Ukraine war latest: Recent Russian assault on light equipment in direction of Pokrovsk was 'partially successful,' Ukraine's military says
Hello, this is Kateryna Hodunova reporting from Kyiv on day 1,357 of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Today's top story:
A large-scale assault by Russian troops in light vehicles on the city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast was "partially successful," the 7th Corps of Ukraine's Air Assault Forces reported on Nov. 12.
During the defense of the city, Ukrainian forces destroyed five motorcycles and five cars on Nov. 11 and are working to eliminate firing positions the Russian army established in recent days in some neighborhoods of Pokrovsk, the report said.
The 68th Separate Jaeger Brigade, stationed in the Pokrovsk direction, also released a video on Nov. 12 showing damage to the city caused by the Russian offensive and ongoing attacks.
Russian forces are continuing attempts to strike the neighboring city of Myrnohrad, but have not yet managed to breach its fortified positions, according to the 7th Corps.
The assaults on Myrnohrad are reportedly being launched from the occupied village of Hrodivka, about 5 kilometers (3 miles) southeast of the city, with support of armored vehicles.
Russian troops are also attempting small-group infiltrations, sending two- to four-person teams to probe the southeastern outskirts of Myrnohrad daily.
Russian soldier sentenced in absentia to 12 years in prison for war crimes in Kyiv Oblast
Last updated 8:24 p.m. Kyiv time.
A court in Kyiv Oblast has sentenced a Russian soldier to 12 years in prison in absentia for committing war crimes, the State Investigation Bureau (DBR) reported on Nov. 12.
The soldier's name has not been disclosed.
During the partial occupation of Kyiv Oblast in March 2022, the commander of a unit from Russia's 37th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade forced a civilian woman at gunpoint to leave her home and accompany him to a neighboring house, where he raped her.
Humanitarian aid can no longer be delivered to Pokrovsk, Myrnohrad, military administration reports
Last updated 6:29 p.m. Kyiv time.
Delivering humanitarian aid to civilians in Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad has become impossible due to the threat of ongoing Russian attacks, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported on Nov. 12.
"It is impossible to reach the people who are there. It is impossible to deliver drinking water, humanitarian aid, or medicine," Filashkin said.
Some 1,253 people remain in Pokrovsk, and 1,350 remain in Myrnohrad.
Only local Ukrainian military personnel are still able to provide assistance to civilians remaining in Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, according to the governor.
Russia intensifies attacks on Ukraine's energy sector as civilian casualties remain high, UN reports
Last updated 5:31 p.m. Kyiv time.
Ukraine is facing increasingly intense Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure, while civilian casualties remain high, according to a U.N. monthly report published on Nov. 12.
Three large-scale attacks on Oct. 10, 22, and 30 targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure, triggering emergency power outages across most regions of the country, the report read.
Russian attacks killed at least 148 civilians and injured another 929 in October. The majority of casualties, around 65%, occurred in front-line regions, particularly in Kherson, Kharkiv, and Donetsk oblasts.
Civilian casualties from January to October 2025 are 27% higher than during the same period last year, and the total number of deaths and injuries in the first ten months of 2025 has already surpassed the figures for all of 2024.
Russia establishes Unmanned Systems Forces, Ukraine says it's just 'copying our successful approaches'
Last updated 5:30 p.m. Kyiv time.
Russia has established the Unmanned Systems Forces, Russian state media reported on Nov. 12.
"Operational regiments and other units have been formed," Sergey Ishtuganov, the deputy head of the new unit, said in an interview with Komsomolskaya Pravda.
"Combat work of the unmanned systems units is being carried out following a single plan and in cooperation with other units in battlegroups," he added.
A separate branch of Ukraine's Armed Forces dedicated to unmanned systems was formed in 2024.
Andrii Kovalenko, the head of Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation, said that Russia "copied (Ukraine's) successful approaches" as Ukraine's Armed Forces drone units are now operating "very effectively."
SBU exposes Russian agent from Crimea planning terrorist attacks on Kyiv metro, malls
Last updated 3:17 p.m. Kyiv time.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has exposed an alleged Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) agent from Crimea who was planning a series of terrorist attacks in Kyiv, the agency said on Nov. 12.
According to the investigation, the plan involved explosions in Kyiv's large shopping and entertainment centers, and in one of the capital's metro stations.
The suspect, a Crimean resident, began working for the FSB after the occupation of the peninsula in 2014. He searched for "like-minded people" to be recruited by the FSB, including Ukrainian citizens from the occupied territory who were not subject to mobilization in Ukraine due to their age.
Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office reported on Nov. 12 that a 55-year-old resident of Crimea, the alleged organizer of terrorist attacks, has been charged in absentia.
Ukraine withdraws from positions near another settlement in Zaporizhzhia Oblast amid ongoing Russian offensive
Last updated 2:54 p.m. Kyiv time.
Ukrainian forces withdrew from its positions near the village of Rivnopillia in northeastern Zaporizhzhia Oblast late on Nov. 11, Ukraine's Southern Defense Forces reported.
Ukrainian troops pulled back from Rivnopillia to more "defensible positions to safeguard the lives of their personnel," according to the Southern Defense Forces.
At the same time, the advance of Russian forces in this sector has been halted, though heavy fighting continues in other areas along the line, the report said.
In the Oleksandrivka and Huliaipole sectors, the Russian army continues mass strikes and has stepped up assault operations near the settlements of Pryvilne, Zelenyi Hai, Rivnopillia, Pavlivka, Vorone, Stepove, and Novopavlivske.
"While attempting to advance, the enemy has suffered heavy losses. In the past day alone, 58 (Russian) personnel were killed and nearly three dozen wounded," the report read.
Ukrainian forces repel Russian attempt to advance toward Kostiantynivka, Ukraine's military says
Last updated 2:22 p.m. Kyiv time.
Soldiers from the 28th Separate Mechanized Brigade have foiled a Russian attempt to break through toward the city of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast, the brigade said on Nov. 12 on Telegram.
The Russian army attempted to use foggy weather and low visibility to penetrate Kostiantynivka and its outskirts, deploying additional personnel for a potential breakthrough. Yet Ukrainian forces detected the movement in time and launched a counterattack.
The brigade did not provide details on the time or location of the fighting.
"The enemy's losses were significant. Some groups retreated, while others remained in the fields," the brigade said. "Their equipment was also damaged, so there will be fewer vehicles to attack with next time."
3 Russian drones attack central Kharkiv, injuring 5 people
Last updated 2:05 p.m. Kyiv time.
Three Russian Geran-2 drones struck the Holodnohirskyi district in central Kharkiv, injuring five people, on Nov. 12, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.
Four of the injured were hospitalized.
The attack also damaged a civilian enterprise and nearby buildings, according to Syniehubov.
Ukraine's Special Forces confirm 'successful fire attack' on Russia's Stavrolen petrochemical plant
Last updated 12:13 p.m. Kyiv time.
Ukraine's Special Operations Forces confirmed its "successful fire attack" on the Stavrolen petrochemical enterprise, a Lukoil-owned petrochemical complex in Budyonnovsk, southern Russia, overnight on Nov. 12.
Drones of the Deep Strike unit of Special Operations Forces attacked an industrial zone in Budyonnovsk.
"Numerous explosions and a fire were recorded in the target area. The results of the strike are being clarified," Ukraine's General Staff said.
Supernova+, a well-known Ukrainian Telegram channel, posted video footage of the attack, saying that there were "at least three direct hits" on the Stavrolen petrochemical plant facilities. Local residents also reported explosions.
Russian army redeploys forces near Pokrovsk amid reported reserve shortage, partisans say
Russia is deploying additional forces near Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast due to a shortage of reserves, the Atesh partisan group reported on Nov. 12.
Russian military equipment and personnel are moving toward Pokrovsk on a daily basis, likely from the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia directions, according to the group.
"The Russian army appears to have depleted both its main forces and operational reserves for continuing the offensive, leaving it no choice but to expose other parts of the front," the group said.
Agents from the 506th Russian Motorized Rifle Regiment, operating in the Pokrovsk direction, informed the group that hundreds of soldiers are arriving at their position daily.
The newly arrived troops are reportedly being sent straight into assault operations, sometimes without even being formally registered with the regiment.
At least 2 killed, 13 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day
At least two people have been killed and 13 others injured in Russian attacks against Ukraine over the past day, local authorities reported on Nov. 12.
Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 90 out of the 121 Shahed-type attack drones and decoys launched by Russia overnight, according to the Air Force. Thirty-one drone strikes occurred at 19 locations. The fall of the drone debris was recorded at one location.
In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Russian drones attacked the Synelnykove district, killing a 47-year-old man, according to Governor Vladyslav Haivanenko.
In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, the Russian army struck the region 645 times, targeting 16 settlements. A Russian FPV (first-person-view) drone attack killed a 56-year-old man driving a car in the village of Huliaipole, the local military administration reported.
In Kharkiv Oblast, Russia targeted 11 settlements, injuring six people, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov.
In Kherson Oblast, Russian attacks injured five people over the past day, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported.
In Donetsk Oblast, Russian strikes injured two people in the city of Kostiantynivka, according to Governor Vadym Filashkin.
General Staff: Russia has lost 1,154,180 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
Russia has lost around 1,154,180 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. 12.
The number includes 1,000 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
According to the report, Russia has also lost 23,556 (+3) armored fighting vehicles, 67,126 (+87) vehicles and fuel tanks, 34,379 (+13) artillery systems, 1,240 (+1) anti-aircraft systems1,540 (+1) multiple rocket launchers, and 79,804 (+162) drones.
