Newsletter 18/11/2024
Daily news digest
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Biden allows Ukraine to strike Russia with ATACMS - NYT
U.S. President Joe Biden for the first time allowed the Ukrainian military to use long-range ATACMS missiles to strike inside Russia.
The officials said that these weapons will likely be first used against Russian and North Korean troops to protect Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region in western Russia.
The U.S. officials added that the decision approved by Biden comes in response to the deployment of North Korean troops to support Russia in its war against Ukraine.
Russian missile strike on apartment building in Sumy: 11 dead, 68 injured
Late on Sunday, November 17, the Russian military attacked an apartment block in Sumy with a ballistic missile.
North Korea gives Russia nearly 50 self-propelled artillery systems, 20 MLR systems - media
In recent weeks, North Korea transferred to Russia nearly 50 M1989 Koksan self-propelled artillery units and 20 upgraded 240-mm multiple rocket launchers, some of which were later deployed in Kursk region.
It is noted that Ukrainian officials provided information about the weapon after a photo of North Korean howitzers, which open-source analysts identified as spotted in Russia's Krasnoyarsk region, was shared on social media. The photo showed several howitzers under camouflage netting being shipped westward by rail.
These heavy weapons systems are capable of firing projectiles at a range of up to 60 km. The M1989 howitzers are slightly upgraded versions of the original M1979 models first produced in the late 1970s, which Pyongyang supplied to Tehran during the Iran-Iraq war.
Russia reports drone attack on Moscow/Video
Moscow was targeted by drones overnight, according to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.
In a Telegram post, Sobyanin stated: "The Defense Ministry's air defense forces in the Ramensky district repelled an attack by a drone heading toward Moscow. Preliminary reports indicate no damage or casualties at the site where debris fell. Emergency services are working at the scene."
War
Ukraine’s defense forces shoot down 102 enemy missiles and 42 drones
The Defense Forces shot down 102 missiles and 42 drones used by Russian forces to attack Ukraine since the evening of November 16, while 41 enemy UAVs disappeared from radars.
According to preliminary data, as of 12:00 on Sunday, 144 enemy targets were shot down:
1 3M22 Zircon hypersonic ship missile;
7 Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic ballistic missiles;
85 Kh-101 Kalibr cruise missiles;
4 Kh-22/Kh-31P cruise/anti-radar missiles;
5 Kh-59/69 guided missiles;
42 strike UAVs/drones of unspecified type (launched from Russia’s Kursk, Orel, Primorsko-Akhtarsk districts.
Russia hits critical infrastructure facilities in Vinnytsia region
Energy infrastructure affected as Russia attacks Volyn region
Russian missile hits infrastructure facility in Kryvyi Rih
Russian forces attack critical infrastructure facility in Prykarpattia
Zelensky on missile attack: Ukrainian F-16 pilots shot down about 10 aerial targets
Over the past week, Russia has used nearly 140 missiles of various types, over 900 guided aerial bombs, and over 600 attack drones in its attacks on Ukraine. Today, Ukrainian F-16 pilots shot down about 10 aerial targets.
Rescuers show consequences of large-scale Russian attack
In the Lviv region, garages were damaged and a fire broke out as a result of falling enemy missile fragments.
In the Zhytomyr district, an outbuilding and a residential building were damaged in the attack. Rescuers extinguished the fire covering an area of three square meters. No one was injured.
In the Kyiv region, rocket fragments damaged private residential and outbuildings, a club and library building, and two cars. A fire broke out in a private garage, which was quickly extinguished by rescuers. No one was injured.
Missile strike on Odesa: Injury toll rises to 47, ten killed
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned the latest Russian missile attack on Odesa, calling it a deliberate and provocative act. The attack targeted a residential area leading to significant civilian casualties.
Politics
EU extends sanctions against Iran over military support to Russia
The EU Council has widened the legal framework for applying restrictive measures against individuals and entities involved in the supply of Iranian weapons to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine, and added one individual and four shipping companies to the sanctions list.
China refrains from criticizing U.S. over permission for Ukraine to use ATACMS against targets in Russia
"Now the most important thing is to contribute to de-escalation as soon as possible. It is in the interests of all parties to cease fire and hostilities as soon as possible and seek a political settlement,” Lin said.
Europe takes too long to decide on aid to Ukraine - Borrell
"The war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East - these two items will be very high on the agenda today, mainly because Putin has responded to any attempts to talk, to negotiate by launching the heaviest attack against civilian infrastructure, in particular electricity. It was the heaviest attack in months, using a high number of drones, attacking civilian power grids. It does not look like he’s willing to negotiate, it’s on the contrary," Borrell said.
Ukraine could receive 4,000 “mini Tauruses" from Germany - media
As the publication learned, German producer Helsing, which works with AI, in 2024 signed a contract with the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine for the supply of 4,000 attack drones. The project is financed by the German government.
Ukrinform TV
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky visited one of the most intense frontline areas – the city of Pokrovsk
Fact checks
Russian propaganda fabricates claim about Ukrainian military using uniforms of deceased foreign "mercenaries"
