November 18 2024

This is the 1000th day of the full-scale war.


Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski announced that the soon-to-be vacated Russian consulate in Poznan could be used to host a Ukrainian consulate instead.


Ukraine’s Defense Minister reported that Ukraine has begun serial production of its R-360 Neptune cruise missiles, with the first 100 missiles being built this year. The R-360 Neptune is a subsonic cruise missile that was originally developed as an anti-ship missile, but it has been modified to attack ground targets and has an extended range of more than 200 kilometers.


President Zelenskyy visited Kupiansk on Nov. 18 and presented military personnel with awards while also receiving updates on the situation in Donetsk and Kharkiv oblasts. At one point, he was only about 5 km from the frontline.


Josep Borrell, EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy reported that the EU has finished delivering the 1 million artillery shells that were promised in 2023. He added that European countries will train an additional 75,000 Ukrainian soldiers by the end of the winter. He said that the EU has provided Ukraine with $48 billion worth of arms and equipment. He went on to say that they have provided Ukraine enough supplies to maintain their positions, sometimes. But sometimes they aren’t providing enough for even that, while Russia, Iran, and North Korea are gathering their resources for a full victory.


Turkish President Erdoğan plans to present a "peace plan" for Ukraine at the G20 summit that includes freezing the conflict along its current lines, delaying discussions on Ukraine's NATO membership for 10 years, creating a demilitarized zone in Donbas, and involving international forces for security. He said that the primary goal should be to stop the fighting first and foremost.

The Kremlin has rejected this "peace plan" for Ukraine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called it "a priori unacceptable" and that the demands Putin made in June have not changed. Peskov added that the Turkish plan has not been discussed directly between Russian and Turkish leaders.


On the night of Nov. 16-17, 2024, Russian forces launched an assault with 210 missiles and drones targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Ukrainian air defense intercepted 144 of the targets.

The Ukrainian Air Force tracked 210 enemy targets, and Ukraine downed:

1/1 3M22 Zircon hypersonic missile
7/8 Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missiles
85/101 Kh-101 and Kalibr cruise missiles
0/1 Iskander-M ballistic missile
4/4 Kh-22 and Kh-31P anti-radiation missiles
5/5 Kh-59 and Kh-69 guided missiles
42/90 drones
41 drones were “lost”
2 drones returned to Russia.

Russia launched missiles from seven Tu-160 bombers, 16 Tu-95MS bombers, two Tu-22M3 bombers, five Su-34 jets, four Su-27s, 10 MiG-31K aircraft, and four missile-equipped ships. Notably, this was the first use of the Zircon missile in several months, with the last usage being reported on March 25.

On Nov. 17, Ukrainian soldier Natalia Hrabarchuk, a former preschool teacher, used an Igla MANPADS to down a Russian cruise missile during her first combat experience. Her success was captured in a widely circulated video.

Ukrainian soldier Stanislav Osman:

“Ms. Natalia is a symbol of air defense

But in fact, it's not surprising, girls hold all positions in the army, from staff to commanders, and they are respected for that.”

On November 17, Russia attacked energy infrastructure in Odesa Oblast, causing disruptions to heating, water, and electricity supplies. Oleh Kiper, head of Odesa Regional Military Administration, reported that hospitals are operating on generators and that emergency crews are addressing the damage. Two people were killed, and a 17-year-old boy was injured. Efforts to restore water supply are ongoing, while some areas of Odesa remain without power.


Two Ukrenergo employees, Dmytro Kaminsky aged 41, and Maksym Shargorodskyi age 44, were killed during a Russian missile and drone strike on a power substation in Odesa Oblast on Nov. 17. Kaminsky had worked for Ukrenergo for 16 years and had a 10-year-old daughter. Shargorodskyi had been with the company since 2005 and had a 14-year-old daughter.


According to a UN report, in October 2024, Russian attacks on Ukraine resulted in at least 183 civilian deaths, including nine children, and 903 injuries, including 49 children. The report said there were 1,900 drone strikes recorded, a significant increase over previous months. Most civilian casualties occurred near the front lines and were especially common in Kherson, Kharkiv, and Donetsk Oblasts. On top of that, six civilians were killed and 21 were injured from debris or intercepted missiles and drones. September had been the deadliest month of 2024, with 208 civilians killed and 1,220 injured.

The death toll from a Russian missile strike in Odesa on Nov. 18 has reached 10, including seven police officers, with 55 injuries reported. 3 of the injured people are in critical condition. The ballistic missiles targeted a densely populated area, damaging civilian infrastructure and residential buildings.

President Zelenskyy:

    “These are not random strikes - these are demonstrative strikes after calls and meetings with Putin.’

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Oleksandr Sybiha.

“This is a real response from war criminal Putin to all those who have called and visited him recently.”

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis:

    "The Thousand Day War has shown that peace cannot be achieved with a non-escalation strategy.”

On the morning of November 17, Russian missiles and drones violated Moldovan airspace during the attack on Ukraine. Mihai Popshoi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Moldova, shared a video from a resident of the Romanian village of Ruseni which appears to have captured the sound of a low-flying Russian missile. It is believed several drones and missiles may have entered Moldova’s airspace but were too low to catch on radar.


British defense company, BAE Systems, will open a new factory in Sheffield, UK, to help support Ukraine while also improving the UK’s own artillery forces. The factory will cost £25 million to construct and will begin producing M777 howitzers in 2025. BAE also has contracts with the UK government for the production of 155mm shells. 8 currently unnamed countries have also expressed interest in ordering M777 howitzers. The new factory will create 50 skilled jobs in the Sheffield area.


Russian media outlet RIA Novosti reports that Russia continues its illegal campaign of conscripting Ukrainians from the occupied territories into the Russian army. This is a war crime. The term of service for these conscripts is officially 12 months but may be longer since Russia sees no need to honor any laws or contracts.


The first volunteers of the Ukrainian Legion took their oath of Allegiance to Ukraine. The ceremony took place on a Polish training ground. After the oath, the recruits will begin their military training which includes Firearms training (including Close-Quarters Battle), battlefield medicine, Mine safety, Topography/map reading, and other skills. Training will be performed by Polish instructors and will follow NATO standards. More than 600 men have signed up for the Ukrainian Legion.


On November 17, Ukrainian drones attacked the Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant Kupol, which specializes in producing air defense systems, including anti-aircraft missiles and drones. More specifically, the attack targeted the 300th production facility of the Kupol plant, where drones are manufactured. Local reports indicate that the drone strike hit the plant's production area, resulting in smashed windows but no serious damage. Alexander Brechalov, the head of Udmurtia, reported there was one injury and that staff were evacuated. The plant is located 1,260 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Residents expressed concerns that placing drone production in the city center puts a lot of people at risk.


Bloomberg reported that North Korea may end up supplying 100,000 troops to Russia to assist in the war against Ukraine. These troops would likely be rotated in and out, and not provided as one giant mass of men. Dmytro Ponomarenko, Ukraine's ambassador to South Korea said they expect the rotation to take place every few months. This issue will probably be discussed at the G20 summit in Brazil.


Biden has given Ukraine permission to use U.S.-supplied long-range missiles against Russian and North Korean forces in the Kursk region of Russia. Originally it was reported without the limit of using them in Kursk only. It was also reported in Le Figaro that France and the UK gave permission to use Storm Shadow missiles for long-range strikes in Russia, but Le Figaro retracted that claim. The U.S. hopes that long-range missile strikes against North Korean targets in Kursk will deter North Korea from sending additional troops to Russia. While the limit of using them only in Kursk is a disappointment, there are numerous valuable military targets worth striking. Josep Borrell said that the Biden administration has permitted Ukraine to strike targets up to 300 km into Russia using US long-range weapons.


The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has detected CS gas in projectiles and soil samples from Ukraine. This is the first time they have officially confirmed its use in Ukraine. Samples were collected after a September 20, 2024 incident near Illinka in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. CS gas is banned by the Chemical Weapons Convention and its use is a war crime.


Germany plans to begin deliveries of AI-powered kamikaze drones to Ukraine, according to German tabloid BILD. According to BILD’s source, the drone, nicknamed Mini-Taurus, can orient itself depending on the terrain to shield itself and is resistant to electronic warfare. After the drone operator orders a strike on a target, the drone can fly to it independently even when radio connection is lost. The German government contracted with Ukraine and Munich-based company Helsing to produce 4,000 Mini-Taurus drones for Ukraine. The drone is reported to have a range of about 40-60 km, which is around four times farther than kamikaze drones commonly used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and its warhead is large enough to destroy Russian tanks. Additionally, Helsing says it will be comparatively cheaper than its foreign equivalents, such as the US-made Switchblade 600 at ~$100,000 or Russian-made Zala Lancet at ~$35,000 per unit. Currently, the Mini-Taurus is being tested in Eastern Ukraine, under “real operational conditions.” Full-scale deliveries will begin in December with hundreds being delivered to Ukraine each month after.


The Croatian government has approved a transfer of 30 M-84 tanks (upgraded T-72) and 30 M-80 infantry fighting vehicles (similar to the BMP-1) to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The package is valued at around $145 million and includes spare parts and ammunition. Croatia is likely sending these to Ukraine to make room for a planned purchase of Leopard 2A8 tanks. The Croatian government did not say when the transfer would occur at the time of writing.


The C-Lion1 undersea communication cable between Helsinki, Finland, and Rostock, Germany was severed. Russia is suspected of sabotage by some. This incident occurred near the Swedish island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea. A second 730 mile long cable, running alongside gas and power lines, was also affected. Although Finland's communications agency stated that most users wouldn't notice the outage due to alternative connections, the company managing the cable is investigating the cause. The company said there is currently no evidence of sabotage, and the damage was possibly caused by a fishing trawler or an anchor.


Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. Ambassador to the UN, reported that the US will announce a new aid package for Ukraine in the coming days.


A video was published of an explosion at the 67th arsenal of the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate in Karachev, Bryansk Oblast, Russia. The arsenal housed various types of munitions, including North Korean artillery shells, guided aerial bombs, anti-aircraft missiles, and ammunition for MLRS. The governor claimed there was no casualties or damage, but the available video footage shows a mushroom-shaped fireball rising up into the night sky. The Russian Ministry of Defence later reported intercepting 12 Ukrainian UAVs in Bryansk and one in Belgorod.


The KOLO Charity Foundation has donated 12 Sych UAVs to the Ukrainian military. The donation cost about $300,000 and was part of their fundraising campaign titled "The Owls Flew Away."
The Sych drones are made in Ukraine and can operate day or night. They can fly up to 150 km to detect and engage enemy targets and can carry up to 4 kg of ammunition. They are already being successfully used in combat and are resistant to Russian electronic warfare.


Ukrainian called Vyriy Drone is set to produce thousands of drones featuring an automatic guidance function that allows it to bypass electronic warfare systems. The drones utilize the Skynode microcomputer from Auterion, which costs only $15. Mass production will begin in early 2025. The technology may enable a single pilot to control a swarm of drones autonomously.


Ukrainian soldier Stanislav Osman:

“Now the [Russians] have switched from New York to Toretsk and are pressing hard.”

Ukrainian soldier officeralex_33:

“Over the past few weeks, the enemy has been resorting to mechanized assaults in the Pokrovsk sector, especially in the area of Yurivka and Novooleksiyivka. The [Russians] are sending 2 tanks and 3 golf carts with infantry as standard. And so every day and even several times a day. And so in the area of each village.”
…
“In Solntsivka, in the Kurakhove direction, the situation has somewhat stabilized. The [Russians] who fly in on golf carts are being steadily eliminated, mostly in groups of 4 bodies; the [Russians] who have been hiding in basements are also being smoked out. Overall, there is a bit of relief, they did not manage to gain a foothold.”

Quote of the Day:

“He said after a little while, 'I see why you say that only men do evil, I think. Even hedgehogs are innocent, they kill because they must.'
'That is why nothing can resist us. Only one thing in the world can resist an evil-hearted man. And that is another man. In our shame is our glory. Only our spirit, which is capable of evil, is capable of overcoming it.”

― Ursula K. Le Guin, The Farthest Shore