Victory Chronicles-DAY 981

On the evening of 30 October, Russian troops attacked a high-rise building in Kharkiv, Ukraine, destroying two floors. 

The attack left an 11-year-old boy and two other people dead, while 34 people were injured. The attack took place in the Saltovskyi district, specifically targeting the fourth floor of the multi-story building. There are reports of people trapped under the rubble, and a fire broke out at the scene. The Mayor of Kharkiv and the head of the Regional State Administration confirmed the casualties and the extent of the damage. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his condolences and urged for a strong response to Russia’s actions. Further updates stated that 36 people were injured, three remain trapped, and one child died. The death toll has now reached three, and efforts are underway to identify the body fragments found at the scene.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine is currently producing approximately 20 Bohdan self-propelled artillery systems per month. He referred to the “Danish model,” which has enabled Ukraine to attract financial support from partners for its defense production. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to those who assisted Ukraine in obtaining the necessary supplies, including shells, equipment, and drones. The President emphasized that there will be further accomplishments in this regard. 

Patrol police in Ukraine rescued people from a collapsed apartment building after a Russian bomb hit it. The rescue efforts of the patrol police were focused on saving those who were most vulnerable and at risk during these attacks. Women, children, and the elderly are often the main targets of the Russian military. 

Rescue and search operations continue for the second day in Kharkiv after a Russian attack on a high-rise building that injured more than 30 people. Neighbouring buildings and about 20 cars were also damaged. According to preliminary reports, the attack was carried out using a FAB-500 from the village of Budivelnik in Russia’s Belgorod region. The official channel of the Kharkiv Prosecutor’s Office posted a drone video showing the ongoing rescue and search operations. The video shows the extent of the damage and the efforts to find survivors. 

Western intelligence officials reportedly stated that North Korean troops are in an unspecified area in occupied Ukraine. CNN, citing two unspecified Western intelligence officials, reported on October 30 that a small number of North Korean personnel are in occupied Ukraine but did not specify their location — the first such confirmation from Western sources.

The intelligence officials stated that they expect the number of North Korean personnel in Ukraine to grow as they complete training in Russia. Ukrainian and South Korean officials reported in early October 2024 the presence of a limited number of North Korean personnel in occupied Donetsk City, mainly engineering personnel, who were likely repairing or somehow improving the quality of a large amount of low-quality ammunition that North Korea provided to the Russian military.

The reports from Western intelligence officials could refer to the same group of North Korean personnel or similar specialists conducting engineering work in occupied Ukraine. Financial Times reported on October 30 that senior unspecified Ukrainian intelligence officials have stated that Russian authorities transferred about 3,000 North Korean personnel to western Kursk Oblast from other areas in Russia in civilian vehicles and that the group consisted of a few hundred special forces servicemembers and regular troops.

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui visited Russia on October 29 but did not specify the purpose of the visit.

AP, citing South Korean intelligence, reported on October 29 that Choe might have visited Russia to discuss the deployment of additional North Korean troops to Russia. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova claimed that the arrival of the North Korean foreign minister was pre-planned, in line with Russia–North Korea cooperation.

Fighter Yevhen Kovalenko died at the hands of the Russian forces on 28 October 2024 in the Dnipro region.

During a missile attack on the city of Kryvyi Rih, the man sustained a severe head injury. His apartment was located on the top floor of the three-story residential building that was hit by a ballistic missile. The man was taken to hospital in serious condition, but he could not be saved.

Yevhen was 39 years old. He lived with his family in Kryvyi Rih. From the first days of the full-scale war, he stood up to defend Ukraine. He defended the country in the Kharkiv sector. After a severe concussion, he was discharged from the army. He was treated at home. At the same time, he worked as a courier for a sushi bar chain.

Yevhen is survived by his wife, son and other relatives.

*Yevhen’s story on the Heroes Memorial – a platform for stories about the fallen defenders of Ukraine.

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