Ukraine Breaking News Today Live on 11-21-2024

Thousands of North Korean soldiers are believed to be fighting alongside Russian forces.

A senior North Korean general fighting with Russian forces in the Kursk region was wounded in a recent Ukrainian air strike, Western officials said on Thursday. 

The verified casualty is the first time Western officials have confirmed that a high-ranking North Korean military officer has been injured in the full-scale invasion since they arrived weeks ago, according to the Wall Street Journal.

21 November is the Day of Dignity and Freedom, a Ukrainian holiday that marks the anniversary of two revolutions that began on this day – the Orange Revolution in 2004 and the Euromaidan in 2013.

Ukrainian officials claim that an ICBM strike on Dnipro occurred early Nov. 21, while Russian authorities remain silent. Western officials are working to verify the incident.

Reports suggest that Russia may have used an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) against Ukraine for the first time in the early hours of Nov. 21. However, the exact type of missile involved remains uncertain.

What are intercontinental ballistic missiles and how do they operate?

The Big Meet, Kyiv’s top networking organization, will host its next event at the El Cartel Fiesta on Friday, Nov. 22. Proceeds will help keep Ukrainian children and their families warm this winter.

The Big Meet is more than just an event; it’s a space where expats, locals, and everyone in between come together to connect, share experiences, and build a sense of community. Held regularly at some of Kyiv’s trendiest venues, The Big Meet has grown into a vital platform for fostering friendships and supporting good causes. A percentage of each event's proceeds goes to charity, making every gathering not only fun but meaningful.

To find out about our next event and join the fun, stay tuned on The Big Meet social media channels (Facebook and Instagram) or follow updates in Kyiv's expat groups.

Moscow is furious Russian sovereign territory has been violated and is rattling sabers. But the Kremlin probably also is lashing out against a more agile opponent.

Russia’s apparent first-ever launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile – against the Ukrainian city Dnipro on Wednesday – is widely being seen as Kremlin retaliation for Ukrainian strikes using advanced western missiles inside Russian Federation territory.

Context means a lot. Here are five things worth keeping in mind against a background of the first wartime use of an intercontinental ballistic missile, by Russia against Ukraine, in history.

If this information is confirmed, it would be the first time such a weapon had been used since Russia invaded in February 2022.

[UPDATES] As per AFP, a Russian attack on Ukraine using an intercontinental ballistic missile would be "extremely serious" if confirmed, a spokesman for France's foreign ministry said.

"It's clear that if this launch is confirmed, it would be an extremely serious event and it would above all be a continuation of Russia's escalatory attitude," spokesman Christophe Lemoine said, adding that France has "not yet had confirmation" that such an attack took place.

Russia has ramped up production of ballistic Iskander missiles, while Kalibr missiles dominate its stockpiles.

Russia has amassed more than 1,500 missiles in its arsenal, fueled by increased production and a temporary pause in massive strikes, according to RBC-Ukraine media outlet, citing informed sources.

Moscow is preparing for a renewed campaign targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. The report highlights that Russia has accumulated a significant number of missiles with ranges exceeding 350 kilometers.

In a message shared on social media, Tsikhanouskaya praised the courage of Ukrainians, noting their unwavering commitment to freedom and democracy.

Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya expressed solidarity with the people of Ukraine on their Day of Dignity and Freedom, which commemorates the Orange Revolution of 2004 and the Revolution of Dignity in 2013.

France has not only not delivered on promises to Ukraine, it imports more Russian LNG – fueling Russia’s war machine and sends weapons needed by Ukraine to Lebanon – which go to Hezbollah.

French authorities are not putting their money where their mouths are.

“Politically, it was decided at the beginning of 2024 that this aid [for Ukraine] could reach €3 billion. In reality, we will be above €2 billion but not at €3 billion,” French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu said recently.

The Russian Defense Ministry’s 2045 plan sees the dismantling and division of Ukrainian territory to secure a pro-Russian global political outcome, according to Kyiv Post sources.

The Russian Ministry of Defense has prepared a forecast of the global military-political situation up to 2045, which includes plans for an end to Ukraine as an independent state, according to Kyiv Post's intelligence sources.

Moscow reportedly intends to convey this plan to the new US administration through foreign governments and representatives.

Ukraine’s Ministry of Finance has delayed further offering of reserve bonds until December. Bond Market Insight for Nov. 20

Ukraine Finance Ministry has delayed further offering of reserve bonds until December.

Without these instruments, UAH proceeds almost halved. FX-denominated borrowings fell, too.

In late 2013, Ukrainians took to the streets of Kyiv to demand democracy, justice, and closer ties with Europe.

Today, Ukraine marks the 11th anniversary of the Revolution of Dignity, a decisive moment in the country's modern history. At the end of 2013, Ukrainians took to the streets in Kyiv and other cities to demand democracy, justice and closer ties with Europe.

What began as a peaceful protest on Maidan Square in the capital became a nationwide movement that eventually toppled a corrupt, pro-Russian government. But the cost was high — the lives of over 100 heroes who are remembered as the 'Heavenly Hundred'.

While Ukrainians protest against forced mobilization, Russia has begun to force young people from the occupied territories into its armed forces - another violation of the Geneva Convention.

Young people from the occupied regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson are being sent by the Kremlin to serve in the Russian Armed Forces. The first reports came from Bataisk, in the Rostov region, and Simferopol, Crimea on Nov 16 when ceremonies marking for their deployment took place.

According to the Izvestia Russian news agency, the conscripts will not be sent to the front lines but will serve in units of Russia’s Southern Military District, in Rostov, Krasnodar Krai, and annexed Crimea. During enlistment, conscripts undergo medical examinations, are fingerprinted, allocated a military trade, and issued with identity cards.

Latest from the British Defence Intelligence.

• Prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia's leadership almost certainly perceived the Russian Federation Navy and the Black Sea Fleet as integral components of their strategic maritime power. Affer 1000 days of war, Russia's naval capabilities in the Black Sea have been significantly depleted through highly effective Ukrainian operations.
• Pre-invasion, the Ukrainian Navy was vastly outnumbered by the Black Sea Fleet and limited to a small number of major warships and coastal defence vessels. Throughout the conflict, the Ukrainian Navy has been unable to operate conventionally in the Black Sea. However, since 24 February 2022, Ukrainian forces have destroyed or damaged over 25% of major Russian warships operating in the Black Sea. This includes the sinking of the Black Sea Fleet flagship, Slava-Class cruiser "MOSKVA", which had previously been described as a cutting-edge air defence platform.
• As a result, Russia's Black Sea Fleet has been forced to move all of its major assets from its historic base in Sevastopol to Novorossiysk in the Eastern Black Sea. Russian units operating in the region have also been forced to adapt their tactics and change the areas in which they operate. Despite Russia's Black Sea Fleet currently being limited to the Eastern Black Sea, it retains the ability to conduct long range strikes into Ukraine in support of land operations.

Beijing and Brasilia have advanced a joint roadmap for peace in Ukraine that has been endorsed by Moscow -- China’s ally -- but rejected by Kyiv.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called for "more voices" to work towards ending the war in Ukraine, the state-run Xinhua news agency said.

Xi made the appeal during a state visit to Brasilia, where he was hosted by Brazilian President Lula da Silva, according to the outlet.

Spokesman Matthew Miller declined to say what kind of threat had forced the embassy to shut down on Wednesday as a safety precaution.

The United States Embassy in Kyiv will reopen Thursday, Nov. 21, after closing due to the threat of an air attack, the State Department said.

Spokesman Matthew Miller declined to say what kind of threat had forced the embassy to shut down on Wednesday as a safety precaution.

Seoul’s intelligence said Pyongyang sent artillery and rocket launchers currently not used by Russia, meaning North Korean troops are likely responsible for their instructions and maintenance.

Pyongyang has reportedly sent more artillery systems and rocket launchers to Russia, according to Seoul’s National Intelligence Service (NIS).

AP News reported Wednesday that the update was communicated to South Korean lawmakers during a closed-door briefing at parliament, where lawmaker Lee Seong Kweun then relayed the information to reporters.

Latest from the Institute for the Study of War.

Key Takeaways from the ISW:

• Ukraine conducted a successful combined strike against military assets in the Russian rear on the night of November 19 to 20 using drones and Western-provided long-range weapons. The November 19 to 20 strike series indicates that Ukraine has already begun leveraging Western-provided long-range weapons systems to assemble more complex and effective strike packages.
• Neither Russian nor Ukrainian forces have been able to conduct optimized operational maneuver since Winter 2022-2023 due to legacy doctrinal and resource limitations, but both are learning, innovating, and adapting their respective tactics on the battlefield, emphasizing the dynamic nature of the current war.
• The US and Germany announced additional military assistance for Ukraine on November 20.
• Ukrainian officials continue to launch investigations into Russian executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) and provide statistics on Ukrainians living under Russian captivity.
• Ukrainian forces recently regained lost positions near Pokrovsk, and Russian forces recently advanced near Kupyansk Chasiv Yar, Toretsk, Kurakhove, and Vuhledar and in Kursk Oblast.
• The Russian military command's lack of proper treatment of Russian soldiers and continued reliance on "meat assaults" is likely contributing to mass desertions.

US intends to cancel $4.7B in Kyiv debt, re-open its Embassy there; Washington also announces another $275M for Ukraine along with the controversial release of anti-personnel mines.

US President Joe Biden’s administration said it planned to forgive about $4.65 billion in debt from Ukraine, representing about half of the loans extended to Kyiv in April, 2024.

Technically, Congress has the opportunity to reject that measure, but at a US State Department briefing on Wednesday, spokesman Matthew Miller said he does no expect the legislature to do so.