The situation in Myrnohrad, Donetsk Oblast, is nearly critical

According to the German tabloid Bild's latest report, Ukrainian troops defending the key Donetsk cities of Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad are facing what sources describe as an existential crisis, with encirclement by Russian forces threatening to precipitate Ukraine's worst defeat of the year. A high-ranking Ukrainian officer confided to the outlet that 80% of Pokrovsk—a vital logistics hub—has already fallen, leaving defenders clinging to the remaining 20% amid relentless assaults, while units in Myrnohrad and southern flanks are "practically surrounded," their positions infiltrated by Russian sabotage groups exploiting urban chaos. Echoing this grim assessment, a frontline soldier in Myrnohrad lamented that even an immediate retreat order would likely doom most comrades, as escape routes are severed and Russian numerical superiority—up to 8:1 in spots—renders survival improbable, with no organized withdrawal forthcoming from Kyiv despite mounting pleas.

The report, drawing from anonymous military and intelligence insiders, underscores brewing discontent within Ukraine's ranks toward President Zelenskyy, accused of prioritizing political optics—particularly avoiding perceived weakness ahead of potential U.S. leadership shifts under Trump—over tactical imperatives, drawing parallels to the protracted, pyrrhic defense of Bakhmut in 2023. Ukrainian diplomats and officers cited by Bild warn that holding these positions at all costs risks not just territorial losses but symbolic blows to international support, as Russian advances in the Pokrovsk direction have already claimed over 267 square kilometers in October alone. Counterattacks, including special forces insertions, have yielded marginal gains but fail to stem the tide, leaving the situation "extremely difficult and dynamic," per General Oleksandr Syrskyi, with fears of full encirclement amplifying the human toll on exhausted defenders.

About 10,000 North Korean troops are currently deployed on the Russia-Ukraine border

Around 10,000 North Korean troops have reportedly been deployed near the Russia-Ukraine border, according to South Korean lawmaker Lee Seong-kwon, who cited data from the National Intelligence Service (NIS), Euractiv reported.

Lee said that since September, North Korea has sent about 5,000 construction workers to Russia for “infrastructure reconstruction,” with more deployments being prepared. The NIS has observed ongoing training and personnel selection, suggesting the cooperation is long-term.

The intelligence service also believes that regular North Korean military units have been stationed near the war zone.

In return for sending troops and laborers, Pyongyang is reportedly receiving money, food, fuel, and access to advanced Russian military technology—support that helps sustain Kim Jong Un’s regime and its weapons programs despite international sanctions.

Railways in Ukraine may soon come to a complete standstill due to the depletion of all resources

Serhiy Leshchenko, a member of Ukrzaliznytsia’s Supervisory Board, warned on November 5, 2025, that Ukraine’s railways face imminent collapse due to the complete depletion of internal resources after over three years of war, with more than 800 enemy attacks causing a 49% drop in freight traffic and a UAH 7.2 billion net loss in the first nine months of the year. Speaking in the Verkhovna Rada, he stressed that without urgent state intervention, the network—vital for civilian travel, military logistics, and exports—could "come to a complete standstill soon." To prevent this, Ukrzaliznytsia plans to introduce dynamic pricing for premium SV and first-class Intercity tickets starting in 2026, alongside gradual freight tariff increases (27.5% in January and 11% in July) and UAH 13–16 billion in annual budget subsidies, while launching the "UZ-3000" initiative offering up to 250,000 free off-peak seats monthly for family and humanitarian travel.