Ukraine's Fight: A Look at the Recent Battles and Political Moves

Russia's attacks on Ukraine have been relentless. In October, they fired more missiles than any month since 2023. This surge in attacks has caused widespread power outages, especially in Kyiv. Alongside missiles, Russia has also been using drones extensively, launching over 5, 000 in October alone. Ukraine has been fighting back by targeting Russian refineries to cut into their oil revenues. The human cost of this conflict is high. Between October 31 and November 3, Russian strikes killed at least 36 Ukrainians and injured 130 others. The eastern Donetsk oblast saw the highest death toll, with 16 people killed and 23 injured. Other regions like Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia also suffered significant losses. The city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region is a major battleground. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that a significant portion of clashes and half of Russian glide bomb strikes are concentrated here. Russian forces have been trying to seize the city for over a year and seem to be making progress. Zelenskyy acknowledged that up to 300 enemy soldiers are now within the city, but he denied that the situation is critical. On the political front, former U. S. President Donald Trump has ruled out sending long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. However, the U. K. has continued to supply Ukraine with Storm Shadow cruise missiles, which have a range of 155 miles. These missiles help Ukraine prepare for renewed waves of Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure. Former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma shared his thoughts on the war in a recent interview. He believes the war is likely nearing its end but thinks Ukrainian politicians are preparing for elections too soon. Kuchma also discussed the power dynamics within Ukraine's government, noting that President Zelenskyy has more authority than the law formally prescribes. He justified this by saying that Zelenskyy needs more freedom of action to counter Putin's dictatorial decision-making. Kuchma refrained from advising Zelenskyy on seeking reelection but expressed optimism about Ukraine's future. He believes Zelenskyy's authority will be crucial even after the war and warns that peace will not be easier than war.