Open source intelligence collective Black Bird Group recorded Russian net territorial gains in Ukraine of 21 square kilometers in October, reporting that the front line remained relatively stable after the culmination of Ukraine’s Operation Vivaldi. According to the group’s Nov 3 assessment, Ukrainian forces continued advancing in western Donetsk while Russian troops focused their offensive efforts on the Dobropillya axis.

The slight net gain recorded by Black Bird Group contrasts with a Nov 2 assessment by the Institute for the Study of War, which reported that Russian forces suffered net territorial losses in October for a second consecutive month and are largely deprioritizing offensive operations toward Kupyansk and Borova after Ukraine’s Vivaldi and Veles campaigns. Russian casualties for the month topped 50,000, with Ukraine’s military earlier estimating 49,040 Russian troops killed or wounded in October, including nearly 28,000 from drone strikes in the first 25 days.