Russo-Ukrainian war, day 644: NATO reaffirms steadfast support as Ukraine enters second wartime winter

Exclusive

In a Ukrainian soldier’s mess tin: balancing abundance and malnutrition on the Ukrainian frontlines. “An army marches on its stomach,” goes the famous saying. So volunteers step in to deliver ready meals to soldiers where procurement is lacking

“It’s too late to stop.” Why 75% of Russians still support war against Ukraine. By limiting the impact of sanctions and allowing people to focus on their personal lives, Russia has achieved an “alternate reality” that enables the war to drone on indefinitely.

Meet Pimbo, the Italian clown returning smiles to Ukraine’s frontline kids. Marco Rodari has brought comic relief to the children in Syria, Iraq, Gaza, Palestine, and, now, Ukraine. “Cultures are different, smiles of kids are the same,” he says

Russia’s child brainwashing handbook: victim from 78 years ago speaks out. Echoing crimes of today, in 1945, daughter of Ukrainian Insurgent Army leader was forcibly sent away, given fabricated Russian identity, and raised to hail the Communists

Military

Newsweek: Russian general blown up on landmine, report says . A top Russian commander has allegedly died after being blown up by a landmine in Ukraine, Newsweek reports .

Frontline report: Ukraine’s electronic warfare thwarts Russian aerial and ground advances in Avdiivka. The Ukrainian command’s decision to withdraw from the industrial areas in Avdiivka posed challenges for Russian occupiers. The absence of adequate shelters, adverse weather and electronic warfare made Russian offensives more difficult.

ISW: Putin signs off on Russia’s biggest budget yet. The 2024 budget contains Russia’s largest-ever allocation to defense and law enforcement, reaching 39% of all spending.

Five Russian occupation officials reportedly killed in strike in Kherson Oblast. Ukrainian forces struck a building in the village of Yuvileine, an occupied part of Kherson Oblast, targeting a meeting of senior Russian officials, as per Ukraine’s National Resistance Center.

Russia allegedly downs drone headed toward Moscow. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that Ukrainian forces aimed a drone at Russia’s capital

Ukraine’s air defenses down all 21 Russian drones and two guided missiles overnight. Russia targeted 7 Ukrainian oblasts. The main target area of the drones attack was Khmelnytskyi Oblast, the missiles were aimed at southern Ukraine.

Intelligence and technology

British intel: Russia increases use of 500kg cluster munitions. While Russian glide bomb kits have struggled with accuracy, the numerous submunitions contained in a single RBK-500 glide bomb kit increase the chances of inflicting significant damage far from the intended target.

Ukrainian history goes global: British Museum hosts presentation of new research program. World-class scholars have announced a three-year research project to study and teach the history of Ukraine from ancient times to the present day.

International

Agence France-Presse: Blinken says NATO will continue to stand with Ukraine. NATO will continue to stand with Ukraine as the country is entering the second winter of the Russian war, said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Ukraine-NATO Council at the level of foreign ministers, as per Agence France-Presse .

FT: Russia stockpiled missiles to strike Ukraine in winter, NATO warns. Russia has built up a large stockpile of missiles and plans to use them to destroy Ukraine’s power and heating infrastructure in an attempt to leave the country in the dark and cold during the upcoming winter, NATO’s Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has warned, as per Financial Times .

Reuters: Biden official says Putin won’t consider stopping war in Ukraine until 2024 US election. Russian leader Vladimir Putin will not consider peace negotiations on the war in Ukraine until he knows the result of the 2024 US presidential election, a senior official from the Joe Biden administration has said, Reuters reports .

Ukraine agrees with NATO on new reform plan. In approving Ukraine’s new Annual National Programme, the list of reforms did not include Hungary’s demands, unlike previous times.

Reuters: US companies get $ 27 bn in investments for arming Ukraine. The major recipients are Pennsylvania, Arizona and Texas, where key Republican members of Congress have voted against funding Ukraine.

Humanitarian and social impact

Sky News: Poisoning of Ukrainian spy chief’s wife was likely “attempt on her life by Russia,” says foreign minister. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said he believes the poisoning of the wife of the head of the chief Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine, Marianna Budanova, was an “attempt on her life” by Russia, Sky News has reported.

FT: Russia stockpiled missiles to strike Ukraine in winter, NATO warns. Russia has built up a large stockpile of missiles and plans to use them to destroy Ukraine’s power and heating infrastructure in an attempt to leave the country in the dark and cold during the upcoming winter, NATO’s Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has warned, as per Financial Times .

Political and legal developments

IStories, OCCRP: Ukraine continues to supply Russia with spare parts for aircraft and helicopters despite war. The Russian company Avia FED Service supplied the Russian aviation industry with spare parts from Ukraine worth over $4 million in 2022-2023, according to an investigation by Important Stories and OCCRP .

Reuters: North Korea increases trade with Russia via Rason special economic zone. The North Korean Rason Special Economic Zone is increasingly viewed as an epicenter of the country’s growing cooperation with Russia, potentially serving as a channel for supplying arms to Russia for its war in Ukraine.

Read our earlier daily review here

As of 29 Nov 2023, the approximate losses of weapons and military equipment of the Russian Armed Forces from the beginning of the invasion to the present day:

• • Personnel: 327580 (+1140)
  • Tanks: 5538 (+15)
  • APV: 10312 (+27)
  • Artillery systems: 7908 (+32)
  • MLRS: 910 (+3)
  • Anti-aircraft systems: 600 (+3)
  • Aircraft: 323
  • Helicopters: 324
  • UAV: 5944 (+39)
  • Cruise missiles : 1567 (+2)
  • Warships/boats: 22
  • Submarines: 1
  • Vehicles and fuel tanks: 10348 (+846)

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