Sunday, December 1

Russia’s war against Ukraine

Blackout of Ukrainian cities are wide spread after Russia’s missile attacks on Nov. 30, 2024 in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Kostyiantyn Liberov / Libkos / Getty Images)

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Almost 40% of Russians think nuclear strike on Ukraine is justified, Russian sociologist says. Vladimir Putin’s talks of a potential nuclear strike “gradually lead to an increase in the proportion of (Russians) who believe it is acceptable, in fact, morally justified,” Russian sociologist Alexey Levinson said.

War has caused significant damage to most of Ukraine’s civilian airports, PM Shmyhal says. At least 15 of Ukraine’s 20 civilian airports have sustained damage since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Nov. 30.

Russian general charged in absentia for ordering missile strike on Chernihiv theater in 2023. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) charged Russian Colonel-General Yevgeny Nikiforov in absentia for ordering a missile strike on a Chernihiv theater that killed seven people and wounded 200 in August 2023, the SBU announced on Nov. 30.

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Construction of fortifications in Zaporizhzhia nearly complete, governor says. Governor Ivan Fedorov said the designs for the fortifications have been “significantly improved” compared to previous versions and that the modernized defenses are particularly adept at repelling drone attacks.

Ukraine destroys 3 more Russian radar systems in Crimea, military intelligence claims. The radars include two 48Y6-K1 Podlet systems worth $5 million each and one Kasta-2E2 radar, estimated to cost around $30 million.

West provided enough aid for 2.5 brigades out of requested 10, Zelensky says. “They speak about mobilization, but the real problem [is] with 10 brigades which our partners didn’t equip,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with Sky News published on Nov. 29.

Ex-US ambassador on Russia’s nuclear saber-rattling

Human cost of war

Russian attack in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast kills 4, injures 21. An 11-year-old boy is among the wounded, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Serhii Lysak said. Eight of the injured victims are in serious condition.

Ukraine downs 8 Russian drones, at least 2 killed and 6 wounded over the past day. Russia targeted Ukraine with Iranian-designed Shahed drones and an unspecified type of drone launched from the Russian oblasts of Kursk and Primorsko-Akhtarsk, according to Ukraine’s Air Force.

International response

Trump has consulted Hungary’s Orban on Ukraine war, sources tell RFE/RL. Hungarian government sources said that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump sought Viktor Orban’s opinion on strategies to end the Ukraine war. Orban, known for his close ties with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump, has openly criticized EU aid for Ukraine and obstructed sanctions against Moscow.

Scholz criticized opposition for proposing Taurus missiles ultimatum for Russia. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticized opposition leader Friedrich Merz for proposing that Berlin send Russia an ultimatum about possible deliveries of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine.

CERN ends cooperation with Russian institutes. The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) on Nov. 30 officially cut ties with research institutes in Russia, following a decision to allow the cooperation agreement to expire in light of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

North Macedonia arrests man for attempting to join Russian army. Authorities identified the man by his initials, J.K., and detained him late on Nov. 29. He faces charges of “participating in a foreign army, police, paramilitary or parapolice formation.”

In other news

Moscow nightclub raids target LGBTQ+ community amid Russia’s crackdown on ‘propaganda.’ The raids coincide with the one-year anniversary of Russia’s Supreme Court decision to classify the LGBTQ+ movement as an “extremist organization.” The ruling followed a years-long effort to suppress LGBTQ+ rights in the country.

Protests erupt across Georgia in defiance of government’s anti-EU stance. Protests have now spread from Tbilisi to Batumi, Zugdidi, Kutaisi, Telavi, Gurjaani, and other Georgian cities, sparked by the government’s decision to postpone EU accession talks.

US suspends strategic partnership with Georgia amid mass protests. “Georgian Dream’s various anti-democratic actions have violated the core tenets of our U.S.-Georgia Strategic Partnership … As a result, the United States has suspended this mechanism.”

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Toma Istomina, Natalia Yermak, Olena Goncharova, and Abbey Fenbert.

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