Thursday, November 30

The Kyiv Independent is partnering with the Kyiv-based think tank Center for Economic Research in its upcoming research presentation “Constructive Capital in Ukraine: Why it matters and how to foster its development.”

Unlike corrosive capital, which CES researched earlier (e.g  Russian, Oligarchic, Chinese money in Ukraine), constructive capital refers to Ukrainian businesses not associated with the state, oligarchs, sanctioned companies, or Russia.

The event will take place on Nov. 30 at 5 p.m. (Kyiv time).

You can register with this link.

Russia’s war against Ukraine

At least five high-ranking Russian officials had been killed in a strike on the Russian-occupied village of Yuvileine in Kherson Oblast, Ukraine’s National Resistance Center reported on Nov. 29. (National Resistance Center/Telegram)

Stoltenberg: Ukraine’s ability to implement reforms during war is impressive.

“(Ukraine has) made concrete changes, not least in the fight against (corruption),“ NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said, adding that these steps help the country “to move closer to NATO membership.”

Kuleba meets with Stoltenberg, discusses Euro-Atlantic defense industry. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg agree that Euro-Atlantic defense industries need to work together as one system to increase arms supplies, Kuleba said on a visit to the NATO Headquarters in Brussels on Nov. 29.

Poll: Only 5% of Ukrainians oppose joining EU, NATO. In total, 78% of Ukrainians would vote to join the EU if a referendum were held now and 77% are in favor of joining NATO, according to a poll released by the Rating Sociology Group on Nov. 29.

Zelensky visits south of Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky visited civilians and military personnel in Odesa, Kherson, and Mykolaiv oblasts in the south of Ukraine, his official website said on Nov. 29.

Ukraine’s audit agency says state-owned energy company Centrenergo in ‘state of crisis.’ An audit by Ukraine’s State Audit Service of the state-owned energy company Centrenergo found a number of financial discrepancies, as well as lengthy and unjustified delays on repair work for damaged energy infrastructure, the agency said on Nov. 29.

Media: Ukrainian group, SBU hack Russian Labor Ministry database. A Ukrainian hacker group working with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) hacked into the website of Russia’s Labor Ministry and obtained sensitive data concerning the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainska Pravda reported on Nov. 29, citing an unnamed security service source.

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Ukroboronprom refutes claim that Russian company imported Ukrainian products. The state-owned enterprise Ukrainian Defense Industry (UkrOboronProm) denied on Nov. 29 earlier media reports that a Russian company had imported spare parts for military aircraft and helicopters manufactured by Ukrainian enterprises.

Governor: All families evacuated from ‘dangerous areas’ of Kharkiv Oblast. The remaining two families with children living in and around the town of Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast have been located and evacuated, Kharkiv’s Regional Governor announced on Nov. 29.

Reuters: Russia likely driving revitalization of North Korean special economic zone. Although most of North Korea’s trade (97%) is with China, experts who spoke to Reuters believe that the recent increase in economic activity at the Special Economic Zone is likely due to Russia.

Russia charges Ukrainian singer Jamala in absentia for allegedly spreading ‘false information’ about Russian army. Jamala was put on a federal wanted list in mid-October and arrested in absentia by a Russian court earlier in November, but at the time, it was unclear for what specifically she was wanted.

Kadyrov’s teenage son given official military role. The 16-year-old son of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has been given an official role in a new Russian battalion, Kadyrov’s right-hand man Adam Delimkhanov announced on Nov. 28.

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Ukraine war latest: Russian general, 5 high-ranking officials reportedly killed in Ukraine

Russian Major General Vladimir Zavadsky was killed in Ukraine, pro-Kremlin newspaper Lenta, along with other Russian media outlets, reported on Nov. 29. His death was originally reported on Telegram channels on Nov. 28 and was later confirmed by Lenta and other sources.

Photo: President’s Office

Watchdog: One of Kolomoisky’s cases likely to be closed due to court ruling

One of Ukraine’s biggest embezzlement cases – that against oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky – is likely to be closed due to a recent court ruling, according to the Anti-Corruption Action Center.

The ruling may become a death knell for Ukraine’s long-running efforts to prosecute the flamboyant tycoon.

Photo: Maxym Marusenko/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Human cost of war

Russian media: Russian general killed by landmine in Ukraine. Russian Major General Vladimir Zavadsky, the deputy commander of the 14th Army Corps of the Russian Armed Forces, joins the list of high-ranking Russian commanders killed in Ukraine.

International response

Polish ministers visit protesters at Polish-Ukrainian border to address crisis. Polish Agriculture Minister Anna Gembicka visited Polish protesters blocking the Ukrainian border on Nov. 28, while Polish Infrastructure Minister Alvin Gajadhur is to make a visit on Nov. 29, the Polish Press Agency reported.

Media: France to finalize bilateral security agreement with Ukraine by start of 2024. France plans to finalize a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine in the coming months, French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Anne-Claire Legendre said during a press briefing, Reuters reported on Nov. 29.

Slovakia to extend, expand ban on Ukrainian agricultural products. The Slovak government plans to extend and expand the ban on Ukrainian agricultural products, according to an Agriculture Ministry proposal that was approved on Nov. 29.

Minister: Microsoft to provide free cloud services to Ukrainian government for another year. So far, Microsoft has provided Ukraine with $540 million in free services, technical support, equipment, and grants, Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said.

FT: EU reshipping over 20% of Russian LNG imports to other parts of the world. Europe is reshipping 20% of its imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) to other parts of the world, helping Russia maximize its fossil fuel revenues, the Financial Times reported on Nov. 29.

In other news

Russian Interior Ministry prepares draft law requiring foreign visitors to sign ‘loyalty agreement.’ The proposed law, which was seen by correspondents of the Russian state news agency TASS, would prohibit “hindering the activities of Russian public authorities” as well as “discrediting the external and internal state policies of Russia, public bodies, and their officials in any form.”

Media: Lawmaker suspected of attempting to bribe top officials released on bail. Serhii Labaziuk, a lawmaker suspected of attempting to bribe a minister and another high-ranking official in exchange for reconstruction contracts, was released from pre-trial custody on $1.1 million bail, Suspilne reported on Nov. 29.

Effects of storm continue to impact Ukraine, likely 12 dead. The storm, which has been referred to as the “storm of the century,” swept across the Black Sea region on Nov. 27, causing significant damage to Ukraine, as well as other countries in the area.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Teah Pelechaty, Martin Fornusek, Nate Ostiller, Lili Bivings, Elsa Court, Li Luo, Dmytro Basmat, and Olena Goncharova.

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