Ukrainian Forces Make Marginal Gains Near Pokrovsk Amid Russian Infiltrations

Ukrainian forces have recently achieved slight advancements north of Pokrovsk, as Russian troops continue to infiltrate the area and its surroundings. Geolocated footage published on October 31 indicates that Ukrainian forces have made marginal progress in eastern Rodynske, north of Pokrovsk. Additional footage from October 30 shows Ukrainian forces targeting Russian positions in northern Pokrovsk and eastern Rih, immediately east of Pokrovsk, following what is assessed to be an infiltration mission. These missions have not altered the control of terrain or the forward edge of the battle area.

A source reportedly affiliated with Ukrainian military intelligence stated on October 29 that Russian forces are infiltrating Pokrovsk in groups of five to ten people, rendering the city a contested "gray zone." The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that elements of the 2nd Combined Arms Army are advancing within Pokrovsk, including near the central railway station, and that elements of the 5th Motorized Rifle Brigade are advancing in Myrnohrad. Russian military bloggers have also reported further Russian advances in Pokrovsk, eastern Myrnohrad, and near Rodynske.

The Pentagon approved the provision of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine on October 31, with the final decision pending approval from U.S. President Donald Trump. Citing three U.S. and European officials, CNN reported that the Pentagon determined supplying Tomahawks would not negatively impact U.S. stockpiles. Officials noted that the decision to send the missiles rests with President Trump. Providing Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine could reduce Russia's advantage in long-range missile capabilities, as Russia regularly uses comparable missiles such as Kh-series and Kalibr cruise missiles in its strikes against Ukraine.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko announced on October 31 that Russia will deploy the Oreshnik missile system to Belarus in December 2025. Kremlin officials have recently claimed that Russia and Belarus do not feel "safe" due to European "Russophobic statements" and supposed militaristic aspirations. This deployment is part of ongoing efforts to undermine Western resolve in supporting Ukraine.

Ukraine continues to conduct long-range drone and missile strikes against Russian air defense and energy infrastructure. The Ukrainian Navy reported that Ukrainian forces conducted a Neptune missile strike against the Oryol Thermal Power Plant in Oryol Oblast and the Novobryansk substation in Bryansk Oblast overnight on October 30 to 31. Both facilities supply power to Russian military enterprises in Oryol Oblast. Additionally, Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces reported that, in cooperation with the Russian Chernaya Iskra insurgency group, they disabled a Russian Buk-M3 surface-to-air missile system and NEBO-U early warning radar system in Rostov Oblast on the night of September 27 to 28.

Russian forces have reportedly used nuclear-capable 9M729 Novator ground-launched cruise missiles against Ukraine since August 2025, in apparent violation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha told Reuters on October 31 that Russian forces recently began using these missiles against Ukraine, marking the first public acknowledgment of their use. Sybiha noted that the missile's range violates the INF Treaty, which bans ground-launched missiles with a range between 500 and 5,500 kilometers. A military source told Reuters that Russian forces launched a 9M729 missile against an unspecified target in Ukraine at a range of over 1,200 kilometers on October 5. A senior Ukrainian official stated that Russian forces launched Novator missiles against Ukraine twice in 2022 and 23 times since August 2025.

A German court convicted several citizens of conspiring to commit acts of sabotage in Germany on behalf of Russia. German outlet Deutsche Welle reported on October 30 that a German court convicted a dual German-Russian citizen and two other German citizens of espionage and conspiring to commit acts of sabotage in Germany on behalf of Russia. The dual German citizen admitted to fighting in a pro-Russian militia in eastern Ukraine in 2014.

Lithuanian authorities closed the Vilnius Airport due to aerial incursions from Belarusian airspace. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda announced on October 31 that authorities closed the Vilnius Airport after observing an unspecified number of balloons flying toward the airport from Belarusian airspace. This incident marks the most recent instance of balloon disruptions near the Vilnius Airport in October 2025. Lithuania recently extended its closure of land border crossings with Belarus in response to these incidents.

Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov appointed former First Deputy Trade and Industry Minister Vasily Osmakov as Deputy Minister of Defense. Belousov announced Osmakov's appointment on October 31 at the Commonwealth of Independent States Council of Defense Ministers in Kazakhstan. Russian state outlet RBK reported that Osmakov became an official in the Ministry of Industry and Trade in 2004 and first deputy minister in 2021. Sources told RBK that the Russian Ministry of Defense is appointing Osmakov to replace Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin due to Fomin's supposed retirement.