Thursday, November 23

Russia’s war against Ukraine

The aftermath of Russian strikes on Donetsk Oblast on Nov. 22, 2023. (Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor’s Office/Facebook)

Exit polls: Geert Wilders’ far-right party set to win Dutch elections. Geert Wilders’s far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) is set to win the Dutch parliamentary Nov. 22 elections, securing 35 of the 150 parliamentary seats, exit polls suggested.

Lawmaker: Ukraine to operate F-16 jets in late spring in ‘best-case scenario.’

Ukraine could field F-16 fighter jets at the end of the spring of 2024 in the “best-case scenario,” Oleksandra Ustinova, head of the Holos (Voice) parliamentary faction, said in an interview with European Pravda published on Nov. 22.

Parliament passes bill to preserve soldiers’ reproductive cells free of charge.

The proposed bill would enable Ukrainian soldiers to extract and store their reproductive cells in cryobanks for free so that if they receive injuries on the battlefield that affect their sexual function, they can still have children.

Ukrenergo warns of electricity shortages until evening. State grid operator Ukrenergo warned of electricity shortages in Ukraine on Nov. 22, and urged consumers to use electricity sparingly until evening.

Media: Court launches bankruptcy case against Ukraine International Airlines.

The Ukrainian state-owned bank Ukreximbank filed a lawsuit against the airline on Oct. 31, Forbes Ukraine said, adding that the company currently held Hr 20.5 billion ($568 million) in debt.

Polish investigation into Russian spy network results in 15 arrests. Poland has completed its investigation into the operation of Russian spy network and detained 15 people, Polish media outlet RMF24 reported on Nov. 22.

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Poll: Over 70% of Ukrainians view Russians negatively. More than 70% of Ukrainians have a negative view of Russian citizens, while just 3% view them positively, according to a poll conducted in October and published by the Ukrainian polling agency Rating on Nov. 22.

Russian media: Russians consider Cyprus, Hungary top locations for foreign investment. Russians who plan to buy property abroad are most interested in investing in Cyprus and Hungary, Russian media outlet RBC reported on Nov. 22, citing research from real estate agency NF Group.

Military: Russia ‘dramatically’ increasing assaults, airstrikes on southern front.

In the southern front where the Tavria Group operates, Russian forces have carried out 29 airstrikes and almost 1,000 artillery barrages since Nov. 21.

Ukraine’s parliament supports draft law making English official language of international communication. The Verkhovna Rada supported the draft law on the status of the English language in Ukraine in its first reading, MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak reported on Telegram on Nov. 22. If passed, the law would establish English as an official language ​​of international communication in Ukraine.

Culture Ministry: Netherlands to return Scythian gold from annexed Crimea to Ukraine. Ukrainian Culture Minister Rostyslav Karandieiev has signed an agreement with Dr. Fred Virmen, acting director of the University Library of the University of Amsterdam, finalizing their return, the ministry announced.

Air Force: Ukraine downs all 14 Russian drones launched overnight. In addition, Russia launched a Kh-22 cruise missile at Ukraine, which failed to hit its target and fell in an open area of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, the Air Force said. The blast wave damaged residential buildings but did not cause any casualties.

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Ukraine war latest: Germany delivers over 20 Marders; Military reports destroying 80% of Russian hardware near Avdiivka

Germany handed over 20 Marder armored vehicles, a Wisent-1 demining tank, 2,380 155mm shells, and other aid in its latest delivery to Ukraine, the German government said on Nov. 22.

The European Union has sent the latest 1.5 billion euro ($1.6 billion) installment of its macro-financial assistance package to Ukraine.

Photo: Vlada Liberova / Libkos via Getty Images

Charles Michel: We provided more than 82 billion euros, we are ready to do more

Ten years after Ukrainians took to the streets their dissatisfaction with what many saw as a nail into the coffin of the country’s European future, the European Council president was in Kyiv promising that Ukraine would soon begin accession talks.

Photo: Anna Yakutenko/Kyiv Independent

Human cost of war

Russian attacks on Donetsk Oblast kill 2, injure 1. Russian attacks on Chasiv Yar, Avdiivka, and Toretsk in Donetsk Oblast on Nov. 22 killed two people and injured one, the Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor’s Office reported.

Ukrainian military: Dozens of Russian marines killed at award ceremony. Members of the 810th Russian Marine Brigade were attending the awards ceremony on the occasion of Russia’s Day of Missile Forces and Artillery, which also had entertainment provided by Russian actress Polina Menshikh, when the attack allegedly occurred.

Russian attacks in Kherson Oblast kill 1, injure 7. Using mortars, tanks, multiple-launch rocket systems, artillery, drones, and aircraft, Russian forces attacked the oblast 115 times, including 46 shells that were fired at the city of Kherson.

Update: At least 2 killed by Russian strike on hospital in Selydove on Nov 20.

The State Emergency Service said that rescue operations at the partially destroyed hospital were still ongoing, and there was possibly one more person trapped in the rubble.

General Staff: Russia has lost 320,670 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022. Russia has lost 320,670 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24 last year, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on Nov. 22.

Opinions and insights

Opinion: Russia’s ‘most dangerous philosopher’ Dugin is overrated

One of the favorite protagonists in journalistic investigations of deeper sources of Moscow’s recent foreign policies is the flamboyant Russian idealogue Alexander Dugin. He can be different things to his various audiences – a modern Dostoevsky, a right-wing Trotsky, an Orthodox monk, a second Rasputin, or an alternative Tolstoy.

Photo:(Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

International response

Official: Slovak authorities look to prevent blockades at Ukraine border. Slovak authorities will investigate measures to prevent haulers from blocking the Ukraine-Slovak border crossing at Vysne Nemecke, Deputy Infrastructure Minister Serhii Derkach said on Nov. 22.

Finland to close all but one border crossing with Russia. The measure, which is to take effect on Nov. 24, follows Helsinki’s accusations that Russia is orchestrating the influx of migrants as retribution for Finland’s entry into NATO.

Germany hands over 20 Marders, demining tank, other aid in latest delivery to Ukraine. Germany handed over 20 Marder armored vehicles, a Wisent-1 demining tank, 2,380 155mm shells, and other aid in its latest delivery to Ukraine, the German government said on Nov. 22.

Austin calls on allies to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense amid infrastructure strikes. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin called on Kyiv’s allies during the 17th Ramstein-format meeting on Nov. 22 to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses ahead of the coming winter months.

Bulgarian parliament approves provision of armored vehicles to Ukraine.

The Bulgarian parliament ratified on Nov. 22 the agreement to provide armored transport vehicles to Ukraine, together with corresponding armament and spare parts, the Bulgarian News Agency reported.

North Macedonia secretly trains first group of Ukrainian soldiers. North Macedonia completed the training of the first group of Ukrainian soldiers, a process kept confidential until now for security reasons, Balkan Insight reported on Nov. 22, citing the country’s Defense Minister Slavjanka Petrovska.

Lithuania delivers small arms ammunition, winter equipment to Ukraine. Lithuania delivered 3 million units of 7.62x51mm small arms ammunition, remote detonation systems, and winter equipment to the Ukrainian military, the Lithuanian Defense Ministry announced on Nov. 22.

EU sends latest tranche of 1.5 billion euros in macro-financial assistance to Ukraine. The European Union has sent the latest 1.5 billion euro ($1.6 billion) installment of its macro-financial assistance package to Ukraine, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on X on Nov. 22.

Bloomberg: EU readies plan for long-term military aid for Ukraine. The proposed measures will be discussed with EU ambassadors in the upcoming week, Bloomberg said, and with senior EU leadership in December.

Switzerland approves export of Leopard 2 tanks under condition they are not sent to Ukraine. Switzerland approved the transfer of 25 decommissioned Leopard 2 tanks to Germany under the condition that they must not leave EU or NATO member states, the Swiss Federal Council announced on Nov. 22.

Border Guard: Slovakia temporarily unblocks checkpoint at Slovakia-Ukraine border. The crossing between Vysne Nemecke in Slovakia and Uzhhorod in Ukraine began to be blocked on Nov. 21 by the Slovak Truckers Union.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Nate Ostiller, Oleg Sukhov, Elsa Court, Martin Fornusek, Toma Istomina, and Rachel Amran.

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