Russo-Ukrainian war, day 993: Russian strike kills 3 children, mother in Kryvyi Rih as NATO refuses to help Ukraine intercept missiles

Exclusive

Soldiers of Song: documentary on how Ukraine’s musicians battle Russian “cultural genocide” through music. Ryan Smith’s “Soldiers of Song” film follows Ukrainian music stars and documents their unprecedented fusion of art and resistance in the war-torn country, creating what becomes known as “cultural forces of Ukraine.”

Military

Frontline report: elite Ukrainian brigades obliterate Russian marines and North Koreans in counteroffensive with tanks and anti-tank mines. Elite Ukrainian brigades decimated a joint Russian-North Korean assault force near Malaya Loknya, losing 15 armored vehicles and throwing North Korean soldiers into the meat grinder.

Sole survivor: Father left after Russian strike kills his wife and three children in Kryvyi Rih. Maksym is the only survivor of the Kulyks family. The Russian deliberate strike on the residential area killed four, injured 14.

At least 11 civilians injured in Russian air attacks, as Ukraine neutralizes most of 110 explosive drones. Russia deployed drones, a ballistic missile, two air-launched missiles, and multiple guided bombs.

Russians damage Kurakhove Reservoir dam in Donetsk Oblast. The damage on 11 November caused water levels to rise by 1.2 meters in Velykonovosilkivska Hromada, potentially affecting settlements along the Vovcha River in two oblasts.

Russia’s Belgorod Oblast oil depot was on fire after unconfirmed Ukrainian drone strike, while three Russian bombs crash in region. Also, Russian Shahed drone hit a residential house in Russia’s Belgorod, while Russian aircraft accidentally discharged three bombs in the region.

ISW: Recent Vuhledar capture enables Russian tactical gains in Donetsk Oblast. Russian forces have made steady progress in western Donetsk but are unlikely to conduct rapid maneuvers to encircle Ukrainian forces, per ISW.

Russia deploys 50,000 troops in attempts to reclaim Kursk Oblast before Trump presidency. Suffering significant losses, the grouping conducts assaults every “10-15 minutes” using combined arms tactics to reclaim territory from Ukrainian forces before Trump’s inauguration in January.

Forbes: Ukraine’s forces push back against Russian assaults as “apocalyptic fight” unfolds in Kursk Oblast. Ukrainian brigades are inflicting heavy casualties on Russian forces in Kursk Oblast, with battles so intense they’ve left entire “cemeteries” of destroyed Russian armored vehicles.

As of 12 NOV 2024, the approximate losses of weapons and military equipment of the Russian Armed Forces from the beginning of the invasion to the present day:

• Personnel: 712610 (+1950)
• Tanks: 9276 (+23)
• APV: 18847 (+81)
• Artillery systems: 20352 (+38)
• MLRS: 1249 (+4)
• Anti-aircraft systems: 996
• Aircraft: 369
• Helicopters: 329
• UAV: 18737 (+61)
• Cruise missiles: 2636 (+2)
• Warships/boats: 28
• Submarines: 1
• Vehicles and fuel tanks: 28870 (+68)
• Special equipment: 3626 (+6)

Intelligence and Technology

Ukraine to receive six Mirage 2000-5F fighters from France by mid-2025. A French legislator disclosed this figure in his budget review.

Russia hits Kharkiv with new Molniya drones in combat test on civilians. As Russian forces have been testing Molniya on the battlefield since May, the drone now poses a potential new threat to Ukrainian cities.

Ukraine traces Western tech in Russian “Parody” drones downed in Moldova. Ukrainian intelligence found American, Swiss, Taiwanese, and Chinese components in two Russian decoy drones that landed on Moldovan territory during this weekend’s massive aerial assault on Ukraine.

Forbes: Taiwan quietly armed Ukraine with critical air defense systems. Retired Taiwanese air defense batteries could represent nearly a third of Ukraine’s shield against Russian aerial attacks.

Germany uses Soviet museum tanks to train Ukrainian forces on Russian traps. At a training facility near Berlin, tanks borrowed from museums help 18,000 Ukrainian soldiers learn to spot deadly traps left by retreating Russian forces.

International

NATO won’t intercept Russian missiles over Ukraine, Polish army chief reiterates. General Kukuła also emphasized the real risk of war, noting Russia’s ongoing military buildup and stressing the importance of NATO cohesion.

NATO chief Rutte: “We must do more than just keep Ukraine in the fight”. Military cooperation between Russia and North Korea has created new urgency for Western support of Ukraine, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said.

Biden should push NATO to admit Ukraine, says US foreign policy analyst. According to McCain Institute Executive Director Evelyn Farkas, the US should expedite NATO membership for Ukraine to prevent escalating global threats.

Trump to adopt significantly more hawkish view toward war in Ukraine once he takes office, says Pompeo. Mike Pompeo expressed hope that Trump’s team will make him understand the consequences of withdrawing support from Ukraine.

Finland’s Valtonen opposes “Finlandization” solution for Ukraine peace. The Finnish FM opposes imposing neutrality on Ukraine, citing Finland’s history with Russia and warning it would harm international order and Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Political and Legal Developments

Reuters: Helsinki to seize control of city’s largest events venue from sanctioned Russians. Finland’s capital will initiate the forced takeover of the Helsinki Arena from Russian oligarchs Timchenko and Rotenberg, sanctioned due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

New Developments

Moldova finds third Russian drone in three days – this time near capital. Moldovan authorities discovered the drone just 26 kilometers from Chisinau.

Media: Russian drone accidentally hits apartment building in own city of Belgorod. Surveillance cameras captured the distinctive silhouette of a Shahed drone striking a residential building in Belgorod, contradicting official claims of a Ukrainian attack.

CNN: Ukraine is at one of its weakest points since February 2022. Experts observe a “growing, quiet consensus” that negotiations are the only way to end this war.

Read our earlier daily review here.