Category: War in Ukraine

Key developments on Nov. 27:

• The Economist estimates 60,000-100,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed in full-scale war
• Russia claims Ukraine's drones, missiles attacked Crimea, explosion reported near airfield
• Ukrainian soldiers repel attempted Russian attack in Zaporizhzhia sector, National Guard commander says
• Trump nominates retired General Keith Kellogg for Ukraine peace envoy

Between 60,000 to 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in the full-scale war, and 400,000 more are too injured to fight on, according to estimates by The Economist published on Nov. 26.

Kyiv has largely avoided revealing the full extent of its military casualties, with President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledging only in February that 31,000 Ukrainian fighters have been killed.

Basing its calculations on leaked or published intelligence reports, defense officials, researchers, and open-source intelligence, The Economist wrote that Russia and Ukraine lost a greater share of their population than the U.S. during the Korean and Vietnam wars combined.

Almost one in 20 Ukrainian fighting-age men have been killed or injured because of the war, The Economist wrote.

In September, the Wall Street Journal provided similar estimates, positing that Ukraine had lost 80,000 soldiers killed and 400,000 wounded. The outlet estimated Russia's losses at up to 200,000 killed and 400,000 injured.

The exact figures for both sides are nearly impossible to establish as Kyiv and Moscow are secretive about their casualties. The last figure provided by Russian authorities was 5,937 killed soldiers as of September 2022.

In turn, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces put Russian overall losses at over 735,000 as of Nov. 27. The losses Russia suffered in the full-scale war are believed to be greater than during all the wars since 1945 combined.

According to The Economist, civilian casualties are even more difficult to establish but likely reach many tens of thousands.

The U.N. mission in Ukraine verified that 11,743 civilians were killed as of the summer, but the number is likely higher due to Russia barring access for monitors to occupied territories, namely to areas that likely saw the heaviest civilian casualties like Mariupol.

As Russian losses in Ukraine pass 700,000, Putin runs low on non-mobilization optionsRussian losses in Ukraine have passed the 700,000 mark, according to figures released by Kyiv on Nov. 4, just 77 days after they hit 600,000, according to the same source. According to Kyiv, casualty rates among Moscow’s forces have surged in recent months — October saw an average ofThe Kyiv IndependentChris York

Russia claims Ukraine's drones, missiles attacked Crimea, explosion reported near airfield

Ukrainian drones and missiles attacked the seaside city of Sevastopol in occupied Crimea on Nov. 27, the city's Russian-installed proxy head, Mikhail Razvozhayev, claimed.

Russian air defenses shot down two missiles and five drones, Razvozhayev said, claiming that the Ukrainian projectiles were downed over the water. Drone debris also reportedly fell near the Kacha highway.

The pro-Ukrainian Crimean Wind Telegram channel reported explosions and active air defense in Sevastopol, as well as near the Belbek military airfield and elsewhere on the occupied peninsula.

The channel also shared a photo of the Nakhimov Naval Academy with smoke coming from behind it. The authenticity of the footage or the cause of the smoke could not be immediately verified.

The Mash Telegram channel alleged that around 40 drones, Neptune missiles, and unidentified cruise missiles were flying toward the northwestern part of the Crimean peninsula. All projectiles were shot down, the channel wrote.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims.

Ukraine’s drones have a reputation for low cost. Buntar Aerospace wants to make them boutiqueThe day Russia invaded Ukraine, Ivan Kaunov watched from his 23rd-floor Kyiv apartment in disbelief as rockets came down on his city. He was 30, married, and running a fintech startup that was seeing remarkable traction. The scion of a Kyivan family that had gotten wealthy on construction and IT,The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post

Ukrainian soldiers repel attempted Russian attack in Zaporizhzhia sector, National Guard commander says

Ukrainian soldiers repelled an attempted Russian offensive in the Zaporizhzhia sector, General Oleksandr Pivnenko, the commander of Ukraine's National Guard, said on Nov.27.

In early October, Russian troops reportedly renewed their attack in the Zaporizhzhia sector. Kyiv warned of a potential Russian push in the southern region, saying Moscow was deploying trained assault groups to front-line positions in mid-November.

Ukraine's Spartan Brigade aerial reconnaissance spotted Russian troops planning to attack the National Guard positions with an infantry group in advance, Pivnenko said, sharing footage showing the attack.

He did not specify the scale of the attack or the number of Russian troops involved in the offensive.

According to the commander, Russia is mostly trying to conduct assaults and reconnaissance attacks in the Zaporizhzhia sector with infantry groups consisting of 3 to 10 people.

"The enemy rarely uses equipment," Pivnenko said. "But our soldiers destroy enemy personnel and firepower quickly and accurately."

The Kyiv Independent could not verify these reports.

Once liberated Kupiansk braces for worst as Russian troops approach, and future Western support looks uncertainVolodymyr paused his Sunday stroll from a shopping center in Kupiansk to take pictures of rubble from a Russian strike that almost killed his wife late last month. “It was broad daylight when they struck,” he said. “Our only luck was that my wife was in the kitchen, soThe Kyiv IndependentBoldizsar Gyori

Trump nominates retired General Keith Kellogg for Ukraine peace envoy

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump nominated former national security advisor to the vice president, retired General Keith Kellogg, as a special Ukrainian peace envoy to lead negotiations on an end to Russia's full-scale war, Trump announced on Nov. 27.

"Together, we will secure peace through strength and make America ang the world safe again," Trump said on his social media network Truth Social.

In June, Reuters reported that Kellogg and another Trump's top advisor, Frederick H. Fleitz, proposed him a plan that would cease military aid to Ukraine unless it agrees to hold peace negotiations with Russia.

The two also reportedly proposed to freeze the front lines in their current position and take Ukraine's NATO accession off the table.

Keith Kellogg, 80, previously served as the Executive Secretary and Chief of Staff of the U.S. National Security Council in the first Trump administration. He also was a top advisor to then U.S. Vice President Mike Pence.

Last week, Reuters reported that Trump was considering his former intelligence director, diplomat Richard Grenell, as a special Ukrainian peace envoy.

In the occupied Donetsk region, more than 5 thousand children joined the Russian militarized organization "YunArmia". The invaders plan to hold military training camps for children at the training grounds of the Crimea together with contract soldiers.

More than 5 thousand children joined the "Unarmia" in the occupied Donetsk region. 9 best "young soldiers" this year will be taken to Moscow for the main Christmas Tree of the Russian Federation. This is reported by the Center for National Resistance, reports UNN.
Details
an important element of the invader education strategy is the involvement of young people in various pro-Russian propaganda organizations. YunArmia is one of the most advanced organizations created on the model of Soviet children's organizations.

Today, in the temporarily occupied territories of the Donetsk region, more than 5 thousand children are already included in this militarized organization. But the greatest risk of children who are involved in such formations is to be drawn into a real war,

– writes the central nervous system.

This is confirmed by the fact that the Russians have planned winter training camps for members of the military movement "YunArmia" at training grounds in the Crimea, next to contract soldiers of their army. According to the plan, this should speed up the adaptation of movement participants to the real army and make the exercises more realistic.

Recall

Earlier UNN reported that the occupiers Continue to destroy the national identity of children from the occupied territories and educate them as "cannon fodder" for the Russian Federation through militarization, propaganda and control of their thoughts in schools and youth organizations.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump nominated former national security advisor to the vice president, retired General Keith Kellogg, as a special Ukrainian peace envoy to lead negotiations on an end to Russia's full-scale war, Trump announced on Nov. 27.

"Together, we will secure peace through strength and make America ang the world safe again," Trump said on his social media network Truth Social.

In June, Reuters reported that Kellogg and another Trump's top advisor, Frederick H. Fleitz, proposed him a plan that would cease military aid to Ukraine unless it agrees to hold peace negotiations with Russia.

The two also reportedly proposed to freeze the front lines in their current position and take Ukraine's NATO accession off the table.

Keith Kellogg, 80, previously served as the Executive Secretary and Chief of Staff of the U.S. National Security Council in the first Trump administration. He also was a top advisor to then U.S. Vice President Mike Pence.

Last week, Reuters reported that Trump was considering his former intelligence director, diplomat Richard Grenell, as a special Ukrainian peace envoy.

On the campaign trail, Trump promised to end Russia's war with Ukraine if elected, saying in September that he would negotiate a deal "that's good for both sides." He also praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and questioned further U.S. assistance to Ukraine.

Trump's election has intensified uncertainty around Ukraine's war effort at a critical time, as Russian forces make their fastest gains in months and North Korean troops are stationed in Russia's Kursk Oblast.

Frozen Russian assets face uncertain future under TrumpThere are some $4-5 billion of frozen Russian assets in the U.S. and it will be up to President-elect Donald Trump to decide what to do with them when he takes office in January 2025. After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Western nations froze around $300 billion ofThe Kyiv IndependentDominic Culverwell

The president of Ukraine held a telephone conversation with the NATO secretary general on strengthening air defense. We discussed specific air defense systems and unfulfilled decisions of the Washington NATO summit.

President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed strengthening Ukraine's air defense with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The decisions of the Alliance Summit in Washington on air defense and other supplies for the front have not yet been fully implemented, reports UNN.

"I had a telephone conversation with Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General. Yesterday, a meeting of the NATO – Ukraine Council was held due to Russia's use of a new ballistic missile. We discussed with Mark the available response capabilities – the necessary strengthening of Ukraine's air defense. I have named specific air defense systems that are needed and that can work. Our partners have these air defense systems," Zelensky said.

Rutte and Erdogan discuss war in Ukraine and NATO 2026 summitNov 25 2024, 10:37 PM • 14368 views

He noted that the decisions of the NATO summit in Washington on air defense and other supplies for the front have not yet been fully implemented.

"We expect this, and it significantly affects the motivation and morale of our people. The recent authorization for long-range strikes on military installations in Russia has helped. But the pressure on Russia must be maintained and increased at various levels," Zelensky said.

He also noted that they discussed contacts with partners – with America and others.

" our coordinated work with them for the sake of fulfilling what we have already agreed on, and for the sake of the necessary additional strengthening – both military and political. In particular, for the sake of inviting Ukraine to join NATO," Zelensky wrote.

Rutte plans visit to Trump in Mar-a-Lago to discuss strategy for Ukraine – WPNov 22 2024, 09:39 AM • 17726 views

The Ukrainian-made Oncilla-Shturm armored personnel carrier has been approved for military use, the Defense Ministry said on Nov. 27.

"The domestic Oncilla-Shturm armored vehicle demonstrates Ukraine's progress in creating equipment that meets the modern needs of the battlefield," Deputy Defense Minister Dmytro Klimenkov said.

The vehicle can carry three crew members and six riflemen. The Oncilla-Shturm armor protects soldiers from small arms fire, debris and explosive ordnance, according to the ministry.

"Its reliability and functionality allow our military to perform combat missions in highly complex conditions, ensuring the protection of personnel and the effectiveness of operations," Klimenkov said.

Armed with a remote-controlled combat module with a large-caliber machine gun, the vehicle can cover travel more than 700 kilometers (434 miles).

The Oncilla-Shturm can be produced in several modifications, the ministry said.

Kyiv began actively developing its defense production after Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, which includes long-range missiles and drones.

Ukraine's budget for 2025 envisages Hr 55 billion ($1.3 billion) for weapons production, Strategic Industries Minister Herman Smetanin said on Nov. 12.

Ukraine introduces ‘new’ armored personnel carrier, KhorunzhyiUkraine’s Defense Ministry announced on Sept. 2 that it has approved a new armored personnel carrier (APC) for use by its armed forces. The Khorunzhyi – which means “standard-bearer” and was a military rank in Cossack armies – has been in development for some time, and a lone experimental model was…The Kyiv IndependentChris York

The head of the OP stated that negotiations are possible when returning to the situation on February 23, 2022. Russia has sent 11,000 North Korean troops to the border and continues to escalate the conflict.

The head of the OP, Andrei Ermak, said that fruitful negotiations with Russia are possible only when all the warring parties have a desire to stop hostilities. In addition, the situation must be returned at least to the state of February 23, 2022. He said this in an article for Dagens Industri, reports UNN.

Yermak said that the implementation of the first three points of Zelensky's victory plan, namely: inviting Ukraine to join NATO, increasing military support without restrictions on the use of weapons, and a non-nuclear deterrence package, would put Ukraine in an advantageous negotiating position when participating in negotiations with Russia.

According to him, sending an invitation to Ukraine will not create any obligations for NATO allies under Article 5. However, it will encourage Russia to turn to diplomacy and undermine Putin's intention to continue the war.

"On the other hand, various proposed peace initiatives that entail a ceasefire without any ironclad security guarantees for Ukraine may prompt Russia to launch another full-scale invasion in the near future. Fruitful negotiations are possible only when all the warring parties have the desire to cease hostilities. In addition, the situation must be returned at least to the state of February 23, 2022. This would be the starting point for further settlement, since before that date part of Ukraine was occupied," Yermak said.

But Ermak notes that Russia shows no signs of such readiness, continuing the escalation.

Zelensky names conditions for talks with Russia and Trump's role in the processNov 16 2024, 08:37 AM • 21709 views

"Putin has sent 11,000 North Korean troops to the border with Ukraine with the possibility of increasing this number to 100,000. Russia's launch last week of a medium-range hypersonic missile capable of carrying nuclear weapons along the Dnieper, combined with Putin's threats of further strikes, once again demonstrates that Moscow is not interested in peace. Every Russian strike and nuclear threat must be met with unwavering determination. The strengthening of the sanctions regime, combined with the strengthening of Ukraine's military and civilian capabilities, especially our air defense, should follow immediately," Yermak said.

According to him, Ukraine's support in the face of these challenges must be steadfast, durable and long-term.

MFA on Russia's “peaceful” plans from anonymous sources: it's a smokescreen to cover up aggressionNov 21 2024, 06:09 PM • 33470 views

The international humanitarian organization MOAS's front-line medical evacuation operation is "on the verge of extinction" due to a lack of funding, the group said on Nov. 27, appealing to the international community to support their work.

MOAS's team of all-Ukrainian medics has been evacuating and keeping alive critically injured troops during the three years of the full-scale war, with the group saying their work has saved 62,000 lives.

"Now, with funding virtually exhausted, one of Ukraine's most remarkable lifesaving operations is on the verge of extinction," their press release read. The group said that without funding, it can sustain its operations only until the end of 2024.

"MOAS is keeping soldiers alive day in, day out. It's an expensive and challenging business, and we simply can't continue into 2025 without additional funding," Christopher Catrambone, MOAS's founder who has been based in Kyiv since the outbreak of the full-scale war, told the Kyiv Independent.

MOAS is now in talks with donors in North America and Europe, as well as the U.K. government, to be able to continue its work next year.

"The facts are simple. If we have to stop our operation, huge numbers of Ukrainian soldiers will die. In the words of a Ukrainian general, it will be a complete catastrophe," Catrambone said separately in the press release.

"They’re overstretched and cannot do what we do. Nor can any other NGO in Ukraine. That’s why today, we are launching this urgent appeal for support. It’s our last throw of the dice, it’s do or die."

According to MOAS, the monthly cost of a 150-strong medical team with 50 "state of the art ambulances" costs $1 million, comparable to the price tag of a Storm Shadow missile.

"We're incredibly grateful to all the donors who have made our lifesaving operation possible," Catrambone told the Kyiv Independent, explaining that MOAS's donors include wealthy philanthropists, tech billionaires, foundations, and smaller donors.

The founder said he was unsure why the funding was drying up, suggesting that some had found other causes to support or simply lost interest in the war in Ukraine.

"But what I'm focused on is getting donors now so we can continue saving lives at the medical frontline in Ukraine," he stressed.

The road from death to life: Medics evacuate wounded Ukrainian soldiers amid intensified fighting (Photo)Editor’s Note: Soldiers and military medics are introduced by first names and callsigns only due to security reasons. DONETSK OBLAST – A sunflowers-painted bus drives fast toward Dnipro, clearing the way with sirens. From the front line to the rear, from death to life, it carries wounded Ukrainian…The Kyiv IndependentSerhii Korovayny

the Russian Foreign Ministry announced its readiness to exchange 630 Ukrainian prisoners of war on parity terms. Ukraine can independently choose the Russian military for the exchange.

The Ministry of foreign affairs of the Russian Federation stated that it is ready to exchange 630 Ukrainian prisoners of war, reports UNN with reference to Astra.

"The current list contains 630 Ukrainian prisoners of war, which Russia is ready to immediately transfer to Kiev on parity terms. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the Russian Federation leaves it up to Ukraine to decide which of the Russian servicemen to include in the exchange," Maria Zakharova, a representative of the Ministry of foreign affairs of the Russian Federation, said at a briefing.

Add

The largest exchange during the war took place in January of this year, when Russia and Ukraine exchanged 195 prisoners on each side.

Prisoner exchange: 31 Azovstal defenders released, Ukrainians returned thanks to UAESep 14 2024, 11:36 AM • 27733 views

Between 60,000 to 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in the full-scale war, and 400,000 more are too injured to fight on, according to estimates by The Economist published on Nov. 26.

Kyiv has largely avoided revealing the full extent of its military casualties, with President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledging only in February that 31,000 Ukrainian fighters have been killed.

Basing its calculations on leaked or published intelligence reports, defense officials, researchers, and open-source intelligence, The Economist wrote that Russia and Ukraine lost a greater share of their population than the U.S. during the Korean and Vietnam wars combined.

Almost one in 20 Ukrainian fighting-age men have been killed or injured because of the war, The Economist wrote.

In September, the Wall Street Journal provided similar estimates, positing that Ukraine had lost 80,000 soldiers killed and 400,000 wounded. The outlet estimated Russia's losses at up to 200,000 killed and 400,000 injured.

The exact figures for both sides are nearly impossible to establish as Kyiv and Moscow are secretive about their casualties. The last figure provided by Russian authorities was 5,937 killed soldiers as of September 2022.

In turn, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces put Russian overall losses at over 735,000 as of Nov. 27. The losses Russia suffered in the full-scale war are believed to be greater than during all the wars since 1945 combined.

According to The Economist, civilian casualties are even more difficult to establish but likely reach many tens of thousands.

The U.N. mission in Ukraine verified that 11,743 civilians were killed as of the summer, but the number is likely higher due to Russia barring access for monitors to occupied territories, namely to areas that likely saw the heaviest civilian casualties like Mariupol.

Ukraine’s population dropped by 10 million after Russia’s 2014 invasion, UN saysUkraine’s birth rate is the lowest in Europe and the number of refugees has surged to 6.7 million, with the full-scale invasion of 2022 exacerbating an already dire decline, according to the U.N. Population Fund.The Kyiv IndependentAbbey Fenbert

In two districts of the Kiev region, damage was recorded from falling debris from downed enemy targets. 46 apartments, 14 private houses, 3 office premises and 5 cars were damaged.

Kiev region continues to eliminate the consequences of the enemy attack on the night of November 27. As of 13: 00 on Wednesday, damage from falling debris from downed enemy targets was recorded in two districts of the region. Apartments, residential buildings, three office premises and cars were damaged. This was told by the head of the Kiev RMA Ruslan Kravchenko, reports UNN.

Damage from falling debris from downed enemy targets is recorded in two districts of the region. In one of the settlements, glazing was broken in 46 apartments and 3 office premises in three apartment buildings

– written by Kravchenko.

Also, according to him, 14 private houses, 5 cars, utility rooms and fences were damaged.

All operational services are working to eliminate the consequences of the enemy's attack, Kravchenko added.

Addition

According to of the armed forces of Ukraine, on the night of November 27 (from 19.30 on November 26), the enemy attacked Ukraine with 89 Shahed attack UAVs and drones of an unidentified type from the directions-Orel, Bryansk, Kursk, Primorsko – Akhtarsk-of the Russian Federation. air defense destroyed 36 UAVs, 48 were lost due to electronic warfare, 5 left the airspace.