Russian attack on Kherson Oblast village

Russian forces targeted the village of Yantarne in Kherson Oblast on the evening of November 9, causing injuries to a 52-year-old man, as reported by the regional administration.

The man sustained injuries to his abdomen, arms, and legs and has been hospitalized, according to authorities in Kherson Oblast.

Yantarne is situated on the Kyiv-controlled west bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast, approximately 20 kilometers west of the regional capital.

Kherson and other regional settlements on the west bank of the Dnipro River were liberated by Ukraine's Armed Forces in November 2022. However, Russian forces were pushed to the east bank, from where they continue to launch attacks on the liberated territories, leading to civilian casualties.

Over 230 children evacuated from Kupiansk district in Kharkiv oblast

So far, 236 children in Kharkiv Oblast's Kupiansk district have been evacuated under a mandatory evacuation order of front-line settlements, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said on Nov. 10.

The Reintegration Ministry announced plans on Oct. 26 to evacuate 275 children from 10 settlements in Kharkiv Oblast's Kupiansk district that lie roughly 10-20 kilometers west of the front line.

Local authorities began evacuating children from the Kupiansk district in August as Russian forces intensified their attacks in the area.

According to Syniehubov, there are still 55 children who need to be evacuated. However, some families are "determined to stay," making the evacuation of children to safe places challenging.

"We continue to emphasize that it is worth leaving," said the governor. "There will be no other way, our task is to take children away from dangerous areas."

Russia has been concentrating a large force in the Lyman-Kupiansk axis since the summer and recently launched major attacks along the entire eastern front.

Poll: 44% of Ukrainians have war zone experience

The full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia has resulted in 44% of Ukrainians experiencing being in a combat zone, according to a survey published by the Ukrainian polling NGO Reiting on November 10.

Before February 2022, 18% of the population had experience in an area considered a war zone, with 6.7% actively participating in fighting or assisting the military.

As of October 2023, the number of Ukrainians with experience in a combat zone rose to 18%, with those actively participating in fighting increasing from 2.8% to 6.6%, and those assisting the military rising from 3.9% to 11.4%.

The survey, part of a research project on stress experienced by Ukrainians during wartime, included 2,767 smartphone users aged 18 to 69 across Ukraine (excluding Russian-occupied territories).

About 69% of respondents reported a "normal level" of psychological distress, 21% a "raised level," and 10% a "high level." Women reported slightly higher stress levels than men. Stress was attributed to media reports and immediate threats to the lives of loved ones.

Communication about non-work-related topics and recreation were considered the most useful resources to combat stress. Around 59% said alcohol and tobacco were anti-stress resources doing more harm than good. Additionally, 68% considered professional psychological help "not relevant" or not practiced.

Pavel: Ukraine unlikely to gain military superiority over Russia

Czech President Petr Pavel, speaking at the Diplomacy and Security conference in Prague on Nov. 9, expressed a less optimistic view of Ukraine's military situation. Pavel noted that developments on the battlefield don't indicate Ukraine gaining the upper hand militarily. He emphasized that time favors Russia, allowing it to replace lost resources, especially with potential support from North Korea. Pavel mentioned Russia's strategy of prolonging the war until at least the U.S. presidential elections next year. Despite acknowledging the challenging situation, he advocated for a continued commitment to support Ukraine until it can determine its next steps. Pavel, a former soldier and Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, has consistently supported Ukraine but has also cautioned against overly optimistic assessments of progress on the battlefield. He previously mentioned that Ukraine's success in its counteroffensive would shape the basis for future negotiations.