Here we go again-Ukraine once again

[Jimbuna]

50 Ukrainian soldiers were returned from Russian captivity. PHOTO

Ukraine conducted another exchange and returned another 50 Ukrainian soldiers from Russian captivity.

Andriy Yermak, the head of the President's Office, announced this in his Telegram channel, Censor.NET reports.

"Today, it was possible to return 50 Ukrainian soldiers from Russian captivity. These are 20 national guardsmen, 12 guys from the Navy, ten soldiers from the Armed Forces, 6 - from DPSU, and two from TRo. Among them are two officers and 48 privates and sergeants," Yermak wrote.

According to the head of the OP, among them are two officers and 48 privates and sergeants.

"It is important that we managed to return 19 defenders of Mariupol, 12 of whom were evacuated from Azovstal, as well as 15 prisoners from the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and seven from Zmiiny Island," he added. Source: https://censor.net/en/p3382762

[Jimbuna]

Putin's crony dubbed 'the chef' sends 'bloodied sledgehammer' to EU

The Kremlin-linked boss of the brutal Wagner Group claims to have sent a bloodied sledgehammer to the European Parliament.

Vladimir Putin’s close confidant Yevgeny Prigozhin was responding to a vote to declare Russia a ‘state sponsor of terrorism’ and his mercenaries a ‘terrorist group’.

Smeared with artificial blood, the metal weapon bears the logo and the name of the Russian private military company, and was delivered in a violin case.

The oligarch has used the war in Ukraine to establish himself in Russian politics, after his company first appeared in the country in 2014, where it participated in the annexation of Crimea.

His sickening stunt relates to a video of a former mercenary who was executed with a sledgehammer blow to the head after changing sides during the invasion.

The man, who gave his name as Yevgenny Nuzhin, was shown with his head taped to a brick wall.

The 55-year-old claimed he was abducted in Kyiv in October and came around in a cellar.

‘I got hit over the head and lost consciousness and came around in this cellar,’ he said. ‘They told me I was to be tried.’

Moments after, an unidentified man behind Mr Nuzhin smashed a sledgehammer into the side of his head and neck.

The tied-up victim can be seen collapsing onto the floor as the man delivers yet another blow to his head.

The video was posted on a Telegram channel, previously connected with the Wagner Group, under the title ‘The hammer of revenge’.

Asked to comment, Mr Prigozhin said in remarks released by his spokesperson that the video should be called ‘A dog receives a dog’s death’.

The oligarch posted about the sledgehammer, which he wants to be presented to MEPs.

He said: ‘I don’t know what law the European Parliament is guided by.

‘But according to our legislation, from today we declare the European Parliament dissolved.’

The sledgehammer was given by his lawyer to a representative of a pro-Russia channel CYBER FRONT Z supposedly to be sent to Strasbourg.

It is yet unclear if his so-called ‘gift’ has been received by MEPs, but the video was circulated on social media as the European Parliament’s website was hit by a cyberattack by a pro-Kremlin group.

President Roberta Metsola said on Twitter yesterday: ‘The European Parliament is under a sophisticated cyberattack.

‘A pro-Kremlin group has claimed responsibility. Our IT experts are pushing back against it and are protecting our systems.

‘This, after we proclaimed Russia as a State-sponsor of terrorism. My response: #SlavaUkraini’.

The popular hashtag, which has seen a rise in popularity since February, translates to ‘glory to Ukraine’.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world...7a7658e14242e4

[August]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

Putin's crony dubbed 'the chef' sends 'bloodied sledgehammer' to EU

This guy has an interesting take on it.

[Jimbuna]

The foreign secretary has announced the UK will send 24 ambulances to Ukraine, while on a visit to the country.

James Cleverly travelled to the capital Kyiv on Thursday and is set to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

It comes just days after Rishi Sunak also made a visit to the city, his first since becoming prime minister.

Mr Cleverly said the UK stands "shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine" and that Russia's attack "will fail".

As well as ambulances, a further 11 emergency vehicles, including six armoured vehicles, will be part of the emergency package.

It will include £3m in funding to help with the rebuilding of infrastructure, such as schools and shelters, that has been destroyed since the start of the war.

The funds will also be used to support survivors of sexual assault. The conflict has seen numerous reports, including by UN representatives, of sexual violence by Russian troops against Ukrainian civilians.

Mr Cleverly said that, as winter sets in, Russia was aiming to "break Ukrainian resolve through its brutal attacks on civilians, hospitals and energy infrastructure".
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63752422

[Skybird]

Neue Zürcher Zeitung:
-------------------------
Winter is approaching in Ukraine - what does that mean for the war?

Mud, cold, wear and tear on materiel: There are numerous hurdles in the Ukrainian winter that make warfare difficult. Four factors will be decisive for events in the coming months - and the Ukrainians do not have the advantage everywhere.

Temperatures along the front will plummet in the coming weeks. Cold, wet and frost will affect not only soldiers, but also weapons systems and supply routes.
Temperatures along the front will drop sharply in the coming weeks. Cold, wet and frost are not only affecting soldiers, but also weapon systems and supply routes.

A few days ago, the first snow reached Ukraine. For now, it snowed only a few centimeters. Soon there will be more, including in places along the front. Ukraine is expecting its first winter of war nine months after being invaded by Russia.

A look at history shows: The cold season brings opportunities and risks - but basically the defender benefits. In the Soviet-Finnish War of 1939/40, the Russians' advance in Finland was slowed by weather conditions. Hitler's Wehrmacht's attack on Russia failed in December 1941, not least because of the harsh winter.

Today, Russia, as the aggressor, is trying to use this to its advantage. For weeks, Moscow has relied on destroying civilian infrastructure with kamikaze drones and cruise missiles to freeze Ukrainians, stoke social tensions and pressure Kiev. That's part of a broader strategy, says Carlo Masala, a political scientist at the University of the Armed Forces in Munich.

"On the battlefield, the Russians need a tactical pause," he says. A slowdown in the war effort should buy time to move defensive positions along the front and bring mobilized fighters to the front, he says. "Their goal is to stabilize the front over the winter so they can resume offensives in the spring with new forces," Masala explains.

That makes it all the more important for the Ukrainians to keep Russian troops on the move and take advantage of the momentum they have so far, says strategy expert Marcel Berni of the ETH Zurich Military Academy. "Ukraine wants to avoid the war of position at all costs."

For Russia and Ukraine, an extremely difficult phase of the war is dawning. Who benefits from the winter? Four factors will be decisive in the coming months.

Factor I: The weather

Although it has already snowed in many parts of Ukraine, the German Weather Service sees "a slight tendency for a warmer winter." This bodes rather poorly for military offensives, which in recent weeks have emanated primarily from the Ukrainians. "The cold is a smaller problem than the mud," says Carlo Masala.

Tracked vehicles that normally travel cross-country must use asphalt roads during the notorious Ukrainian mud season. This so-called "rasputiza" began several weeks ago. On the roads, vehicles are more visible, more predictable and easier targets for enemy airstrikes. Wheeled vehicles are also at risk of being crippled by the mud. Videos show how even modern military vehicles can barely make headway on the muddy roads, or tanks sink into the deep mud.

For troop mobility and possible offensives, sub-zero temperatures and frozen ground are therefore more suitable. In the eastern sections of the front, in the Donbass, temperatures usually drop sharply in December, with an average temperature of -3 degrees. On the frozen ground, heavy equipment makes faster and more protected progress. However, the chains of the vehicles also break more often because of the cold. This increases the risk of getting stuck in open fields and coming under fire.

While average temperatures in the east remain below freezing for months on end, temperatures in the south are higher. Only in January are average values below the zero degree limit reached here. The "Rasputitsa" lasts much longer in the Kherson region, for example, and is thus likely to slow down the fighting as well. "Ukrainian offensives like the one in Kharkiv in September, when soldiers could advance very quickly with light equipment, are unthinkable during the mud period," says Berni, a strategy expert.

The mud benefits the defender overall - this fact, paradoxically, should make it easier for the Russians to dig into the occupied areas. But the situation is expected to remain more dynamic in the eastern sections of the front, where the ground sometimes remains frozen for weeks.

Factor II: The Weapons

Cold, precipitation and frost also affect the material. At low sub-zero temperatures, the probability of material damage and fractures increases. The breechblocks of rifles and artillery pieces freeze. Vehicle engines and generators may not start. Batteries discharge more quickly. Electronic components that are not kept warm no longer function.

The war in Ukraine is to a significant extent an artillery war. However, the functioning of this type of weaponry is made particularly difficult by the winter. Because of the danger of attacks from the air or from enemy artillery, the guns must constantly move and rely on cover.

But the sparser vegetation in winter and lack of foliage make troops and weapons easier to see. In thermal imagery for reconnaissance as well as target acquisition, people and warm engines are also easier to see because of the greater temperature differences. To compensate for the deficit in camouflage, guns must increasingly move at night and seek cover under the protection of buildings.

Thanks to Western arms deliveries, the Ukrainians have much more modern and precise equipment at their disposal. Some of the electronics in these weapons are highly sensitive, making them more susceptible to cold temperatures - unlike the Soviet guns used by the Russians, which are primarily mechanical. However, it has been shown in Afghanistan that the M777 towed howitzers, for example, as well as the now famous American-made Himars multiple rocket launchers, perform well even in winter conditions.

Nevertheless, the Ukrainian artillery is vulnerable - especially when it advances into the open, explains Masala: "For the Ukrainians, the disadvantage lies in the question of where they position their multiple rocket launchers. For the Russians, who are retreating to fortified positions, this question does not arise." Marcel Berni of the ETH nevertheless sees the Ukrainians as having an advantage: "Their artillery is far superior to that of the Russians. It also plays a role that they are supplied with excellent situational awareness by the Americans."

This shows that Ukraine will be dependent on the support of Western countries, especially in the winter. This applies not least to equipping the troops.

Factor III: The equipment

As temperatures drop, it becomes increasingly important for soldiers on the front lines to be well equipped - winter coats, waterproof shoes, thermal underwear. But this is precisely what the Russians have been lacking since the beginning of the war. Reports have repeatedly surfaced in recent months that soldiers in the Russian army have had to stock up on helmets, bulletproof vests or bandages at their own expense.

The provision of warm clothing is a central problem for Russian troops in view of the winter, says Berni. This is also likely to have a strong influence on the discontent among Russian soldiers, which has been rising for months, Masala confirms. "When soldiers are in the trenches for ten hours a day and their clothes don't keep them warm, it becomes uncomfortable. Morale will then drop."

Ukraine has fewer problems with equipping its soldiers - not least because of Western support. Strong emphasis has been placed among NATO member states on providing Ukraine with adequate equipment, even in winter, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in October. In addition to warm clothing and generators, tents in which soldiers could seek shelter from the elements were essential, Stoltenberg explained.

Numerous NATO member states, including the U.S., France, Germany and Canada, have since announced they will support Ukraine with winter jackets, thermal underwear, shoes and tents. How much of the announced supplies have arrived in Ukraine remains unclear. Some member states are also training Ukrainian soldiers. While this continues to give Ukraine advantages on the battlefield, Carlo Masala sees significant disadvantages on the Russian side. The Russian mobilized are "cannon fodder," he said. "They can do nothing and bring nothing."

Given the massive support and promise of supplies, the Ukrainians will be more likely to rely on their equipment. That means they will be less likely to freeze. Ultimately, though, this material has to get to the front lines - so good logistics are also critical.

Factor IV: Logistics

A simple basic rule applies: In winter, you need more of everything. The need for fuel in particular is significantly higher. Crew and machines have to be kept warm. More spare parts are also needed because of wear and tear and the cold. Last but not least, soldiers in the field consume more energy, so they need more rations. Logistics is the lifeline for any army.

The Ukrainians know this and have used this fact to their advantage: For months now, they have been targeting Russian supply lines, logistics hubs and ammunition depots. They will probably stick to this "strategy of a thousand pinpricks" in the winter as well. The Himars multiple rocket launchers allow them to carry out these attacks very precisely.

"Himars has forced the Russians to decentralize their logistics," says Berni, a strategy expert. "It has made the already long supply routes even longer and more complex." Carlo Masala of Bundeswehr University also sees Russia at a disadvantage in this aspect: "Logistics has been the Russians' vulnerable point since day one. They haven't gotten a handle on that to this day."

The Russian occupiers are comparatively poorly positioned in the narrow strip of territory they still control in the southeast. In certain sections, there are only 75 kilometers between the front line and the sea coast. With the Himars missiles, which have a range of up to 80 kilometers, the Ukrainians can therefore operate deep into the occupied space and attack the supply lines. The majority of these run from east to west, i.e. parallel to the front line. This is because supplies from the south via Crimea remain severely limited - repair work on the damaged Kerch Bridge is likely to last until next summer.

For the huge logistical needs of both armies, a supply via rail would be essential. But the Russians can hardly use the Ukrainian rail system for their war, because there is no continuous connection from east to west - most rail lines run from south to north. Thus, they are heavily tied to the road. The Ukrainians, on the other hand, can rely on a wide network of train connections and place their logistics bases at a great distance from the front line.

It is true that Ukrainian train lines are also under attack. But the speed with which the state railroad company Ukrsalisnitsa repairs the rails is legendary in Ukraine. Although the company is officially silent on the matter, analysts assume that the Ukrainian army relies heavily on the railroads to supply its troops. However, it cannot completely dispense with the road. There, snowfall, ice and mud will make it much more difficult for trucks to move forward - but that applies to both sides.

Although the Ukrainians are in a much better position than the Russians in most respects, it is still an open question who is more likely to be able to take advantage of the changed conditions in winter. For example, Carlo Masala sees two possible scenarios: "If the Russians succeed in digging in defensive positions and dragging out the war, then the advantage is theirs. If they don't succeed, the Ukrainians have the advantage because with them the entire society is defending itself."

Marcel Berni sees it similarly. However, he says, "Overall, I rather trust Ukraine to use the winter strategically and tactically for its own advantage. The course of the war so far has shown that they are more shrewd than the Russians."
-----------------------------

[Commander Wallace]

^ As with all things, there is a silver lining of sorts. With the cold weather comes the hardening of the ground. That makes it easier to move wheeled and tracked vehicles without getting bogged down in the mud. This makes it easier to move trucks, support vehicles, tanks and rocket launchers and anti aircraft vehicles in and out of position to support the mobility of the Ukraine armed forces.

[Skybird]

They really should stop giving Putin steroids as cancer treatment.



https://www.newsweek.com/russia-plan...etters-1762133

[Skybird]

And Putler again today did what he is best in: being despicable. Der Tagesspiegel:
------------------

On Friday, the head of the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin, met with the mothers of soldiers who had been killed or were currently fighting. At least that is the appearance. Because at least seven of the 17 women could be identified as officials and politicians loyal to the government. This is reported by opposition journalists of the medium "Mozhem Objasnit". Among them are:

Sharadat Aguewam from Chechnya, whose sons are fighting in the Ukraine war. One of them is the commander of a battalion, the other is the head of a police department in Chechnya. Their son Rustam several times referred to Chechen leader Roman Kadyrov as his brother
a Moscow deputy of the Kremlin's United Russia party
a senior member of the All-Russia Popular Front movement founded by Putin
Irina Tas-ool, head of the Department of Family, Youth and Sports in the administration of the Kaa-Khem district of the Republic of Tuva
Olesya Shigina, a director who makes Orthodox and patriotic films
a member of the People's Chamber of the metropolitan city of Orekhovo-Suyevo
an employee of a nationalist organization that collects relief supplies for mobilized people

Whether the other women actually have soldier sons is questionable. Representatives of the Union of Committees of Soldiers' Mothers were not invited, nor was the "Council of Mothers and Wives." The founder of the Council, Olga Tsukanova, insinuated that they were in the "sham mothers".

Russian state media published a video showing Putin receiving more than a dozen selected women at his residence in Novo-Ogaryovo in the Moscow region and handing them coffee cups. "I want you to know that we share this pain with you, and of course we will do everything we can to make sure you don't feel forgotten," Putin said at the meeting, according to the Interfax agency.
-------------------------------


Ist der Ruf erst ruiniert, lügt sich's gänzlich ungeniert.

[Jimbuna]

Putin faces missile crisis as Russian army may only have enough ammunition to last a month

Vladimir Putin has used up almost two-thirds of Russia's ammunition reserves, a senior military intelligence analyst has claimed - enough for another month. Meanwhile, the UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD) likewise said the evidence demonstrated Russia's stocks were "depleted".

Speaking to the country's public broadcaster ERR yesterday, Margo Grosberg, head of Estonian military intelligence, told Estonian public broadcaster ERR: "The Russian Federation has used up about two-thirds of the ammunition it has, or slightly less than that."

Mr Grosberg said the shortages explained why Russian troops were having to fall back, saying: "For limited operations and with economical use of ammunition, Russia will have enough for about a month." Russia is now stockpiling ammunition in order to renew its offensive in the spring of next year, Mr Grosberg said.

Moscow was also trying to buy missiles and drones from Iran and North Korea, and was exporting ammunition from Belarus, Mr Grosberg said.

In its latest update on its DefenceHQ Twitter feed, the MoD said Russia's use of ageing cruise missiles with the nuclear warheads removed "highlights the level of depletion in Russia's stock of long-range missiles".

Also yesterday, CNN reported that Iran had agreed to supply Russia with 1,000 short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missiles for use in Ukraine.

A report published by the 38 North website earlier this month highlighted the first traffic from North Korea to Russia in several years.

Authors Martyn Williams and Peter Makowsky wrote: "It is impossible to determine the purpose of the train from the imagery, but the crossing comes amid reports of arms sales from North Korea to Russia and a general expectation of the resumption of trade between the two countries."
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world...9f1f7023b6c507

[Jimbuna]

Western sanctions catch up with Russia’s wartime economy

Story by Catherine Belton, Robyn Dixon.

When Russian President Vladimir Putin launched last month a new council for coordinating supplies for the Russian army, he seemed to recognize the scale of the economic problems facing the country, and his sense of urgency was palpable.

“We have to be faster in deciding questions connected to supplying the special military operation and countering restrictions on the economy which, without any exaggeration, are truly unprecedented,” he said.

For months, Putin claimed that the “economic blitzkrieg” against Russia had failed, but Western sanctions imposed over the invasion of Ukraine are digging ever deeper into Russia’s economy, exacerbating equipment shortages for its army and hampering its ability to launch any new ground offensive or build new missiles, economists and Russian businessmen said.

Recent figures show the situation has worsened considerably since the summer when, buoyed by a steady stream of oil and gas revenue, the Russian economy seemed to stabilize. Figures released by the Finance Ministry last week show a key economic indicator — tax revenue from the non-oil and gas sector — fell 20 percent year in October compared to a year earlier, while the Russian state statistics agency Rosstat reported that retail sales fell 10 percent year on year in September, and cargo turnover fell 7 percent.

“All objective indicators show there is a very strong drop in economic activity,” said Vladimir Milov, a former Russian deputy energy minister who is now a leading opposition politician in exile. “The spiral is escalating, and there is no way out of this now.”

The Western ban on technology imports is affecting most sectors of the economy, while the Kremlin’s forced mobilization of more than 300,000 Russian conscripts to serve in Ukraine, combined with the departure of at least as many abroad fleeing the draft, has dealt a further blow, economists said. In addition, Putin’s own restrictions on gas supplies to Europe, followed by the unexplained explosion of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, has led to a sharp drop in gas production — down 20 percent in October compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, oil sales to Europe are plummeting ahead of the European Union embargo expected to be imposed Dec. 5.

The Kremlin has trumpeted a lower-than-expected decline in GDP, forecast by the International Monetary Fund at only 3.5 percent this year, as demonstrating that the Russian economy can weather the raft of draconian sanctions.

But economists and businessmen said the headline GDP figures did not reflect the real state of the Russian economy because the Russian government effectively ended the ruble’s convertibility since the sanctions were imposed. “GDP stopped having any meaning because firstly we don’t know what the real ruble rate is, and secondly if you produce a tank and send it to the front where it is immediately blown up, then it is still considered as value added,” said Milov, who wrote a report explaining the situation for the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies published this month.

Deeper problems were also lurking in the Russian banking sector where most accounting has been classified. The Russian Central Bank reported this week that a record $14.7 billion in hard currency was withdrawn from the Russian banking system in October, amid increasing anxiety over mobilization and the state of the economy.

Even so, a November report by the Central Bank warned that Russia’s GDP would face a sharper contraction of 7.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2022, after falling 4.1 percent and 4 percent compared to last year in the previous two quarters. Last week, as the Russian economy officially entered into recession, Central Bank chairwoman Elvira Nabiullina told lawmakers that next year the situation could get darker still. “We really need to look at the situation very soberly and with our eyes open. Things may get worse, we understand that,” she said.

Putin’s announcement in September of a partial troop mobilization dealt an enormous blow to business sentiment. “For many Russian companies the reality of the war sank in,” said Janis Kluge, senior associate at the German Institute for Security and International Affairs. “It became clear that this is going to continue for a long time. Now expectations are much worse than they were over the summer.”

Putin’s creation of the coordination council, headed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, was a sign the Russian president is rattled by the increasing impact of sanctions, economists and analysts said. Putin “is concerned he needs to interfere to make sure supplies will be available,” said Sergei Guriev, provost at France’s Sciences Po. “He is concerned that sanctions have really hit the ability to produce goods.”

It also signals the Russian government is preparing a broader mobilization of the Russian economy to supply the army amid chronic shortages of basic goods such as food and uniforms. A series of new laws will impose hefty fines on businessman who refuse to carry out orders for the Russian military as well as potential prison sentences, clearing the way for entrepreneurs to be pressured into providing goods at knockdown prices. The creation of the council is “connected to big pressure on business and the need to enforce a tough diktat to make business do what it doesn’t want to do,” said Nikolai Petrov, senior research fellow for Russia and Eurasia at Chatham House in London.

One Moscow businessman with connections to the defense sector said a quiet mobilization of the Russian economy had already been long underway, with many entrepreneurs forced into producing supplies for the Russian army but fearing to speak out against orders at cut-price rates.

“This became necessary right from the very beginning when the war began,” the businessman said, speaking on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal. “The main mass of business is silent. If you say you are making supplies or weapons for the Russian state then you could have problems abroad.”

Anecdotal evidence reported in the Russian press has pointed to enormous problems supplying Russia’s newly drafted conscripts with equipment. An in-depth October report in Russian daily Kommersant described huge shortages in ammunition and uniform supplies for conscripts with manufacturers citing difficulties securing the necessary materials due to sanctions.

Other Russian businessmen said Russia’s military debacle in Ukraine had exposed the huge inefficiencies and corruption in Russia’s military industrial complex. “There are huge questions over where all the trillions of rubles of the past decade have been spent,” said one former senior Russian banker with connections to the Russian state.”

If the new economic council fails to better coordinate the production of supplies and weaponry, it could impinge on Russia’s ability to launch new offensives in Ukraine, Petrov said. “The main problem ahead of the Kremlin is the question of when the army will be ready to begin new military action in Ukraine, and the preparation of arms and ammunition and so on will determine these plans.”

The outlook appears likely to worsen when the E.U. embargo on Russian oil sales comes into force Dec. 5, economists said. Combined with a price cap expected to be imposed on all sales of Russian oil outside the E.U., the measure could cost the Russian budget at least $120 million in lost revenue per day, Milov said, and already the Russian budget is expected to rack up a deficit by the end of this year.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world...9983e05bc03026

[Jimbuna]

[Jimbuna]

[Jimbuna]

Total combat losses of Russian Federation since beginning of war - about 86,710 people, 2,901 tanks, 1,896 artillery systems, 5,848 armored vehicles. INFOGRAPHICS

The Russian invaders, who invaded the territory of Ukraine, continue to suffer losses. As of the morning of November 26, the loss of enemy personnel is approximately 86,710 people.

This is reported by Censor.NET with reference to the press center of the General Staff.

As noted, the total combat losses of the enemy from February 24 to November 26 are estimated to be:

personnel - about 86,710 (+560) people were liquidated,

tanks ‒ 2901 (+2) units,

armored fighting vehicles ‒ 5848 (+4) units,

artillery systems – 1,896 (+1) units,

RSZV – 395 (+0) units,

air defense equipment ‒ 209 (+0) units,

aircraft – 278 (+0) units,

helicopters – 261 (+0) units,

UAVs of operational-tactical level - 1554 (+1),

cruise missiles ‒ 531 (+0),

ships/boats ‒ 16 (+0) units,

automotive equipment and tank trucks - 4406 (+2) units,

special equipment ‒ 163 (+0).

"The data is being verified," the message reads. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3383096

[Jimbuna]

Russians bombard Ukraine with nuclear missile blanks from nuclear missiles to distract air defense systems - British intelligence

Russia is removing nuclear warheads from aging nuclear cruise missiles and firing blanks at Ukraine. The purpose of these actions is to distract the air defense system.

Such a conclusion was reached by the intelligence of Great Britain, Censor.NET reports with reference to the Twitter of the British Ministry of Defense.

As emphasized in the summary, the images from open sources show the wreckage of an apparently downed AS-15 KENT air-launched cruise missile, developed in the 1980s exclusively as a nuclear delivery system. The warhead was probably replaced by ballast.

According to British intelligence, while such an inert system would still cause some damage from the missile's kinetic energy and any unspent fuel, it was unlikely to reliably engage targets.

"Russia almost certainly hopes that such missiles will serve as false targets and distract the Ukrainian air defense system. Whatever Russia's intentions are, this improvisation emphasizes the level of depletion of Russia's long-range missile reserves," the British Ministry of Defense notes. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3383099

Canada allocated $7.6 million for generators for Ukraine

The Canadian government has allocated 10 million Canadian dollars (about 7.6 million US dollars) for the purchase of generators for Ukraine.

This was announced by Canada's Minister of International Development Harjit Sajjan, Censor.NET informs.

"We have allocated $10 million to the International Organization for Migration to purchase and distribute generators for critical infrastructure in Ukraine," he tweeted.

Sajan emphasized that millions of civilians in Ukraine are without electricity today. "While Putin continues his reckless attacks on innocent people, our determination to help Ukraine only strengthens," he added. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3383101

[Jimbuna]

Beijing in response to words about genocide of Ukrainians by Russians: We are for dialogue

In response to the call to provide aid to Ukraine and appeal to Putin to stop destroying civilian infrastructure, China calls on Ukraine to engage in dialogue with the Russian Federation.

A dialogue on this topic was held between foreign journalists and Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning, Censor.NET reports with reference to Liga.net.

The Reuters journalist reminded her that tens of millions of people throughout Ukraine live without electricity and heating in winter due to the war crimes of the Russian terrorist country - missile strikes on the energy system, and asked - what about China, where is its reaction?

The representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China replied traditionally: "China's position on the Ukrainian issue is consistent and clear."

"We always take seriously the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and believe that the immediate priority is to de-escalate tensions as soon as possible through dialogue and negotiations. This is a fundamental way out of the Ukrainian issue," she said.

The spokeswoman of the Chinese agency added - "we hope that the international community will play a constructive role in easing tensions and finding a political solution to the crisis, which China is doing."

In principle, China does not call the biggest war in Europe for many decades a war, but uses the term "Ukrainian crisis", which is consistent with Russian propaganda. Official Beijing has not condemned either the aggression of the Russian Federation or any of the numerous war crimes committed by its army: all this is simply ignored in the state position and information space of the PRC. Sometimes the speakers of the People's Republic of China blame the start of the Russian war on the destruction of Ukraine and its people by the USA and NATO - that is, they do what Moscow does. Meanwhile, according to known information, China does not provide military assistance to the Russian Federation in this war. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3383111

Biden: We honor memory of victims of Holodomor and bow to brave Ukrainian people

On the ninetieth anniversary of the beginning of the Holodomor of 1932-1933 in Ukraine, the United States honors the memory of the victims of the Great Famine and pays tribute to the resilience and courage of the Ukrainian people.

This is stated in the statement of President Joe Biden published on the website of the White House, Censor.NET reports.

"We honor all those who died in this senseless tragedy and pay tribute to the resilience of the Ukrainian people who endured devastation and tyranny to ultimately create a free and democratic society," the statement said.

The White House noted that Joseph Stalin's regime imposed harsh and repressive policies on Ukraine, creating a deliberate famine in 1932-1933 that killed millions of innocent Ukrainian women, men and children.

"November marks the (90s - ed.) anniversary of the Holodomor - "starvation". And despite the fact that the brave Ukrainian people continue to defend their democracy and freedom from Russia's brutal aggression, we pause to also honor the victims of past injustices and horrors inflicted on Ukraine," the US president said.

"This month, we remember the victims of the Holodomor. We reaffirm our steadfast commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. And we honor the brave Ukrainian people who continue to courageously resist Russia's attack on their democracy," Biden's statement emphasized. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3383143

Lavrov said that "people of Ukraine will be freed from neo-Nazi rulers"

The head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Serhiy Lavrov, voiced another version of the Russian vision of the future of Ukraine.

He said this on the air of the Russian state television channel "Russia 24", Censor.NET reports with reference to Russian media.

"The Ukrainian people will be freed from the neo-Nazi rulers, they deserve to live in good neighborliness, friendship, and prosperity alongside their Slavic brothers," Lavrov said on the air of the Russia 24 TV channel.

Previously, Russian officials repeatedly changed their rhetoric regarding their plans in Ukraine.

On November 21, the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation, Dmytro Peskov, stated that Russia does not seek to change the government in Ukraine. Source: https://censor.net/en/n3383116