Kyiv was attacked by enemy drones from different directions. During the 5-hour air alert, air defense forces destroyed more than 10 drones, with no damage or casualties.
At night, the capital was again attacked by enemy UAVs. More than a dozen drones were destroyed during an air battle. This was reported by the head of the KCMA Serhiy Popko, UNN reports.
Details
According to the information, drones attacked Kyiv in waves from different directions, in groups of variable size.
The air raid lasted more than 5 hours.
The defense forces effectively countered the threat, destroying more than a dozen enemy drones. The exact number of destroyed UAVs and their type will be reported by the Air Force later.
According to preliminary information, there were no damages or injuries.
Recall
Last night it was reported that there were explosions in Kyiv.
Air Defense in Kyiv: Chechens attack the capital from different directionsNov 25 2024, 10:55 PM • 11637 views
The U.K. has delivered dozens of Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine, Bloomberg reports, marking the first major arms transfer under Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s leadership.
The unannounced shipments carried out weeks ago, were ordered after Ukrainian forces faced shortages of long-range missiles, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Officials speaking to Bloomberg, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the information, confirmed that the missiles were supplied before the U.K. and the U.S. authorized Ukraine to target locations inside Russia with long-range weapons. The exact timeline and quantity of the shipment remain undisclosed.
"We do not comment on operational detail, to do so would only benefit [Russian President Vladimir Putin]," the Ministry of Defense told Bloomberg. The ministry reiterated the U.K.’s "ironclad" support for Ukraine in its war against Russia.
Ukrainian forces recently used the Storm Shadow missiles to strike Russian targets in the western Bryansk region, one day after deploying U.S.-made ATACMS in similar operations.
At the G20 summit in Brazil on Nov. 20, Starmer said his government was "doubling down" on its support for Ukraine but avoided disclosing specifics. Ukraine had previously used Storm Shadows against Russian forces in the Black Sea, though the U.K. government has not confirmed the total number supplied since the war began.
The missiles, manufactured by MBDA, a defense company that provides missile systems for each branch of the armed forces, are precision-guided and boast a range exceeding 250 kilometers. Equipped with advanced navigation systems, they are designed to fly close to terrain at high speeds, enhancing their effectiveness in striking critical targets.
The Ukrainian Air Force reports the activity of enemy attack drones over Kyiv, Khmelnytsky and Vinnytsia regions. The population is urged to take shelter, and air defense forces are on alert.
Enemy attack drones were spotted in the sky over Ukraine. This was reported by the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, UNN reports.
Details
Enemy attack drones are attacking Ukrainian regions again. Enemy UAV activity has been confirmed in the Kyiv region, particularly in the area of Bila Tserkva.
In Khmelnytsky region, drones were spotted flying in the directions of Shepetivka and Starokonstantinov. In the Vinnytsia region, drones were spotted near Koziatyn, raising concerns about possible strikes on critical infrastructure.
Air defense forces are on high alert. Residents of these regions are urged to stay in shelters and follow safety rules.
A strange flash in the sky was spotted in several regions of UkraineApr 30 2024, 11:13 PM • 22582 views
Ukrainian drones hit oil depot in western Russia's Kaluga Oblast, source says
Ukraine can strike Russian territory with ATACMS missiles, White House confirms
Russian missile attacks on central Kharkiv, Odesa injures dozens
Ukraine's 3rd Brigade says it liberated Kharkiv Oblast village, took POWs
Ukraine developing guided aerial bombs domestically, Chief of Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff says
Drones operated by Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) hit an oil depot in the western Russian city of Kaluga, a source in the agency told the Kyiv Independent on Nov. 25.
The Kaluganefteprodukt oil facility, which is used to support Russian aggression against Ukraine, was struck by drones at 0:30 a.m. on Nov. 25, leading to a fire, the source claimed.
The successful attack was later confirmed by the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces.
Kaluga, a city of roughly 340,000 people, lies approximately 290 kilometers (180 miles) north of the Ukrainian border.
Videos shared on local Telegram channels showed a fire and active air defenses in the city.
Kaluga Oblast Governor Vladislav Shapsha claimed that eight drones were shot down overnight, resulting in a fire at an industrial facility that was later extinguished.
The official did not provide further details on possible damage and said there had been no casualties.
According to Andrii Kovalenko, head of the counter-disinformation department at Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, drones also targeted Kaluga's Taifun (Typhoon) factory, which produces radio-electronic equipment, missile and aviation components, and other military supplies.
It remains unclear whether the Taifun factory suffered damage, as the target was not mentioned by the HUR source.
Ukrainian forces also struck Russian targets in the Bryansk and Kursk oblasts overnight on Nov. 25, the General Staff reported.
The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the claims.
Ukraine can hit targets in Russia with ATACMS missiles, White House confirms
Ukraine used U.S.-supplied longe-range ATACMS missile to strike targets inside Russia, U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told journalists on Nov. 25.
The confirmation by Washington came days after reports that Kyiv launched ATACMS missiles at a military facility in Karachev, Bryansk Oblast. The strikes with Western-made missiles were also reported in Kursk Oblast.
"Right now, they (Ukrainian soldiers) have the ability to use ATACMS to defend themselves in an immediate-need basis. Understandably, that's taken place in and around Kursk Oblast," Kirby said.
"We did change the guidance and gave them guidance that they can use them to strike these particular types of targets."
Russian missile attacks on central Kharkiv, Odesa injures dozens
Russia launched an attack against the central part of Kharkiv on the morning of Nov. 25, injuring at least 23 people, officials reported.
Thirteen people have been hospitalized, Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov wrote on his Telegram channel.
The victims were at work or walking down the street, Spartak Borysenko, head of the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office, told the Suspilne broadcaster.
The Russian military likely struck a densely populated residential area in central Kharkiv with an S-400 missile, Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported on his Telegram channel.
"(The missile) landed in a yard surrounded by multi-story buildings. Buildings and cars caught fire," he wrote. According to Borysenko, at least five cars were damaged, while the number of damaged buildings is still being determined.
Later in a day, Russia also launched a missile attack against downtown Odesa, injuring at least 11 people, Governor Oleh Kiper reported.
The aftermath of a Russian attack on the city of Odesa on Nov. 25, 2024. (State Emergency Service)
Ukraine's 3rd Brigade liberated Kharkiv Oblast village, took POWs
Ukraine’s Third Assault Brigade said on Nov. 25 that it pushed Russian troops out of the Kopanky village in Kharkiv Oblast, taking several prisoners of war (POW) from Russia’s First Tank Army.
Russian forces were reportedly pushed out after they attempted to break into Kopanky, a village in eastern Kharkiv Oblast close to the administrative border with Luhansk Oblast.
The settlement lies around 40 kilometers (25 miles) southeast of Kupiansk, a key logistics hub under increasing pressure from Russian troops.
In a video published by the unit, seven POWs are seen in a basement-like room during a filmed interrogation. According to the unit, the POWs' positions came under artillery fire from the Russian military after their capture.
The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the unit’s claims or where the video was recorded.
Ukraine developing guided aerial bombs domestically, military says
Ukraine is actively working on developing its own guided aerial bombs, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Anatolii Barhylevych reported on Nov. 24.
"We are actively working on it. I think we will achieve such success," he said on national television.
According to Barhylevych, Russia holds the largest stockpile of aerial bombs inherited from the Soviet Union.
Guided aerial bombs are precision-guided munitions that have a shorter range than missiles but are far cheaper to produce.
When launched from aircraft within Russian territory or Russian-occupied territories, they are beyond the reach of Ukrainian air defense.
Enemy troops advanced near Novomlynsk, Dalne, Kostiantynopol, Rozdolne, Petrivka and Kurakhove.
The occupying forces have advanced in several areas of the front. This is reported by DeepState, according to UNN.
Details
According to the information, this enemy advance was near Novomlynsk, Dalne, Kostiantynopol, Rozdolne, Petrivka and Kurakhove.
Recall
According to the General Staff, the enemy managed to launch 3 missile strikes, 47 air strikes, dropped 63 guided bombs and used 647 kamikaze drones. In addition, 3,360 attacks on Ukrainian positions and civilian settlements were recorded.
The enemy is advancing in the east: which settlements are under threat – DeepStateNov 20 2024, 11:53 PM • 18464 views
The foreign ministers of Group of Seven (G7) countries are expected to agree to increase diplomatic pressure on China over the country's support for Russia's 'war machine' in Ukraine, Bloomberg reported on Nov. 25, citing an early draft of a communique seen by the publication.
The draft communique, which vows to introduce "appropriate measures consistent with our legal systems, against actors in China and in other third countries," is still in development as G7 foreign ministers meet in Italy on Nov. 25-26, Bloomberg reported.
If adopted, the language of the communique would mark an escalation among G7 allies, with an April communique simply calling for China to "ensure" that it stops supporting Russia with dual-use goods.
The reported draft communique comes as G7 allies attempt to increase pressure, as well as support for Ukraine, ahead of the January inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump — who has repeatedly criticized U.S. aid to Ukraine and vowed to get the U.S. "out" of the war as soon as possible. The draft communique is also expected to reaffirm the G7's "unwavering commitment" to Ukraine.
The escalatory tone comes as Western allies have reportedly accused China of militarily supporting Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Reuters reported on Sept. 25, citing European intelligence sources, that Russia has secretly established a development and production program in China for attack drones to be used in the war.
The EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell reportedly informed European nations of "convincing" evidence of Chinese production "of lethal aid" to Russia, the German media outlet Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) reported on Nov. 15, citing three EU officials.
According to the draft communique, G7 allies will also "continue to apply significant pressure on Russian revenues from energy, metals and other commodities through the effective implementation of existing measures and further actions against (Russia's) ‘shadow fleet’" — referring to Moscow’s efforts to evade sanctions on the $60-per-barrel oil price cap imposed two years ago.
Earlier on Nov. 25, the United Kingdom sanctioned 30 oil tankers of Russia's "shadow fleet" that carried billions of dollars worth of oil and oil products last year.
Draft communiques are often subject to revision before a final draft is approved.
China has repeatedly claimed to have positioned itself as neutral in the Russia-Ukraine war, but has simultaneously deepened economic ties with Moscow and backed the country against Western sanctions.
Earlier in July, NATO's then-Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that allies agreed that Beijing is a "decisive enabler" of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Air defense has been activated in Kyiv due to a drone attack. According to Mayor Vitali Klitschko, the militants are entering the city from different directions.
Air defense is working in the capital. This was announced by Mayor Vitali Klitschko, UNN reports.
The UAV attack on the capital continues. Air defense forces are operating in different parts of the city. Chechens enter the capital from different directions
– said the mayor.
Recall
Earlier, it was reported that explosions had occurred in Kyiv.
Explosions are heard in KyivNov 25 2024, 10:43 PM • 696 views
A record 38 Russian Shahed-type attack drones entered Belarusian territory overnight on Nov. 24-25, with at least one of the drones reportedly shot down by the Belarusian Air Force, the monitoring group Belarusian Hajun reported.
The airspace intrusions, which have increased in recent months, comes as Russia continues to intensify its drone attacks against Ukrainian cities. Russia launched a total of 145 drones at Ukrainian targets overnight, with Ukrainian air defenses downing 71 of the attack drones, Ukraine's Air Force said.
The incident, marking the largest Russian drone incursion into Belarusian airspace since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, marks one of the rare occasions when a Belarusian aircraft has downed a drone entering its airspace. Belarus' military confirmed downing a Russian drone over its territory for the first time on Sept. 5.
According to Belarusian Hajun, the Belarusian Air Force scrambled fighter jets four times over the past 24 hours to counter the attack drones. The monitoring group reported that the majority of the attack drones passed along Belarus' southern border with Ukraine, particularly in Homel Oblast.
Minsk has never publicly raised objections to Moscow – its key ally – over the reported drone incidents.
Despite not being directly involved in Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Belarus hosts Russian troops and missiles on its territory.
The attacks come as Russia continues to increase its attacks against civilian targets, amid an expected harsh winter plagued by energy shortages.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Nov. 2 that Russia launched over 2,000 Shahed-type drones at Ukraine in October, with the Air Force previously reporting that Russia launched at least 4,300 Shahed-type attack drones and similar UAVs imitating Shaheds against Ukraine between August and October 2024.
Later in the day on Nov. 25, a Russian drone attacked the village of Solonchaky in Mykolaiv Oblast while humanitarian aid was being distributed there, injuring five people with both aid workers and residents among the victims.
The Ukrainian Defense Minister discussed the key needs of the Armed Forces with his colleagues from Germany, France, Italy, the UK and Poland. Umerov emphasized the need for faster and more effective support from partners.
Umerov said that support for allies should be faster and more effective. This is reported by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, UNN reports.
Details
Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov discussed the key needs of the Ukrainian Defense Forces during a videoconference with the defense ministers of Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Poland. An important emphasis was placed on the need for more prompt and effective support from international partners.
Umerov emphasized that in order to achieve victory, Ukraine must receive more weapons, ammunition and technical assistance from its allies. One of the priorities is to strengthen air defense, given the constant threat from a terrorist country that continues to attack Ukraine's critical infrastructure.
The issue of artillery ammunition was also raised, as the 1 million shells provided by our partners are not enough to achieve the necessary parity with the enemy. In this regard, Umerov emphasized the need for additional supplies for effective combat.
Ukraine actively cooperates with international partners in the defense industry. The key areas for development include the production of ammunition, armored vehicles, air defense systems and artillery systems in Ukraine, as well as technology transfer for the development of domestic defense capabilities.
Umerov paid special attention to the need to audit the assistance provided to Ukraine over the past three years to identify the most effective support models and expand them in the future. Ukraine is also ready for new initiatives that will help meet the needs of the Armed Forces in 2025.
Umerov on using Storm Shadow: let's not go into detailsNov 21 2024, 06:26 AM • 17713 views
The international drone coalition is planning to gather 1.8 billion euros ($1.8 billion) by the end of 2024 to support Ukraine, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced on Nov. 25.
"This decision will allow Ukraine to strengthen its technological advantage on the battlefield and destroy the enemy more effectively," Umerov said.
An allied initiative, co-headed by the U.K. and Latvia, was launched in January to bolster Ukraine's arsenal of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which became a crucial capability on the battlefield. Nearly 20 countries joined the coalition as of late November.
Riga will allocate 20 million euros ($21 million) this year for the effort. Umerov did not specify how much money other countries will allocate to the drone coalition.
Ukraine is also working to scale up domestic production, aiming to produce at least 1 million drones in 2024. Kyiv employs long-range drones to strike deep into Russian territory, targeting military infrastructure such as airfields and logistics, as well as oil refineries and depots.
The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk
