On Friday, November 29, the following developments occurred:
Combat Operations
Russia launched its second significant assault this month on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, resulting in extensive power outages that impacted at least one million individuals across three western regions. Reports from regional governors indicated that the attacks disrupted electricity supply to 523,000 consumers in the Lviv region, 215,000 in the Volyn region, and 280,000 in the Rivne region.
According to Ukraine’s air force, Russia deployed 91 missiles and 97 drones during the assault, with 12 successfully striking their intended targets, primarily energy and fuel facilities.
President Vladimir Putin stated that the strikes were a response to Ukraine’s attacks on Russian territory utilizing US medium-range ATACMS missiles. He cautioned that future targets might encompass “decision-making centres” in Kyiv, employing the new Oreshnik hypersonic missile, which Moscow asserts cannot be intercepted.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned Russia’s actions as a “despicable escalation,” alleging the use of cruise missiles equipped with cluster munitions in the offensive. Zelenskyy mentioned that he was in discussions with Western leaders, including NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, to formulate a response to Russia’s efforts to prolong the conflict.
US President Joe Biden characterized Moscow’s assault as “outrageous,” emphasizing that it highlights the critical need to support the Ukrainian populace in their fight against Russian aggression. According to Regional Governor Yuri Slyusar, Russian air defenses successfully destroyed or intercepted 30 Ukrainian drones in the southern Rostov region early on Friday. Officials reported that debris from downed Russian drones hit structures in two districts of Kyiv, resulting in one injury late on Thursday. Additionally, explosions were reported in Odesa on Thursday morning, coinciding with claims of a cruise missile strike in the Ukrainian Black Sea port city.
Finances, Politics, and Diplomacy
President Zelenskyy has enacted Ukraine’s inaugural wartime tax increases, with Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko emphasizing that this legislation is crucial for ensuring consistent funding for the Ukrainian defense sector. The modifications, set to take effect on December 1, will increase the war tax on personal income from 1.5 percent to 5 percent.
Ukraine has called on its allies to expedite military assistance, asserting that the prompt delivery of essential battlefield equipment is more critical than increasing troop numbers, following a senior US official’s suggestion to lower the conscription age from 25 to 18.
Ukraine is prepared to host a second global summit aimed at resolving Russia’s invasion in the “near future,” as stated by Andriy Yermak, the chief of staff to the Ukrainian president. The first “peace summit” took place in Switzerland in June.
France, facing scrutiny regarding its position on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s immunity from an International Criminal Court arrest warrant, has refrained from commenting on whether it would be willing to detain President Putin under a similar warrant.
During a news conference in Kazakhstan, Putin declared that Russia would employ “all means of destruction available” against Ukraine if Kyiv were to obtain nuclear weapons, adding that he would be “monitoring their every move.”
Putin further stated that there are currently no conditions for initiating discussions with Ukraine regarding a potential peace agreement, reiterating that the terms he proposed in June, which include Ukraine renouncing its NATO aspirations, remain unchanged.
Germany has proposed to redeploy Patriot air defense missiles to its NATO ally Poland at the beginning of the new year, according to the German Defence Ministry.
A Russian court has sentenced attorney Dmitry Talantov, who has defended opponents of Moscow’s military actions in Ukraine, to seven years in prison after finding him guilty of disseminating false information regarding the Russian military and “inciting hatred.”
In a recent humanitarian exchange facilitated by Qatar, Russia and Ukraine have consented to return a total of nine children to be reunited with their family members.
