Saturday, November 23

Russia’s war against Ukraine

A view of the interior of a heavily damaged apartment in Kostiantynivka, with debris from a shattered window and broken furniture strewn across the room, as the destruction of a nearby building is seen through the open window frame on Nov. 21, 2024. (Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu via Getty Images)

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Ukraine begins talks with partners about advanced air defense systems, following Russia’s “Oreshnik” strike. President Volodymyr Zelensky has directed Defense Minister Rustem Umerov to engage with partners on acquiring advanced air defense systems, according to Zelensky’s statement on Nov. 22.

Russian military shoot 5 Ukrainian POWs near Vuhledar in Donetsk Oblast. The Security Service of Ukraine has launched an investigation into the killing of Ukrainian soldiers near Vuhledar, from which Ukrainian forces withdrew on Oct. 2.

Ukrainian parliament meeting canceled due to credible threat of Russian strike in Kyiv, source confirms. Lawmakers were planning to hold an hour-long Q&A session at the Verkhovna Rada, the official added.

Russia plans to launch mass production of Oreshnik missile, Putin says. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia will continue to test the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile, including in combat conditions.

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Russia has deployed nearly 60,000 troops to Kursk Oblast, media reports. Nearly 60,000 Russian army personnel are currently stationed in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, Suspilne reported on Nov. 22, citing its undisclosed source in the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces.

Russia likely used ballistic missile from ‘Kedr’ complex to strike Dnipro, intelligence says. The ballistic missile launched by Russia on Nov. 21 against the city of Dnipro was likely part of the “Kedr” missile complex tested in recent years, Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) said.

Shahed drones that hit Sumy equipped with shrapnel munitions, regional governor says. “This is pure genocide,” Regional Governor Volodymyr Artiukh said.

North Korea received anti-aircraft missiles, oil from Russia in exchange for troops, reports say. South Korea’s national security advisor Shin Won-sik on Nov. 22 said Moscow had provided Pyongyang with economic and military technology in exchange for the troops.

Read our exclusives

Ukraine war latest: Russia likely used missile from ‘Kedr’ complex

Several companies that are part of the Russian military-industrial complex were involved in developing “Kedr,” which was tested at the Kapustin Yar test site in 2023 and 2024, HUR said on Nov. 22.

Photo: Sergei Boboylov/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

What is Russia’s Oreshnik missile, and what happens next?

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Nov. 21 announced his country had launched a new type of missile in an attack on Ukraine, a demonstration of military might meant to deter Kyiv’s allies from further support.

Photo: Alexander Kazakov/AFP via Getty Images

‘It was my first revolution’ — Ukrainians look back on the Orange Revolution 20 years later

Nov. 22 marks 20 years since the beginning of the Orange Revolution, the two-month wave of protests that forced authorities to overturn a stolen election and order a new vote.

Photo: Uriel Sinai/Getty Images

Human cost of war

2 killed, 12 injured in Russia’s attack on Sumy. Russia struck a residential area in the city of Sumy overnight on Nov. 22 with Shahed drones, killing two people and injuring 12, local authorities reported.

General Staff: Russia has lost 728,300 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022. This number includes 1,050 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

Video: Muslim activist who fled Russia on his new life in Ukraine

International response

North Korea’s Kim accuses US of stoking potential ‘thermonuclear war’.

The comments came on the same day that Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country had launched its “newest missile,” an IRBM called “Oreshnik,” in an attack on Dnipro, eastern Ukraine.

Russia’s experimental weapons ’will not change the course of the war,’ NATO says. “The Russian attack on Dnipro on Thursday is yet another example of Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian cities,” NATO spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah said.

War in Ukraine at ‘decisive stage,’ risk of ‘global conflict,’ Poland’s Tusk says. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s comments came in the wake of Russia’s attack on Dnipro a day earlier.

Ukraine to receive $4.8 billion from World Bank. Ukraine and the World Bank signed a loan agreement worth $4.8 billion, which Kyiv will use for priority budget expenditures, the Finance Ministry said in a statement.

NASAMS air defense systems delivered to Ukraine, Canadian defense minister says. “Canada’s support for Ukraine is steadfast and we will continue to step up and build on our contributions to Ukraine in their fight against Russia’s invasion,” Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair said on Nov. 22.

Trump may name former intelligence director Richard Grenell as Ukraine peace envoy, Reuters reports. Grenell has previously suggested a peace plan in Ukraine involving the creation of “autonomous zones” and has opposed Ukraine’s membership in NATO.

Hungary criticizes US sanctions on Gazprombank as ‘threat to energy security’, Bloomberg reports. Hungary criticized U.S. sanctions on Gazprombank, stating that they pose a threat to the energy security of Central European countries, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjarto said in a statement on Nov. 22.

Opinions and insights

Opinion: Russia faces deep economic crisis regardless of war’s outcome

“With soaring interest rates and stagflation risks, Russia faces a serious economic crisis, whether Putin’s war ends in victory or defeat,” writes Alexander Mertens, finance professor.

Photo: Kirill Kudryavtsev / AFP via Getty Images

Opinion: Berlin’s coalition drama puts Ukraine — and Europe — at risk

“Germany faces a pivotal moment as Trump’s re-election forces a reckoning on its leadership role in Ukraine and European security,” Olena Yermakova and Felix Blatt write.

Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images

In other news

Lukashenko threatens internet blackout during 2025 elections to prevent protests. Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko has stated that he may completely shut down the internet during the 2025 presidential elections if protests similar to those in 2020 arise, state-run news outlet Belta reported on Nov. 22.

‘Whoever enters parliament enters Russia,’ Georgian president says. “I am sure that the parties will not enter the parliament … Today, whoever enters the parliament will enter Russia,” Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili said on Nov. 22.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Martin Fornusek, Martina Sapio, Teah Pelechaty, Chris York, Kateryna Hodunova, Sonya Bandouil, and Abbey Fenbert.

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