Ukraine Daily

Saturday, November 12

Russia’s war against Ukraine

People hold Ukrainian flags as they gather in Maidan Square to celebrate the liberation of Kherson, in Kyiv on Nov.11, 2022. (Photo by Genya Savilov/AFP via Getty Images)

Ukrainian troops enter Kherson. Ukraine’s Armed Forces entered the city of Kherson on Nov. 11, according to the Defense Ministry’s Intelligence Directorate. “Kherson returns to Ukraine, as the Armed Forces enter the city,” its statement reads. “The retreat routes are under the fire control of the Ukrainian army.” At about 12 p.m., Russia’s Defense Ministry announced the complete withdrawal of Russian forces from the west bank of the Dnipro River, including from Kherson.

Peskov says ‘Kherson remains Russian’ as Ukrainian forces enter city. Kremlin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Nov. 11 that Russia continues to consider Kherson its territory, despite the withdrawal of its troops from the city, according to Russian state-controlled news agency TASS. Peskov didn’t comment on Russian military leadership’s decision to leave Kherson.

Satellite imagery shows significant damage to bridges near Kherson, Nova Kakhovka dam. Several bridges connecting Ukraine’s east and west banks of the Dnipro River were heavily damaged following Russia’s retreat from the west bank of the Dnipro River, including from Kherson, on Nov. 11.

Prosecutor General’s Office: Civilian bodies found in liberated parts of Kherson Oblast. Law enforcement has found the remains of three civilians killed during Russia’s occupation of Beryslav, Kherson Oblast, reported the Prosecutor General’s Office on Nov. 11. The bodies, which will be sent for further inspection, reportedly had fractured skulls and were found in a cellar. On Oct. 26, the Reintegration Ministry reported that around 1,000 were exhumed in recently liberated territories.

Police uncover Russian atrocities in recently liberated territories of Kherson Oblast. At the end of October, a 70-year-old resident of the village of Kachkarivka in Kherson Oblast was killed after Russian troops threw a mine into the man’s yard, according to local police. The Russian military also kidnapped a resident of Ivanivka who was trying to evacuate to Ukrainian-controlled territory, the police said. Over the past day, the police have opened 53 criminal proceedings for war crimes committed by Russian troops in Kherson Oblast.

Energy giant DTEK: Russia completely destroyed energy system in Kherson. Executive director of Ukraine’s largest private power producer DTEK Dmytro Sakharuk said on TV on Nov. 11 that there is no electricity at all in the city of Kherson. Sakharuk added that it took 30 days to restore power to the parts of Kyiv Oblast occupied by Russia and expects it will take about the same amount of time to restore electricity to Kherson.

Governor: Mykolaiv Oblast almost completely liberated from Russian occupation. Mykolaiv Oblast Governor Vitalii Kim announced on Nov. 11 that the entirety of Mykolaiv Oblast has been liberated by Ukrainian forces, except for Kinburnska spit.

Ukraine liberates nearly 3,000 square kilometers in one day in south. Ukraine’s military liberated 3,000 square kilometers in Ukraine’s south on Nov. 11, according to Natalia Humeniuk, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s Southern Operational Command.

Japanese media: Japanese volunteer killed in Ukraine. A Japanese volunteer fighting eastern Ukraine against Russia has been killed, The Japan Times reported on Nov. 11, citing Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno. The man was reportedly in his 20s and is believed to be the first Japanese individual to have died fighting in Russia’s full-scale war.

The Kyiv Independent celebrates 1 year

Editorial: One year of the Kyiv Independent.

Exactly one year ago, we decided to create the Kyiv Independent. “We” were a group of some 30 journalists fired from the Kyiv Post, then Ukraine’s main English-language newspaper for defending our editorial independence. It was an unusual start, to say the least.

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One year of the Kyiv Independent: Stories we’re proud of.

Nov. 11, 2022 marks one year of the Kyiv Independent. In our first year, we have become the voice of Ukraine as it fights for its existence. Here is a selection of some of the stories we are proud of. Our work has been possible thanks to the support of our readers.

Photo: Getty Images

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The human cost of Russia’s war

Russia’s attacks kill 2 in Donetsk Oblast, death toll in Mykolaiv rises to 5. In the past 24 hours, Russian forces have killed two and wounded five civilians in Donetsk Oblast, not including Mariupol and Volnovakha, according to Pavlo Kyrylenko, the oblast governor. The death toll from a Russian missile strike on a residential building in Mykolaiv overnight has risen to five, two people are injured, said Mykolaiv Oblast Governor Vitalii Kim. Search and rescue operations are ongoing.

General Staff: Russia has lost 79,400 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24. Ukraine’s General Staff reported on Nov. 11 that Russia had also lost 2,814 tanks, 5,696 armored fighting vehicles, 4,259 vehicles and fuel tanks, 1,817 artillery systems, 393 multiple launch rocket systems, 205 air defense systems, 278 airplanes, 261 helicopters, 1,505 drones, and 16 boats.

International response

US to hold Ramstein-7 meeting next week to discuss aid for Ukraine. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will host the seventh meeting of the Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine (known as Rammstein) next week. “This meeting will be hosted virtually here at the Pentagon and will allow for the Secretary and ministers of defense from nearly 50 countries to discuss efforts to supply Ukraine with the means to defend its sovereignty,” said Sabrina Singh, deputy Pentagon press secretary.

Scholz: Diplomatic solution currently ‘impossible’ for Russia’s war. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Nov. 11 that, during “this murderous war that we are currently experiencing,” Russian President Vladimir Putin is preventing diplomatic rapprochement with Ukraine. Scholz added that he opposes a ceasefire on Russia’s terms.

Germany to send Ukraine additional 1 billion euros for cyber defense, documenting war crimes. Germany announced on Nov. 11 that it will provide 1 billion euros ($1.03 billion) from its 2023 budget to support Ukraine. The money will go toward countering Russian cyberattacks, collecting evidence of Russian war crimes, and supporting civil society in the broader region.

Netherlands to allocate additional 110 million euros to support Ukraine in winter. The funds will be used to provide housing, repair water pipes and houses, and purchase gas, food, and electricity, Dutch Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Minister Liesje Schreinemacher said on Nov. 11. Part of the funds will be directed toward repairing Ukraine’s energy network.

Politico: EU sees Hungary’s blockage of 18 billion euros for Ukraine as ‘blackmail.’ Budapest is blocking Ukraine’s 18 billion support package to put pressure on Brussels and prevent the freezing of money for Hungary over its democratic backsliding, Politico reported, citing four EU officials and diplomats who see this move as a “blackmail tactic.” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Hungary “shouldn’t play poker” in this situation, which concerns “saving lives.”

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