Sunday, November 17

Russia’s war against Ukraine

Smoke rises from a fire at a house in the middle of the city, approximately 10 kilometers from the front line, on Nov. 16 in Pokrovsk, Ukraine. (Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images)

Russia launches large-scale missile, drone attack on Ukraine, fire, casualties reported in Kyiv. Multiple loud explosions were reported in the capital Kyiv between 6:30 and 7:15 a.m. local time, according to a Kyiv Independent journalist on the ground. Further explosions were also heard in the cities of Kropyvnytskyi, Rivne, Ivano-Frankivsk, Cherkasy, Dnipro, Vinnytsia, Kryvyi Rih, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, as well as in Khmelnytskyi Oblast.

‘We must do everything to end this war next year through diplomatic means’ — Zelensky speaks on negotiations, war. Ukraine must do everything possible to end the war through diplomatic means, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a wide-ranging interview with Suspilne broadcast on Nov. 16.

Ukraine destroys flag planted by Russian troops at border in Chernihiv Oblast. A day after videos showed Russian troops planting their flag in a grey zone near the border in Ukraine’s Chernihiv Oblast, Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service released a video showing a drone destroying the flag on Nov. 16.

Ukraine destroys $10 million Russian Buk air-defense system, Interior Ministry says. A drone unit in the National Guard’s 27th Pechersk Brigade destroyed a Russian anti-aircraft missile BUK-M1 system worth $10 million, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported on Nov 16.

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Russia producing thermobaric drones, capable of causing ‘terrifying’ civilian harm, AP reports. Thermobaric warheads create a wave of high pressure and heat that is capable of penetrating thick walls, AP reported. The damage caused by thermobaric attack drones would cause damage that would be “simply terrifying” for civilian populations to endure, including collapsed lungs, crushed eyeballs, and brain damage, according to a source familiar with Russian drone production.

North Korea delivers 70 missile launchers, artillery systems to Russia’s Kursk Oblast, FT reports. North Korea has provided Russia with 50 domestically produced self-propelled howitzers and 20 multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), the Financial Times (FT) reported on Nov. 16, citing a Ukrainian intelligence assessment.

Estonia approves delivery of additional military aid package for Ukraine. The latest aid package will include an unspecified amount of munitions and equipment, including naval uniforms, observation equipment, sights, and protective equipment, Estonia’s Defense Ministry said.

Human cost of war

General Staff: Russia has lost 719,240 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022. Russia has lost 719,240 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on Nov. 15.

2 injured in Kyiv amid Russia’s large-scale missile, drone attack against Ukraine.

Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitshko said that as a result of falling drone debris, an apartment on the fourth floor of five-story residential building caught fire in the Pechersk neighborhood. One person was hospitalized as a result of the attack, while one other person received medical treatment on-site. Russia’s latest barrage of missile strikes marks the first mass missile attack on Kyiv in over 2 months, with Russia instead utilizing more frequent drone attacks in recent months to attack the capital.

2 killed, 6 injured in Mykolaiv amid Russia’s mass missile and drone attack. At least two people were killed and six injured, including two children, in the city of Mykolaiv amid Russia’s mass drone and missile attack, regional governor Vitalii Kim reported on Nov. 17.

Trump wouldn’t want ‘major Russian victory,’ says ex-US ambassador

International response

G7 leaders reaffirm commitment to ’severe costs’ for Russia and ‘unwavering support’ for Ukraine. Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) released a statement reaffirming their “unwavering support for Ukraine for as long as it takes” and commitment to “severe costs” for Russia on Nov. 16.

Germany, China expected to discuss war in Ukraine, North Korean troops next week. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Chinese President Xi Jinping plan discuss the war in Ukraine and involvement of North Korean troops in the fighting during the upcoming G20 Summit in Brazil next week, German media reported on Nov. 15.

Zelensky, Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya discuss North Korean troop presence, support for Ukraine, during surprise visit to Kyiv. Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya met with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Nov. 16 during an unannounced visit to the capital, marking his first trip to Ukraine since being appointed to the post in September.

Ukraine, US to partner on developing small modular nuclear reactors for reconstruction. The United States will partner with Ukraine to transition Ukraine’s coal-fired plants to small modular nuclear reactors, and to use them to help decarbonize its steel industry, the countries announced on Nov. 16 at the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan.

In other news

Russia cutting off gas sent to Austria via Ukraine, Austrian gas supplier says. Russia’s Gazprom Export announced that its supply of natural gas to Austria is ending on Nov. 16, according to OMV, Austria’s largest gas supply company.

Ukrainian partisans say they sabotaged railway in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The Atesh partisan group sabotaged a key railway in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast, disabling electrical equipment and causing disruptions to Russia’s military supply chain, the group claimed on Nov. 16.

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