Because the battle enters its 631st day, these are the principle developments.
Right here is the scenario on Thursday, November 16, 2023.
Combating
- Russia acknowledged that Ukrainian troops had crossed the Dnipro River to Russian-occupied components of southern Kherson. Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-installed governor, stated Ukrainian forces have been working in small teams unfold over an space from the area’s railway bridge to the village of Krynky, a distance of about 20km (12 miles), and that Russia had deployed extra property to the realm. Ukraine stated earlier this week that it had secured a foothold on the japanese financial institution of the Dnipro “against all odds“.
- Two folks have been killed and at the least three others injured after 4 Russian missiles hit the city of Selydove, northwest of the Russian-occupied metropolis of Donetsk in japanese Ukraine. Ukrainian officers stated the missiles hit six condominium buildings in addition to plenty of non-public properties.
- Two rescue employees have been killed and 7 folks injured amid Russian shelling within the Zaporizhia area. Inside Minister Igor Klymenko stated the 2 members of the State Emergency Service have been killed after Russia launched a second assault whereas they have been responding to the primary. It was not clear the place the incident befell. Earlier, the area’s governor Yuriy Malashko stated at the least one particular person had been killed and 7 injured after Russia fired three rockets.
- A Ukrainian civic group stated it had confirmed the deaths of almost 25,000 Ukrainian troopers since Russia started its full-scale invasion in February 2022 invasion through the use of open sources. Writing within the Ukrainian journal Tyzhden, historian Yaroslav Tynchenko and volunteer Herman Shapovalenko stated Shapovalenko’s Guide of Reminiscence challenge had confirmed 24,500 fight and non-combat deaths utilizing open sources. Kyiv treats its losses as a state secret and officers say disclosing the determine might hurt its battle effort.
Politics and diplomacy
- European Union diplomats stated the European Fee proposed a ban on imports of diamonds and liquid petroleum fuel from Russia, and likewise to tighten implementation of a value cap on Russian oil as a part of its twelfth package deal of sanctions towards Moscow. The proposal might be mentioned on Wednesday. The settlement wants the unanimous backing of all 27 EU states.
- Russia’s overseas ministry stated the sanctions package deal towards Russia was a part of a “hybrid war” being waged towards it by Western nations led by america. Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian overseas ministry, stated the EU had “become Washington’s ‘useful idiot’”.
- Hungary’s European affairs minister, Janos Boka stated a “period of reflection and a strategic discussion on the policy of the European Union towards Ukraine” was wanted, and that Budapest wouldn’t assist any EU selections to advance Ukraine’s accession course of or additional support for Kyiv till that occurred. Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who’s near Moscow, claimed beforehand that the bloc’s technique of sending cash and army support to Ukraine had failed.
- Darya Trepova, a 26-year-old Russian girl accused of killing army blogger Vladlen Tatarsky, went on trial for “terrorism” at a army court docket in St Petersburg. Prosecutors allege Trepova assassinated the blogger below orders from Ukraine and was working with anti-Kremlin activists. Tatarsky, a fervent supporter of the Russian invasion, was killed in a restaurant in April after Trepova offered him with a bust of himself that then exploded. Greater than 50 different folks have been injured.
- The spouse of distinguished Russian opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was jailed for 25 years in April for treason and spreading “false information” about Russia’s battle in Ukraine, stated she feared for his life within the Siberian penal colony the place he’s being held. Kara-Murza has a nerve dysfunction after surviving two poison assaults and wishes common train and medication to manage the situation. His spouse, Evgenia Kara-Murza, stated train was now inconceivable for him in a cell measuring simply 3 x 1.5 metres (9.8 x 4.9 ft). “His medical condition will of course deteriorate in the present situation … They’re using these punishment cells as a method of torture,” she stated throughout a ceremony at Britain’s Home of Lords, the place she accepted a freedom award on his behalf.
Weapons
- Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport stated it had seen a “serious increase in interest” abroad in its Lancet drone, however wouldn’t be exporting the weapon as a result of Russian armed forces’ “need for it is high”. “[The munition] has proven itself excellent in real combat operations,” Rosoboronexport chief Alexander Mikheyev advised state information company TASS. Russia has been deploying the drones on the battlefield in Ukraine.
