Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (28 October – 3 November 2023)
In the period from 28 October to 3 November 2023 the Russian Armed Forces carried out 15 group strikes by high-precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles against the AFU’s depots for missile and artillery weapons, storage sites for weapons and military hardware, as well as temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian servicemen, nationalists, and foreign mercenaries.
As a result of the strikes, hangars for the preparation of Ukrainian aviation equipment for departure, places of production of unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned boats, groups of foreign instructors and mercenaries were eliminated.
In Kupyansk direction, the units of the Zapad Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions with professional actions, and also repelled 24 enemy counterattacks.
Aviation and artillery launched attacks at the 25th airborne, 14th, and 115th mechanised, as well as 95th air assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Sinkovka, Ivanovka, Timkovka (Kharkov region), Makeyevka (Lugansk People’s Republic).
The enemy losses were more than 755 servicemen, seven tanks, eight armoured fighting vehicles, 17 motor vehicles, 16 field artillery guns, and two MLRS vehicles.
Moreover, two field ammunition depots of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were neutralised.
In Krasny Liman direction, the Tsentr Group of Forces’ units, aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems repelled 20 attacks launched by the assault groups of AFU 24th, 63rd, and 67th mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Vodyanoye, Leninskoye, and Yampolovka (Donetsk People’s Republic).
The enemy’s losses during this period have amounted to more than 920 servicemen, three tanks, 14 armoured fighting vehicles, 19 motor vehicles, and five guns.
In Donetsk direction, the Yug Group of Forces repelled six attacks and inflicted fire damage on AFU 28th, 67th, and 93rd mechanised brigades near Kurdyumovka, Kleshcheyevka, and Maryinka (Donetsk People’s Republic).
The enemy losses have amounted to more than 1,340 servicemen, seven tanks, 22 armoured fighting vehicles, 22 motor vehicles, 19 field artillery guns, and four MLRS vehicles.
Also, two depots storing ammunition and military hardware have been destroyed.
In South Donetsk direction, Russian units repelled four attacks by assault units of the 72nd Mechanised and 118th Territorial Defence brigades close to Vodyanoye and Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People’s Republic).
During this period, enemy losses amounted to more than 1,110 servicemen, seven tanks, 11 armoured fighting vehicles, 28 motor vehicles, nine field artillery guns, as well as one MLRS combat vehicle.
In Zaporozhye direction, the Russian troops conducted an active defence, during which they repelled eight attacks of the 33rd Mechanised and 71st Jaeger Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Verbovoye and Rabotino (Zaporozhye region).
The enemy’s losses in this direction for the week amounted to more than 760 troops, four tanks, 26 armoured fighting vehicles, 27 motor vehicles, 14 field artillery guns, as well as one MLRS combat vehicle.
In Kherson direction, as a result of artillery fire assaults and pre-emptive actions of Russian troops, enemy attempts to land and gain a foothold on the left bank of the Dnepr River were thwarted.
In addition, the units of the 35th, 37th Marine Brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were defeated in the areas of Tyaginka and Ivanovka (Kherson region).
As a result of the combat actions, the enemy’s losses amounted to up to 550 troops killed and wounded, 11 field artillery guns, 40 motor vehicles, and 35 different watercraft.
Fighter jets of the Russian Aerospace Forces and air defence systems have destroyed 10 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force and one helicopter during the week, including: five MiG-29, three Su-27, one Su-25 ground-attack aircraft, one L-39 combat training aircraft, as well as an Mi-8 helicopter.
In addition, four ATACMS operational-tactical missiles, three JDAM guided aerial bombs, three HARM anti-radiation missiles, 51 HIMARS MLRS projectiles and 274 unmanned aerial vehicles were intercepted.
During the week, 28 Ukrainian servicemen have voluntarily surrendered to Russian troops.
Only on 1 November 2023, fifteen Ukrainian servicemen who refused to obey the orders of their command and die in a ‘mincemeat attack’ voluntarily surrendered to one of the units of the Vostok Group of Forces.
In total, 525 airplanes and 254 helicopters, 8,586 unmanned aerial vehicles, 441 air defence missile systems, 13,135 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,177 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 6,967 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 14,923 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.