Author: dmitriy.vasyura@gmail.com

  • Ministry: Lithuania to fund production of Ukrainian long-range drones

    Ministry: Lithuania to fund production of Ukrainian long-range drones

    Ministry: Lithuania to fund production of Ukrainian long-range drones

    Lithuania will fund the production of Ukrainian long-range drones, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced on Nov. 23.

    The long-term agreement between Ukraine and Lithuania includes an initial tranche of 10 million euros which has already been agreed upon and focuses particularly on Ukraine's Palianytsia missile-like drones.

    "I expressed gratitude to the Republic of Lithuania for its steadfast support during these challenging times and personally thanked (Defense Minister Laurynas) Kasciunas for his leadership," Umerov wrote.

    Umerov and his Lithuanian counterpart also reportedly discussed plans to equip Ukrainian brigades, provide ammunition, strengthen air defense, and expand defense industry cooperation between the two countries as "key priorities" for 2025.

    The Defense Ministry previously announced on Nov. 22 that Sweden had also agreed to finance the production of long-range drones for Ukraine to aid the country in its defense against Russia's war of aggression.

    ‘Don’t overreact’ — Oreshnik missile isn’t as new as Russia claims, experts sayRussian President Vladimir Putin on Nov. 21 announced his country had launched a new type of missile in an attack on Ukraine, a demonstration of military might meant to deter Kyiv’s allies from further support against his full-scale invasion. “There are currently no ways of countering this weapon.…Ministry: Lithuania to fund production of Ukrainian long-range dronesThe Kyiv IndependentChris YorkMinistry: Lithuania to fund production of Ukrainian long-range drones
  • Storm Shadow strikes Kursk region: Russian lieutenant general and hundreds of North Korean soldiers killed

    Storm Shadow strikes Kursk region: Russian lieutenant general and hundreds of North Korean soldiers killed

    Storm Shadow strikes Kursk region: Russian lieutenant general and hundreds of North Korean soldiers killed

    A missile strike on a sanatorium in the Kursk region killed 18 Russian servicemen, including Lt. Gen. Solodchuk. It is also reported that 33 Russian servicemen were wounded and 500 North Korean soldiers were killed.

    A Storm Shadow missile strike in the Kursk region killed 18 Russian military personnel, including Lieutenant General Solodchuk, wounded 33 Russian soldiers and killed 500 North Korean soldiers. This was reported by Global Defense Corp, citing sources, reports UNN.

    Details

    Several Storm Shadow missiles struck a sanatorium of the Russian Presidential Affairs Directorate in Maryino, Kursk region, causing significant military casualties, including the death of a high-ranking Russian commander, according to multiple sources, Defense Express reported.

    The attack, which took place on Nov. 20, targeted an underground facility and killed 18 soldiers and wounded 33, according to the Spy Dossier Telegram feed.

    Among the dead was Lieutenant General Valery Solodchuk, first deputy commander of the Leningrad Military District, who previously commanded the 1st Army Corps of the so-called "dnr" in 2014, the channel said.

    Lieutenant General Valery Solodchuk was killed in a Storm Shadow strike on November 20.

    Three North Korean military officials were also reportedly wounded in the strike, including two male officers and a woman initially identified as a medic. However, sources speculate that she may have served as an interpreter.

    According to Spy Dossier, the victims included numerous Russian officers from the Southern and Eastern military districts.

    In a subsequent incident, 13 Russian sappers, including the deputy chief of staff of the 88th Mechanized Brigade, were injured while attempting to clear unexploded ordnance on the ground, according to Spy Dossier.

    The presence of dignitaries during post-strike cleanup operations suggests the possibility of additional senior officer casualties beyond those initially reported.

    "The presence of such high-ranking individuals during the cleanup after the strike may indicate that casualties are not limited to officers and one general," Defense Express suggests.

    Ukrainian Armed Forces strike at Russia with British Storm Shadow – BloombergNov 20 2024, 02:58 PM • 19472 views

  • Man Utd star ‘wants’ transfer as ex-Villa star could be Amorim’s first signing amid swap ‘exchange’

    Man Utd star ‘wants’ transfer as ex-Villa star could be Amorim’s first signing amid swap ‘exchange’

    Man utd transfer Zirkzee

    According to reports, Manchester United summer signing Joshua Zirkzee ‘wants’ to leave the Premier League giants and could be involved in a shock swap deal.

    The Netherlands international was Man Utd‘s first summer signing as they paid £36.5m to sign him from Serie A outfit Bologna.

    The forward grabbed 12 goals and seven assists in his 37 appearances for Bologna last season but has struggled for the Red Devils.

    Zirkzee scored in his Premier League debut as Man Utd beat Fulham 1-0 in their first league match of the new season, but he’s not kicked on.

    The 23-year-old is without a goal in ten Premier League matches and has been heavily criticised for his overall performances.

    It has been widely reported that Man Utd are considering cutting their losses in January as Zirkzee is being linked with a move back to Serie A.

    READ: Man Utd: Amorim ‘must avoid three things’ with target set; Neville in ‘nauseating serial whinger’ crew

    A report from Caught Offside has claimed that Serie A giants Juventus are the ‘favourites’ in the race to sign Zirkzee.

    ‘Juventus are understood to be one of the favourites to take the Dutchman to Turin, given his previous relationship at Bologna with Thiago Motta, now the manager for the Bianconeri of course.

    ‘He would be an alternative in their attack, though Napoli are another Italian top-flight side to at least have him on their transfer list to evaluate his skillset.

    ‘CaughtOffside sources have also indicated that both Milan clubs are keen on the player, with Amorim’s former club, Sporting, thought to be interested in making a move when the time is right.

    ‘In the unlikely event that Zirkzee wants to continue his footballing education in the Premier League, Aston Villa have thrown their hat into the ring.’

    MORE MAN UTD COVERAGE ON F365…
    👉 Amorim reveals he ‘loves’ one ‘suffering’ Man Utd star given ‘two positions’ – ‘he should be happy!’
    👉 Man Utd ‘just contacted’ PSG for £80m France star to be first Amorim signing
    👉 Amorim names three things Man Utd ‘have to be better’ at; reveals he will have big say on transfers

    A report in Italy claims Zirkzee ‘wants a change of scenery’ and could join Juventus as part of a shock swap ‘exchange’ involving former Aston Villa forward Douglas Luiz.

    Luiz left Aston Villa to join Juventus in the summer but his performances have been ‘unconvincing’ and he ‘can leave’ in January.

    ‘Douglas Luiz could leave Juventus as early as the next January transfer window. Counterbalancing the latest sensational rumours are the difficulties encountered by the Brazilian in these first months in Turin.

    ‘The feeling between the player and Thiago Motta has never been born, the coach’s trust has been limited so far and the player has not been able to find a way to get back into the project. So much so that he risks being left out even for a long period of the season.

    ‘The loan would allow the club to save the salary, but it would not be enough to recover resources. Instead, with the help of the Brazilian’s entourage (the same as Zirkzee) they could try to build the road for an exchange on equal terms with another player who wants a change of scenery during the season.’

  • More than 1000 Ukrainian couples got married through Diia

    More than 1000 Ukrainian couples got married through Diia

    More than 1000 Ukrainian couples got married through Diia

    In three months, 1170 couples registered their marriage through the Diia app without having to visit the registry office in person. Ukraine became the first country with a full cycle of online marriage via smartphone.

    More than 1000 couples have already gotten married with the help of Diia. This was reported by Mykhailo Fedorov, Vice Prime Minister for Innovation, Education, Science and Technology Development – Minister of Digital Transformation, UNN .

    Details

    According to Mykhailo Fedorov, 1,170 couples in Ukraine have already officially registered their marriages through this service in the three months since its launch.

    This service is especially relevant for the military and couples who are at a distance due to the circumstances of the war, as they can get married without having to visit the registry office in person. Fedorov emphasized that this step not only makes the process of starting a family more accessible and convenient for Ukrainians, but also became a landmark for the world, as Ukraine became the first country to implement a full marriage cycle via smartphone.

    This innovative step has received international recognition, being named one of the world's best technological achievements by TIME.

    Ukraine launches online marriage in Diia app – FedorovSep 9 2024, 11:28 AM • 13166 views

  • Russia is likely behind poisoning of former Ukrainian President Yushchenko back in 2004 – US intelligence

    Russia is likely behind poisoning of former Ukrainian President Yushchenko back in 2004 – US intelligence

    The United States intelligence has declassified a document on the assassinations abroad of political opponents of Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

    Source: Bloomberg with reference to US intelligence document

    Quote: "… Political and opposition leaders in key former Soviet republics that are deemed a threat.

    A key example is former President of Ukraine Viktor Yuschenko, who suffered a near-fatal poisoning in 2004.

    His supporters concluded that Russian intelligence introduced the chemical dioxin into his food when he was a presidential candidate advocating Ukraine's integration with the West."

    Details: The report also mentions the blowing up of the car belonging to a former leader of Ichkeria, Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev. Other Kremlin-related murders include the poisoning of former FSB officer Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006 and businessman Alexander Perepelichny, who died suddenly while jogging near his mansion in England in 2012.

    Another target of the Kremlin may be separatists in Ukraine’s east disloyal to Moscow, according to the declassified report. The 2015 murder of Oleksandr Biednov, who was the defence minister of the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic [a non-recognised quasi-state formation in Luhansk Oblast – ed.] is cited as an example.

    The US intelligence said it was highly confident in this report.

    It was also reported that Putin had probably given Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of the Chechen Republic who is extremely loyal to Putin, the freedom to kill Chechens abroad. Most of the killings attributed to Kadyrov's people have been carried out by shooting, while those that intelligence estimates were carried out by Russian secret services include a wide range of methods, including poisoning.

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  • Banks around the world refuse to service cards of Russian Gazprombank after US sanctions

    Banks around the world refuse to service cards of Russian Gazprombank after US sanctions

    Banks around the world refuse to service cards of Russian Gazprombank after US sanctions

    Banks in the UK, Turkey, UAE, Hungary and Thailand are cutting back on their cooperation with Russia following new US sanctions. Banks stop servicing Gazprombank's UnionPay cards.

    Banks in the UK, Turkey, the UAE, Hungary, and Thailand are cutting back on their cooperation with Russia after the latest package of US sanctions against Gazprombank, UNN reports, citing Reuters and the Russian media.

    Details

    British bank HSBC, the country's largest by assets, has stopped processing all payments from Russia and Belarus for its personal banking customers, the bank said on Friday. In a statement posted on the British bank's website, the lender “has decided to stop processing payments” from the two countries and to take alternative measures for any such transaction.

    RosMedia reports that Turkish banks have stopped servicing UnionPay bank cards issued by Russia's Gazprombank, as have UAE banks.

    OTP Bank in Hungary has also reportedly stopped servicing Gazprombank's UnionPay cards. Similarly, banks in Thailand have stopped servicing UnionPay cards issued by Gazprombank.

    AddendumAddendum

    On Friday, Washington imposed new sanctions on Russia's Gazprombank, preventing the state-controlled lender from processing any new energy-related transactions that affect the US financial system.

    The United States imposes sanctions on Gazprombank and the leadership of the Russian central bank. Zelensky thankedNov 21 2024, 05:57 PM • 34498 views

  • Russian forces reportedly advance near 5 settlements in Donetsk Oblast

    Russian forces reportedly advance near 5 settlements in Donetsk Oblast

    Russian forces reportedly advance near 5 settlements in Donetsk Oblast

    Russian forces are reportedly advancing near five settlements in Donetsk Oblast, the crowd-sourced monitoring website Deep State reported on Nov. 23.

    The settlement of Velyka Novosilka was targeted directly by a military column of "at least" five armored fighting vehicles, as well as two others through tree lines south of the settlement of Rozdolne, according to Deep State.

    Ukrainian forces pushed Russian troops out of Rozdolne, but the situation in the area remains "extremely challenging," Deep State reported.

    In addition to Velyka Novosilka and Rozdolne, Russian forces are advancing near Maksymivka, Pustynka, and Toretsk, Deep State wrote.

    Russia has been mounting increasingly intense attacks along multiple areas of the eastern front, attempting to breach Ukraine's defenses in Donetsk Oblast and to reach the cities of Kurakhove and Pokrovsk.

    From Bucha to Kursk: 1,000 days of Russia’s full-scale war (Photos)One thousand days ago, at 4 a.m. Kyiv time, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the deadliest military conflict in Europe since World War II. For 1,000 days, Ukraine has been defending against the Russian military, well-equipped and superior in numbers of weapons and people deployed.…Russian forces reportedly advance near 5 settlements in Donetsk OblastThe Kyiv IndependentIrynka HromotskaRussian forces reportedly advance near 5 settlements in Donetsk Oblast
  • New rules for mobilization reservations: what has changed and how long will the deferral be in effect

    New rules for mobilization reservations: what has changed and how long will the deferral be in effect

    New rules for mobilization reservations: what has changed and how long will the deferral be in effect

    The Cabinet of Ministers has approved updated rules for reserving persons liable for military service, which will be in effect until February 28, 2025. Electronic data exchange between registers and new reporting requirements for employers are being introduced.

    The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has published updated rules for reservations for persons liable for military service for the period of mobilization and martial law, UNN reports citing the relevant resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers.

    Details

    For all those who have already received a draft deferment, it remains valid until the end of the term for which it was granted. But there is a limitation: no deferment will be valid longer than February 28, 2025. This applies to both deferrals issued by the Ministry of Economy and those issued through the Unified State Web Portal of Electronic Services.

    The document clearly states cases when the postponement can be canceled, namely::

    – the deferral period has expired;

    – the company where the person liable for military service works no longer fulfills orders for the Armed Forces;

    – the organization has lost its status as critical to the economy or the life support of the population;

    – the enterprise or institution is liquidated;

    – the employee resigns or terminates the employment contract.

    In addition, the postponement may be canceled upon a reasonable submission by the head of the company or in case of failure of the operator to perform humanitarian demining.

    For those companies recognized as critical to the economy or the Armed Forces and whose status expires by November 30, 2024, the government has automatically extended the status until December 31, 2024.

    Employers are now obliged to promptly notify the Pension Fund of any changes regarding the employment of persons liable for military service.

    These include:

    – hiring or firing;

    – transfer of an employee to another position;

    – temporary termination or renewal of an employment contract.

    This data is transmitted through the Pension Fund's web portal using an electronic signature.

    To facilitate the booking process, the government is introducing real-time data exchange between different registers. In particular, we are talking about:

    – The only state web portal for electronic services;

    – a register of conscripts and persons liable for military service;

    – register of legal entities.

    This should make the document submission process faster and more convenient for both businesses and government agencies.

    The Ministry of Digital Transformation is tasked with ensuring the technical possibility of submitting documents in electronic form, and the Ministry of Defense is to organize the exchange of data on persons liable for military service. At the same time, all government agencies should review the criteria for recognizing enterprises as critical.

    Previously effective Cabinet of Ministers resolutions No. 650 and No. 1125 have been invalidated. The new rules will replace these documents and detail the booking procedure.

    New rules for booking employees: what will change from December 1Nov 15 2024, 10:49 AM • 121875 views

    Most of the new rules will come into force on December 1, 2024, but certain provisions, such as those on electronic interaction, will take effect immediately after the resolution is published.

    For those who have a deferral, the amendments provide clarity on the terms of its validity. Employers should monitor personnel changes more closely and submit information to government agencies in a timely manner. At the same time, the automation of booking processes should simplify the work of both companies and the authorities.

    Recall

    President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said that the models of economic bookingthat were shown to him are not entirely fair.

  • Poland considers Russia’s use of new ballistic missiles “act of Putin’s desperation”

    Poland considers Russia’s use of new ballistic missiles “act of Putin’s desperation”

    Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski has condemned Russia's launch of a new experimental ballistic missile on Ukraine, describing the attack as "an act of desperation".

    Source: Sikorski in an interview with the Voice of America, as reported by European Pravda

    Details: Sikorski was asked whether he considered the recent Russian strike on Dnipro, which involved a new ballistic missile, as an escalation in the war.

    In response, the Polish foreign minister said, "there's a lot of noise, as you know, as to what exactly hit Ukraine".

    "Russia has been using ballistic missiles throughout this war, but this is alleged to have been an intercontinental ballistic missile – which normally has a different use, which, if it is the case, is on the one hand an escalation and a signal, but on the other hand also an act of desperation that Putin is unable to win in this war," he said.

    Sikorski added that he is currently observing the Russian economy experiencing "real stress". He also noted reports of desertions among Russian soldiers, emphasising that "inviting mercenaries from North Korea is not exactly a sign of strength".

    Background:

    • Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin stated that Russian forces had used an Oreshnik medium-range missile during the morning attack on Dnipro on 21 November.
    • The Pentagon explained that Russia had launched an experimental intermediate-range ballistic missile, based on the RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile, on Dnipro.
    • Earlier, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stressed that "the events of the last few dozen hours" point to a "real threat of global conflict".

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  • Court postpones Trump’s sentencing in hush money case: what’s going on

    Court postpones Trump’s sentencing in hush money case: what’s going on

    Court postpones Trump's sentencing in hush money case: what's going on

    Judge Juan Merchant postponed the sentencing of Donald Trump indefinitely. Trump's lawyers were given until December 2 to justify the request to dismiss the case.

    The sentencing of US President-elect Donald Trump in the hush money case has been postponed indefinitely. Judge Juan Merchant decided to postpone the trial, giving Trump's lawyers time to justify the request to close the case, UNN reports citing Politico.

    Details

    The sentencing of Donald Trump in the hush money case has been postponed indefinitely by a Manhattan court. This decision was made on Friday by Judge Juan Merchant, who is presiding over the trial. This was another legal victory for the newly elected US president on his way to returning to the White House, the publication points out.

    Judge Merchant postponed the sentencing date, originally scheduled for November 26, to consider a request from Trump's lawyers to dismiss the case. They argue that their client, as the president-elect, should avoid legal obstacles that could interfere with his duties. The lawyers have until December 2 to submit their arguments, while Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has until December 9 to respond.

    Prosecutors object to the dismissal of the case, but agree that the sentence may have to be postponed until the end of Trump's presidential term in January 2029. Trump's lawyers say that even so, the sentencing is unacceptable because the threat of punishment makes it difficult for him to fulfill his presidential duties.

    Recall

    In May, Trump was found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to the payment of money to porn star Stormy Daniels to cover up the scandal. The verdict was originally scheduled to be announced in the summer, but Trump twice had it postponed. After winning the election, experts suggested that the sentencing would likely be postponed until the end of his presidential term.