Wednesday, November 20

Russia’s war against Ukraine

On the 1,000th day of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the Kyiv Independent reflects on some of the most compelling photos taken during the war: Inhabitants of Kyiv leave the city following pre-offensive missile strikes of the Russian Armed Forces at Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. (Pierre Crom/Getty Images)

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Ukraine used ATACMS on Russian territory for first time, according to Moscow, media. If confirmed, this would mark the first instance of Ukraine using U.S.-made long-range missiles on Russian territory since Washington eased the restrictions last week.

West marks 1,000 days of Russia’s full-scale war with solidarity with Ukraine. “In 2022, Russia thought its full-scale invasion would end in days. 1,000 days later, Ukraine bravely resists. On the battlefield. And against criminal attacks on civilian targets,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

Putin approves Russia’s updated nuclear doctrine. The revised doctrine outlines scenarios that could justify a nuclear strike. It implies that this could include “aggression against the Russian Federation and its allies by a non-nuclear state with the support of a nuclear state” and large-scale non-nuclear attacks, such as those carried out with drones.

Zelensky presents resilience plan: ‘Ukraine may need to outlive someone in Moscow to achieve all the goals’. The individual points were focused on the country’s unity, front-line situation, arms, finances, energy, security, communities, human capital, cultural sovereignty, and veterans, lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak said on his Telegram channel.

UK, Germany, Canada, Luxembourg announce additional $30 million for drone coalition funding. The drone coalition countries have pledged additional funding to support Ukraine with strike and reconnaissance drones, the U.K. government website reported on Nov. 19.

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Ukraine aims to produce 30,000 long-range drones, 3,000 missiles, Zelensky says. The president also set the task of creating 3,000 cruise missiles and drone-missile hybrids and finding an effective countermeasure to Russian Shahed-type drones.

Denmark to provide over $137 million for Ukrainian defense industry. Denmark will allocate 130 million euros ($137.5 million) for the development of the Ukrainian defense industry, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced on Nov. 19 during a joint press briefing with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky

Russia claims to capture village near Kurakhove, Kyiv hasn’t confirmed. If confirmed, this will be the latest village that the Russian forces took in their attempt to encircle Kurakhove by driving their forces towards Konstiantynopil with a north-south pincer movement.

Long-range strikes can help push Russia toward peace, US official says. “The weapons President Biden authorized Ukraine to use will give it more capabilities to defend itself and, hopefully, make the Russian Federation understand that using force to seize Ukrainian territory will not succeed,” U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Brian A. Nichols said in an interview.

Ukraine’s parliament approves state budget for 2025. The state expects to get Hr 2 trillion ($48.2 billion) in revenues, while expenditures are planned at Hr 3.6 trillion ($86.8 billion).

Read our exclusives

Ukraine war latest: Ukraine reportedly uses ATACMS on Russian territory for first time; Zelensky presents resilience plan

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed on Nov. 19 that Ukraine launched U.S.-made ATACMS missiles against Russia’s Bryansk Oblast, according to the state news agency TASS.

Photo: South Korean Defense Ministry via Getty Images

1,000 days of full-scale war: Reflections from the Kyiv Independent team

As we mark 1,000 days since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, members of the Kyiv Independent’s staff have paused to reflect. These reflections offer a glimpse into the profound impact of war — not only on a nation’s struggle for survival but on those who bear witness to its unfolding.

Photo: Roman Pilipey / AFP via Getty Images

From Bucha to Kursk: 1,000 days of Russia’s full-scale war (Photos)

The Kyiv Independent has compiled a photo gallery of the key events that took place during a nearly three-year-long all-out war that killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions of others.

Photo: Sergei Supinsky/ AFP via Getty Images

Ukrainians optimistic about Trump feel a mix of Biden fatigue and hope for change

Some Ukrainians pin hopes on new US administration, while analysts caution ‘hope alone is not a strategy.’

Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Human cost of war

Russian drone hits dormitory in Sumy Oblast, killing 10, injuring 13, including children. Ten people were killed in the attack, including one child, officials reported. Three more people may remain trapped under the rubble.

Russian attack against Kharkiv injures 9. Russia launched an attack against the Kyivskyi district of Kharkiv on Nov. 19, injuring nine people, officials reported.

Opinions and insights

Deputy energy minister: How Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has endured over 1,000 attacks in 1,000 days of full-scale war

As Ukraine faces 1,000 days of full-scale war, the country braces for another winter, with Russia continuing its relentless efforts to plunge Ukraine into darkness while the energy system stands resilient and prepared.

Photo: Genya Savilov/AFP via Getty Images

International response

EU ready to step up support for Ukraine if US reduces aid, Polish FM says. “Strengthening Europe’s defense capabilities must go hand in hand with maintaining the United States’ commitment to enhancing our security,” Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said.

Ukraine readies to start 1st cluster of EU accession talks in early 2025, Zelensky says. Ukraine is preparing to begin the first cluster of accession talks with the EU in early 2025, President Volodymyr Zelensky told Ukrainian lawmakers on Nov. 19.

Severed internet cables raise suspicion of sabotage in Baltic Sea. Telecom cables linking two Nordic countries with Germany and Lithuania were cut on the bottom of the Baltic Sea, raising suspicion of sabotage, various media outlets reported on Nov. 18.

Over 50,000 Ukrainian recruits have received training in UK. “Kosovo, Romania, and Estonia are the latest nations to join this global effort, standing united for freedom and resilience,” the U.K. Defense Ministry said on X.

‘Putin is playing with our fears’ — German FM on Russia’s updated nuclear doctrine. Russian President Vladimir Putin seeks to intimidate the West by expanding the conditions for using nuclear weapons in Russia’s updated nuclear doctrine, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Nov. 19.

German opposition criticizes Scholz for refusing to transfer Taurus missiles to Ukraine. “The chancellor is once again putting party interests above the interests of Germany’s foreign and security policy,” Florian Hahn, a member of the German opposition CDU/CSU bloc, said.

South Korea has not participated in Czech shell initiative for Ukraine, official says. South Korea did not provide artillery shells of its own production, nor did it make financial contributions to the purchase of shells from other countries under the Czech initiative to purchase ammunition for Ukraine from third countries.

Poland signs deal with domestic companies to kickstart ammunition production. Poland has signed a letter of intent with domestic companies to begin producing nitrocellulose and multi-base powders essential for ammunition manufacturing, according to a Polish government report published on Nov. 18.

Russia behind recent bomb threats at Czech, Slovak schools, Czech intelligence chief says. Michal Koudelka, the director of the Czech Security Information Service, said on Nov. 18 that Russia was behind a flurry of bomb threats made against schools in Czechia and Slovakia in recent months.

In other news

Russia’s FSB reports detentions over Crimea car bombing. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) on Nov. 19 announced the detention of two residents of Russian-occupied Crimea in connection with a car bombing in Sevastopol on Nov. 13 that killed Russian Navy officer Valery Trankovsky.

‘Ukraine deserves to make next year a year of peace’ — Zelensky addresses European Parliament. “A thousand days of war is a tremendous challenge. Ukraine deserves to make next year a year of peace,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Ukrnafta acquires 51% share in Shell’s gas station network in Ukraine. Ukrnafta, a state-owned oil and gas extraction company that is a subsidiary of Naftogaz, has bought a 51% stake in Shell’s gas station network in Ukraine, the press service of Naftogaz reported on Nov. 19.

Ukraine beats Albania 2:1, earns chance to advance to Nations League top tier. Ukraine now awaits a future draw that will pair it with the third-placed team from one of the tournament’s top-tier groups for a chance at promotion.

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