Victory Chronicles-DAY 624

In a concerning development, Skadovsk experienced two powerful explosions around 09:30, as reported by the National Resistance Center. Unconfirmed sources suggest that the attack targeted a temporary deployment point of a unit affiliated with the FSB, and Russian personnel are currently operating at the scene.

According to Petro Andriushchenko, an advisor to the mayor of Mariupol, the strike occurred in the vicinity of a former collective farm building at the crossroads of Haharin and Portova streets. He expressed, “Everything is shut off, no one is allowed to get close. We already know about at least 15 wounded and five “good Russians” (i.e., dead – ed.) who will never return home.”

However, the “acting governor of Kherson Oblast,” Volodymyr Saldo, has contested reports of a missile attack on Skadovsk. He exclusively acknowledges impacts on the private sector and denies the incident.

German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall received an order from the German government to provide Ukraine with about 100,000 rounds of 120mm mortar ammunition, the company announced on Nov. 8. The ammunition deliveries are due to begin soon and will extend over the next two years, according to Rheinmetall. “The order, worth a figure in the lower-three-digit million-euro range, forms part of a recent 400-million-euro military aid package for the Ukrainian armed forces,” reads the announcement.

The Russian forces targeted the superstructure of a civilian ship under the flag of Liberia with a missile on the evening of 8 November, just when the vessel was entering a port in Odesa Oblast. “Continuing to terrorize civilian navigation, the enemy insidiously attacked one of the ports in Odesa Oblast using a Kh-31P anti-radar missile launched from tactical aircraft in the Black Sea. The missile targeted the superstructure of a civilian ship under the flag of Liberia at the time of its entry into port,” reported Operational Command Pivden (South).

The 56th Separate Mariupol Infantry Brigade from the Armed Forces of Ukraine has unveiled a video showcasing combat operations conducted with a thermal imaging drone, capturing the efforts of the 56th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade as they neutralize Russian military equipment and occupying forces.

Select Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian commanders may be making operational and tactical decisions using maps of the battlefield in Ukraine that differ from tactical reality. 

A Russian milblogger claimed that the Russian General Staff uses battlefield maps that differ from tactical reality in response to another milblogger who questioned why Russian forces were not striking alleged large Ukrainian force concentrations close to the frontline. The Russian milblogger claimed that Russian personnel on the front have access to the “real” map and that Russian commanders order Russian forces to conduct routine assaults to make gains that align the “real” map with the Russian General Staff’s map.

A separate milblogger claimed that there had been previous individual cases of Russian battalion and regiment-level assault operations aimed at achieving compliance with inaccurate maps of the frontline but that this is the first time that he has heard of a wider operational imperative to make advances that comply with a reported General Staff map.

A milblogger claimed that Russian commanders are incentivized to make the tactical gains depicted in the General Staff’s maps because the General Staff increasingly requires positive reports from frontline commanders. Russian milbloggers have routinely criticized Russian commanders throughout the chain of command for delivering false and overly positive reports to their superiors and have identified the Russian General Staff as fostering this widespread institutional dishonesty.

On August 3, 2023, defender Yurii Dyatliuk, known by his call sign “Diak,” lost his life while engaged in a combat mission near the town of Marinka in Donetsk Oblast. The 34-year-old fighter sustained fatal injuries due to enemy artillery fire, leaving a void in the hearts of those who knew him.

Yurii’s life began in the serene village of Kryklyvets, Vinnytsia Oblast, before he made his home in Vinnytsia. He pursued higher education at Vinnytsia National Technical University, where he earned a degree in management. His professional career led him to the Arita company, where he devoted his skills and dedication. Beyond his professional pursuits, Yurii was an ardent football enthusiast, and his leadership skills were evident as the captain of the Khimik team, which garnered numerous awards and recognition in Vinnytsia.

However, when the call of duty came amid the full-scale war, Yurii answered without hesitation. He enlisted in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and ventured to the front lines, serving valiantly within the 95th separate airborne assault brigade as a senior sapper in an engineering platoon.

Reflecting on her late husband, Olha Dyatliuk expressed her deep admiration: “My husband is my Hero! He is brave, courageous, a true patriot of his country. He was a cheerful, sensitive, loving husband and a wonderful father.”

Yurii’s final resting place is in his cherished native village, where he is remembered by a loving wife, an 11-year-old son, a 4-year-old daughter, and a circle of devoted relatives and friends. His life and ultimate sacrifice serve as a poignant reminder of the dedication and valor exhibited by individuals like him during challenging times.

• Ukrainian Defense Forces eliminate1080 Russians and take out 36 artillery systems over past 24 hours
• Reuters: Hezbollah acquires Russian anti-ship missiles
• White House: The US has used up 96% of funds approved by Congress for Ukraine aid
• WSJ: Russia trying to claw back prior weapons exports
• DW: Russia hacked Kyiv’s power grid in 2022
• EU to start discussing 12th sanctions package against Russia next week