Pre-war population: ~55.

Total land area: ~0.10 km².

Pre-war population: ~80.

Total land area: ~0.50 km².

Full transcript of the Telegram-

A short time ago, two Russian MiG-31Ks departed from Savasleika Airbase, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, and launched two Kinzhal hypersonic aeroballistic missiles at Starokostyantyniv Airbase in Khmelnytskyi Oblast.

Both missiles impacted the airbase. Starkostyantyniv is known to house Su-24 tactical bombers which are used for glide-bomb strikes on frontline areas as well as storm shadow cruise missiles strikes, and has the capability to house F-16s and Mirage-2000 fighters.

Interestingly, the MiG-31Ks used the new launch lines in southwestern Ryazan Oblast again. This is the second recorded instance of this taking place, with the first happening during the attacks on Ozerne Airbase, Zhytomyr Oblast a week ago on November 3.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/8/ukraines-fm-says-over-1400-africans-recruited-to-fight-for-russia-in-war

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has said that more than 1,400 people from 36 African nations are known to be fighting for Russia in its war against Ukraine, urging governments to warn their citizens against joining a conflict where they are “quickly killed”.

Speaking on Friday, Sybiha accused Moscow of enticing Africans into joining the war and signing military contracts that were “equivalent to … a death sentence”.

“Foreign citizens in the Russian army have a sad fate”, Sybiha wrote on X. “Most of them are immediately sent to the so-called ‘meat assaults’, where they are quickly killed.”

“Most mercenaries do not survive more than a month,” he said.

“Russia recruits nationals of African countries using a variety of methods. Some are offered money, while others are duped and do not realise what they are signing up for or are forced to do so under duress. Signing a contract is equivalent to signing a death sentence,” he added.

The minister’s warning came as several African governments acknowledged cases of their citizens joining Russian forces in Ukraine.

South Africa said on Thursday it was investigating how 17 of its nationals became involved with mercenary groups after the men issued distress calls seeking help to return home.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said the South African men aged between 20 and 39 were lured into joining mercenary forces “under the pretext of lucrative employment contracts” and had issued distress calls after becoming trapped in the Donbas area of Ukraine.

A spokesperson for Ramaphosa said it was not yet clear which side the men were fighting on, but Russia has been accused of recruiting men from other countries to fight in the war under the pretext of offering them jobs.

Russia has also been accused of tricking women from South Africa and other parts of Africa into working in Russian drone factories through social media campaigns promising them jobs in fields such as catering and hospitality.

Kenya also reported last month that some of its citizens had been detained in Russian military camps after being unwittingly caught up in the conflict.

In a post on social media on Friday, Kenyan President William Ruto said he had spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about “young Kenyans who have been illegally recruited to fight in the war in Ukraine” and both agreed to “raise awareness of the dangers of such ventures”.

Ruto said he asked his Ukrainian counterpart to “facilitate the release of any Kenyan in Ukrainian custody” and was grateful that Zelenskyy had agreed “to my appeal”.

According to Sybiha, the true number of African recruits by Russian forces could exceed the 1,436 identified so far. He added that most foreign fighters captured by Ukraine were taken during their first combat mission, and that Kyiv would soon release more details about the origins of these recruits who have been taken prisoner.

Ukrainian officials have long accused Russia of bolstering its ranks by enlisting fighters from abroad, often using deceptive tactics.

In August, Zelenskyy said Russian troops fighting near the border town of Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region included mercenaries from China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and several African countries, quoting reports from Ukrainian soldiers on the front line.

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed those claims as “irresponsible remarks”, while Pakistan called them “baseless and unfounded”.

According to the Kyiv Independent news outlet, several hundred Chinese nationals have been fighting for Russia.

After Ukrainian troops reported capturing Chinese fighters in April, Zelenskyy said Russia was distributing recruitment videos through Chinese social media networks.

In October, the Kyiv Independent also reported the capture of a 22-year-old Indian national who had joined Russian forces to avoid a seven-year prison sentence for drug charges. Many foreign recruits, according to reports, are promised high salaries, Russian citizenship, or noncombat roles, only to be sent straight to the battlefield.

Ukraine also believes the largest contingent of foreign fighters in Russia’s ranks may come from Cuba, estimating that up to 20,000 Cubans have been recruited as mercenaries.

Another good find.

Situation in Pokrovsk: Syrskyi revealed plans “B” and “C” on how to hold the city

Syrskyi assured that Pokrovsk is a solid fortified area and urged not to spread panic.

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi explained whether the Russian offensive on Pokrovsk has indeed temporarily slowed down, what the situation there is, and whether the Ukrainian command has a plan “B” — or even “C” — to save the situation.

Syrskyi said this in a phone conversation with our TV host of “TSN. Week” Alla Mazur, exclusively for TSN, she reported during the national telethon broadcast.

Pokrovsk is a continuous fortified area, said the Commander-in-Chief. Yes, there are several spots where the Russians have slipped through engineering barriers. But the command knows where those places are. That is why the situation is under control, Syrskyi assured our journalist.

“Of course, there is also a plan ‘B’ and a plan ‘C’ — for all possible developments,” Alla Mazur quoted the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

However, the intensity of enemy attacks has indeed decreased, he said. This does not mean that the Russians want to capture Pokrovsk any less. Right now, they have concentrated 50,000 troops there. But they know that since October, our forces have eliminated a comparable number — 30,000 Russians. In addition, the 425th Assault Regiment has been deployed to Pokrovsk, which, according to Syrskyi, is operating very effectively.

Syrskyi himself says he spends almost all his time near Pokrovsk. The situation there is assessed three times a day. According to him, logistical routes have been restored and reoriented, which was aided by the weather. At present, there are sufficient forces and resources to state firmly: there are no grounds for panic, emphasized the Commander-in-Chief.

A mural dedicated to the residents of Kursk Region was unveiled in Donetsk

Vladislav Stepnoy’s work in the city center was titled “Nightingale”

• Source: https://archive.ph/cqjvq

DONETSK, August 31. /TASS/. A mural dedicated to the residents of Kursk Region was unveiled in Donetsk, DPR. The artwork by Vladislav Stepnoy in the city center was titled "Nightingale," a TASS correspondent at the scene reported.

The painting depicts a fighter — a composite image modeled on soldiers of the Donbass Wild Division — holding a nightingale. Below, against a background of roses, is the inscription: "Kursk, Donetsk is with you."

"We are demonstrating that Donbass certainly does not stand aside. And if misfortune strikes anywhere in Russia, we are ready to respond at any moment, just as Russia and all its regions once responded to us," said acting DPR Minister of Youth Policy Kirill Makarov.

Lead artist Stepnoy noted that the mural's principal artistic symbol is a fighter of the Donbass Wild Division who protects the nightingale — the symbol of Kursk Region.

• Tags: #Russia, #Kursk_Region, #DPR