Russia Resumes Missile Attacks on Kyiv; Ukraine Strikes Russian Black Sea Fleet

Ukraine intensifies counterattacks on Russian forces, vowing to recapture Crimea as part of its war aims

Russian forces have resumed missile attacks on Kyiv after a 52-day pause, with Ukraine's military successfully intercepting a ballistic missile aimed at the capital. This is seen as a potential precursor to a larger winter campaign against Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
Ukraine has intensified its counterattacks, with a significant victory in Crimea where two Russian landing ships were reportedly sunk by Ukrainian waterborne drones. This is part of Ukraine's strategy to recapture Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.
In the eastern Ukrainian town of Avdiivka, Russian forces continue their offensive, attempting to isolate the town by attacking from the north and south. Ukrainian forces have launched localized counterattacks, regaining some lost ground.
Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief General Valerii Zaluzhnyi claims that Russia has lost over 100 tanks and around 50 artillery systems in the battle for Avdiivka over the past month, along with suffering 10,000 casualties. These reports have not been independently verified.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports a significant drop in Russian attacks on Ukraine using Iranian-made Shahed drones over the past month, suggesting that Moscow may be conserving its drone stockpile for a winter offensive.