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.
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