Defense company Nitrotol OÜ has won a tender to start ammunition production in Estonia, with production set to begin town by spring 2025. Production will take place in the town of Emar. The company will receive the right to use an 8,900-square-meter site with 7 warehouses for five years.


Over 40 foreign defense companies are now operating alongside more than 600 domestic defense companies in Ukraine. These companies employ 300,000 people.


Since the beginning of 2024, Ukraine has produced 2.5 million rounds of artillery and mortar shells in various calibers, ranging from 60 mm-155 mm. 60 mm and 82 mm mortar shells, 122 mm, 152 mm, and 155 mm artillery shells, and 125-mm tank shells are known to be produced in Ukraine. Ukraine is working to expand production further. Ukraine's future production plans include a new explosives plant in Lithuania to produce RDX explosives.

Russia has sent over 70 animals, including an African lion, two brown bears, yaks, and exotic birds from the Moscow Zoo to Pyongyang as a "gift to the Korean people."


Ukrainian paratroopers from the 80th Air Assault Brigade captured 26 Russian soldiers in the Kursk Oblast after a failed assault.

On November 21, 2024, Ukrainian drones attacked targets in Russia's Astrakhan region. Local residents published videos of the drones flying over Akhtubinsk, while Russian authorities reported a fire caused by a drone crash and said there were no casualties or damage to infrastructure. Ukrainian drones also targeted the neighboring Volgograd region, possibly aiming at missile launch facilities. Later that day, an ICBM launched from Astrakhan struck Dnipro, resulting in two casualties and damage to a rehabilitation center, industrial enterprise, and residential homes. Some sources report that the missile was an RS-26 Rubezh. Putin himself mentioned the attack and called it “Oreshnik.”

CNN, citing an anonymous US official, said that the missile was an experimental medium-range ballistic missile and not an ICBM. The official stated that Russia likely possesses only a limited number of these missiles. Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said the missile was based on the RS-26 ICBM.

Kremlin spokesperson Dimitri Peskov said during an interview with Russian state-controlled media TASS that the Russian government notified the United States 30 minutes before the launch of the ballistic missile at Dnipro.


President Zelenskyy:

“Today, our deranged neighbor has once again shown what it really is and how it despises the dignity, freedom, and lives of people in general. And how afraid it is.”

Videos of the strike show multiple warheads landing in quick succession over a relatively small area. The US has released a statement saying they see no indications Russia is preparing for a nuclear strike.

This is what the Ukrainian GUR had to say about the missile strike:

“The "Kedr" complex – details about the new ballistic system used by terrorist Russia to strike Dnipro

▫️ On November 21, 2024, the aggressor state Russia launched an attack on Ukrainian territory, employing a ballistic missile likely from the "Kedr" missile system.
▪️ The flight time of this Russian missile from the moment of launch in the Astrakhan region to impact in Dnipro was 15 minutes.
▪️ The missile was equipped with six warheads, each containing six sub-munitions. The speed on the final segment of the trajectory exceeded 11 Mach.
▪️ A number of enterprises from the military-industrial complex of the aggressor state Russia were involved in the development of the mobile missile system "Kedr":

• JSC "Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology" (Moscow);

• JSC "Federal Scientific Production Center 'Titan-Barricades'" (Volgograd);

• JSC "Main Special Design Bureau 'Prozhektor'" (Moscow);

• JSC "Concern 'Sozvezdie'" (Voronezh);

• JSC "Scientific Production Enterprise 'Spetsenergomekhanka'" (Moscow);

• LLC "Research Center for Special Technology and Conversion 'Continent'" (Moscow).
  ▫️ Testing of the "Kedr" missile system took place at the "4th State Central Inter-Service Polygon of the Russian Federation" (Kapustin Yar, Astrakhan region) in October 2023 and June 2024.

The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reminds that for every war crime committed against the Ukrainian people, there will be appropriate and just retribution.”

On November 26 an emergency meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council will be held to discuss Russia’s use of this new missile.

On November 21, authorities in Russia's Belgorod Oblast distributed 9,000 fire extinguishers to residents to help combat fires from ongoing attacks. Mobile fire stations were provided with water tanks, pumps, shovels, and first-aid kits. Both sides routinely fire on the Belgorod region, with Russia doing so mostly by accident.

Norwegian Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram announced that Norway will provide $45 million to Ukraine’s defense industry to enable further weapon and equipment manufacturing and faster deliveries to the front line.

The United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control announced new sanctions on more than 50 internationally operating Russian banks, more than 40 individuals, and 15 Russian finance officials. Additionally, OFAC warned about the risks of joining Russia’s financial messaging system used to evade sanctions. Gazprombank and its subsidy areas were among the sanctioned banks.

 

 

Canada will allocate $575 million for aid to Ukraine in 2025, according to the budget draft for the year. Canadian Prime Minister Bill Blair also announced the NASAMS air defense systems they purchased for Ukraine are currently in Poland and will arrive in Ukraine soon.

Denmark has delivered the first 6 F-16 jets to Ukraine. Denmark has pledged to provide a total of 19 F-16s. Two more batches of jets are expected to be delivered by the end of 2024. These jets were modernized under the Mid-Life Update program.

The last two Dutch F-16 fighter jets arrived in Romania for pilot training. The Netherlands has now provided 18 of the jets for Ukraine’s usage. The planes will be used at a training center in Romania.

Germany provided a new batch of military aid to Ukraine,

The list of military aid includes:

• 7 M109 Howitzers

• 4 PzH 2000s with spare parts

• ammunition for MARDER infantry fighting vehicles;

• 73 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAP);

• 1 TRML-4D air surveillance radar;

• 41,000 rounds of 155mm ammunition;

• 20 VECTOR reconnaissance drones with spare parts;

• 12 HORNET XR reconnaissance drones;

• 100 RQ-35 HEIDRUN reconnaissance drones;

• 120 SONGBIRD reconnaissance drones;

• 60 Golden Eagle reconnaissance drones;

• 2 VT-4 Rochen reconnaissance drones;

• 2 BIBER bridge-laying tanks with spare parts;

• 3 WISENT 1 mine clearing tanks with spare parts and three mine plows;

• 8 Caracal air assault vehicles;

• 20 border protection vehicles;

• 6 M1070 Oshkosh tank transporter tractors;

• 8000 rounds 40 mm ammunition;

• 340 HLR 338 precision rifles with 314000 rounds of ammunition;

• 100000 rounds of ammunition for firearms;

• tens of thousands of medical supplies.

The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported that the German Bundeswehr has approached various German companies, urging them to prepare for a war with Russia. The "German Operational Plan" has been created to help prepare for a potential military invasion. The plan includes protecting key infrastructure and buildings that need special protection, it also contains defense plans. The plan anticipates direct conflict between Russia and NATO in Eastern Europe. In such a war, Germany would become a transportation hub for soldiers, military supplies, and aid. The Hamburg Chamber of Commerce has begun preparing businesses for this war and advises training additional truck drivers since 70% of all truck drivers come from Eastern Europe and they’d likely be needed on the frontlines defending their countries.

Companies are also advised to purchase generators and means to provide enough energy in case the power grid is attacked or disrupted. The Head of Hamburg State Command, Lieutenant Colonel Jörn Plischke said that Russia is “preparing for a conflict with Germany by conducting unmanned reconnaissance flights, sabotage, cyberattacks, and assassination attempts on top managers of German companies.” He added that Germany currently faces difficulty in producing enough ammunition and equipment for a full-on war. The Hamburg Senate has created 40 additional jobs for crisis management and protection of the civilian population. The “German Operational Plan” has not yet been approved, but training has already been done to harden German ports against sabotage.

Levan Lokhishvili, a 24-year-old Georgian fighter, was killed in Kherson Oblast on Nov. 19 while fighting on behalf of Ukraine. He was killed in a drone attack. Lokhishvili served in the 3rd Company of the 220th Battalion of the 126th Odesa Brigade and volunteered to help defend Ukraine in March 2022. Before his involvement in the war, he worked as a chef. One of Levan’s comrades in arms was also injured, and a third sustained a concussion in the attack.


Ukraine attacked a command post in Maryino, Russia, with Storm Shadow missiles. This is the first attack on Russian territory using these missiles.

Russian milblogger dosye_shpiona reported that on November 20, 2024, around 15:00, Ukraine targeted a command post in the village of Maryino, Rylsky District, Kursk Region, using British-French Storm Shadow/SCALP cruise missiles. The attack resulted in the deaths of 18 servicemen and injured 33, including 3 from North Korea. Two suffered serious injuries serious injuries and a female medic suffered minor injuries. The injured were taken to the Rylsk Central Regional Hospital. Most of the injured were officers from the Southern and Eastern Military Districts.

At the time of the strike, Lieutenant General Solodchuk, the first deputy commander of the Leningrad Military District, was present at the command post, and his fate is unknown. Later, around 19:00, while clearing rubble at the site, an unknown munition detonated, injuring 13 servicemen from the 88th Engineer Regiment, including the deputy chief of staff of the regiment.

There is footage of this attack, showing numerous strikes on the facility. The Wall Street Journal reports that a high-ranking North Korean general was injured in the attack. The WSJ cites an anonymous Western official who confirmed the North Korean general was injured. Details on how he was injured and the extent of the injuries are not available currently. Colonel General Kim Yong Bok, an aide to Kim Jong Un had been sent to Russia to coordinate the North Korean troops in Russia, there is a possibility this was the general who was injured, but currently, that is just speculation.

A new video was published purporting to show Wagner troops who were killed in an ambush in Mali. The video shows at least 5 bloody bodies lying on the ground around a damaged truck.


Poland is preparing a new aid package for Ukraine. This will be the 45th military aid package provided by Poland.


On November 21, Ukrainian doctors in Kyiv performed cardiac surgery immediately after a cesarean section to correct a congenital heart defect in a newborn. The surgery combined two operating rooms, using one to create something like a simulated womb, allowing the team to address the potentially fatal heart defect immediately after birth. This is the first time this technique has ever been performed. The operation was led by Ilya Yemets from the Scientific and Practical Medical Center of Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery and was carried out minutes after the baby’s delivery. The mother traveled to Kyiv from Moldova for treatment after her child was diagnosed with transposition of the main vessels before birth.


The U.S. military has successfully tested the PrSM missile for the HIMARS system, hitting targets at a range of over 400 kilometers.


Russia's State Duma approved the 2025-2027 federal budget on November 21, 2024. Military spending will rise significantly, with defense budget allocation at 32.5% of federal spending. Military spending hasn’t been this high since the Soviet era. In 2025, $133.2 billion will be allocated to defense, increasing by 25% compared to 2024, doubling 2023’s defense budget, and nearly quadrupling the 2021 budget. Military spending will be equal to about 6.5% of Russia’s GDP. An additional $34.1 billion will be allocated for national security, with funds going to the police, the National Guard, intelligence, and other security agencies. Total spending on military and security will amount to 40% of the federal budget of $166.8 billion.

Social spending including pensions and welfare will decrease from $76.3 billion in 2024 to $64 billion in 2025. Social spending is projected to increase slightly in 2026 and 2027 but will remain lower than current levels. State propaganda media funding will increase to $1.3 billion, up 13% from 2024. This is record spending on state propaganda. The Central Bank of Russia raised interest rates to 21%. Food prices are expected to rise by 8–20% in 2025 due to inflation and high transportation costs.



On November 21, the Verkhovna Rada passed a bill allowing servicemen who have been AWOL or deserted for the first time to voluntarily return to service and to resume receiving salaries and benefits upon their return. Ongoing criminal proceedings due to them going AWOL will not prevent their reinstatement.

Moldova and the United Kingdom signed a security and defense partnership agreement on November 20.


Russian forces shot and killed two captured Ukrainian soldiers in the Pokrovsk region on November 10, 2024, after capturing them during an assault near Novodmytrivka. The prisoners were forced to undress and were shot while being marched through a forest. An investigation is underway into the incident. There is a report of an additional 3 Ukrainian POWs being killed in the area.

The Ukrainian 1st tank brigade captured 8 Russian soldiers during a night operation in Kursk Oblast on November 20. Three Russian soldiers were killed in the shelling of the position. The captured soldiers were from the 51st Guards Airborne Regiment.

75% of NATO countries have approached Ukrainian defense companies to either establish partnerships or procure military equipment. A survey conducted was by the Ukrainian Association Technological Forces of Ukraine that involved 32 private defense companies. 41% of the companies reporting cooperation requests from Lithuania. 28% of requests came from the United Kingdom, while 22% came from the United States, Czechia, and Latvia each.

Ukrainian soldier Stanislav Osman:

"If you don’t see good news from the fronts, it doesn’t mean there is none, it’s just better to remain silent about it for now.

The Russians react very sharply to any negative information and are ready to sacrifice thousands of lives for a win in the online world.
Remember Bakhmut... they stubbornly and forcefully sent their soldiers there for what? To stand still now? Well, at least Western media showed ‘Wagner’ on television.

Literally, their entire 'special military operation' was planned for an information boom and to boost their 'reputation' on the global stage, and in the end, they’re catching missiles to the face."

...

The situation in Toretsk is complicated, now the [Russians] are throwing all their efforts to take control of the skyscrapers in the city center, this will provide them with fire control, dominant position for aerial reconnaissance and strike UAVs, unfortunately, they are having results.

Today the [Russians] tried to storm our positions in Vovchansk again.

A tank was abandoned after 1 FPV arrival, 2 MT-LBs and an infantry fighting vehicle were burned, 4 out of 20 [Russians] made it to the positions and were destroyed by our infantry, all the rest were thrown at them at the start.

…

“Heavy fighting is going on in the direction of Liptsi, but the Podars receive powerful blows, and they have many losses.”

Ukrainian soldier officeralex_33:

Over the past week, the enemy has increased pressure on the flanks of Toretsk, especially in the Zabalka area, where the [Russians] have had relatively significant successes and advances. Basically, everything is the same - small infantry groups are being used.

Frankly speaking, much more problems are caused not by the pressure of the [Russians], not by the fact that they have come up with something brilliant, but by disorganization in the management of some units.
…
After the capture of Novooleksiyivka, the occupiers immediately shift their forces to the neighboring village of Pushkine. The entire distance between these villages is essentially a gray zone, through which the enemy is deploying tanks and armored vehicles with troops. The front resembles a mess.
…
In the direction of Velika Novosilka, the morning began not with coffee, but with a Podar assault of 7 units of equipment + landing forces. They are attacking from the Rivnopil region in order to reach the road Novosilka - Velika Novosilka, which is most likely the beginning of a plan to reach the lines for the rest of Velika Novosilka, since the enemy has recently become more active in the Rozdolny region.

4 units of equipment have already been destroyed, the Podars have dropped the landing party, and the fighting is ongoing.

Russian soldier Mototroopers_205:

…
Enjoy the war, because the peace will be terrible.
…
And everything is stable with us.

We are preparing to cross the Dnieper.”

Quote of the Day:

“L’arbre tombe feuille à feuille : si les hérissons contemplaient chaque matin ce qu’ils ont perdu la veille, ils s’apercevraient bien de leur pauvreté.”

― Chateaubriand