RFE/RL’s Live Briefing offers up-to-the-minute updates on Russia’s aggressive invasion of Ukraine, the support from the West to Kyiv’s military, global responses, and the challenges faced by civilians and refugees. To get a comprehensive coverage of this conflict, click here.
Key Developments Snapshot:
– Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, reported on November 4 that 11,000 North Korean soldiers had arrived in Russia’s Kursk region, as per intelligence from Kyiv.
– The European Union and South Korea expressed vehement condemnation of North Korea’s arms transfer to Russia and the deployment of special forces to assist Russia’s “unjust war of aggression” against Ukraine.
– Annalena Baerbock, Germany’s Foreign Minister, met with Ukrainian officials on November 4 in Kyiv, demonstrating solidarity with Ukraine as Russia’s unjustified invasion approaches the 1,000-day mark, with daily attacks on the war-torn country’s infrastructure and intense conflict in the east.
– Russia has awarded citizenship to 3,344 foreigners since the year’s beginning, under a decree by President Vladimir Putin that permits passports to be issued to those participating in the Ukraine invasion and their families.
– The Ukrainian military has reported intense battles near the industrial town of Kurakhove and confirmed that Russian forces carried out more than 100 attacks around a crucial Donbas village, although it refrained from commenting on Moscow’s claim of having seized it.
– On November 1, the Pentagon announced a $425 million package of new security aid for Ukraine under the presidential “drawdown authority,” its 69th tranche of defense equipment since late 2021.
Inside Kremlin’s Initial Peace Proposal for Ukraine:
RFE/RL’s Russian investigative unit has revealed a draft treaty proposed by Moscow in the early negotiations that ensued days after the all-out invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Had it been signed, it would have left Ukraine extremely vulnerable, with a significantly reduced military and zero prospect of Western protection.
Harris or Trump: The Implications for Ukraine:
The result of the U.S. presidential election may impact Ukraine more than any other foreign nation. The contenders, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, have established two contrasting stances on support for Ukraine, but their actions in office, should they win, remain uncertain.
Analysis: ‘Fair Game’ in Russia’s War Against Ukraine – North Korean Troops:
Following weeks of intelligence reports, it’s been established that North Korean troops have been positioned in Russia. This raises concerns that they may be deployed into combat against Ukraine, but there are questions about their readiness and what Pyongyang might gain from Moscow in return.
Has Russia’s Invasion Strengthened Ukraine and Romania’s Relations?
Romania’s parliament has approved a two-year program to train Ukrainian marines, the latest in a series of steps by Bucharest to assist Kyiv in defending itself from Moscow’s full-scale invasion. Romania has quietly become one of Ukraine’s most crucial allies.
The Day A Russian Shell Nearly Hit An RFE/RL Crew In Ukraine:
A Russian shell nearly struck an RFE/RL crew on the front line in Ukraine’s Donetsk region.
Mounting Pressure On Ukraine – On The Battlefield And Beyond:
Russian forces continue their push in the Donbas, diplomatic pressure on Kyiv is rising, and the U.S. election is impending. All this combines to create one of the most challenging periods for Ukraine since Russia’s all-out invasion in February 2022.
The Fall Of Vuhledar: Implications For Ukraine’s Struggling Military:
Ukraine lost the Donbas coal-mining city of Vuhledar, in the face of a persistent, months-long offensive by Russian forces. While it doesn’t necessarily signal the complete breakdown of Ukrainian lines, it’s certainly not an encouraging sign.
Will Ukraine Welcome Russian Refugees? Border Residents Are Not Thrilled:
When asked about government plans to accept refugees from Russia’s Kursk region, skepticism was the dominant response in the Ukrainian border city of Sumy. One man told RFE/RL on August 16: “Let their country protect them. We’ve got enough of our own suffering.”
Why Is Ukraine Striking Russia’s Oil Refineries?
Despite U.S. warnings against such attacks, Ukraine continues to target Russian oil refineries, launching larger drone swarms with each strike. While the strikes have led to a reduction in refinery output, their overall impact, beyond boosting morale for Ukraine, has been moderate so far.
Interactive: Occupied, Militarized Crimea:
As Ukrainian leaders pledge to recover all territories annexed by Russia, Moscow has put in place extensive defensive measures, particularly in Crimea, a region unlawfully seized in 2014. This area, now under Russian occupation, has been heavily fortified with an array of air and army bases, making it one of the most militarized zones in the war.
