Victory Chronicles-DAY 645

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported several explosions near the Khmelnytsky nuclear power plant in Ukraine. 

The explosions, which lasted for 20 minutes, occurred close to the facility but did not cause any damage. The IAEA has expressed concerns about the vulnerability of nuclear power plants in Ukraine due to the ongoing war, stating that the facilities remain at risk of direct missile hits or disruptions to off-site power supply. 

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi emphasized the fragility of Ukraine’s nuclear safety and security situation. In addition to the Khmelnytsky plant, the IAEA team recorded explosions near the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant. However, no military activities were reported at other nuclear facilities in Ukraine where the IAEA has permanent teams, including the Rivne, South Ukrainian, and Chornobyl plants.

On November 9, the Russian army launched 107 attacks on the Kherson Oblast, resulting in one death and five injuries. The head of the Kherson Oblast Military Administration, Oleksandr Prokudin, reported these incidents on Facebook. 

Prokudin stated that the enemy fired a total of 656 shells, including mortars, artillery, Grad, tanks, UAVs, and aircraft. Out of these attacks, 23 shells targeted Kherson. The Russian military targeted various areas in Kherson, including residential areas, critical infrastructure facilities, an educational institution, a medical facility, and a preschool in Kherson Oblast. One person was killed, and five others were injured. 

On the night of November 30, Russian invaders fired six missiles at Pokrovsk, Novohrodivka, and Myrnohrad in the Pokrovsk district of Donetsk Oblast, injuring at least 10 people, killing one, and searching for four more under the rubble.

The Defense Forces of Southern Ukraine published a video showing the destruction of a Russian Buk M-3 surface-to-air missile system. “The defense forces continue to perform fire missions. Over the past day, the enemy suffered the following losses: 35 occupants were destroyed; 1 Buk M3 anti-aircraft missile system; 1 Pole-21 electronic warfare station; 1 set of antenna systems for an electronic warfare station; 7 guns; 1 mortar; 8 armored vehicles; 2 reconnaissance UAVs (Merlin, Orlan-10); 1 Lancet attack UAV; 1 boat. 3 observation posts and 1 UAV control point were also destroyed,” the Southern Defense Forces of Ukraine said in a statement.

The apparent Russian failure to establish a cohesive command structure among forces defending on the east (left) bank of Kherson Oblast continues to degrade Russian morale and combat capabilities. 

The Ukrainian General Staff reported on November 29 that elements of the 810th Naval Infantry Brigade (Black Sea Fleet) operating near Krynky (30km northeast of Kherson City and 2km from the Dnipro River) are refusing to conduct assaults on Ukrainian positions due to a lack of artillery coordination, tactical intelligence transmission, and proper communication about the location of Russian minefields.

The Ukrainian General Staff reported that maps of the Russian minefields are classified and that Russian commanders have not properly coordinated with assault units about the locations of these minefields, leading to 50 casualties among elements of the 810th Naval Infantry Brigade in the last month. Elements of the 810th Naval Infantry brigade arrived in the Krynky area in early October 2023 and appear to have taken over responsibility for the immediate Krynky area from elements of the newly created 18th Combined Arms Army (CAA) following the start of Ukrainian ground operations on the east bank of the Dnipro in mid-October 2023.

The Ukrainian General Staff reported that the 18th CAA’s 28th Motorized Rifle Regiment is currently operating in Pishchanivka (14km east of Kherson City and 3km from the Dnipro River). Additional elements of the 18th CAA and the 7th Airborne (VDV) Division reportedly hold positions in near rear areas on the east bank, and the joint command of these formations is likely overseeing much of the current Russian response to the Ukrainian ground operations on the east bank.

The reported minefield incident suggests that the command of the 18th CAA did not share relevant tactical details with the 810th Naval Infantry Brigade’s command, suggesting that higher-level Russian commanders responsible for the defense of the east bank have yet to remedy this failure in coordination.

Denys Kukhotskyi, a 21-year-old defender, tragically lost his life on August 8, 2023, during the “Assault on Dnipro” operation in Kherson Oblast. He sustained fatal injuries in an enemy mortar attack. 

Originally from Rivne Oblast and a resident of Sarny, Denys was a graduate of Sarny Lyceum #5 and a student of the Faculty of Prosecution and Investigation at the Odesa Law Academy. Despite having an official deferment from military service due to being a full-time student, Denys chose to enlist in the 126th separate territorial defense brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine at the start of the full-scale invasion in March 2022. He received the Medal for Courage in Combat and the Order of the Steel Cross during his service. Described as brave, principled, and talented by his teachers and classmates, Denys was known for his strong will and commitment to justice. 

“My husband is a Hero of our time. I still remember how he told me on the first day of the war that he would go to defend Ukraine. And he did. Having never held a weapon, having an official deferment from service because he was a full-time student, he went to defend us. Like any wife, I didn’t want to let him go, but I realize now that he couldn’t have done it any other way, he couldn’t have sat and hid, he wouldn’t have forgiven himself,” said Alina Kukhotska. He was laid to rest in the village of Horodets in Rivne Oblast, leaving behind his parents, younger sister, and wife.

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