November 27 2024

UPDATE:
Satellite imagery has confirmed that at least three tanks at the Kaluganefteprodukt oil depot in Kaluga, Russia were damaged in a drone attack on November 25. Local residents reported explosions and a large fire, while the Russian Defense Ministry claimed to have intercepted 23 Ukrainian drones. The nearby Typhoon factory was also targeted, but satellite imagery was not clear enough to determine the extent of the damage there. The Typhoon plant makes radio-electronic equipment, including various missile systems.


On Nov. 27, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol met with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine, with a special focus on the more than 10,000 North Korean soldiers fighting on Russia’s behalf in Kursk Oblast. Ukraine and South Korea agreed to continue sharing intelligence about North Korean troop deployments and the exchange of weapons and technology between Russia and North Korea. The issue of South Korea supplying weapons to Ukraine was not discussed but Umerov said that he was tasked with finding new avenues for cooperation to counter the ever-growing alliance between Russia and North Korea.


Mark Seibert, head of the German Federal Office for Refugee Affairs reported that approximately 65% of Ukrainian refugees in Germany do not plan to return to Ukraine. A year and a half ago most expressed a desire to return to Ukraine. Ukrainian refugees are increasingly learning to speak German and seek long-term employment. Around 50,000 to 60,000 Ukrainian refugees currently live in Berlin.


Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, stated that it is her opinion that EU instructors will begin training Ukrainian soldiers on Ukrainian soil eventually. She said that doing so is a crucial aspect of arming and preparing Ukrainian brigades and training on Ukrainian soil is a practical solution to a complex problem.


Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said the US sees no signs of North Korean troops in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, although they are present in Kursk Oblast.


Ukraine's Defence Ministry has signed its first state-guaranteed contracts with a private Ukrainian company, worth about $106 million, to produce 100 specialized armored combat vehicles and 100 armored evacuation vehicles. The company will secure loans to fulfill the contract. The state will provide a guarantee for repayment from the budget. The company takes out the loan to produce the equipment, and then repay the loans. If the loans are not repaid by the company, the state will pay off whatever balance remains.


Chief of the General Staff Anatolii Barhylevych said that Ukraine is actively developing its own guided aerial bombs, similar to Russian KABs or JDAMs.


Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that supporting Ukraine is crucial for protecting Poland's and Europe's borders, emphasizing that a just peace respecting Ukraine's territorial integrity is essential for European security. “You don’t have to love Ukraine or use grand words about solidarity and reconciliation. A calculated, cold interest of Poland and Europe is enough to keep helping Ukraine.”


Ukraine’s military published footage showing the destruction of 2 2S7 Pion 203mm self-propelled guns. They were destroyed near Toretsk.


Germany will transfer 30 GEREON RCS unmanned ground drones to Ukraine by the end of the year. Deliveries of some of these systems have already begun. Additionally, Germany will also establish a maintenance center in Ukraine for these UGVs. The GEREON RCS is a tracked, modular unmanned ground vehicle capable of performing various military and logistical tasks. It can carry payloads and combat loads weighing up to 500 kilograms over a distance of up to 40 kilometers.


Greece is planning to transfer Soviet-made anti-aircraft systems, including the S-300PMU1, Tor-M1, and Osa-AK. Greece wants to phase out Soviet weapons and replace them with Israeli systems. They hope to replace these air defense systems by 2026. They are sending these systems to Armenia instead of Ukraine due to political opposition and the fact that no Western systems were offered to Greece in exchange for sending these to Ukraine.

According to Vladyslav Voloshyn, a spokesman for Ukraine's Southern Defense Forces, Russia is amassing troops and defensive weapons and reinforcing fortifications near the Kinburn Spit to maintain control over the mouth of the Dnipro River and prevent Ukrainian forces from landing there.


The Czech organization Post Bellum has donated 11 ambulances, equipped with essential medical supplies, to the Ukrainian military. This donation has a total value of over $500,000. The ambulances will be provided to various regions in Ukraine.


Ukraine has reportedly begun testing and new US-made counter-drone system called Hitchhiker, developed by IronNet, known for its AI-based cybersecurity, and Asterion Systems, a leader in counter unmanned aerial systems (UAS). According to Newsweek, this collaboration created a defense network capable of protecting entire countries. The defensive network is formed by combining IronNet’s Iron Dome cybersecurity system, which provides real-time detection of cyber threats, with Asterion’s Hitchhiker counter-drone technology to destroy hostile drones. The Hitchhiker is a high-speed electric-powered interceptor designed to intercept enemy drones, such as the Shahed, more cost-effectively than other systems. Because large drone attacks are usually preceded by cyberattacks, the partnership ensures that targets are protected before the drones are launched.


The Dutch Royal Navy has retired the Alkmaar class Zr. Ms. Makkum, a minesweeper that had been in service for 40 years. It will be delivered to Ukraine, as the Dutch Royal Navy plans to modernize their fleet of minesweepers. This is the second Alkmaar class ship pledged to Ukraine, however, the timeline for transfer is not yet public. Eventually, all 6 of the Alkmaar class minesweepers will be retired and replaced.


The United States announced at the UN that North Korea plans to deliver more KN-23 ballistic missiles to Russia, in addition to the 100 previously provided and used to target Ukrainian infrastructure.


Joe Biden is reportedly trying to secure $24 billion of funding for Ukraine before his term ends. The funding will allow the US to replenish Ukraine, ammunition, and replace those weapons with new ones for the US military. $16 billion of the package will go towards replenishing US stocks and $8 billion will go towards the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which purchases new equipment from US manufacturers for Ukraine. It might be a longshot to request the funds, but it will allow Ukraine to avoid a funding cut-off when Trump takes office and will allow for extra breathing room.


The Wall Street Journal reported that the Biden administration will likely not have enough time to spend the remaining $6.5 billion for Ukraine by the time Trump takes office. The Pentagon is at the limit of how much equipment can be sent to Ukraine each month without affecting the United States Military’s fighting capacity. The US would have to send more than $110 million worth of weapons each day to spend the remaining funds in time. However, the remaining funds left over would give the Trump administration leverage over stopping supplies and they will have to choose if they will continue supplying Ukraine.

A senior defense official told the Wall Street Journal that the Pentagon plans to deliver $500-$750 million worth of weapons per month to Ukraine from its stocks before Trump takes office, but any more would require the Pentagon to draw down more supplies that would affect combat readiness. The upcoming shipments will likely be ammunition and artillery because they’re easier to ship and heavier equipment such as Bradleys and tanks can take months to inspect. Additionally, the US has $2 billion left for long-term contracts for new weapons purchased from the defense industry. The Pentagon is working to get as much of that money as possible on contract by Jan. 20, the senior Defense Department official said. Additionally, there is $5 billion left in the budget for purchasing new equipment for the Pentagon to replace what has been sent to Ukraine.


It has been reported that currently, there are approximately 20 Tu-95/160 bombers parked near Ukraine.

-Olenya Airbase: 10 Tu-95MS
-Engels-2 Airbase: 3 Tu-95MS, 4 Tu-160
-Diaghilev Airbase: 3 Tu-95MS

Additionally, there are believed to be 3 Tu-95MS and 4 Tu-160 at the Engels-2 airbase that are currently unconfirmable, possibly due to the weather.


Russia launched a significant missile attack on Ukraine. At the time of writing, a lot of the details are unknown, but some reports said there were at least 25 missiles in Ukrainian airspace at once. This is unconfirmed. It is believed at least 12 bombers were airborne. Kalibr missiles were fired from the Black Sea and ballistic missiles targeted civilians. Energy infrastructure was targeted as well. An unconfirmed report says that at least some of the downed missiles contained cluster munition warheads.


Russian media outlets such as Astra have reported Ukraine drones and explosions in the Taganrog and Krasnodar Krai areas.


On November 27, 2024, the heads of government from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Norway, Poland, and Sweden issued a joint statement pledging to increase their support for Ukraine in the coming months, including expanding the Ukrainian defense industry and supplying more ammunition. They also pledge that their support “will not waver” and their continued support of Ukraine’s Victory Plan.


Soldiers from the 128th Zakarpattia Mountain Assault Brigade killed a commander of Russia's Akhmat unit near Robotyne in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. His vehicle was spotted by a drone and was destroyed. He was killed a few days ago, his full name and rank are not yet known.


A minor scandal has occurred with Ukrainian ammunition. An abnormally large number of defects were detected in some batches of 120mm mortar ammunition manufactured in November. The Ministry of Defense said the problem is limited to specific batches and isn’t a wide-ranging problem with ammunition in general. Over 100,000 defective shells were rounded up by Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense.

Some of these defective shells have ended up in the hands of Ukrainian units on the hottest parts of the frontline, including in the Pokrovsk direction. The fuses in the shells were malfunctioning, leading to the rounds not launching from the tubes, and some shells didn’t explode when fired. A government commission found that the problem was related to low temperatures and high humidity; the shells worked fine in dry situations. Some shells were fitted with fuses for tank shells, leading them to not explode on impact. The manufacturer will be replacing the faulty shells, probably at their own expense.


The State Logistics Operator of Ukraine's Ministry of Defense has signed contracts with 3 manufacturers to produce “package No. 15,” a new field ration that has 3 full meals with improved nutrition. The MoD hopes to improve morale and combat effectiveness by providing better military rations. The MoD is also working to expand the variety of menu options for military rations, aiming to better meet the religious, medical, and ethical requirements of its soldiers. They hope to have vegetarian, kosher, and halal options available by December.


Ukraine’s 95th Air Assault Brigade's 2nd Air Assault Battalion has received M2 Bradley fighting vehicles. This is the first time an Air Assault Forces unit has been equipped with them. The 2nd Air Assault Battalion is the fourth Ukrainian unit to operate the M2 Bradley. The other are the 47th and 100th Mechanized Brigades and the 425th Assault Battalion "Skala." The exact number of vehicles provided to the 2nd Battalion has not yet been publicly reported.


Syrian rebels that are reportedly backed by Turkey, attacked pro-Assad forces in Syria. In the attack, Russian special forces soldiers were killed. One report said 4 were killed. At least one tank and other vehicles were captured, as well as the weapons of the dead soldiers. The rebels advanced several kilometers and stopped just short of the city of Aleppo. The pro-Assad forces reportedly broke ranks and ran, with some limited video evidence supporting this happened, at least on a small scale.


Explosions were heard near Sevastopol, Crimea. Russian media claim that several waves of drones and missiles were intercepted and that a fire caused by UAV debris was reported. Explosions were reported near the Nakhimov Naval Academy, Balaklava, and Kaya Bash Heights. The Telegram channel Crimean Wind published a photo showing a white cloud rising up over the Nakhimov Naval Academy.


Five men working on behalf of Russian intelligence were arrested in Zhytomyr after detonating an explosive device near the district police department on November 20. The suspects were recruited by Russian special services via Telegram and used a mobile phone to remotely detonate a bomb disguised in a thermos. One police officer was injured. The men face up to 12 years in prison for the terrorist attack.


On November 20 a German citizen was arrested in Poland for illegally supplying machine tools to Russian arms companies. The man was charged with exporting dual-use goods to Russia and pleaded guilty and agreed to be punished.


President Zelenskyy is expected to sign the 2025 national budget and amendments to the Tax Code by Dec. 1, according to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. Once signed, the government will have additional funds for military purchases and personnel salaries. The tax amendments were approved by Ukraine’s parliament on Oct. 10 and include a military tax for small businesses and taxes on income and other earnings will increase from 1.5% to 5%. Military personnel's tax rate will remain at 1.5%.


The EU's 15th sanctions package directed at limiting Russia’s war machine will target 30 legal entities from at least eight countries including Russia, Serbia, Iran, Hong Kong, China, India, the United Arab Emirates, and Thailand. Individuals and companies helping Russia to obtain critical components will also be targeted. North Korean officials linked to the deployment of troops to Russia will also be sanctioned. 45 Russian oil tankers are expected to be banned from entering European ports and sanctions will be imposed on oil transportation companies and their executives.


The power situation in Ternopil Oblast continues to be on shaky ground following a Russian strike on November 26 that damaged an energy facility. Repair crews have resolved some issues, ensuring critical infrastructure remains operational. Currently, they are attempting to stabilize the grid by connecting to neighboring oblasts and using alternative power sources.


Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has accepted an invitation from Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit Moscow on May 9, the day of Russia’s Victory Day parade. Fico repeated a lot of boilerplate Russian talking points about the importance of the Red Army yadda, yadda, yadda.


Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission President, has called for the EU to increase defense spending. She pointed out that Russia spends 9% of its GDP on defense, while the EU spends 1.9%. She called for a stronger arms industry and joint European defense projects. The EU’s High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said that the EU's stance on Ukraine and Russia won’t be affected by any potential changes in US leadership or policy.


Zakhidelektromontazh LLC has been awarded a $46 million contract to build protective structures at the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant. Work is planned to be finished by June 30, 2026. Many details of the contract are classified and there was no public tender for the project. The project intends to build “second-level” protection for the facility.


The US has urged Ukraine to lower its draft age from 25 to 18 to help make up for Ukraine’s severe manpower shortage. Ukrainian officials have already publicly disavowed this idea, with at least one saying that Western partners are slow to provide the aid they have pledged, making it hard to equip the men already being mobilized.


The value of the Russian ruble has been declining precipitously for the past several days. Many have begun to say that it is in a freefall.


Russian soldier mototroopers_205 seems to be saying that the Russian military sends men who can’t swim on water-crossing missions, and the fact that he is concerned about this leads The Daily Hog staff to conclude drownings are somewhat common, otherwise, he wouldn’t be complaining about this.

mototroopers_205:

"Once again, during the briefing of the groups entering the combat zone, I ask myself a question: Why has the instructor never asked, 'Who can't swim?' Even 10 meters, in case of necessity, they won't be able to swim. And that’s death. Fatalists."

Ukrainian soldier officeralex_33:

“In the Kurakhiv direction, non-stop 24/7, the bastards are storming in columns of 4-5 units of equipment, mostly tanks with hypermangals [likely referring to cope cages]. Several of these attacks can happen in a day, and about 20 of them occur in a week. There's no counting this scrap metal anymore. The area is Kurakhovo."
…
“For the first time we noticed that the [Russians] are pulling back their 200 and 300” - a fellow soldier from the Pokrovsk sector.
In the direction of Pokrovsk, the enemy remains relatively active, but still less so than in the southern part of the sector. The tactics are unchanged, but recently we noticed [Russians] in normal equipment, and for the first time the guys see them taking their 200 and 300, if anything, it is not typical for them to evacuate the dead and wounded, but it is obvious that some special vehicles have arrived.”

200 and 300 are slang referring to dead and wounded troops respectively. 

Quote of the Day:

"The ocean is a place of mystery and exploration, full of beauty and hedgehogs."

— James Cameron, Filmmaker and explorer