Category: War in Ukraine

Editor's note: This story is being updated as more details emerge.

State Border Guard spokesperson Andrii Demchenko confirmed to the Kyiv Independent that a Russian sabotage group planted a Russian flag near the border in Ukraine's Chernihiv Oblast, but said that the event occurred in the grey zone and Russian troops did not launch a major offensive in the region.

Demchenko's statement comes on Nov. 15 after Russian military bloggers posted videos purportedly showing Russian troops planting a flag on the bridge over the Sudost River near the border settlement of Hremiach and claimed they entered Hremiach and Muravi. Demchenko denied that Russian forces entered the settlements and said that they did not cross the bridge.

"The territory where the (Russian) sabotage group operated from the border is actually cut off by rivers, and no one lives in the settlements located between the rivers and the border. In addition, due to the constant flooding of that territory, it is not possible to build proper fortifications there," Demchenko said in a comment.

"Ukraine's defense forces fully control this axis and are in the most advantageous positions to hold the defense."

One person died and 10 were injured in the russian attack on Odesa. Local authorities have set up aid centers to help the victims and organized medical and legal support.

One person was killed and 10 others were injured in yesterday's russian attack in Odesa. This was reported by the deputy head of the Odesa regional state administration, Oleksandr Kharlov, on the air of the "United News" marathon, UNN reports.

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He added that the victims received the necessary medical care.

Only one person is in serious condition in the hospital. Doctors are providing her with the necessary medical care

– he said.

With the assistance of the city and regional authorities, headquarters have been set up in the city. People are being provided with assistance in the form of food, warm clothing and legal services for further compensation, he said.

Recall

According to the head of the Odesa regional state administration, Oleh Kiper, the enemy has been terrorizing Odesa with mixed shelling for more than a week.

Russian strikes across Ukraine killed at least one civilian and injured at least 19 others in the past day, regional authorities reported on Nov. 15.

Russia attacked several regions with two X-59/69 guided missiles from the Black Sea and 29 Shahed-type attack drones from Crimea. The Air Force confirmed that one guided missile and 25 drones were shot down.

Russian attacks on Odesa, where most of the air targets were intercepted, killed one woman and injured 10 people, the State Emergency Service reported.

Among them, a nine-year-old boy is in moderate condition at a hospital, a 22-year-old man is in serious condition, and the rest of the wounded are in moderate condition at medical facilities throughout the city and region, according to Odesa Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper.

An apartment building was destroyed, and several high-rise buildings were damaged, Kiper said.

The attack also damaged the main district heating pipeline, which served 220 apartment buildings (with a population of 40,000), seven kindergartens, four schools, and a maternity hospital.

In Donetsk Oblast, three people were injured in Russian attacks, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported. The injuries occurred in the villages of Shcherbynivka, Vovkove, and Shevchenko.

Five people were wounded by Russian attacks on Kherson Oblast, according to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin. A critical infrastructure facility, a post office, and 12 houses were also damaged.

In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, the communities of Nikopol, Myrove and Marhanets were attacked, and a 51-year-old woman was injured, Governor Serhii Lysak reported.

Kharkiv, Kirovohrad, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Ternopil, Poltava, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts were also attacked, but no casualties were reported.

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There is a shortage of both civilian and military personnel in the territorial recruitment centers. Out of 48,000 staff positions, only 36,000 are filled, of which 18,500 are limitedly fit military personnel.

Currently, there is a shortage of personnel in the territorial centers of recruitment and social support, both civilian and military. This was stated by the head of the communications group of the Sumy regional recruiting center and joint venture Oleksandr Bondarenko during a telethon, a correspondent of UNN reports.

When asked how much he feels the lack of staff, Bondarenko replied: “Now there is a shortage of both civilian and military personnel in the TCC. Compared to 2022, the TCC staff has increased due to the introduction of security companies in each unit.

He noted that initially these were mobilized people who were fit for military service, but over time, when units were formed, there was a rotation to the TCC, guys who were wounded or contused, i.e. not fit for service in combat units, were transferred to the TCC, and they took positions in the guard companies, while guys who were fit for service went to combat units.

AddendumAddendum

Defense Ministry spokesman Dmytro Lazutkin said that there are 48,000 positions in Ukraine's territorial recruitment centers (TCCs). But in fact, 36,000 people work there, of whom 18,500 are of limited fitness.

MP Yulia Yatsyk, who is a member of the provisional investigative commission for the protection of the rights of servicemen, stated that a report had been submitted proposing to disband the TCC. According to her, more than 10 full-fledged brigades could be created out of the current number of military personnel of the TCC.

Russia has lost 717,590 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on Nov. 15.

This number includes 1,520 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

According to the report, Russia has also lost 9,330 tanks, 18,968 armored fighting vehicles, 29,167 vehicles and fuel tanks, 20,492 artillery systems, 1,252 multiple launch rocket systems, 999 air defense systems, 369 airplanes, 329 helicopters, 18,886 drones, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.

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The Center for Countering Disinformation reports that russia's offensive in the kursk region has resumed, with the use of equipment and night maneuvers. Earlier, the Ukrainian Armed Forces repelled five attacks on novoivanivka, destroying 18 pieces of enemy equipment.

The head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council, Andriy Kovalenko, said that the enemy's active offensive in the kursk region had resumed.

The enemy is again conducting offensive actions in kursk region. They are using equipment and trying to move actively at night

– he wrote.

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Earlier, Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported on russian attempts to advance deeper into the territory under Ukrainian control in the kursk region and displace Ukrainian troops.

DeepStat reported that only during the russian army's attempts to capture the village of novoivanovka in the kursk region, 18 units of enemy equipment were destroyed, and enemy losses could reach 300 people.

Russians have become more active in 3-4 areas of the Kursk regionNov 10 2024, 09:01 AM • 42467 views

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump at a Mar-a-Lago event in Florida on Nov. 14 that his administration will focus on the Russia-Ukraine war.

"We’re going to work very hard on Russia and Ukraine. It’s gotta stop. Russia and Ukraine’s gotta stop," Trump said at an event in Florida on Nov. 14, according to CNN. "Whether they’re soldiers or they’re people sitting in towns, we’re going to work it."

Trump secured victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, adding further uncertainty for Ukraine regarding the future of Western military aid, and its defense against the ongoing Russian full-scale invasion.

Earlier, Trump announced that he may "soon" appoint a Ukrainian peace envoy to lead negotiations on ending Russia's war, Fox News reported on Nov. 13.

"You're going to see a very senior special envoy, someone with a lot of credibility, who will be given a task to find a resolution, to get to a peace settlement," one of the sources said, adding that the appointment will happen "in short order."

Kurt Volker held a similar position and served as the U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine on a volunteer basis from 2017 to 2019. The post of Ukrainian peace envoy is also expected to be unpaid.

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The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine released data on the occupiers' losses over the past day. The enemy lost 1520 soldiers, 11 tanks, 21 armored personnel carriers and other equipment.

Over the past day, the aggressor has lost 1520 soldiers. This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, according to UNN.

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Enemy combat losses for the period from 02/24/22 to 11/15/24:

– Personnel: 717 590 (+1520).

– Tanks: 9330 (+11).

– Armored combat vehicles: 18968 (+21).

– Artillery systems: 20492 (+20).

– RSVP: 1252.

– Air defense equipment: 999 (+2).

– Airplanes: 369.

– Helicopters: 329.

– UAVs of operational and tactical level: 18886 (+34).

– Cruise missiles: 2641 (+1).

– Ships/boats: 28.

– Submarines: 1.

– Automotive equipment and tank trucks: 29167 (+77).

– Special equipment: 3645 (+16).

156 combat engagements in the frontline: where is the hottest spot and what is happening – General StaffNov 13 2024, 12:20 AM • 58691 view

A renowned Russian chef known for his strong criticism of Russia's war against Ukraine was found dead during a visit to Serbia's capital. The death of Alexei Zimin, who has lived in London for years, is the latest in a series of deaths involving Russian expatriates critical of the war.

A source close to the investigation told AFP that Zimin's body was discovered late on Nov. 12 in a rented apartment in Belgrade, where he was staying while promoting his latest book, "Anglomania."

Zimin co-founded the ZIMA restaurant in London, contributed as a senior writer for various magazines, and co-authored multiple books. Serbian authorities informed the BBC that there were "no suspicious circumstances" surrounding his death, and that both an autopsy and toxicology report were in progress.

Born in Russia in 1971, Zimin established several restaurants in Moscow before departing after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea.

Zimin's restaurant in London, Zima, confirmed the chef's death on Instagram. "For us, Alexei was not only a colleague, he was our friend, a close person with whom we were lucky to go through a lot – both good, kind and sad," the restaurant said.

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The US State Department has downgraded the risk level for nine western regions of Ukraine from fourth to third. This is the first change in travel advisories since the start of the full-scale invasion.

The U.S. Department of State has changed its recommendations for American citizens to visit Ukraine. This was reported on the official website of the department, UNN reports.

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According to the information, the agency has designated some Ukrainian territories as lower-risk regions due to their air defense capabilities and remoteness from active combat zones.

The State Department has downgraded the risk from level four (do not travel) to level three (consider traveling) for several regions of Ukraine: Volyn, Lviv, Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi, Ternopil, Rivne, Khmelnytsky, and Zhytomyr.

At the same time, the Department strongly advises all U.S. citizens to:

Closely monitor U.S. government communications and local and international media for information on changing security conditions and warnings to shelter in place. The security situation in Ukraine remains unpredictable

– the message says.

This is the first time the agency has made such changes since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

Three-quarters of Americans believe Russia's war against Ukraine is important to U.S. national interests – pollFeb 20 2024, 08:53 AM • 26140 views