Worth noting, korrespondent.net has compiled its Invasion of Ukraine series into separate months, beginning May 9th, 2023. Linked in the title.
[Korrespondent] 22:35 The Pentagon Defense Policy Council will hold closed meetings on December 5-6, during which it will discuss strategy towards Russia, the official journal of the US government reports. The meetings will be devoted to the “collection, analysis and assessment of classified information”, the result of which should be the development of practical recommendations. The meetings will include classified briefings "on the threat that Russia poses and will pose from now until 2050." “Confidential data on the actions of the Russian Federation” during the war in Ukraine will also be discussed.
22:13 Scythian gold - a historical collection of ancient treasures from Crimean museums - has returned to Ukraine after almost a ten-year dispute with Russia. 565 items were brought from the Netherlands to Kyiv, including Scythian and Sarmatian jewelry and sculptures. Read more in the material The ending of the story .
22:04 The President’s Office organized a business trip for several groups of deputies, officials, veterans and children to the United States to promote local support for Ukraine, as well as build contacts with Republicans in the event of Trump’s election victory, writes NV.
21:27 A drone attacked the defense plant NPO Splav in Tula, the opposition Russian publication Astra reports, citing sources. On the night of November 26, a drone fell on the roof of a production workshop under construction, no one was injured. JSC Scientific and Production Association Splav is a defense industry enterprise, a manufacturer of multiple launch rocket systems Grad, Smerch, Hurricane and others.
Also that night, a component of an unidentified ammunition with an explosive was found on the territory of the production workshop of Tulamash-Tarpan LLC. The main direction of production activity of Tulamash-Tarpan LLC is the production of parts and assemblies for engineering products.
21:02 The Cabinet of Ministers plans to change the procedure for mobilization in Ukraine, the changes will be announced by the end of this week, writes The Guardian with reference to the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Alexey Danilov. According to him, Ukraine plans to attract commercial recruiting companies to conduct a more targeted recruitment. Involving these companies should reassure recruits that they will be in roles that suit their skills, rather than that they will be "just sent to the front."
“Some people are afraid: they are afraid to die, they are afraid to shoot. But this does not mean that they cannot be involved in other activities... Now we have a new minister with a new approach,” Danilov explained.
20:44 Zelensky said that he had a telephone conversation with Ursula von der Leyen on the eve of the European Council meeting in December, they discussed Ukraine’s progress in implementing the recommendations of the European Commission to begin negotiations on accession to the EU. The President assured that Ukraine will implement all recommendations before the December meeting of the European Council, including those related to the rights of national minorities and strengthening anti-corruption institutions.
In addition, Zelensky had a telephone conversation with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Muhammad bin Salman al Saud, to discuss strengthening Ukrainian-Saudi ties and the implementation of the Peace Formula.
In Kyiv, Zelensky met with the President and Vice-President of the European Investment Bank and thanked for the decision to open the EIB Regional Representative Office in Kyiv.
19:15 Germany is providing more than 300 million euros to help Ukraine in the energy sector, said German Ambassador Martin Jäger.
19:06 Germany and the United States denied information from Bild journalist Julian Repke about an alleged “secret plan” that should push Ukraine into negotiations with Russia. In particular, the German federal government, in response to a request from DW, stated that the Bild material has no basis, and Berlin will support Ukraine “as long as necessary to defend against Russian aggression.”
In turn, US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O'Brien said that Washington does not have a policy of “pushing” Kiev into negotiations with Moscow: “We have always said that this issue should be resolved by Ukraine.”
18:59 You can increasingly see reports that the situation at the front in Ukraine has reached a dead end. Neither Ukraine nor Russia can accumulate enough forces to create a strike force at the front that is many times greater than the enemy’s forces. Read more in the material Forecasts for the winter campaign .
18:48 The Russians shelled Nikopol and the Marganets community of the Dnepropetrovsk region with heavy artillery throughout the day. One person was injured, the administrative building, the lyceum, a temple, a sports club, seven apartment buildings and 14 private houses, a power line and a gas pipeline were damaged, said the head of the OVA Sergei Lysak.
18:13 Western air defense systems are now protecting not only Kiev, but also other regions of Ukraine, said Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ignat in an interview with NV: “Don’t say that Kiev alone is strengthening, this is not true. Yes, Kiev is well protected, because it "is attacked most of all, and was attacked most of all in the last heating season. Therefore, we must understand that Kiev - of course. And other regions are now already protected by Western systems - both NASAMS, and IRIS-T, but I will not say more."
17:39 Air Force Speaker Yuri Ignat predicts that in winter Russia will use drones “many times more” than missiles: “In my opinion, Russia will now use drones many times more than missiles. We are talking about “martyrs”, but "also about FPV drones and Lancets along the front line. Of course, they are also accumulating missiles, and the GUR regularly announces this."
Ignat also said that the bad weather that has been observed in Ukraine for the last few days is not an insurmountable obstacle to Russian attacks by drones and missiles, but certain difficulties may arise for the enemy. In particular, due to temperature differences from plus to minus, individual elements may freeze, which affects the aerodynamic qualities of the UAV, and it may fall. Gusty and stormy winds have a significant impact on the operation of manned aircraft and drones.
As for the Ukrainian air defense system, according to Ignat, the current weather does not pose any problems for its operation. The exception is mobile groups, for whom bad weather can complicate their work.
17:30 Stoltenberg said that NATO’s main task remains to support Ukraine, but without getting involved in a direct war with the Russian Federation: “NATO has two fundamental tasks. The first is to support Ukraine. The other most important task is to prevent escalation, to prevent this conflict from turning into full-scale war between Russia and NATO, as this will bring even more suffering, death and destruction."
The Secretary General also noted that Ukraine will become a NATO member only after the war, and if it carries out reforms. At the same time, according to him, Ukraine itself must decide “what methods of ending this war are acceptable.”
17:18 Air Force Speaker Yuri Ignat, in an interview with Novinarnya, confirmed the destruction of Russian aviation over the Bryansk region in May from the Patriot air defense system. In particular, he said that he calls May 13, 2023 the “Bryansk massacre.” Then, thanks to the “non-standard actions” of the Patriot air defense system, in five minutes they destroyed five aircraft at once - one Su-34 fighter, one Su-35, two rare Mi-8MTPR-1 helicopters and another Mi-8. Ignat added that shortly after these events, Patriot shot down another Su-35 over the Black Sea.
16:27 Vice-President of the European Commission, European Commissioner for Values and Transparency Vera Yurova arrived in Kiev and discussed with MPs the process of Ukraine’s accession to the EU. “Quality and speed matter. I had the honor to discuss Ukraine’s accession to the EU with representatives of all political groups in the Verkhovna Rada,” she noted.
16:10 People's Deputy from the Servant of the People party Maryana Bezuglaya, who is also a member of the Committee of National Security, Defense and Intelligence, provoked a serious scandal with her new statement. In particular, she doubted the competence of Commander-in-Chief Valery Zaluzhny and demanded his resignation. This caused a sharp reaction from politicians and on social networks. Read more in the material Threat to national security?
15:04 Four more Russian soldiers were killed in Mariupol, the city council reports. They were found dead on one of the beaches. The Russians were stabbed to death; before their deaths, they all drank alcohol. Next to the bodies they found a portrait of Putin with an inscription in blood: “Go away!” Russian propagandists suggest that a new group of partisans is operating in the city.
A few days ago, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that in Mariupol, Russian military personnel from among the former prisoners killed their commander because of his constant threats and bullying.
14:24 The upper stage of the Pantsir-S air defense missile system pierced the wall of a house in the Moscow region during a drone attack on the night of November 26, reports the opposition Russian telegram channel Astra. According to journalists, in the Sad consumer cooperative in the village of Chastsy in Kubinka, Odintsovo urban district, the Pantsir's accelerating block pierced the wall of a two-story wooden house. A fire broke out at the scene, which the owners put out themselves; there were no casualties.
13:55 In the Kupyansk direction, to assault Ukrainian positions, the Russians use units formed from former prisoners - Storm, Storm Z, Storm V. In addition, former mercenaries of the Wagner PMC are joining the assaults, said the commander of the Ground Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Alexander Syrsky. At the same time, he assured that the Russians have not made any progress in this direction. The fighting is taking place near Ivanovka and Sinkovka, Kharkov region.
In the Liman direction, the enemy is trying to attack in the Serebryansky Forest area, actively using bomber, fighter aircraft and fire support helicopters. In the Bakhmut direction, Russian troops are not abandoning attempts to oust Ukrainian units from positions in Kleshcheevka, and have intensified the use of kamikaze drones. Syrsky assured that the enemy had no success in this direction either.
13:26 On November 28-29, the foreign ministers of NATO countries intend to agree on recommendations for Ukraine on the path to joining the alliance, Stoltenberg said.
12:53 The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, admits that it will be more difficult for the European Union to seek support for decisions on Ukraine at the UN due to the conflict in the Gaza Strip. He explained that countries such as Chile, which helped condemn Russian aggression, say they do not understand the EU's position on Gaza. "They don't think we are consistent. These are different conflicts, but world public opinion compares our position with both," Borrell added.
12:20 In the Melitopol region, resistance forces blew up a car of Kadyrov’s militants, said the mayor of Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov. He clarified that this happened last weekend near the village of Mirnoye. Local residents heard a shootout, as they later found out, between partisans and invaders. Kadyrov’s men were expecting help when their Niva “unexpectedly” exploded. The car burned down, the number of victims is being established.
11:39 There will be no public events, fairs or entertainment on Sophia Square in Kiev this year. The Christmas tree, as last year, will be installed and decorated at the expense of patrons, in compliance with the regime for limiting the use of electricity, said the mayor of the capital, Vitaliy Klitschko.
10:48 Russia has activated a network of spies in Ukraine, including in the SBU, NSDC Secretary Alexey Danilov said in an interview with The Times. According to him, the goal of the Russians is to destabilize the situation in Ukraine and undermine the unity of the state, drive a wedge between the political and military leadership, and incite anti-government sentiments among the population. Danilov also noted that Moscow is trying to take advantage of the “so-called tension” between Zelensky and Zaluzhny.
10:33 The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) did not find visual confirmation of the statements of Russian bloggers that the Russian army allegedly captured the entire industrial zone near the Yasinovataya-2 station. According to ISW, based on analysis of geolocation video, Russian troops advanced northwest and southeast of Avdievka on November 26.
09:57 The Financial Times writes that Turkey's exports to Russia of goods critical to military production have increased significantly this year, raising concerns among the United States and its allies about Ankara's potential role as a mediator. Thus, in the first nine months of 2023, Turkey exported goods worth $158 million in 45 categories that the United States considers “high priority.” This is three times more than in the same period in 2022. The average figure for the period 2015-2021 was $28 million.
Exports of high-priority goods from Turkey to former Soviet countries have increased, but the statistical agencies of these countries have not recorded a corresponding increase in imports, so the final recipient is unknown. The Center for a New American Security said the US and its partners may be forced to take action to restrict this trade.
08:42 The General Staff announced the estimated losses of the Russian Federation as of the morning of November 27:
- personnel - about 325,580 (+750) people,
- tanks - 5520 (+7),
- armored combat vehicles - 10,282 (+3),
- artillery systems - 7875 (+1),
- MLRS - 907 (+0),
- air defense systems - 597 (+0),
- aircraft - 323 (+0),
- helicopters - 324 (+0),
- UAV of operational-tactical level - 5905 (+4),
- cruise missiles - 1565 (+0),
- ships/boats - 22 (+0),
- submarines - 1 (+0),
- automotive equipment and tank trucks - 10,299 (+11),
- special equipment - 1113 (+0).
07:57 Over the past 24 hours, 63 military clashes took place at the front, the General Staff reported in its morning report . In particular, the Defense Forces repelled 30 enemy attacks in the Avdeevka direction (east of Novobakhmutovka, south of Novokalinovo, Severny, Stepnoy, Avdeevka and Pervomaisky, Donetsk region).
In the Kupyansk direction, the Ukrainian Armed Forces repelled enemy attacks in the Sinkovka areas of the Kharkov region and Novoselovsky, Luhansk region; on Limansky - in the area of Serebryansky forestry; on Bakhmutsky - near Bogdanovka, Kleshcheevka, Andreevka and east of the Northern Donetsk region; on Maryinsky - in the Marinka and Novomikhailovka districts of the Donetsk region; on Zaporozhye - west of Verbovoy, Zaporozhye region. The enemy did not conduct offensive actions in the Shakhtarsky direction.
At the same time, the Defense Forces continue the offensive operation in the Melitopol direction and assault operations south of Bakhmut, Donetsk region, and in the Kherson direction they hold their positions on the left bank of the Dnieper.