Russians claim to have taken another settlement in Donetsk
Ukraine’s foreign minister urges NATO to provide supplies “as fast as it is required”
From CNN’s Julia Kesaieva and Tim Lister
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said it’s imperative that NATO supply Ukraine quickly as the war continues.
“You need to be with us not just as long as it takes, but also supply us with everything required as fast as it is required,” Kuleba said.
Kuleba has been attending the NATO and G7 meetings in Bucharest.
“I’ve thanked all the states here, who said they will stand with Ukraine as long as needed. It is a very significant sign for us, as we did not have such unanimous support on this point before,” he said.
Kuleba also welcomed new equipment.
“These are transformers, generators, weapons, winter uniforms. I cannot talk about all of it, but there are also 155mm artillery, shells, armored vehicles among these. All this will soon be delivered to Ukraine and strengthen our armed forces,” he said.
Speaking about the US Patriot air defense system, Kuleba said, “Until now nobody would talk about this issue, except us. We were the only one to raise it. But now this issue is being discussed. This is a very serious and substantive discussion.”
On Tuesday, CNN reported that the US is considering sending the Patriot missile defense system to Ukraine to support their air defense capabilities against incoming Russian attacks, according to a senior US defense official.
Kuleba said he had urged a change of approach by Ukraine’s western donors, which was now paying off.
“Now everything is being supplied,” he said. “These decisions have been taken after some kind of tragedy took place on the frontline, which left no other choice but for this decision to be taken. I said: ‘Change your logics. Do not wait for something bad to happen. Take this decision now in order to prevent the tragedies, to act more proactive and liberate more Ukrainian territories and Ukrainian citizens.'”
On infrastructure: Kuleba also met with G7 foreign ministers about aid for restoring Ukraine’s heavily damaged infrastructure, as some 30% of power capacity currently disabled.
“The first option is to buy electricity in the EU. But prices on the EU market are much higher than in Ukraine, so additional financial support will be needed,” he said. Another option is to source the necessary energy equipment, transformers and generators that will help alleviate energy shortfalls, he said.
The United States is among several countries pledging fresh aid to assist with repairing power infrastructure damaged by Russian missile attacks.
Ukraine welcomes European Commission proposal for new court to prosecute Russia for war
From CNN’s Julia Kesaieva
The Ukrainian President’s Office has welcomed a proposal by the president of the European Commission to establish a specialized court to prosecute Russia for its aggression against Ukraine.
“The European Commission offers to create a special court for the prosecution of crimes of the Russian federation in Ukraine, as well as conditions for the use of frozen Russian assets for the restoration of Ukraine,” Andriy Yermak, head of the president of Ukraine’s office, said on Telegram.
“This is exactly what we have been offering for a long time. Russia will pay for crimes and destruction,” he said.
In a statement Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that “while continuing to support the International Criminal Court, we are proposing to set up a specialized court, backed by the United Nations, to investigate and prosecute Russia’s crime of aggression.”
Regional authorities say shelling continues in Kherson region, killing 1
From CNN’s Olga Voitovych in Kyiv
The recently liberated southern Ukrainian city of Kherson and the surrounding towns continue to be shelled, according to the city’s regional military administration.
“Russian occupiers do not stop shelling Ukrainian troops and localities on the west bank of the Dnipro river,” the administration said on Telegram.
The administration and its head, Yarsolav Yanushevych named the towns struck — Beryslav, Naftohavan, Kizomys, Antonivka, Dariivka, Sadove and Zelenivka – which are all along the western bank of the Dnipro River.
The Ukrainians said Russian forces are targeting Naftohavan in particular to “hit power lines and gas distribution station.” The town has an oil loading terminal that can clearly be seen on maps.
Yanushevych added that three residents were injured and a 70-year-old woman was killed.
Despite the continuing hardships for residents, some basic services are coming back online more regularly, including water. The administration described the power supply as “intermittent.” Mobile communications are available with “interruptions,” but the internet is working.
Water is also appearing around the city “due to the supply of power to pumping stations” but the water is being supplied with a reduced pressure.
Heavy fighting continues in Donetsk region as Ukraine works to stabilize energy. Here’s what to know.
From CNN staff
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that its forces have made a breakthrough in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. It comes after at least five civilians were killed by strikes there on Tuesday, according to officials.
Catch up on the top headlines you might have missed:
- Energy situation: Ukraine’s Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said that without any more waves of air strikes, “in the short term we will be able to stabilize and reduce the duration of the outage.” He said that while there would still be outages, the aim was to make them as planned as possible. Ukrenergo, Ukraine’s state-run energy operator, said Wednesday that the country’s energy deficit stood at 27% as of 11 a.m. local time. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that while the second winter season of the war “will be very challenging,” 70% of power needs have been met.
- NATO and US support: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Russian President Vladimir Putin’s targeting of Ukraine civilians “barbaric.” On Tuesday, the United States government pledged more than $50 million dollars in equipment to support Ukraine’s electrical system. Blinken said the United States is also “very focused” on providing air defense systems to Ukraine. Additionally, NATO is looking to invest in Soviet-era weapon systems used in Ukraine, Blinken said.
- Strikes in Donetsk: At least five civilians were killed in Russian strikes in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine on Tuesday, according to a Ukrainian military official. Some of the fiercest fighting in eastern Ukraine is taking place around Bakhmut, which has been besieged for months by Russian forces.
- Kherson evacuations: At least 2,500 civilians have left Kherson to other safe regions around Ukraine, according to the Ministry of Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories. The deputy prime minister of Ukraine added that people leaving will receive “cash payments” when they arrive at train station.
- Explosion at Ukrainian embassy: An explosive device has gone off at the Ukrainian embassy in Madrid, according to the Spanish National Police. One person is slightly injured after handling a letter which was addressed to Ambassador Serhii Pohoreltsev, the Spanish foreign ministry said.
- The Wagner Group: US President Joe Biden’s administration is considering designating the Wagner Group, a Russian private military group, as a foreign terrorist organization amid ongoing efforts to impose costs on Russia for the Ukraine war, a US official said. The Wagner Group is a mercenary firm that has been heavily involved in the fighting in Ukraine. The group is often described as President Vladimir Putin’s off-the-books troops. The group has been accused of war crimes in Africa, Syria and Ukraine.
- Latest on the Paul Whelan case: Paul Whelan, an American wrongfully detained in Russia, has reportedly been moved to a prison hospital and has been unable to contact his family for a week, according to his brother. The lack of communication has raised serious concerns for the family, said David Whelan, who questioned the penal colony’s claim that his brother was transferred to the hospital. A US State Department spokesperson said they are aware of the reports. The Biden administration has been working to secure the release of Paul and another American wrongfully detained in Russia, US women’s basketball star Brittney Griner.
US national security adviser briefs key senators on Ukraine war effort
From CNN’s Ted Barrett and Ali Zaslav
US National Security adviser Jake Sullivan briefed key bipartisan senators on the Ukraine war effort in a secure room in the US Capitol Visitors Center on Wednesday.
The briefing was for the top four senate leaders as well as chairs and ranking members of Armed Services, Intelligence, Foreign Relations committees and an appropriations subcommittee.
Departing the meeting, senators said it was a detailed briefing on all aspects on the war effort.
Republican Sen. Jim Risch, ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee said of the administration’s approach to the war that “I would do things a little differently… but they are committed deeply, they’re working closely with our allies and they’ve got contingency plans for things that might go awry.”
He added that Russian President Vladimir Putin is counting on the American people getting tired of the war and “if we don’t sustain, that would not be in the interest of America or the world.
Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez, Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, also said it was “in depth” briefing on the war effort but there was not any discussion on additional funding needs.
Envelope that exploded at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid was addressed to ambassador, officials say
From CNN’s Al Goodman in Madrid
The envelope that exploded at the Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid Wednesday was addressed to Ambassador Serhii Pohoreltsev, according to a statement released by Spain’s Foreign Ministry.
Spain’s Foreign Affairs Minister Jose Manuel Albares spoke to Pohoreltsev after the incident. The person injured was a Ukrainian worker, according to the same statement.
Albares, who is visiting Spanish troops at a NATO mission in Romania, extended his support and solidarity after the incident.
Biden administration considering designating the Wagner Group as a foreign terrorist organization, source says
From CNN’s Kylie Atwood
US President Joe Biden’s administration is considering designating the Wagner Group, a Russian private military group, as a foreign terrorist organization amid ongoing efforts to impose costs on Russia for the Ukraine war, a US official said.
No final decision has been made, and it is unclear how far out the administration is from potentially making this designation given the laborious legal process in making this determination, the official explained.
The Wagner Group is a mercenary firm that has been heavily involved in the fighting in Ukraine. The group is often described as President Vladimir Putin’s off-the-books troops. It has expanded its footprint globally since its creation in 2014. The group has been accused of war crimes in Africa, Syria and Ukraine.
The group was founded by a Russian oligarch, Yevgeny Prigozhin, which he admitted to earlier this year. Prigozhin is so close to the Kremlin that he is known as Putin’s “chef.”
The group is already sanctioned by the US, but the Biden administration has its sights on labeling it a terrorist organization amid pressure – both from the Ukrainians and from Congress – to declare Russia as a state sponsor of terror due to the invasion of Ukraine and the constant attacks on the civilian population.
“As Ukraine continues to seize momentum on the battlefield, President Putin has focused his ire and his fire on Ukraine’s civilian population,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at a news conference Wednesday at the NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Bucharest, Romania, noting that Putin’s targets are heat, water and electricity. “This brutalization of Ukraine’s people is barbaric.”
More background: The Biden administration has so far resisted efforts to label Russia as a state sponsor of terror, making the case that it would be a largely symbolic designation that could create obstacles when it comes to getting support into Ukraine, particularly through the Black Sea.
“We have to take into account the consequences, both the intended and the unintended. And that has led us to the approach we’ve taken here,” US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said earlier this year.
The conversations regarding Wagner are currently happening within a small group of US officials, and no final decision has been made.
Russians claim to have taken another settlement in Donetsk
From CNN’s Darya Tarasova and Tim Lister
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that its forces have made a breakthrough in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.
“As a result of offensive actions by Russian troops, Andriivka (Donetsk People’s Republic) has been completely liberated from the Ukrainian armed forces,” it announced on Tuesday in a Telegram post.
Andriivka is a small settlement south of the city of Bakhmut, in a region that has seen some of the heaviest fighting of the conflict.
The ministry said that Russian troops continued “successful offensive operations to liberate Vodiane,” a nearby settlement.
Russian forces have focused considerable effort on taking villages around Bakhmut in an effort to encircle and take the city.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces have not confirmed the loss of any territory. The General Staff said Monday that Russian troops continued their main offensive actions on places east and south of Bakhmut, mentioning both Andriivka and Vodiane.
Christmas tree of “invincibility” will be installed in Kyiv with generator powered, energy-saving lights
From CNN’s Yulia Kesavia in Kyiv
A Christmas tree of “invincibility” will be installed in the Ukrainian capital ok Kyiv, Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said.
The tree will be 12 meters high and “decorated with energy-saving lights” that will be generator powered.
A charging point will be installed near the generator for people to charge their phones and once Christmas passes, the company that provided the generator will donate it to the Ukrainian armed forces, according to Klitschko’s social media post.
The tree itself will be placed on St. Sophia Square and the decorations will be funded 100% from local businesses.
Klitschko described the tree as being decorated the same as “previous years”, which includes 1,000 toys, blue and yellow baubles and 500 white doves donated by “Global Decor.” The topper, patriotically, will be a Ukrainian coat of arms.
The spruce will be decorated with a nod to the international assistance that Ukraine has received. Flags of countries “that help Kyiv cope with the challenges and consequences” of the war will be placed around the base.
On Tuesday, Klitschko announced that trees will be installed across the city but didn’t offer many details saying, “we cannot let Putin steal Christmas!”
It was confirmed that any tree installations would not have mains powered lights given the pressure on the Ukrainian grid. The use of the generator appears to be an alternative.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-11-30-22/index.html
