Tuesday, October 29. Russia’s War On Ukraine: News And Information From Ukraine

Dispatches from Ukraine. Day 979.

Kharkiv region. Russia struck a historic skyscraper, shortlisted for designation as a UNESCO world heritage site, in the center of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city, late on Oct. 28. Dating back to the 1920’s, “Derzhprom” or the House of State Industry, is a pioneer of modernist architecture and Europe’s first skyscraper. Nine people were injured in the glide bomb attack that damaged much of the landmark, a complex of towers of differing heights creating a miniature city skyline.

Donetsk region. Moscow claims it has captured the small but strategic frontline city of Selidove in southeastern Ukraine, according to press reports on Oct. 29. Control of Selidove is important as a bulwark against Russian advances toward the city of Pokrovsk, a logistical hub for Ukraine’s military. Ukrainian authorities are investigating allegations of civilian killings by occupying troops, including a report that Russian forces shot and killed two women in a part of the city away from active fighting. A civilian vehicle was also allegedly fired upon by Russian troops, injuring one person; Ukrainian forces provided medical assistance and evacuated the civilians.

Moscow launched a glide bomb attack on the small eastern city of Kostiantynivka on Oct. 26, resulting in one civilian death and three injuries. The bombardment affected private homes, apartment buildings, and various infrastructure, including gas pipelines and electrical lines. In the last week alone, Russia launched over 1,100 glide bombs, more than 560 strike drones, and 20 missiles against Ukraine.

Dnipropetrovsk region. A Russian missile strike on the eastern city of Dnipro on Oct. 26 targeted one of Ukraine’s most important hospitals and a center for treating wounded servicemembers, killing five people and injuring 21 others. In addition to damaging Mechnikov Hospital, the attack also destroyed a two-story residential building and damaged multiple apartment buildings. One child was among the fatalities and several youths were among those injured.

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Kyiv city. A drone strike on a residential building in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, resulted in the death of a 15-year-old girl, according to Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko. The attack injured five others, with one hospitalized.

Kherson region. Five civilians were killed and 13 others wounded, including a child, in Russian strikes on the southern oblast, or region, of Kherson on Oct. 28. Eyewitness accounts suggest that Russian forces are deliberately targeting civilians in both streets and residential buildings by dropping bombs from drones, raising serious concerns over the escalation of violence against non-combatants.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte confirmed the deployment of North Korean troops to help the Kremlin oust Ukraine’s counteroffensive in Russia's Kursk region. Following a South Korean briefing to NATO and Indo-Pacific allies, Rutte noted that North Korea's military support for Russia, including ammunition and missiles, flagrantly violates United Nations resolutions and poses risks to both Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security. He warned that this alliance deepens the conflict in Europe and undermines stability on the Korean Peninsula.

Rutte stressed NATO's commitment to strengthening Ukraine's defenses, highlighting that Putin's reliance on foreign reinforcements signals waning resources. NATO allies, he added, are intensifying consultations to boost support for Ukraine as Russia grows increasingly dependent on foreign aid. The Pentagon recently reported that more than 10 thousand North Korean troops have been deployed to the frontlines.

Japan will provide $3 billion in loans to Ukraine, backed by income from frozen Russian assets, Japanese financial daily Nikkei reported. Administered by Japan's International Cooperation Agency (JICA) through the World Bank, the loan stipulates that it won't be used for military purposes. It is part of a $50 billion loan to support Ukraine backed by the G-7, or Group of Seven largest industrialized nations including the U.S and Britain, utilizing funds frozen from Russian assets, largely held in Europe.

On his first official visit to Iceland, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended the Ukraine-Northern Europe Summit on Oct. 28. Zelenskyy confirmed that talks with leaders from Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Sweden focused on bolstering Ukraine's defense strategy, with an emphasis on funding local arms production. Other topics under discussion were maritime security and a coordinated effort to counter Russia's shadow fleet of tankers attempting to bypass international sanctions on Russian energy exports.

More than half of Ukrainians believe further reforms are needed for European Union membership, with 57% citing the need for continued governance improvements, according to recent polling. While nearly 20% believe Ukraine is ready to join now, 22% believe it is as yet unprepared. Only 15% foresee membership within one to two years, while most anticipate a timeline of five to twenty years, with 14% doubting that membership will ever be achieved.

A significant 68% of Ukrainians prefer prioritizing national interests over expedited E.U. accession, even if it delays membership. In contrast, 28% advocate for swiftly meeting all E.U. conditions, particularly among respondents in regional centers, younger demographics, and wealthier groups. At the same time, 91% of surveyed Ukrainians do not plan to move to E.U. countries in the next few years.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected a proposed visit to Kyiv by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres following Guterres's participation in the BRICS summit of developing nations held in Russia on Oct. 22-24. The Kremlin plays a prominent role in BRICS, an international alliance led by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, that aims to counterbalance the global influence of the world’s western industrialized economies, and hosted last week’s meeting in Kazan, a city 900 miles east of Moscow. According to a senior Ukrainian source, Guterres sought to visit Ukraine after the Kazan summit, but was unwelcome due to Kyiv's view that engaging with Russian President Vladimir Putin amidst ongoing hostilities violates international law.

The Ukrainian foreign ministry criticized Guterres's attendance at the Kazan summit, asserting it undermines peace efforts and damages the U.N.'s credibility. Despite Guterres reiterating that Russia's invasion contravenes the UN Charter, Ukraine's leadership remains firm in opposing any engagement that legitimizes Russia's actions.

Ukrainian high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh has been named women's European Athlete of the Year after a record-breaking 2.10-meter jump, Olympic gold, European championship, and third Diamond League win. At the Golden Tracks awards held in Skopje, North Macedonia, Mahuchikh was selected above other European phenoms such as English runner Keely Hodgkinson and Dutch sprinter Femke Bol, marking Ukraine's first such honor since 2013.

By Danylo Nosov, Karina L. Tahiliani