Newsletter 29/11/2024
A daily news digest covering important war, political, economic, and cultural topics in Ukraine
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President appoints Mykhailo Drapatyi as new Commander of Land Forces
Following a meeting of the Commander-in-Chief's Staff, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Mykhailo Drapatyi had been appointed the new Commander of the Land Forces and Oleh Apostol had been appointed Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
Bodies of 502 fallen defenders repatriated to Ukraine
Of the fallen, 397 were recovered from the Donetsk sector, 24 from the Luhansk sector, and 64 from the Zaporizhzhia sector. Additionally, 17 bodies were repatriated from Russian morgues.
The Coordination Headquarters said the repatriation was the result of collaborative efforts involving multiple agencies, including the Central Directorate for Civil-Military Cooperation of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the Joint Center of the Security Service of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry, the Office of the Verkhovna Rada Human Rights Commissioner, and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.
The body of Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna, who died while in Russian captivity, was not returned to Ukraine during the latest repatriation efforts.
Oil depot on fire in Russia’s Rostov region following drone attack/Video
In Russia's Rostov region, an industrial facility, likely an oil depot, caught fire following a drone attack in Kamensky district.
The Russian Ministry of Defense claims that overnight, air defense forces allegedly shot down 47 Ukrainian drones over Russian territories. According to the ministry, 29 drones were destroyed over Rostov region, eight over Krasnodar area, three over Belgorod, Bryansk, and Voronezh regions, and one over occupied Crimea.
Ukraine's General Staff confirms strike on oil depot in Russia's Rostov region
Powerful explosion reported in Crimea near suspected S-400 missile system site
A powerful explosion was reported in the village of Vityne, Saky district, in temporarily occupied Crimea, with speculation that a Russian S-400 missile defense system may have been targeted.
DIU servicemen strike at Russian radar complex “Zoopark”/Video
The soldiers of the Wings unit, which is part of the Active Operations Department of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, detected and struck at the Russian Zoopark radar complex.
The cost of this complex is approximately UAH 1 billion.
To destroy the Russian “Zoopark”, the scouts used four long-range FPV drones worth UAH 100,000.
Journalists locate site in Belarus where Russians tortured captured Ukrainians in 2022
Journalists have identified the exact location of a filtration camp in Belarus, where Russians held and tortured Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians, including children.
Detailed information and satellite images were published on Telegram by the investigative journalism project Schemes.
In the spring of 2022, at Russia’s full-scale incursion into Ukraine, the invaders set up a filtration camp in the Belarusian city of Narovlya, where they unlawfully held and tortured Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians, including children. Some human rights activists call this camp one of the most cruel sites in terms of prisoner treatment.
The detainees were interrogated and beaten, and footage of those acts was used in propaganda videos.
War
Drone attack: 7 wounded in Odesa region, port infrastructure damaged
In Odesa region, seven people were injured in a drone attack on the night of November 29. Homes, as well as port and transportation infrastructure, were damaged.
Russian SUV carrying drones destroyed in Kursk region – source
The incident occurred in the city of Rylsk in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian partisans spotted the location of a Russian unmanned systems crew. The crew was observed loading plastic boxes containing drones into their vehicle.
Situation on front lines in Ukraine: 123 combat clashes, most fighting on Kurakhove front
In east, Russia has focused its main efforts on four areas - AFU
Syrskyi in Donetsk region: Reinforcements for units in Pokrovsk, Kurakhove sectors
Fighters of Pomsta brigade continue to inflict losses on enemy in Luhansk region
Eight enemy vehicles, a boat, and a fuel tanker were destroyed near Kreminna, three Russian soldiers were killed, and four others were wounded. Ammunition and fuel depots were set on fire.
Politics
Zelensky holds phone call with Scholz
"I had a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and thanked him for his leadership in helping Ukraine with air defense systems –- especially the highly effective Patriots and IRIS-Ts, which have already saved thousands of lives. I am grateful for the Chancellor's continued commitment to supporting Ukraine, particularly in defending against Russian aggression and enhancing our resilience. We discussed what our bilateral steps and steps by partners can strengthen Ukraine," Zelensky said.
Ukraine joins statement in support of implementation of Chemical Weapons Convention
Ukraine has joined the Joint Statement on behalf of 59 states in support of the full implementation of the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention, including the prohibition of the use of riot control agents as a method of warfare.
Turkey assures that it will not support peace plan with territorial concessions - MP
Turkey officially confirms that the information about its support for the peace plan, which allegedly provides for the freezing of the conflict and concessions to Ukraine's territorial integrity, is not true.
“There are constant accusations, especially from the Russian side, that Turkey is committed to a peace formula that provides for the freezing of the conflict and concessions in territorial integrity. So, during the two days of our visit to Turkey, we held meetings at a very high level and were assured everywhere that this is not true,” said Ahtem Çiygöz, co-chairman of the group on interparliamentary relations with Turkey, MP of Ukraine, Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people.
Poland claims sending NATO troops to Ukraine currently "not appropriate"
"At this stage, sending NATO troops to Ukraine is not an appropriate decision. Right now, Ukraine needs support in the form of weapons, as well as an appropriate assessment of the economic conditions for conducting the war against Russia," noted the Head of Poland's National Security Bureau, Jacek Siewiera.
He explained that Western countries should focus on supporting Ukraine and applying the necessary pressure on Russia, particularly in terms of strengthening sanctions to prevent Russia from bypassing them, especially in acquiring weapons or their components, and ensuring Russia cannot profit from energy sales. Additionally, he highlighted the importance of transferring frozen Russian assets to Ukraine.
Society
Detention of two Ukrainians in Slovakia: Embassy of Ukraine is clarifying situation
The Embassy of Ukraine has not received any requests from the Slovak side regarding the detention of a Ukrainian citizen in connection with an investigation into a threat to critical infrastructure and has contacted the competent Slovak authorities to clarify the situation.
As reported, on November 26, two people were detained in Slovakia, who are now in jail, on suspicion of threatening critical infrastructure.
Cabinet of Ministers approves new rules for reserving conscripts starting Dec 1
From December 1, 2024, the reservation procedure will once again be available through the Diia portal. To reserve their employees, a business must obtain or renew its critical importance status according to new mandatory criteria. Businesses have more than three months to do so — until the end of February 2025.