Photo : Bernd Dittrich/unsplash/The Moscow Times
Photo : Bernd Dittrich/unsplash/The Moscow Times
By Neha Tresa George
WAR ON GROUND
On 25 November, Euronews reported on a Russian daytime attack on the Kharkiv and Odesa regions of Ukraine. According to the regional governor of Kharkiv, around 23 people were injured with considerable damage to houses and an administrative building. In Odesa City, 11 people were injured as a missile strike toppled civilian infrastructure, residential buildings, vehicles and shops. Two educational institutions were also reportedly damaged.
On 25 November, France24 reported on the updates from the Ukrainian military authority. Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence struck an energy facility in the Kaluga region of Russia in an overnight attack. The governor of the Kaluga region also said that air defence systems in the region were activated while eight drones were intercepted. He also said that an industrial enterprise had caught fire. Ukrainian authorities also said that the target of the attack was an oil depot of Kaluganefteprodukt JSC claimed to be involving supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine.
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims by Russia
On 25 November, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation reported on the wave of attacks carried out upon Ukraine’s military and dual-use infrastructure, which included airfields and energy facilities. Russia’s military used “operational-tactical aviation, drones, missiles and artillery. The Ministry added that some 138 Ukrainian military sites to deploy troops were struck. However, it did not reveal the exact target locations. While, Ukraine said that the southern port city of Odessa and the eastern city of Kharkov were targeted. It also said that the Russians had more than 100 Geran-2 kamikaze drones.
On 25 November, RT reported on a Russian court verdict of two Ukrainian soldiers who were convicted of committing war crimes in March 2022. According to the Investigative Committee, both of them were Ukrainian Navy marines posted in Mariupol which is currently Russia’s Donetsk People’s Republic. Their commander ordered them to shoot a person in civilian clothes on speculation that he could report them to Russia. The Committee added that there was enough evidence against them for “cruel treatment of civilians during armed conflict and conspiracy to murder for political and ideological motives.” The men were Valentin Kharlamov and Anton Sayun and worked for the 36th Marine Brigade of the Ukrainian army. They were convicted to 24 years and six months of prison. Investigators also revealed a video where the men are accepting their crime.
THE WEST VIEW
Responses from the US and the Europe
On 25 November, Ukrinform reported that the UK had imposed sanctions on 30 ships in Russia’s “shadow fleet” which transported more than USD 4.3 billion worth of oil and petroleum products. The UK government said: “This is the largest UK package of sanctions against the shadow fleet.” The insurance companies allowing the fleet were also sanctioned. This new wave of sanctions would bring the total number of sanctioned oil tankers to 73. The announcement came against the background of the G7 foreign ministers which was attended by the UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy. He said that this move aimed to downplay Russia’s funding to fight the war with Ukraine.
On 25 November, the White House officially confirmed that it had approved the use of American long-range missiles for Ukraine to target deep inside Russia’s territory. White House National Security Advisor John Kirby said: “The Ukrainians are authorised to use ATACMS for self-defence when there is an immediate necessity, and clearly, that is happening in and around Kursk.” He acknowledged that the US had changed its stance towards Ukraine on the usage of long-range weapons.
On 26 November, Reuters reported that German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius was ramping up support for Ukraine. He vowed to increase defence support after talks with his British, French, Italian and Polish counterparts at a meeting of the Group of Five leading EU countries in defence. Pistorius said: “Our target must be to enable Ukraine to act out of a position of strength.” The victory of Donald Trump as the US President for the next term has led to uncertainties in the support for Ukraine. Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz also resonated with Pistorius and called for the EU nations to work together and aim higher. Pistorius further said that a NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine mission would take up the control of Western military aid for Ukraine in January 2025.
References
“Russia unleashes coordinated wave of strikes on Ukrainian facilities – MOD,” RT, 25 November 2024
“Ukrainian marines imprisoned for war crimes – Russian investigators,” RT, 25 November 2024
“White House officially confirms: Ukraine can use ATACMS missiles against Russia,” Ukrinform, 25 November 2024
“UK imposes sanctions on 30 ships from Russia's "shadow fleet",” Ukrinform, 25 November 2024
“Europeans will ramp up military support for Ukraine, says German defence minister,” Reuters, 26 November 2024
“Russian daytime attacks injure dozens across Ukraine,” Euronews, 25 November 2024
“Ukraine drones hit Russian oil energy facility: Kyiv source,” France24, 25 November 2024