Newsletter 19/11/2024
Daily news digest
1000 days of full-scale war
November 19 marks the 1,000th day of the full-scale war and the 3,925th day since the start of Russia's armed aggression.
Ukrinform offers a photo chronicle of these 1,000 days of invincibility, created based on the photographs of its photo correspondents. They capture the course of the Great War from the first day.
1,000 Days of the Great War: What Lessons We Have Learned About Ourselves, About Our Friends and Our Foes
Behind us are 1,000 days of full-scale war, 24,000 hours of incredible resistance, 1,440,000 minutes during which not only we have been at the forefront of history, but have been creating it. Indeed, behind this heroic fight lies the immense loss and pain: never-ending air raid alerts; the thunder of air defense missiles blasting off skyward to intercept targets; artillery salvos; explosions of missiles, drones, and shells; houses destroyed to ruins; schools, hospitals, cities and villages wiped off the face of the earth, fields mined and clogged with explosive hazards, tens of thousands of killed and crippled; millions of refugees and displaced.
Behind us are 1000 days of full-scale war. Through blood, sweat and tears, we continue proving to all of the world, but first of all to ourselves, that we are a truly mature nation, consolidated and courageous, rather than some “failed state” as someone referred to and portrayed us. Let’s not forget that we were given just three days [to hold out against a Russian invasion], but we took this and have already multiplied it by 333.3. And we will multiply it further, again and again, and the enemy will be “multiplied by zero”. We are getting stronger, more furious, and we are not going to surrender. Victory will definitely be ours.
These 1,000 days behind us –… Let’s try to look into what we have learned about ourselves, about our friends and about our enemy during this time?
1,000 candles lit at the foot of the "Motherland" sculpture on the 1,000th day of the full-scale invasion
TOP
Zelensky unveils 'resilience plan': 'We will not give up our rights to our territory'
"We are not trading Ukraine's sovereignty, security, or future. We will not give up our rights to any part of our territory. Nor will we allow our state to be used in election battles in Europe. No one will win at Ukraine's expense," Zelensky said.
In this context, he emphasized that there is no alternative to NATO for Ukraine or any country in Europe. At the same time, he stated, "The world is searching for new formats of cooperation, and Ukraine has introduced its own -- the Peace Formula, which has brought together a hundred countries and international organizations."
Parliament approves Ukraine’s state budget for 2025
“The record-breaking expenditures worth around UAH 3.94 trillion, including UAH 2.22 trillion worth of defense expenditures. A total of UAH 2.3 trillion in revenues (including UAH 141 billion from the taxation bill No. 1141d). Also, we expect USD 38.4 billion in external financing next year,” wrote a Member of Parliament Yaroslav Zhelezniak (from the parliamentary faction ‘Holos’) on Telegram.
In his words, a total of 257 Members of Parliament voted in favor of the above document.
Zelensky orders production of 3,000 missiles, 30,000 long-range drones in 2025
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that manufacturers will be required to produce at least 30,000 long-range drones and 3,000 cruise missiles and missile-drones in 2025.
Ukraine Budget 2025 lays down record amount for defense
The state budget for 2025 has been adopted! I thank people's deputies for their support. All citizens' and business taxes next year will be directed to our country’s defense and security. The total resource that will be directed to the security and defense sector will amount to UAH 2.23 trillion. Record UAH 739 billion will be allocated for the production and purchase of weapons, as well as the purchase of drones.
UK to contribute £7.5M for new drones for Ukraine
As noted, these funds will be invested through the drone coalition.This is on top of the £120m of funding announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer last month for Ukraine’s Navy and maritime capabilities which will fund uncrewed surface vessels, and maritime ISR drones.
In addition, the drone coalition will receive an additional £16m from countries including Germany (£10m), Canada (£3m), and Luxembourg (£3m) who have pledged to purchase drones through the coalition. This brings the total fund to £67m, including a total of £15m from the UK.
War
Russia’s drone strike on Hlukhiv: 12 killed, 13 injured
Late on November 18, Russian forces attacked a dormitory in Hlukhiv with two combat drones. The death toll from a Russian drone attack on Hlukhiv, Sumy region, has risen to 12.
More than ten others were injured, including two children, and there may still be people trapped under the rubble.
Zelensky: Denmark announces new aid package that will raise Ukraine’s long-range capabilities
Pentagon confirms dispatch of over 11,000 North Korean troops to Kursk region
OPCW finds traces of toxic chemical in Russian grenade fragments
Politics
Britain sanctions Russia over illegal deportation of Ukrainian children
On the 1,000th day of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the British government announced new sanctions targeting ten individuals and entities involved in the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children.
New sanctions target those supporting Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's attempts to forcibly deport and indoctrinate Ukraine's children and erase their Ukrainian cultural heritage.
"No child should ever be used as a pawn in war, yet President Putin's targeting of Ukrainian children shows the depths he will go to in his mission to erase Ukraine and its people from the map," British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said.
Economy
World Bank to allocate $662M to Ukraine for social protection
The funds will be used for the following purposes: reimbursement of state budget expenditures for social protection of children and families; provision of benefits for housing and communal services; purchase of solid and liquid heating oil and liquefied gas; social protection of citizens in difficult life circumstances; payment of lifetime state scholarships; social protection of persons with disabilities.