'Step toward World War III' — Russian MPs react to long-range strike permission reports
"This is a very big step towards the start of World War III," lawmaker Vladimir Dzhabarov said, according to Russia’s state-owned TASS state news agency.
Ukraine
Russian drones, missiles violate Moldova's airspace during strike on Ukraine, Chisinau says
"We strongly condemn the violation of Moldova’s airspace by Russia’s missiles and drones targeting Ukraine’s critical infrastructure today," Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mihai Popsoi said.
'Missiles will speak for themselves' — Zelensky reacts to long-range strike permission reports
"But strikes are not carried out with words. Such things are not announced. Missiles will speak for themselves," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
General Staff: Russia has lost 722,440 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 1,560 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
Multiple drones shot down on outskirts of Moscow, mayor claims
Russian air defense intercepted multiple drones on the outskirts of Moscow, the city's mayor, Sergey Sobyanin, said overnight on Nov. 18.
Finnish foreign minister urges Western leaders to refrain from calling Putin, calls for coordinated communication with Kremlin
Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen urged Western leaders to refrain from making additional phone calls to Russian President Vladimir Putin following German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's recent call, Valtonen said on German TV on Nov. 17.
Russian attacks on Ukraine in October killed nearly 200, injured over 900 civilians
Russian attacks on various regions of Ukraine in October led to the deaths of 183 civilians and injured a further 903 people, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine reported.
Biden authorizes Ukraine to target Russia with US long-range missiles, media reports
The permission should initially apply to strikes against Russian and North Korean soldiers in Kursk Oblast but could eventually expand to other areas, undisclosed official sources told the New York Times.
Ukraine war latest: Russia launches one of the largest aerial strikes on Ukraine, energy grid damage
Key developments on Nov. 16-17: * Russia launches one of the largest aerial strikes on Ukraine, targets energy grid * EU has 'convincing' evidence of reported Chinese attack drone production for Russia, media reports * Russia producing thermobaric drones, capable of causing 'terrifying' civilian harm, AP reports * Ukrainian partisans say they sabotaged railway
The Week Ahead by KI Insights: What we're watching this week
Editor's note: This article is an on-site version of KI Insights' The Week Ahead newsletter covering events from Nov. 18-Nov. 24. Sign up here to start your week with an agenda of Ukraine-related events, delivered directly to your inbox every Sunday. The G20 Summit will take place in Brazil on
Canada's Trudeau signals support for Scholz-Putin call, Poland's Tusk says phone calls won't stop Russia
"We all understand how important it is to see an end to the violence in Ukraine, to see an end to conflicts around the world," Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told Bloomberg during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru, which took place between Nov. 15-16.
Musk mocks Zelensky for comments about Ukraine's independence
The billionaire reposted a modified excerpt from Zelensky's interview with the Suspilne broadcaster shared on X by the @visegrad24 account, which read: "The U.S. cannot force us to 'sit and listen' at the negotiating table. We are an independent country."
'Russia shows it has no intention of ceasing its aggression' — Kyiv's partners condemn Russian mass attack
"As we approach 1000 days since the large-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia shows it has no intention of ceasing its aggression," said Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp.
Ukraine's air defense downs 102 missiles, 42 drones during mass Russian strike
Russia attacked Ukraine with a hypersonic 3M22 Zirkon missile, seven air-launched Kinzhal missiles, 85 Kh-101 and Kalibr cruise missiles, one Iskander-M ballistic missile, four anti-radar Kh-22/31P missiles, five Kh-59/69 aerial guided missiles, and 90 drones.
'We need peace through strength, not appeasement' — Ukraine's FM reacts to Russian mass attack
"This is war criminal Putin’s true response to all those who called and visited him recently. We need peace through strength, not appeasement," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Nov. 17.
Biden meets Xi, condemns North Korean troops dispatch to Russia
"President Biden condemned the deployment of thousands of (North Korean) troops to Russia, a dangerous expansion of Russia’s unlawful war against Ukraine with serious consequences for both European and Indo-Pacific peace and security," the White House statement read.
Russia attacks thermal power plants, dealing 'serious damage,' operator says
Russia targeted thermal power plants during a mass strike on the country's power grid on Nov. 17, dealing "serious damage," said the country's largest private energy company, DTEK.
General Staff: Russia has lost 720,880 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022
This number includes 1,640 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the pa
2 killed, 7 injured in Mykolaiv amid Russia’s mass missile and drone attack
Two people were killed and seven injured, including two children, in the city of Mykolaiv amid Russia’s mass drone and missile attack, regional governor Vitalii Kim reported on Nov. 17.
Russia launches one of the largest aerial strikes on Ukraine, targets energy grid
Russia targeted "power generation and transmission facilities throughout Ukraine," according to Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko.
Ukrainian partisans say they sabotaged railway in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast
The Atesh partisan group sabotaged a key railway in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast, disabling electrical equipment and causing disruptions to Russia's military supply chain, the group claimed on Nov. 16.
Estonia approves delivery of additional military aid package for Ukraine
The latest aid package will include an unspecified amount of munitions and equipment, including naval uniforms, observation equipment, sights, and protective equipment, Estonia's Defense Ministry said.
North Korea delivers 70 missile launchers, artillery systems to Russia's Kursk Oblast, FT reports
North Korea has provided Russia with 50 domestically produced self-propelled howitzers and 20 multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), the Financial Times (FT) reported on Nov. 16, citing a Ukrainian intelligence assessment.
Russia producing thermobaric drones, capable of causing 'terrifying' civilian harm, AP reports
Thermobaric warheads create a wave of high pressure and heat that is capable of penetrating thick walls, AP reported. The damage caused by thermobaric attack drones would cause damage that would be "simply terrifying" for civilian populations to endure, including collapsed lungs, crushed eyeballs, and brain damage, according to a source familiar with Russian drone production.
Zelensky, Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya discuss North Korean troop presence, support for Ukraine, during surprise visit to Kyiv
Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya met with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Nov. 16 during an unannounced visit to the capital, marking his first trip to Ukraine since being appointed to the post in September.
Ukraine destroys flag planted by Russian troops at border in Chernihiv Oblast
A day after videos showed Russian troops planting their flag in a grey zone near the border in Ukraine's Chernihiv Oblast, Ukraine's State Border Guard Service released a video showing a drone destroying the flag on Nov. 16.
Ukraine, US to partner on developing small modular nuclear reactors for reconstruction
The United States will partner with Ukraine to transition Ukraine's coal-fired plants to small modular nuclear reactors, and to use them to help decarbonize its steel industry, the countries announced on Nov. 16 at the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan.
G7 leaders reaffirm commitment to 'severe costs' for Russia and 'unwavering support' for Ukraine
Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) released a statement reaffirming their "unwavering support for Ukraine for as long as it takes" and commitment to "severe costs" for Russia on Nov. 16.
Russia cutting off gas sent to Austria via Ukraine, Austrian gas supplier says
Russia's Gazprom Export announced that its supply of natural gas to Austria is ending on Nov. 16, according to OMV, Austria's largest gas supply company.
Ukraine destroys $10 million Russian Buk air-defense system, Interior Ministry says
A drone unit in the National Guard's 27th Pechersk Brigade destroyed a Russian anti-aircraft missile BUK-M1 system worth $10 million, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported on Nov 16.
'We must do everything to end this war next year through diplomatic means' — Zelensky speaks on negotiations, war
Ukraine must do everything possible to end the war through diplomatic means, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a wide-ranging interview with Suspilne broadcast on Nov. 16.
Germany, China expected to discuss war in Ukraine, North Korean troops next week
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Chinese President Xi Jinping plan discuss the war in Ukraine and involvement of North Korean troops in the fighting during the upcoming G20 Summit in Brazil next week, German media reported on Nov. 15.
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