Middle East

6:27 AM  (Updated:  November 17, 2024 12:39 pm)

Russia launches one of the largest aerial strikes on Ukraine, targets energy grid.

Russia launched a large-scale missile attack on Ukraine overnight on Nov. 17. Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said that as a result of falling drone debris, an apartment on the fourth floor of a five-story residential building caught fire in the Pechersk neighborhood of the city, injuring two people.

12:27 PM

'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.

11:46 AM

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.

10:46 AM

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.

9:05 AM

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

7:40 AM  (Updated:  November 17, 2024 8:43 am)

2 killed, 6 injured in Mykolaiv amid Russia’s mass missile and drone attack.

At least two people were killed and six 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.

5:56 AM

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.

4:27 AM

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.

1:57 AM

Iran denies claims its UN envoy met with Elon Musk.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on Nov. 16 dismissed reports about a meeting between Tehran's United Nations envoy and U.S. billionaire Elon Musk, who is also a close adviser to President-elect Donald Trump.

10:32 PM

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.

7:06 PM  (Updated:  November 16, 2024 9:30 pm)

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.

8:06 PM

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.

3:14 PM  (Updated:  November 16, 2024 6:13 pm)

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.

5:51 PM

Interview

Trump wouldn’t want ‘major Russian victory,’ says ex-US ambassador.

5:39 PM

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.

4:48 PM

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.

4:19 PM

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.

1:36 PM

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.

1:01 PM

'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.

10:26 AM

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.

9:21 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 719,240 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022.

Russia has lost 719,240 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on Nov. 15.

7:06 AM

EU preparing additional sanctions against Iran over missile shipments to Russia.

The European Union is preparing to implement additional sanctions against Iranian individuals and entities involved in propping up Russia's war machine, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported on Nov. 15, citing a top EU official.

6:00 AM

Japanese foreign minister arrives in Kyiv.

Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya arrived in Kyiv for an unannounced visit overnight on Nov. 16 in a show of Tokyo's support for the besieged country.

5:15 AM

EU has 'convincing' evidence of reported Chinese attack drone production for Russia, media reports.

"We have had reports from intelligence sources on the existence of a factory inside China producing drones which are shipped to Russia," a senior EU official told Politico on Nov. 15.

3:57 AM

Ukraine's foreign budget support surpasses $100 billion since start of full-scale war.

Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has received over $100 billion in foreign-backed external financing to support Ukraine's state budget, the country's finance ministry announced on Nov. 15.