (+2) air defense systems, 428 airplanes, 346 helicopters, 78,258 (+398) drones, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.
