Newsletter 25/11/2024
Daily news digest
November 23 in Ukraine commemorated the victims of the Holodomor
To date, 33 countries have recognized the Holodomor of 1932-1933 as genocide of the Ukrainian people, as well as the European Parliament, PACE, the Roman Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church of Constantinople and others.
TOP
UK imposes sanctions on 30 ships from Russia's "shadow fleet"
The UK government has imposed sanctions on 30 ships in Russia's "shadow fleet", responsible for transporting billions of pounds worth of oil and petroleum products in the last year alone.
Ukraine’s Defense Forces strike key targets in Russia’s Bryansk, Kaluga, Kursk regions – General Staff
"On the night of November 25, units of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, in cooperation with other components of the Defense Forces, attacked several key targets, including in Bryansk, Kaluga, and Kursk regions," the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported this on Facebook.
DIU demonstrates drones used to attack Russian military targets
Ukrainian defense intelligence operatives have demonstrated the drones used by the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) of Ukraine's Ministry of Defense to attack Russian military targets.
The commander of the group of long-range UAV operators in Ukraine's defense intelligence explained that the preparation process occurs in several stages.
"First, we analyze the targets, the possibility of reaching them, we analyze the enemy's air defense systems and electronic warfare means to find corridors to pass through. Over the past year, it's been extremely difficult to do this, but it still works," he said.
He also mentioned that the use of strike drones has undergone significant changes since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
N. Korean missiles launched by Russia containing components made in U.S., Europe – CNN
Between January and November, Russia launched 194 ballistic missiles at Ukraine, approximately 60 of which were North Korean KN-23 missiles containing components manufactured in Western countries.
This is according to CNN, citing its own analysis confirmed by Ukrainian military sources.
Ukrainian officials showed CNN fragments of North Korean missiles, which revealed guidance systems containing components manufactured in the United States and Europe. Critical components were produced by nine Western manufacturers, including companies based in the U.S., the Netherlands, and the U.K. Some of these parts were made as recently as 2023.
A report released earlier this year by the UK-based investigative organization Conflict Armament Research (CAR) found that 75% of components in one of the first North Korean missiles used to attack Ukraine were from US-based companies.
War
In Kharkiv, number of people injured in rocket attack has risen to 25
At about 8:30 a.m. on Monday, November 25, Russian troops attacked the central part of Kharkiv, hitting a courtyard near high-rise buildings
Russia launches around 150 drones, bombs, missiles against Ukraine since last evening – President Zelensky
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that since last evening, Russia has launched approximately 150 strike drones, aerial bombs, and missiles targeting over ten regions of Ukraine, with explosions reported in Odesa and Kharkiv.
In Zaporizhzhia, Shahed drones hit infrastructure facility, leaving teen injured
On the morning of November 25, the Russian military launched a missile strike on central Odesa, damaging civilian infrastructure, including a school building. 11 people were injured, one of them in critical condition.
Zelensky hears CinC’s report: situation most difficult in Kurakhove axis
Russian saboteurs attempt border breach near Kozacha Lopan
Russian drone targets civilians during aid distribution in Mykolaiv region
Military denies information about Russian advance in Toretsk
Ukrainian forces capture invaders breaking into Kopanky in Kharkiv region
Ukrainian defenders have captured Russian invaders who breached the settlement of Kopanky in Izium district of Kharkiv region.
"The 3rd Assault Brigade cleared the settlement of enemy forces that had broken into Kopanky in Kharkiv region. Along with successfully clearing the village of enemy troops, the brigade managed to capture a new group of enemy prisoners," the statement reads.
The captured individuals were identified as servicemen of Russia’s 1st Tank Army.
"While capturing the enemy, they shelled the area with 152mm artillery — not targeting our fighters, but attempting to eliminate their own. Some of the captives are already under investigation in Russia, while others have been convicted," the brigade reported.
As of now, Kopanky is under the control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, thanks to the efforts of the Karakurt Colony unit from the brigade’s 2nd Mechanized Battalion.
Defense
Drone Coalition to donate EUR 1.8B to support Ukraine’s Army next year - MoD
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov says that countries that are part of the International Drone Coalition for Ukraine will allocate EUR 1.8 billion euros to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces this year.
Politics
Discussions of deploying international troops in Ukraine intensified in Europe - Le Monde
Secret debates over the possible dispatch of Western troops and private defense companies into Ukraine have intensified against the backdrop of a possible U.S. withdrawal from the international effort to support Ukraine after Donald Trump takes office as president in January 2025.
That’s according to Le Monde referring to its sources, Ukrinform reports.
Earlier, the discussion about sending troops to Ukraine was initiated by French President Emmanuel Macron at a meeting of allies in Paris in February. However, it sparked strong resistance from some European countries, led by Germany.
“However, this scenario has not been buried. It has even been revived in recent weeks, thanks to the visit to France of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, on November 11,” the article notes.
Economy
British intelligence analyzes state of Ukraine, Russia economies amid war
Intelligence experts note that the growth of the Ukrainian economy by 3% this year after a 29% drop in 2022 and real growth of 5% in 2023 points to a recovery trend.
They noted that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) foresees average annual inflation at 5.8% in 2024, which is lower than the peak of 20% in 2022.
The UK MoD estimates that Russia’s economy is likely to grow by around 3.6% this year, continuing a growth trend since the initial economic shock of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The vast majority of Americans fully support Ukraine's efforts to defend themselves against the Russian invasion.