Ukraine Breaking News Today Live on 11-19-2024

Russia reacted quickly with angry rhetoric to Ukraine’s first strikes inside the country using American-made long-range weapons after Biden loosened restrictions on their use over the weekend.

Russia warned on Tuesday that it would respond after Ukraine fired longer-range US missiles at its territory for the first time, as President Vladimir Putin issued a nuclear threat on the 1,000th day of the war.

A senior official said the strike on Russia's Bryansk region earlier on Tuesday “was carried out by ATACMS missiles” – a reference to the US-supplied Army Tactical Missile System.

The estimated cost of the environmental damage caused by Russia’s invasion currently totals over $71 billion.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has caused $71 billion in environmental damage and led to a surge in greenhouse gas emissions, the Ukrainian government told the COP29 summit in Baku.

“Nature during this war is like a silent victim,” said Svitlana Grynchuk, Ukraine's minister of environmental protection and natural resources.

Ukraine will receive its sixth tranche of IMF after the organization finds that the country has successfully kept its economy resilient and has completed the necessary steps to move forward.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Ukrainian authorities have reached a staff-level agreement to allocate another $1.1 billion to rebuild the country, thanks to Kyiv’s successful completion of the necessary requirements. 

This is the Sixth Review of the EFF program, which has already brought Ukraine a total of $9.8 billion under the program, according to an IMF press release shared Tuesday.  

A thousand days of war has passed and after Ukraine defended the city, life has returned, and the town is healing from memories of being a battlefield and its occupation.

Irpin’s cemetery has a separate section dedicated to the victims of Russia’s crimes. It is located deep inside the graveyard, but you can never miss it: almost every grave is marked with a Ukrainian flag. 

Not far away another section is dedicated to the military who died defending the town and liberated it from Russian forces. 

The milestone has less meaning for Ukraine’s 36th Marine Brigade than some as it had been fighting the Russian army for years before Moscow’s 2022 full-scale invasion.

Many officers and NCOs from Ukraine’s elite 36th Separate Marine Brigade - named for Rear Admiral Mykhailo Bilinskyi - have been at war for more than a decade not just for 1,000 days. The unit’s combat history is one of the longest and bloodiest in the entire Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).

Considered Ukraine’s premier amphibious assault formation its baptism of fire occurred in defensive positions to the east of the city of Mariupol in the Donetsk region during Russia’s 2014 invasion of Ukraine. They faced bands of Moscow-backed separatists supported by regular Russian army artillery, paratroopers and special forces who were attempting a takeover of the region.

Ukraine’s lawmakers voted for the final second review of the 2025 state budget: it includes predictable war expenses, eliminating corruption in social wages, and $5 billion less in foreign aid.

Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, approved the draft Law of Ukraine “On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2025” in the second final review, the Ministry of Finance press release says. 

This means that Ukraine has approved the budget for the next 2025 year on time, as it should have voted for the final version of the budget with lawmakers amendments no later than the first of December. 

Russian forces try to encircle Kurakhove, cutting off its supply routes. Intense battles continue in the city and nearby areas as Russia targets key towns in the Donetsk region for a future offensive

Russian forces are attempting to encircle Kurakhove, a frontline town in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, cutting off its logistical supply chain along the Kostyantynopil-Kurakhove road, an anonymous source in Ukraine’s defense forces told Kyiv Post.

“Fighting is taking place within Kurakhove. The central part of the city is under enemy fire control,” the source reported.

As the war in Ukraine reached its 1,000-day mark, many Ukrainians – domestic and abroad – have voiced pessimism about what’s to come as the grim realities of war prevailed.

“Since the day of Ukraine’s declaration of independence, we have been on a countdown, which continues to signal red,” Vadym, a 35-year-old ex-serviceman with the Ukrainian military, told Kyiv Post.

As Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine reached its 1,000-day mark, Kyiv Post reached out to Ukrainians in and out of the country about how they feel – more importantly, their visions for the future.

Macron called Biden’s decision to free Ukraine’s hand with US missiles “good.” But Germany’s Scholz said his country would not follow suit.

The escalating war in Ukraine and stalled UN climate negotiations dominated the final day of a G20 summit in Brazil on Tuesday, held in the shadow of Donald Trump’s looming US presidency.

Chinese President Xi Jinping – the most powerful leader at the summit – repeated his warning of turbulent times ahead, warning his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in a meeting of increasing “risks and challenges.”

Stefan Korshak, Kyiv Post’s military correspondent, shares his perspective on the developments in Russia’s war in Ukraine

Probably the biggest news this week was reports about the incoming Trump administration’s plans, or lack of them, for intervening in the war and imposing a ceasefire. I’ll take a swing through that later on in this review, but the fighting first.

The first image is of an infantryman from the 92nd Mechanized Brigade, which some of you will know as one of the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s (AFU’s) most experienced and combat-efficient. They are now in the Kursk region.

Aslan Bzhania, Moscow’s ruler of occupied Georgian territory, made the resignation conditional on protestors agreeing to cease their four-day occupation of government buildings in Sokhumi by Tuesday.

The president of the self-declared republic of Abkhazia Aslan Bzhania, resigned following widespread protests against an investment deal, which offered attractive incentives to Russian enterprises. Opponents claim the deal would increase Moscow’s influence in the region.

Demonstrators stormed and occupied key government buildings in the Abkhazian capital of Sokhumi on Friday. At least 14 people were injured in clashes with police and five opposition figures were arrested. Bridges leading to Sukhumi were blocked by protestors.

Europe’s press looks back in horror at the developments so far and outlines future scenarios.

For 1,000 days Ukraine has been defending itself against the full-fledged Russian invasion that began on 24 February 2022. Two months before a new US president takes control of the future Ukraine policy of Kyiv's strongest ally, Russia is intensifying its attacks across the country. Europe's press looks back in horror at the developments so far and outlines future scenarios.

A never-ending nightmare

Despite the good news that US President Joe Biden has authorized long-range missile strikes with US weapons, closer inspection reveals continued restrictions reflecting weakness Russia will exploit.

President Joe Biden’s 11th hour decision to finally authorize Ukraine after years of delay to use US-made ATACMS inside of Russia was long overdue. The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) has needed this vital precision deep-strike capability since their initial stalled counteroffensive in June 2023.

Failure to do so sooner has afforded Putin unprecedented military sanctuary. Russian forces are able to amass troops, weapons and munitions inside Mother Russia; however, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his generals heretofore could not interdict them before they arrived on the battlefields of Ukraine.

Polish FM Radoslaw Sikorski said that major EU countries are ready to provide defence and financial aid to Ukraine if the United States reduces support.

Major EU countries are ready to provide defence and financial aid to Ukraine if the United States reduces support, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on Tuesday.

He was speaking on the 1,000th day of the Russian invasion of neighbouring Ukraine, as foreign ministers from six major European countries held talks in Warsaw dominated by the war and Donald Trump's return to power.

The introduction of digital platforms such as “Army+” and “Reserv+” for reporting, military management, smart contracts and new tools for situational awareness promise much.

Ukraine’s Armed Forces (AFU) are actively implementing digital technologies in an effort to enhance management efficiency. From the creation of electronic accounting systems to logistics automation, digitalization allows for rapid response to challenges, optimization of resources, and ensuring transparency of processes.

The modernization was outlined by Ukraine's Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov, the AFU’s Chief of the General Staff Anatoliy Baryliyevych, and Deputy Minister of Defense Kateryna Chernohorenko during the “MoD. Digitalization. 2024 Results” briefing session Monday, Nov. 18.

Principal dancer at St. Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theater Vladimir Shklyarov voiced his opposition to the war in Ukraine, but authorities ruled out foul play for his death at present.

Russian ballet star Vladimir Shklyarov was found dead on Saturday after falling out of a fifth-floor balcony.

Local reports did not specify the location of his death, nor whether the building was his residence.

The Kremlin defended the policy changes as a necessary response to perceived “Western threats,” where the use of Western non-nuclear missiles can potentially lead to Moscow’s nuclear response.

Russian President Vladimir Putin approved an updated nuclear doctrine on Tuesday, Nov. 19, broadening the circumstances under which nuclear weapons may be deployed.

The decree, published on an official government portal, outlines significant changes to Russia’s nuclear policy, where Russia may now use nuclear weapons following “receiving reliable information about the mass launch of means of aerospace attack” or if the country is attacked with conventional weapons, such as cruise missiles or drones.

Ukraine’s border guards posted a video of its Zhytomyr detachment’s air defense unit engaging and destroying a Kh-101 cruise with a MANPADS missile somewhere over the Kyiv region on Sunday.

In the third reported incident of its kind, two of which occurred on Sunday, Nov. 17, a Ukrainian mobile fire group from the Zhytomyr air defense detachment of the National Guard claimed to have brought down a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile using the 9K38 Igla (NATO: SA-18 Grouse) man-portable air defense system (MANPADS) launcher.

Kyiv Post previously reported how Natalia Hrabarchuk, a former kindergarten teacher now a volunteer member in Ukraine’s Western Air Command air defense forces managed the same trick against the same type of missile used on Sunday with her first ever “live” engagement.

From the American Revolution to the Soviet-Afghan war to putting a man on the moon, invading generals and other leaders have learned that a tipping point often comes around the three-year mark.

In the West, they say that “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” In Russia, they say that “Москва не сразу строилась” (Moscow was not built right away).

It took about six years for the Allies to defeat Nazi Germany in World War II. What does 1,000 days actually represent when compared to other wars or other grands projets, as the French would have it? In what time frame might one expect Ukraine to defeat an invasion from the world’s fourth-largest army by personnel?

Reports suggest Ukraine may have used US-made ATACMS missiles for the first time to strike a military facility in Russia, after Biden gave the go-ahead for long-range strikes.

[UPDATES] As of 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 19, Russian state news agency TASS, citing the Russian Defense Ministry, reported that at 03:25 Moscow time, the Ukrainian Armed Forces launched a strike on a facility in the Bryansk region using six ATACMS ballistic missiles.

“The Russian Defense Ministry has confirmed the use of American-made ATACMS operational-tactical missiles,” TASS wrote.

Oil prices rose by more than 3% after Russia’s massive strike against Ukraine on Sunday – the largest of its kind since Aug. 26.

Oil prices increased on Monday after Russia launched 120 missiles and 90 drones against Ukraine a day prior, an attack that caused power outages and civilian deaths across Ukraine.

The attack marked Russia’s 10th massive strike on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure this year. The last massive strike took place on Aug. 26.

Europe’s commentators criticise the call and discusse it in connection with Scholz’s candidacy in the upcoming federal elections.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke on the phone with Vladimir Putin on Friday. He explained that he had called for Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine and emphasised that the West stands united behind Kyiv. Europe's commentators criticise the call and discusse it in connection with Scholz's candidacy in the upcoming federal elections.

An unglorious chapter

Speaking to reporters before chairing his final EU defence ministers’ meeting -- 1,000 days after Russia’s invasion -- Borrell called the US policy shift "very good news" for Ukraine.

The EU's outgoing top diplomat Josep Borrell pressed member states Tuesday to align with the United States in allowing Ukraine to strike inside Russia using donated long-range missiles.

Speaking to reporters before chairing his final EU defence ministers' meeting -- 1,000 days after Russia's invasion -- Borrell called the US policy shift "very good news" for Ukraine.

Yet Kyiv stands.

One thousand seconds. The time that elapses between peaceful sleep and the blurry rush to the air raid shelter, perhaps a bag in hand with some food and water. If time permits, a good book in the other hand. And in the middle of those 17 minutes, the transition from unconscious dreams to the platitudes and smiles of the shelter is marked by the raucous call of a mobile phone. ‘Attention! Air Raid Alert! Proceed to the nearest shelter!’

One thousand seconds is the interlude between a joyous hopeful life and the grief in the news of a loved one or a friend lost at the front or in another barbaric aerial bombardment. In one thousand seconds a life is upended.

Russian forces reportedly used two Shahed drones in the strike, which destroyed the entrance to a multi-story dormitory building.

A Russian drone strike on a dormitory in Glukhov, in Ukraine's Sumy region, has left ten people dead, including a child, and 13 others injured, according to the Sumy Regional Military Administration. Two children are among the injured.

With two months left in office, lame-duck US President Biden made a major policy change that yields to a long-standing request from Ukraine as it fights the Russian invasion.

Donald Trump's allies voiced vehement criticism Monday of President Joe Biden's decision to let Ukraine use US-supplied long-range missiles for attacks inside Russia, accusing him of a dangerous escalation.

With two months left in office, lame-duck US President Biden made a major policy change that yields to a long-standing request from Ukraine as it fights the Russian invasion, now in its third year.

A conversation with global affairs analyst Michael Bociurkiw and Analisa Bottani about the new international political scenario after the American elections.

A red wave swept across the United States after a challenging campaign that forced voters to choose between Donald Trump’s and Kamala Harris’ opposing value systems.

One thing is certain: the MAGA Cult is back, and it has only grown stronger after Biden’s four years in office. After all, in his victory speech Trump referred to a “movement” rather than a Party.

Russia assembles cheap Gerbera drones from plywood and foam using a Chinese prototype, equips them with imported parts, and uses them to overload Ukraine’s air defenses.

Russia is extensively using so-called “Gerbera” drones against Ukraine, which are capable of carrying warheads and conducting electronic reconnaissance, according to Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR).

The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) features a Chinese engine and other foreign components. 

As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine hits the 1,000-day mark, Kyiv Post looks back on some of the more defining moments of a cruel occupation and a valorous defense against all odds.

Feb. 24, 2022: Russia launches its full-scale invasion of Ukraine

Described as the largest ground-and-air attack on a European country and the first full-scale war in Europe since World War II, Moscow begins the day with air strikes on the capital Kyiv, the Black Sea port Odesa, and the country’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, near the border with Russia, as well as other important sites.

The last 1,000 days have required, blood, sweat and tears. Yet they have also witnessed Ukraine’s darkest and finest hours.

Today marks 1,000 days since Russia launched its barbaric full-scale war against Ukraine.

But in fact, when placed in proper context, it is actually 3,918 days since Russia began its predatory assault on Ukraine. That was on Feb 27, 2014, when it started its military aggression, initially to seize control of Ukraine’s Crimea and Donbas.

Latest from the Institute for the Study of War.

Key Takeaways from the ISW:

• Russian officials continued to use threatening rhetoric as part of efforts to deter the United States from publicly authorizing Ukraine's use of US-provided ATACMS in limited strikes against Russian and North Korean military targets in Kursk Oblast. This US authorization, if officially confirmed, would notably be a mild response to Russia's escalatory introduction of North Korean troops as active combatants in Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
• Putin's introduction of North Korea as a new belligerent in his invasion of Ukraine was a major escalation. Allowing Ukraine to use US missiles against legitimate military targets in Russian territory in accord with all international laws and laws of armed conflict is a very limited response and cannot reasonably be characterized as an escalation in itself.
• French and British sources clarified on November 18 that the reported US permissions regarding Ukraine's ability to use ATACMS for limited strikes within Russia do not inherently extend to Ukraine's ability to use French and UK-provided SCALP and Storm Shadow missiles for long-range strikes in Russia.
• The Kremlin continues to state its unwillingness to accept any compromises, including those that would "freeze" the conflict along the current frontline – further demonstrating the Kremlin's insistence on complete Ukraine capitulation.
• Russian forces recently advanced in the main Ukrainian salient in Kursk Oblast, in Kupyansk, west of Kreminna, and in the Siversk, Pokrovsk, and Vuhledar directions.
• The Kremlin is continuing to militarize different levels of the Russian government by expanding the "Time of Heroes" program that aims to place veterans of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine in positions in local, regional, and federal governments.
• The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) illegally conscripted Ukrainian youth in occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia oblasts as part of Russia's Fall 2024 conscription cycle.