Category: War in Ukraine

Nearly 22,000 residents have been evacuated from Kharkiv Oblast since May, with efforts ongoing to evacuate more residents from settlements near the front line, Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov said on Nov. 23.

"We are continuing evacuation efforts, bringing both children and adults to safety," Syniehubov said on air.

Kharkiv Oblast has endured constant Russian attacks for over two and a half years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Syniehubov noted that the most targeted areas include the Vovchansk direction in the Chuhuiv district, the Lyptsi area, and the Kupiansk direction. The city of Kupiansk was briefly captured by Russian forces in 2022 before being reclaimed by Ukrainian troops. Its strategic value lies in its position as a key logistics and transportation hub, with several major highways and five railway lines converging within the city.

The governor added that evacuees are being provided with humanitarian aid, psychological support, and financial assistance in relatively safe areas, including the city of Kharkiv, located less than 30 kilometers from the Russian border.

Ukraine war latest: Ukraine repels Russian attempt to enter Kupiansk, military saysKey developments on Nov. 14: * Ukraine repels Russian attempt to enter Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast, military says * Defense Ministry pledges to draft bill on demobilization by Dec. 18, official says * European officials opening up to ‘land-for-security’ deal in Ukraine, WP reports * Trump’s nomi…The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

There were 227 combat engagements in the frontline, the most active in the Pokrovsk sector. The enemy carried out 39 air strikes, fired over 3,000 times and used 800 kamikaze drones.

Over the last day, 227 combat engagements took place on the Russian-Ukrainian front. Russians continue to attack most actively in the Pokrovsk sector. This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, UNN reports.

According to the updated information, yesterday the enemy conducted 39 air strikes on the positions of Ukrainian units and localities, including 53 missiles. In addition, it conducted over three thousand attacks, including 159 with multiple launch rocket systems and engaged over 800 kamikaze drones,

– the message says.

Details

The aggressor carried out air strikes in the areas of Lozova, Kharkiv region; Tverdokhlibove, Luhansk region; Hryhorivka, Bilohorivka, Chasiv Yar, Toretsk, Nelipivka, Katerynivka, Ivanopillia, Yablunivka, Zorya, Oleksandropil, Hrodivka, Myrolyubivka, Yelyzavetivka, Sukha Balka, Dachne, Romanivka, Ulakly, Kostiantynopil, Velyka Novosilka, Donetsk region.

Over the past day, the aviation, missile forces and artillery of the Defense Forces hit two areas of concentration of personnel, weapons and military equipment, and one enemy radar station.

Over the past day, 13 combat engagements with Russian invaders took place in the Kharkiv sector in the areas of Vovchansk and Tykhyi.

In Kupyansk sector, 12 militants' attacks took place over the last day. Defense forces repelled enemy assaults near Hlushkivka, Synkivka, Zahryzove, Novoplatonivka, Kindrashivka, Pishchany and Zelenyi Hai.

In the Liman sector, the enemy attacked 17 times. They tried to break into our defense near Druzhelyubivka, Tverdokhlibove, Novoyehorivka, Hrekivka, Novomykhailivka, Cherneshchyna, Kopanky, Yampolivka and Terny.

In the Siverskyi sector yesterday our defenders repelled one enemy attack near Bilohorivka.

In the Kramatorsk sector , the occupants attacked three times in the areas of Stupochky and Chasovyi Yar.

On the Tof the Oretsk direction, the enemy made two attacks in the direction of Toretsk.

In the Pokrovsky sector, our defenders stopped 55 aggressor attacks in the areas of Promin, Lysivka, Krutyi Yar, Myrnohrad, Hryhorivka, Myrolyubivka, Zhovte, Pushkine, Petrivka and Pustynka. The highest concentration of hostilities was near Dachenske.

The enemy was actively using bombers and attack aircraft to strike in the area.

In the Kurakhove sector, the Defense Forces repelled 47 attacks. The occupants actively used aviation to try to advance near Berestky, Dalne, Romanivka, Sontsivka, Zorya, Novodmytrivka, Kurakhove, Katerynivka and Antonivka.

In the Vremivsk direction, therotary conducted 26 assaults on our positions in the areas of Velyka Novosilka, Novodarivka, Trudove, Sukhi Yaliv, Rozdolne, Kostiantynopilske and Rivne.

The enemy did not conduct any assault operations in the Huliaypillia and Orikhivsk sectors yesterday.

Five times without success, the invaders' troops tried to force the units of the Defense Forces out of their positions in the Prydniprovskyi direction.

The operation in the Kursk region continues. Over the past day, the enemy fired 197 artillery shells at the positions of our troops, 13 of them from multiple rocket launchers.

– the General Staff added.

No signs of enemy offensive groups were detected in the Volyn and Polissya directions.

More than 1000 occupants, 4 tanks and 5 artillery systems: General Staff updates data on enemy lossesNov 24 2024, 06:08 AM • 4429 views

Mediazona, an independent Russian outlet, together with BBC Russia, has confirmed through open-source research the names of 79,819 Russian soldiers killed since the start of Russia's all-out war.

As Vladimir Putin boasted the new Oreshnik nuclear-capable intermediate-range ballistic missile, sparking renewed fears of nuclear escalation, Mediazona reported nearly 2,700 additional Russian military deaths in Ukraine over the past two weeks.

The confirmed death toll now includes 17,000 volunteers, 14,500 recruited prisoners, and 9,700 mobilized soldiers, according to the media outlets. The journalists note that the actual figures are likely significantly higher, as their verified information comes from public sources such as obituaries, posts by relatives, regional media reports, and statements from local authorities.

The Nov. 22 report comes amid growing evidence of widespread violence within Russian military ranks. Recent incidents include the arrests of two commanders, known by the call signs Bely ("White") and Gvozd ("Nail"), for confining subordinates in dog cages and the death of pro-Kremlin American volunteer Russell Bentley in a military detention facility.

Since Russia began its full-scale on Feb. 22, 2022, over 4,364 Russian officers have been killed in combat in Ukraine.

According to figures released by Kyiv, total Russian losses in Ukraine had exceeded 700,000 as of Nov. 4, marking an increase of 100,000 in just 77 days. The figures do not distinguish between those killed, wounded, missing, or captured, though they are widely understood to encompass all categories. These numbers mostly align with estimates from Western nations.

For 2nd day straight, Russia’s reported losses in Ukraine surge to record levelsThe figure surpasses the previous record of 1,770 set just the day before.The Kyiv IndependentChris York

The President of Ukraine expressed dissatisfaction with the weak support for Ukraine at the G20 summit in Brazil. Zelenskyy criticized President Lula da Silva's position and called for more decisive action against Russian aggression.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the G20 summit in Brazil was held with weak support for Ukraine. He said this during a conversation with journalists at the Third International Grain from Ukraine Conference, UNN reports.

Details

Zelenskiy noted that the majority of the Brazilian people support Ukraine, and thanked them for this. At the same time, in his opinion, the President of Brazil, Lula da Silva, the country that currently holds the G20 presidency and hosted the summit, demonstrated a weak position on the war.

If we want good, normal relations between our nations, between our peoples, then we probably need to support people first, not aggressors, leaders of aggression in the world, such as Putin, such as today's, modern Russia

– said the President of Ukraine.

According to him, the weakness shown during the G20 summit allowed the Russian dictator to fire new missiles at Ukraine during the G20 leaders' meeting.

I do not believe that populism can stop Putin. I don't believe that cheap energy resources can be used to protect your freedom for a long time. I think it is a false movement

– the Head of State emphasized.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy also emphasized that when there are strong statements, calls and steps, the Russian dictator will not be able to behave the way he is doing now.

In addition, the President noted that Ukraine had raised the issue of reforming the UN Security Council in view of its ineffectiveness.

Everyone is talking about it, but the UN Security Council reform is not happening. There are players who do not want any reforms, because otherwise their influence will be less,

– the Head of State said.

The President of Ukraine added that every two to three months Putin escalates on the front to raise the stakes and not sit down at the negotiating table. Without a clear position of the big countries – the United States, Brazil, Asia and Africa – negotiations with Putin will be a delay and a continuation of intimidation by Russia.

At the same time, all the steps that Ukraine is proposing to end the war are based on the UN Charter. Our country hopes that its partners will support them .

Recall

Ukraine is expanding its diplomatic presence in Africa, opening 10 new embassies. Zelenskiy announced the creation of grain hubs and technology exchange with African countries.

Russia has ramped up its use of North Korean ballistic missiles in strikes against Ukraine, with approximately a third of its 2024 attacks involving these weapons, according to Ukrainian military officials and public records analyzed by CNN.

The missiles, powered by Western-made components despite international sanctions, highlight a growing collaboration between Moscow and Pyongyang. North Korea’s role in supporting Russia extends beyond weapons, with about 11,000 North Korean soldiers reportedly deployed to Russia’s Kursk region.

In 2024, Russia launched around 60 North Korean KN-23 missiles, accounting for nearly one-third of the 194 ballistic missile strikes tracked by Ukraine’s Air Force. August and September saw a surge in these attacks, with Ukrainian officials publicly identifying the KN-23 as a significant threat during that period.

"Since the spring, Russia has been using ballistic missiles and attack drones much more to strike Ukraine, and less use of cruise missiles," Yuriy Ihnat, acting head of communications for Ukraine’s Air Force, told CNN.

Ukrainian investigators have uncovered evidence of extensive use of Western components in the KN-23 missiles. According to Ukraine’s Independent Anti-Corruption Commission (NAKO), nine Western companies, including manufacturers from the United States, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, produced key components for these weapons.

"Everything that works to guide the missile, to make it fly, is all foreign components. All the electronics are foreign. There is nothing Korean in it," Andriy Kulchytskyi, head of the Military Research Laboratory at Kyiv’s Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise, told CNN. He noted that the missiles’ metal casing, which corrodes quickly, appears to be the only Korean-made part.

Fragments of the missiles, some produced as recently as 2023, suggest a rapid supply chain funneling components to North Korea. Ukrainian Defense Intelligence officials estimate that about 70% of these parts are American, with the rest sourced from Germany, Switzerland, and other countries.

A U.K.-based investigative group, Conflict Armament Research (CAR), previously found that 75% of components in one early KN-23 missile used against Ukraine came from U.S. companies.

Missile strikes involving North Korean weapons have killed at least 28 people and injured 213 in Ukraine this year, according to the Ukrainian prosecutor general.

"Investigating these missiles isn’t easy due to the damage, but we can still identify the vast majority of components as Western-made," said a Ukrainian defense intelligence official.

The exact routes by which components reach North Korea remain unclear, according to weapons-tracing experts, though evidence strongly suggests China as the primary conduit.

"We have successfully traced some of those components, and the last known custodians are Chinese companies," said Damien Spleeters, deputy director of operations at Conflict Armament Research (CAR), an organization that independently tracks diverted weapons. According to Spleeters, Chinese firms acquire the components from manufacturers and pass them through a network of intermediaries.

Ukraine war latest: Russia likely used ballistic missile from ‘Kedr’ complex to strike Dnipro, intelligence saysKey developments on Nov. 22: * Russia likely used ballistic missile from ‘Kedr’ complex to strike Dnipro, intelligence says * Russia plans to launch mass production of Oreshnik missile, Putin says * North Korea received anti-aircraft missiles, oil from Russia in exchange for troops, reports say…The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

The Center for Countering Disinformation denied the fake about the departure of the US, British, French and German embassies from Ukraine. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that all foreign diplomats continue to work on the ground.

Russian propaganda spreading information about the alleged departure of employees of the US, British, French and German embassies outside Ukraine is not true. This was reported by the Center for Countering Disinformation, UNN reports.

The information that the staff of the US, UK, French and German embassies, as well as representatives of Belgium, the Netherlands and Scandinavian countries, have left Ukraine is not true,

– the center said.

Details

According to the CPA, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine noted that all employees of foreign diplomatic missions continue to perform their duties in the field.

The purpose of this fake is to sow panic in Ukrainian society. Trust only verified sources of information,

– the center emphasized.

Sanctions force russia's largest diamond producer to cut production and lay off people – CPJNov 22 2024, 09:29 AM • 14798 views

President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Group of 20 (G20) leaders on Nov. 23 following the most recent summit in Brazil, adding that Brazilian President Lula da Silva, the current holder of the G20 Presidency, showed a "weak position" on Russia's war in Ukraine.

The group, which includes Russia among its members, also includes a number of countries who have contributed to Russia's economic development throughout its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, including China and India.

Despite ongoing divisions among G20 nations regarding the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, negotiators managed to reach a consensus on a final communiqué that broadly condemned the human suffering caused by both wars.

The G20 summit’s final communiqué devotes just one paragraph to the war in Ukraine, a stark contrast to the seven paragraphs in last year’s declaration from New Delhi. This year’s statement omits any condemnation of nuclear threats tied to Ukraine or appeals to halt attacks on food and energy infrastructure.

The statement has faced criticism for its weak stance on Russia, avoiding a direct condemnation of its actions in Ukraine. The world’s major economies used ambiguous language, merely referencing the "human suffering" caused by the war and stopping short of directly naming Russia.

"If we want good, normal relations between our nations, between our peoples, then, we should probably support people first, not aggressors, leaders of aggression in the world, like (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, like today's modern Russia," Zelensky said.

Zelensky added that a lack of a strong, unified condemnation by G20 leaders led Putin to strike Ukraine with new weapons, including Russia's use of the new type of intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) against Dnipro on Nov. 21.

"Without a clear stance from major countries – the United States, Brazil, Asian and African states – agreements with Putin will amount to mere stalling tactics and further intimidation by Russia," the Presidential Office wrote in a news release.

Russia reportedly uses new ‘Oreshnik’ ballistic missile against Ukraine — what we know so farRussian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised address that the attack was a test of Russia’s “newest missile,” an IRBM called “Oreshnik.”The Kyiv IndependentChris York

There were 224 combat engagements with the Russian invaders over the last day, with the largest number of attacks in the Pokrovsk sector – 55. The enemy lost 167 troops and equipment in this sector.

On Saturday, November 23, 224 combat engagements between the Ukrainian Defense Forces and Russian invaders took place at the front, with the enemy attacking most actively at the Pokrovske, Kurakhove and Vremivske directions. This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, having released operational information as of 22:00 on Saturday, November 23, UNN reported.

Since the beginning of the day, 224 combat engagements took place, the enemy launched 37 air strikes using 48 combat aircraft, over 270 kamikaze drone strikes and fired over two thousand times at the positions of our troops and settlements using various types of weapons,

– the message says.

There were 13 combat engagements with Russian invaders in the Kharkiv sector . Eleven attacks in the areas of Vovchansk and Tykhyne were repelled by Ukrainian troops, and two more are ongoing.

In the Kupyansk sector, the enemy tried 12 times to force our units out of their positions near Hlushkivka, Synkivka, Zahryzove, Novoplatonivka, Kindrashivka, Pishchany and Zelenyi Hai.

The enemy attacked seventeen times in the Liman sector, trying to advance towards Druzhelyubivka, Tverdokhlibove, Novoyehorivka, Hrekivka, Novomykhailivka, Cherneshchyna, Kopanky, Yampolivka and Terny. In addition, the enemy launched air strikes with unguided missiles at the settlement of Tverdokhlibove.

In the Siverskyi sector near Bilohorivka, our defenders repelled one enemy attack.

The enemy carried out three assaults on the settlement of Chasiv Yar with unguided missiles in the Kramatorsk sector, attacking the positions of our defenders. The occupiers were active in the areas of Stupochky and Chasiv Yar, and all the enemy's attempts to improve their position were stopped by Ukrainian soldiers.

By launching air strikes on Toretsk, Nelipivka, Katerynivka and Ivanopillia, the enemy twice tried to break into our defense in the Toretsk sector near Toretsk.

The enemy is intensively attacking Ukrainian defenders in the Pokrovske sector . The aggressor made 55 offensive attacks there during the day. Russian occupants were most active in the areas of Promin, Lysivka, Krutyi Yar, Myrnohrad, Hryhorivka, Myroliubivka, Dachanske, Zhovte, Pushkine, Petrivka and Pustynka. In total, Ukrainian defenders have repelled 49 attacks in the sector, and six more engagements are ongoing. The situation is difficult but under control of the Defense Forces. Our soldiers are making efforts to prevent the enemy from advancing deep into Ukrainian territory.

According to the information currently available, the aggressor's losses in this sector amounted to 167 people killed and wounded. Two armored personnel carriers, one infantry fighting vehicle, and two vehicles were destroyed. In addition, three enemy infantry fighting vehicles were damaged.

In the Kurakhove sector, 47 combat engagements have taken place as of this time of day. The invaders remain highly active, trying to advance in the areas of Berestki, Dalne, Romanivka, Sontsivka, Zorya, Novodmitrivka, Kurakhove, Katerynivka and Antonivka. The enemy launched air strikes with guided missiles in the areas of Dachne, Romanivka and Ulaklivka. In this area, the enemy lost 64 people in killed and wounded. Our troops destroyed one tank, one unit of motorized vehicles and six dugouts, and severely damaged two enemy armored infantry vehicles.

Twenty-five firefights took place in the Vremivsk sector. All enemy assaults were stopped in the areas of Velyka Novosilka, Novodarivka, Trudove, Sukhi Yaliv, Rozdolne, Kostiantynopilske and Rivne.

The enemy did not conduct active operations in the Gulyaypillia sector .

The settlements of Temyrivka and Zelene Pole in the Orikhivsk sector were bombarded with six guided aerial bombs.

In the Prydniprovsky sector, our soldiers repelled five attacks by Russian invaders on the positions of Ukrainian troops.

In other areas, there were no significant changes in the situation.

Storm Shadow strikes Kursk region: Russian lieutenant general and hundreds of North Korean soldiers killedNov 23 2024, 01:47 PM • 32770 views

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told the BBC in an excerpt of an interview published on Nov. 23 that Western allies should "not set and express red lines" on providing Ukraine with military support against Russian aggression.

The comments come just days after U.S. President Joe Biden approved Ukraine's use of U.S.-supplied long-range missile to strike targets within Russia, many months after President Volodymyr Zelensky first made the request.

Days before the approval, the leaders of France and the U.K. met in Paris on Nov. 11 to discuss a last-ditch attempt to persuade the U.S. to allow Ukraine to strike deep inside Russia with Western weapons before Donald Trump enters the White House in January.

Barrot's comments come as EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola, on Nov. 23, also called on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to send long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine — even as Scholz has repeatedly denied the possibility of supplying Ukraine with the weaponry, fearing that Germany would be brought into the war with Russia.

"(France) will support Ukraine as intensely and as long as necessary. Why? Because it is our security that is at stake. Each time the Russian army progresses by one square kilometre, the threat gets one square kilometre closer to Europe," Barrot said.

Barrot stated that Ukraine could use French-supplied long-range missiles "in the logics of self defence" to strike targets within Russia, but did not elaborate as to whether Kyiv has already used the French-provided weapons.

During the interview Barrot also hinted France may eventually invite Ukraine to join NATO as part of Zelensky's five-point victory plan.

"We are open to extending an invitation, and so in our discussions with friends and allies, and friends and allies of Ukraine, we are working to get them to closer to our positions."

Earlier this year, French President Emmanuel Macron said he would consider sending French troops to Ukraine in the case of a Russian breakthrough at the front or if Ukraine requested it.

When asked by the BBC whether sending French troops would constitute a so-called red-line, Barrot said that France would "not discard any option."

Barrot's comments comes as Russia continues to intensify its attacks along the eastern front in recent weeks, putting Ukrainian forces under mounting pressure as they struggle to defend key positions.

In total, almost 580,000 Russian soldiers are participating in combat against Ukraine, Vadym Skibitskyi, the deputy head of Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR), told Interfax Ukraine on Nov. 21.

Ukraine has lost over 40% of territory previously gained in Kursk incursion, Reuters reportsUkraine has lost over 40 per cent of the territory it previously gained in Russia’s Kursk Oblast due to Russian counterattacks, Reuters reported on Nov. 23, citing a source in Ukraine’s General Staff.The Kyiv IndependentDmytro Basmat

The German Defense Minister said that Russia's war against Ukraine is no longer a regional one, but a threat to the whole of Europe. Putin has switched to a war economy and is waging a hybrid war with disinformation.

Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine is no longer a regional one. Europe is facing a long-term threat. This was stated by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, Spiegel reports, UNN writes.

Details

Pistorius noted that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin "has completely switched to a military economy." In particular, Russia produces as much weapons and ammunition in three months as the entire EU produces in one year.

In his speech in late October, Putin spoke of "a serious, irreconcilable struggle for a new world order,

– Pistorius emphasized.

According to him, Putin already sees himself as a winner in the war against Ukraine. At the same time, Pistorius said that a hybrid war with disinformation and fake news is in full swing.

Our security is a fragile asset. Germany must accelerate and invest more in its military capabilities,

– the German Defense Minister warned.

Pistorius will not run for German ChancellorNov 21 2024, 10:35 PM • 18763 views