Author: dmitriy.vasyura@gmail.com

The European Union has delivered 1 million artillery shells to Ukraine, fulfilling the pledge it initially promised to deliver by the spring of 2024, the EU’s new top diplomat Kaja Kallas told the Kyiv Independent on the sidelines of her visit to Kyiv.

"This one million rounds of shells have been delivered, but of course, as we know here… it's not enough, more needs to be done," Kallas told the Kyiv Independent in an exclusive interview on Dec. 1.

"I think also the investments to Ukrainian defence industry are very, very welcome that these things are produced here and immediately used as well. So we are thinking about different initiatives, how we can more support and help Ukraine," Kallas said.

Kallas, the former Estonian prime minister, made the comments during a surprise visit to Kyiv on the first day of her mandate as the EU's top diplomat. Kallas visited the Ukrainian capital alongside Antonio Costa, the new president of the European Council.

When asked by the Kyiv Independent how much military aid Ukraine can expect in 2025, Kallas did not provide a specific estimate.

"There is no actual number yet, but I think it's important we know your needs, and of course, it's not enough what we are producing. So we need to really speed up the process of producing more," Kallas said.

"We have a new commissioner for defense, we intend to work with him very closely, how we can do this, how we can find also new financing to speed up the process. So there is the political will to do it."

The full delivery of the shells, initially expected to be completed by the end-of-Spring, were delayed into November amid unexpected production capacity limitations, the EU's former chief diplomat Josep Borrell said on Nov. 11.

During a news conference with President Volodymyr Zelensky following their meeting in Kyiv, Costa said that the EU would continue to provide economic, humanitarian, and military assistance to Ukraine, including 4.2 billion euros ($4.4 billion) to support the Ukrainian budget by the end of the year. In 2025, the EU will also transfer 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion) to Ukraine monthly.

Zelensky meets with new president of European Council, top EU diplomat in KyivAntonio Costa, the new President of the European Council, and top European Union diplomat Kaja Kallas arrived in Kyiv on a surprise visit.The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova

There were 158 military clashes in different directions, most of them in Kurakhovsky, where 48 clashes were recorded. The enemy also actively attacked in the Pokrovsky direction, making 33 assault attempts.

Since the beginning of the day, there have been 158 military clashes. The enemy attacked intensively in the Kurakhovsky direction. This is reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reports UNN.

Details

In the Kharkiv direction the Ukrainian armed forces repelled 10 enemy attacks near Staritsa, Tikhy, Volchansk and in the direction of Cossack Lopan.

In the Kupyansky direction the enemy attacked 10 times in the areas of Lozovaya, Kruglyakovka, Glushkovka and Zeleny Gai.

In the Limansky direction the aggressor stormed 8 times in the areas of Druzhbyovka, Grekovka, Grigorovka, Ternov and Torsky.

In the Seversky direction, terrorist aircraft struck Seversk with three aerial bombs.

In the Kramatorsk direction, the invaders attacked unsuccessfully, trying to move forward near Chasovyi Yar.

In the Turkish direction the invaders stormed 7 times in the areas of Toretsk and in the direction of Shcherbinovka. Enemy bomber aircraft were active in the areas of Konstantinovka and Petrovka.

In the Pokrovsky direction, enemy forces conducted 33 assault and offensive operations. The greatest activity of the invaders remains in the areas of Mirolyubovka, Luch, postcard, Dachensky, yellow and Chumatsky. The enemy used aviation weapons in the areas of the settlements of Panteleimonovka, Grodovka, Dachenskoye, Novopustinka.

there were 48 clashes in the Kurakhovsky direction. Enemy attacks were repelled by our soldiers near Berestkov, Solntsevka, Zarya, Novodmitrovka, Kurakhovo, Dalny, Elizavetovka and Annovka, and the battle is currently underway. The Invaders dropped Kabs in the areas of the settlements of Ulakli and Elizavetovka.

In the Vremovsky direction, the enemy tried to break through 24 times near Konstantinopolsky, Trudovaya, Velikaya Novoselka, Novoselka, Novy Komar and Novodarovka.

In the Dnieper direction the aggressor carried out 4 unsuccessful assaults.

Defense forces repelled almost 50 enemy assaults in the Pokrovsky direction – General Staff on the situation at the frontDec 1 2024, 07:11 AM • 26590 views

Russia launched a total of 347 missiles as well as over 2,500 Shahed-type attack drones at Ukraine in November, President Volodymyr Zelensky said at a news conference on Dec. 1.

During the news conference alongside Antonio Costa, the new President of the European Council, Zelensky called on Western allies to provide additional air defense.

"We discussed today the need for adequate air defenses to protect against Russian terror, protect our energy infrastructure and civilians," Zelensky said. "I conveyed concrete proposals to our partners to strengthen our air defense. I very much expect their support."

In recent months, Russia has stepped up its attacks targeting cities and towns across Ukraine on a near daily basissince the start of September. Russia also launched multiple large-scale aerial attacks against Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure in the month of November.

On Nov. 28, Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said that Russia struck a "massive blow" at the nation's power grid, with attacks on energy infrastructure occurring throughout the country.

Overnight on Nov. 17, Russia launched one of the largest aerial strikes on Ukraine leaving at least seven civilians dead and at least 19 injured across multiple regions.

Russia continues to pummel energy infrastructure set to once again test Ukrainians' resolve ahead an expected harsh winter.

Russia has launched tens of thousands of cheap but effective Iranian-designed Shahed-type drones against Ukraine since the fall of 2022.

The number of drones launched over the past month marks an increase from the 2,000 Shahed-type drones at Ukraine in October.

On Oct. 20, Zelensky said that a total of 6,130 Shahed-type drones since the start of 2024 — although that number does not account for the thousands of drones launched since.

As the war along Ukraine's eastern front continue, Russia also continues to sustain record military losses.

In November, 45,720 Russian soldiers were wounded, killed, or captured and thus unable to continue participating in combat operations. Russia also lost weapons and equipment in November estimated to be worth over $3 billion, according to Ukraine's Defense Ministry ministry.

Russia loses almost 46,000 troops, over $3 billion worth of military equipment in November, Defense Ministry saysIn November, the Russian military lost 2,030 soldiers in one day, which is the highest rate of Russian losses in a day since Feb. 24, 2022.The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova

Unmanned aerial vehicles were recorded in the airspace of the Kiev region. The air defense forces are working on targets, and the population is being urged to stay in shelters.

Air defense forces are working in the Kiev region. This is reported by the Kiev Regional Military Administration, reports UNN.

Kiev region!
A UAV was detected in the airspace. Air defense forces are working on targets.
stay in shelters until the end of the air alert. Take care of your own safety.
observe information silence – do not record or post the work of our defenders Online

– the message says.

Add

The Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine previously reported on the mass movement of enemy UAVs in various regions of Ukraine, in particular in the Kiev region.

Mass movement of enemy drones was recorded in six regions of Ukraine at onceDec 1 2024, 07:17 PM • 5477 views