Russians destroyed the pharmaceutical company's warehouse and office worth US$100 million during the attack

A large warehouse complex and the main office of Optima-Pharm, Ukraine’s second-largest pharmaceutical distributor, were destroyed in a Russian missile attack on Kyiv during the night of October 24–25, Russians reported, citing company sources and market analysts.

Preliminary estimates place the company’s losses at over $100 million. The destroyed warehouse covered an area of 29,000 square meters.

This marks the second Russian strike on Optima-Pharm this year — the company’s pharmaceutical warehouse in Kyiv was also hit on August 28.

Optima-Pharm, owned by Andrii Hubskyi, has been operating on the Ukrainian market for 31 years. With 12 warehouses totaling 70,000 square meters and a 33% market share, the company remains one of Ukraine’s largest pharmaceutical distributors, second only to BaDM, according to Forbes Ukraine.

The destruction of the facility further threatens the stability of Ukraine’s medical supply chain amid ongoing Russian attacks on civilian and critical infrastructure.

CIA and State Department disagreed on Putin's peace stance in Early 2025

U.S. Intelligence Divided Over Putin’s Willingness to Negotiate End to War in Ukraine — WSJ

The U.S. State Department’s internal intelligence service questioned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s readiness to negotiate peace in early 2025, while the CIA took a more optimistic view, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing U.S. officials and intelligence sources.

According to the report, at the start of Donald Trump’s second term, U.S. officials repeatedly sought intelligence assessments on Putin’s intentions and the prospects for ending the war in Ukraine.

Analysts at the CIA reportedly concluded that Trump might have opportunities to negotiate with Putin. However, experts from the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) pointed to Putin’s public insistence on the “demilitarization” and “denazification” of Ukraine — conditions they said showed Moscow’s unwillingness to compromise.

The INR’s assessment stated that Putin would not abandon his maximalist goals, contradicting the CIA’s more hopeful analysis. These reports were prepared ahead of the planned Putin-Trump summit in Alaska, which was later postponed.

The WSJ also noted that INR leadership subsequently told staff that their dissenting analysis had “damaged the Bureau’s standing” with senior officials. Several analysts were later dismissed, and one resigned.

Ukraine's General Staff confirmed the presence of Russian troops in Pokrovsk

Russians Amass 200 Troops in Pokrovsk, Intense Fighting Reported — Ukrainian General Staff

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Russian forces have concentrated around 200 soldiers in the city of Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, as fighting intensifies in the area.

“Regarding the situation on the approaches to Pokrovsk and within the city itself. The enemy, by using inter-positional space and infiltrating small infantry groups, has accumulated about 200 soldiers in the city. Firefights are ongoing in the city, and UAV units are actively operating. Combat clashes are characterised by high dynamism and intensity,” the statement read.

The General Staff noted that Russian troops have been increasingly deploying armored vehicles during assault operations.

Ukrainian forces, meanwhile, continue to focus on strengthening defensive positions, improving coordination, maintaining effective fire on Russian targets, and countering enemy drones and artillery.