The Times reports on the possibility that Ukraine could develop a nuclear weapon in a few months if US military aid is cut. The country has enough plutonium and technological capabilities to produce hundreds of tactical warheads.
If US President-elect Donald Trump stops or cuts military aid to Ukraine, Kyiv may start developing nuclear weapons. This is reported by The Times, according to UNN.
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The article states that Ukraine will be able to create a basic nuclear device similar to the Fat Man bomb used by the United States during World War II. Analysts explain that such a device would not require significant infrastructure capacity for uranium enrichment , but could instead use plutonium from spent fuel rods from Ukrainian nuclear reactors. With its experience in nuclear technology and nine operating reactors, Ukraine is able to implement this plan within a few months.
Experts estimate that the country has a plutonium stockpile of about seven tons, which is enough to produce hundreds of tactical warheads with a yield of several kilotons. According to the authors of the report, even one such device could provide a significant defense advantage, becoming a deterrent against military aggression.
Oleksiy Yizhak, head of a department at the National Institute for Strategic Studies of Ukraine, noted that although the power of such a device could be smaller and less predictable due to the characteristics of plutonium, even this would be enough to hit large military or industrial facilities.
The development of nuclear weapons would be an unprecedented step for Ukraine, which once voluntarily gave up the world's third-largest nuclear arsenal.
The US has $7.1 billion left for military support for Ukraine: where will the money goNov 12 2024, 09:55 PM • 18239 views
Ukrainians awoke on Nov. 13 to news that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump had tapped Fox News host Pete Hegseth as his defense secretary — the most eyebrow-raising appointment announced so far by the incoming administration of Kyiv’s top Western ally.
Some in the U.S. expressed shock at the appointment of the 44-year-old veteran with little military leadership experience. But lawmakers and experts in Ukraine, a country dependent on foreign assistance in battling Russia’s full-scale invasion now in its third year, reacted cautiously and looked for signs of optimism.
Hegseth’s appointment follows news that Trump plans to appoint Congressman Mike Waltz as National Security Advisor and, reportedly but not confirmed yet by Trump’s team, Senator Marco Rubio as his next Secretary of State. Billionaire Elon Musk and wealthy entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy will head a new "Department of Government Efficiency" focused on government reforms, among other announcements.
Following Trump’s inauguration in January, appointees that require confirmation will take positions in the government if approved by U.S. legislators. Some positions, including national security advisor, do not require confirmation.
Donald Trump watches as U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) speaks during a campaign rally at the J.S. Dorton Arena on November 04, 2024 in Raleigh, North Carolina (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
"I am quite optimistic about Trump’s recent appointments. First, some of these people have either a pro-Ukrainian or anti-Russian position," Andriy Lyubka, a writer and director of the Institute for Central European Strategy, told the Kyiv Independent.
"Secondly, in these chaotic, unmotivated appointments of people without professional political backgrounds, Trump is very similar to (President Volodymyr) Zelensky. They are both showmen, and I think that after a brief and unsuccessful attempt to get along with Putin, Trump will find in Zelensky a partner who is suitable for him and close in spirit."
Zelensky rose to power in 2019, winning more than 70% of the vote after decades as a comedian and entertainer, while Trump was well-known as a TV personality and entrepreneur before his first election as U.S. president in 2016.
"I think … Trump will find in Zelensky a partner who is suitable for him and close in spirit," said Andriy Lyubka, writer and director of the Institute for Central European Strategy
Their relationship has been strained since Trump’s first term when a 2019 phone call between the two led to Trump’s impeachment over allegations he pressured Zelensky to investigate political rivals by withholding military aid.
David Arakhamia, head of Zelensky’s Servant of the People parliamentary group, told the Kyiv Independent he did not have enough information to assess Hegseth’s appointment. However, the appointments of Rubio and Waltz provided "moderate reasons for optimism" in Ukraine, he added.
One reason is that the lawmakers on both sides have already been in contact, Arakhamia said.
“Second, neither of these (politicians) are isolationists. But in the end, we have to understand that the main things will be decided personally by President Trump,” he said.
After Trump’s election, Zelensky praised Trump’s approach of "peace through strength," saying, "This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer."
With Hegseth, Ukrainians adopt 'wait-and-see'
The biggest surprise among the recent appointments was Hegseth. He previously served as an infantry captain in the Army National Guard doing multiple tours of Afghanistan and Iraq but lacks significant military leadership experience.
To become defense secretary, Hegseth must be confirmed by a majority in the Senate, which Trump’s Republican Party will now hold following the elections.
If confirmed, he will replace Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin after Trump's inauguration in January. His slim experience could make it challenging for him to pass the necessary 50% threshold.
"We have a bit of a wait-and-see" to see how his positions toward Ukraine take shape — as well as how long his term in office lasts, said Lada Roslycky, founder and managing partner of the Ukraine-focused defense and security consulting group Black Trident.
"We've seen that Trump did fire his heads of department — particularly the defense — in the past. So how long he's actually going to be there, we don't know," she said.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump holds a campaign rally at Lancaster Airport on November 03, 2024 in Lititz, Pennsylvania. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Overall, she said, Trump’s messaging and appointees indicate that Ukraine will have to become more self-reliant and produce more of its own weapons.
In the first weeks of the full-scale invasion, Hegseth called Russian President Vladimir Putin an "authoritarian" and criticized Biden for not providing weapons fast enough.
"What’s at stake is repelling an authoritarian who basically is saying 'I want the Soviet Union back,'" Hegseth said on a March 7, 2022 Fox News broadcast. He added that the U.S. needed to be "equipping and supplying Ukraine faster than we have."
However, he has also stirred significant controversy with his comments about Ukraine and NATO.
Just days after the full-scale invasion began, Hegseth described the war as "important," but added, "It pales in comparison to the crime I see in my streets, to the wokeness I see in my culture, to the inflation I see at my pocketbook, to the real border I care about, which is the southern border, which is wide open."
"How long is (Hegseth) actually going to be there? We don't know," said Lada Roslycky, founder and managing partner of Black Trident
He has also echoed Trump’s skepticism toward NATO’s mutual defense commitments.
"Why should America, the European 'emergency contact number' for the past century, listen to self-righteous and impotent nations asking us to honor outdated and one-sided defense arrangements they no longer live up to?" Hegseth wrote in a book released this year.
Caught off-guard by the unexpected announcement, many Ukrainians are waiting to see how he will behave in office.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a joint press conference at the 2024 NATO Summit on July 11, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
"It’s hard to say now what kind of defense secretary he will be. I understand that one of the main criteria for Trump when he selects people for his administration is their loyalty, which is quite natural," said Oleksandr Merezhko, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee in Ukraine’s parliament.
"At the end of the day, what matters is how he will perform his functions and whether he will be an efficient defense secretary."
‘The main problem is Musk’s influence’
Western analysts have noted that Trump’s reported picks of Waltz and Rubio elevate two known China hawks to key foreign policy positions, signaling that future U.S. foreign policy may center on China.
Serhii Fursa, the deputy managing director at Kyiv-based investment firm Dragon Capital, echoed views that the appointments announced so far "sound better than expected for Ukraine."
"When we see appointments that are connected to external policies, it's not people who are known as Russian sympathizers," Fursa said. "For us, the main problem is Musk's influence … If he focuses on domestic U.S. problems instead of external policy, we will be very happy."
Musk has repeatedly echoed pro-Russian talking points on Ukraine, including proposals to cede territory to Moscow. While his Starlink satellite company has played a crucial role in helping Ukraine’s Armed Forces, he has called to reduce aid to Ukraine and also reportedly has been communicating with Putin and other Kremlin officials since late 2022, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk (R) jumps on stage as he joins former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during a campaign rally at site of his first assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, U.S. on Oct. 5, 2024. (Jim Watson / AFP via Getty Images)
Ramaswamy, meanwhile, has been a vocal critic of providing military aid to Kyiv and advocated for the recognition of occupied territories as Russian since they are "Russian speaking."
Stanislav Zhelikhovskyi, a Ukrainian political scientist and a corresponding member of the Ukrainian Academy of Geopolitics and Geostrategy, said that his expectations for Musk are "not positive," though there was still a chance that his appointment was related to the negotiation process between Russia and Ukraine.
"Ramaswamy, in my opinion, is one of the most controversial appointments," Zhelikhovskyi added, highlighting Ramaswamy’s opposition to Ukraine’s membership in NATO and his support for the possibility of conceding territory to Russia.
"This cannot help but be alarming, given Trump's possible future arrangements with Putin," he said.
“For us, the main problem is Musk's influence," said Serhii Fursa, deputy managing director at Dragon Capital
Responding to the appointment of Musk and Ramaswamy, Arakhamia told the Kyiv Independent, "We will work with everyone."
"Once all the new appointees have access to intelligence reports and other classified material, I suppose a lot can change in their own assessments of the situation," Arakhamia added.
Kate Tsurkan, Dominic Culverwell, Chris York, Martin Fornusek, Dinara Khalilova, and Natalia Yermak contributed reporting.
A bridge over the railroad tracks in the village of Maslovo collapsed in the Dzhankoy district of Crimea. At the time of the collapse, there was a car and a truck on the bridge, and two of the victims were unblocked.
A bridge collapsed in the Dzhankoy district of the occupied Crimea, there are probably victims, UNN reports with reference to Kry.Realii.
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Crimean telegram channels report that a bridge over the railroad tracks collapsed in the village of Maslovo.
According to eyewitnesses, the bridge could not withstand the weight of the heavy truck. It is alleged that there were victims as a result of the incident.
A rocket fell on a residential building in Crimea: the occupiers are silent about the incidentNov 3 2024, 02:48 PM • 28608 views
The incident was confirmed by the head of the Dzhankoy district administration, Inna Fedorenko. However, she did not report any injuries.
The Russian Emergencies Ministry of Crimea reported that a car and a truck were on the bridge at the time of the collapse. They reportedly managed to unblock 2 victims.
President-elect Donald Trump may "soon" appoint a Ukrainian peace envoy to lead negotiations on ending Russia's war, Fox News reported on Nov. 13, citing its multiple undisclosed sources.
"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.
Over the past few days, Trump has announced new members of his future administration. Meanwhile, some of Trump's picks have made controversial statements about the war in Ukraine and opposed further provision of military aid for Kyiv.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Nov. 12 selected Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the "Department of Government Efficiency," a new body designed to "drive large-scale structural reform."
Ramaswamy, a wealthy entrepreneur, and Musk, one of the world's richest people and owner of SpaceX, Tesla, and X (formerly known as Twitter), have no background in politics apart from Ramaswamy’s brief running for the Republican presidential nomination.
While Musk has repeatedly echoed pro-Russian talking points on Ukraine, including proposals to cede territory to Moscow, Ramaswamy was among the most vocal opponents of military aid for Kyiv.
Trump also named South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as the leader of Homeland Security, who earlier called Russia's invasion of Ukraine "Europe's fight, not ours."
Earlier, Trump named Michael Waltz his national security advisor. Waltz's views on Ukraine evolved from an ardent supporter of U.S. military aid to questioning it and advocating for relocating these resources against China.
Trump's defense secretary is confirmed to be Pete Hegseth, an army veteran and current Fox News host. His secretary of state, overseeing U.S. diplomacy, is reported to be Marco Rubio.
The occupants attempted to break through the defense in the Kupyansk sector in four waves using 15 pieces of equipment. Some of the Russian soldiers were disguised in Ukrainian Armed Forces uniforms, and all attacks were repelled.
Russian occupants attempted to break through our defense in the Kupyansk sector. Some of the Russian soldiers were dressed in uniforms of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This was reported by the General Staff and added that Ukrainian defenders stopped the enemy, UNN reports.
"Today, starting at 2:30 p.m., Russian occupants attempted to break through our defense in the Kupyansk sector. Enemy assault groups attacked the positions of Ukrainian defenders in four waves. In total, the enemy used about 15 pieces of equipment. In particular, tanks, armored combat vehicles and an UR-77 demining unit," the statement said.
The General Staff emphasized that some of the Russian soldiers were dressed in uniforms of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This violates the laws and rules of warfare and is a war crime.
"With skillful and decisive actions, our defenders stopped the enemy, destroyed all their armored vehicles and eliminated a significant part of their manpower," the statement said.
In addition, the General Staff noted the professionalism and cohesion of our infantrymen, tankers, artillerymen and UAV operators.
156 combat engagements in the frontline: where is the hottest spot and what is happening – General StaffNov 13 2024, 12:20 AM • 57838 views
Military donations in Ukraine have fallen sharply amid rising financial pressures and war weariness, with major charities reporting drops by 20% or more in 2024, Bloomberg reported on Nov. 13.
Prominent organizations such as Come Back Alive and the Serhiy Prytula Foundation, headed by the well-known Ukrainian TV personality of the same name, have seen contributions decrease by approximately one-fifth in 2024, Bloomberg reports.
Other groups supporting the Armed Forces report even steeper declines.
While these charities provide essential support, they cover only a fraction of Ukraine’s total military needs. In 2024, Prytula’s foundation raised Hr 1.4 billion ($34 million), a figure that pales in comparison to Ukraine’s $50 billion military budget.
Come Back Alive, one of Ukraine's largest charitable foundations, reported a 15% drop in donations in the same year, based on its reports on the receipt of donations.
Meanwhile, Reactive Post, another non-governmental organization, told Bloomberg that its contributions have decreased by over 40% this year compared to the same period in 2023.
Prytula cited economic challenges and the hardships brought on by power outages as likely reasons for the downturn.
In an interview with Ukrainska Pravda, Taras Chmut, the head of Come Back Alive, expressed concern over 2024’s fundraising efforts, saying they "have not started as well as we would like."
Chmut explained that as more Ukrainians leave the country, incomes decline, and living costs rise, donations are inevitably impacted.
Oleh Karpenko, the head of partnerships at Come Back Alive, told the BBC that donation patterns vary based on events such as shelling in Ukraine, drone strikes in Russia, power outages, battlefield developments, and military successes or setbacks.
On Oct. 25, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced a new eSupport initiative scheduled to launch on Dec. 1.
Under this program, each Ukrainian will receive Hr 1,000 ($24) in aid, which can be used for specific expenses. Deputy Economy Minister Oleksii Soboliev clarified that these funds could be redirected to the military through donations, even if foreign aid itself cannot be directly allocated for military purposes, as reported by the NV news outlet.
Over 50% of all combat engagements took place in the Kurakhove and Pokrovske sectors over the last day. The most intense fighting continues in the areas of Antonivka and Novoselidivka.
More than half of the 97 battles on the frontline today took place in the Pokrovske and Kurakhove directions, with the occupants making the main efforts in the areas of Antonivka and Novoselidivka, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported at 16:00 on November 13, UNN reports.
Since the beginning of the day, the enemy has continued its offensive, the number of combat engagements along the entire frontline has increased to 97. The enemy is most active in the Pokrovske and Kurakhove sectors
– reported the General Staff.
The situation is reportedly as follows:
In the Kharkiv sector, one enemy attack was repelled near Vovchansk.
In the Kupyansk sector, the enemy started storming the positions of our units near Lozova and Pershotravneve five times. Two firefights are ongoing. Pishchane, Kivrashivka, Zahryzove and Bohuslavka were attacked by UAVs.
On the Liman direction, the invading army conducted five attacks on Ukrainian positions in the direction of Cherneshchyna, Terny and Zarichne during the day. Three engagements ended, two are ongoing. The enemy actively used aviation in this area, Yampolivka and Terny came under attack from anti-aircraft gunships, and the enemy attacked Serhiivka and Novoyehorivka with aerial tanks.
In the Kramatorsk sector, one firefight took place in the vicinity of Stupochki.
In the Toretsk sector, the enemy tried three times to improve its position in the Toretsk area. Ukrainian soldiers gave a worthy rebuff. The occupier dropped eight bombs in the area of Dachne.
Since the beginning of the day, the occupants have already made 24 attempts to push our defenders from their positions in the Pokrovske sector. Fighting continues near Sukhoi Balka, Promen, Lysivka, Krutyi Yar, Hryhorivka, Dachenske, Petrivka, Novooleksiyivka, and Pustynka. Pushkine was hit by UAVs.
The situation is the hottest in the Kurakhove sector, where 32 hostile attacks have already been registered in the areas of Berestky, Illinka, Novoselydivka, Voznesenka, Novodmitrivka, Maksymilianivka, Dalne, Antonivka and Katerynivka. In the areas of Antonivka and Novoselydivka, the occupants are making the main efforts – they conducted 16 assaults, ten of which are ongoing. At the same time, the enemy dropped two combat vehicles in the vicinity of Kurakhove.
In the Vremivsk sector, eight firefights took place near the towns of Rivne, Novopil, Trudove, Kostiantynopolske and Makarivka. Six attacks are still being repelled by Ukrainian defenders. Velyka Novosilka, Zelene Pole, and Novopil were hit by air strikes.
On the Gulyaypil direction, the enemy attacked Belogorye with rocket-propelled grenades.
On the Orikhivsk direction, the occupiers attacked three times in the directions of Novodanilivka and Novoandriivka. The enemy dropped four guided aerial bombs near Zaporizhzhia and Natalivka.
Four enemy assaults were successfully repelled in the Prydniprovsky sector. At the same time, the enemy launched an air strike with NARs on Kozatske.
There were no major changes in other areas.
Sumy, Chernihiv and Kharkiv regions, as indicated, continue to suffer from artillery shelling from the territory of the Russian Federation. Thus, the areas of Pavlivka, Oleksandrivka, Zhuravka, Dibrova, Novenke, Basivka, and Ryasne came under hostile fire. Basivka, Zhuravka and Yunakivka were hit by air strikes.
Almost half of the fighting took place in the Kurakhove and Pokrovsk sectors: situation on the frontlineNov 13 2024, 06:40 AM • 17036 views
A Russian drone hit an apartment building in the northeastern part of Kharkiv, injuring at least two people, officials reported on Nov. 13.
Two residents previously reported as injured received medical assistance in connection to the attack but did not suffer physical injuries, according to authorities.
The drone struck the building in the city's Saltivskyi district near a shopping center at around 11:30 a.m. Several cars, public transport infrastructure equipment, and facades of nearby buildings were damaged, but no fire was reported.
None of the victims suffered serious injuries, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said. A 74-year-old woman and a 74-year-old man were hospitalized with shrapnel wounds.
An 84-year-old woman was hospitalized with a hypertensive crisis, and a 53-year-old woman suffered shock.
Located less than 30 kilometers from the Russian border, the northeastern city of Kharkiv has suffered relentless Russian attacks over the past two years of Russia's full-scale war. Recently, aerial strikes have been intensifying.
Moscow often targets densely populatedneighborhoods in the city with drones, missiles, and glide bombs.
US Secretary of State Blinken announced that the aid would be adapted to Ukraine's needs on the battlefield. The United States is ready to use every dollar of the $61 billion package and expects increased support from its allies.
The United States and its partners are meeting many of the needs outlined in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's "victory plan," and this was the subject of discussions with allies and partners on November 13 at NATO headquarters. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said this during a visit to Brussels, answering a question about the possibility of easing restrictions on long-range weapons strikes deep into Russia, UNN reports citing Voice of America.
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"The criterion for our assistance to Ukraine, starting in February 2022 and continuing until today, is to make sure that we adapt to Ukraine's needs as the battlefield changes, as what Russia is doing changes, where the front is, how the war is going, how the aggression is going. I am convinced that we will continue to adapt and adjust (the aid – ed.) as needed," Blinken said.
The U.S. Secretary of State did not specifically answer questions about long-range weapons, but assured that the current administration is committed to further assistance to Ukraine.
"The President [Biden] is committed to making sure that we put every dollar at our disposal, including the $61 billion package… And we are on our way to doing that. So the withdrawals that we can make from our military equipment will happen, and that's how the funds will move forward. This should ensure that Ukraine continues to get what it needs from us," Blinken emphasized.
The US Secretary of State emphasized that support from allies and partners is equally important.
"I am convinced, based on the conversations we have today and almost every day, that this support will continue, and not only that, I expect it to grow," Blinken summarized.
The U.S. Secretary of State is in Brussels to discuss support for Ukraine in meetings with his NATO and EU counterparts.
After meeting with NATO Secretary General Blinken met with Sibiga one-on-one in Brussels: what statements the US Secretary of State has already madeNov 13 2024, 12:35 PM • 4289 views
In particular, at a meeting with Rutte, he said that the involvement of North Korean troops in the war in Ukraine requires a tough response and will be met with one.
"Today we had a very productive discussion about our continued support for Ukraine in the face of Russia's ongoing aggression. In addition, [there was a conversation] about this additional element of the DPRK, North Korean forces engaged in war and now literally in combat, which requires and will receive a tough response," Blinken said.
The car bombing that killed Russian Navy officer Valery Trankovsky in occupied Sevastopol on Nov. 13 was an operation carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), a source in the agency told the Kyiv Independent.
The statement came shortly after Russian authorities in occupied Crimea reported on a military service member dying following the blast.
Trankovsky was chief of staff of the 41st Missile Boat Brigade and a "war criminal who has ordered cruise missile launches from the Black Sea against civilian sites in Ukraine," the source said.
Russian Captain Valery Trankovsky. (SBU source)
The officer was allegedly responsible for the Kalibr missile strike against the city of Vinnytsia in July 2022 that killed 29 people and injured over 200 more. He also oversaw strikes against Odesa and other cities, leaving many civilians dead, the source said.
According to Russian Telegram channels, Trankovsky held the rank of captain of 1st class.
Russian media outlet Mash claims that Trankovsky had been under surveillance for roughly a week and that an improvised explosive device (IED) was placed under the driver's side of his car and allegedly detonated remotely.
Several Russian officers involved in the war against Ukraine have been found killed in Russia or Russian-occupied territories throughout the full-scale war. Most recently, Major Dmitry Pervukha was killed in the center of Russian-occupied Luhansk after his car exploded on Oct. 18.
Pervukha was allegedly involved in war crimes against Ukraine. He served in the 273rd Intelligence Center of the Russian Armed Forces.
The Kyiv IndependentDmytro Basmat
