Ukraine ticker Russia expels British diplomat +++ Record: Putin attacks with 188 drones

On February 24, 2022, Russia launched its war against Ukraine in violation of international law. The front has hardly changed since fall 2022. No end in sight. The developments in the ticker.

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5.40 pm

New Russian missile: Nato states assure Kiev of help

Representatives of the 32 NATO states and Ukraine have exchanged information on a new Russian medium-range missile at an unscheduled meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council. According to information from alliance circles, the discussions at ambassadorial level focused, among other things, on what defense options are available against the weapon. In particular, US Patriot and THAAD missile defense systems were discussed. Ukraine does not yet have the latter.

The Russian armed forces used the experimental medium-range missile called Oreshnik for the first time on Thursday in an attack on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. Russia claims that it flies at hypersonic speed and cannot be intercepted. Experts doubt at least the second point. However, it is assumed that the missile could theoretically also be equipped with nuclear explosive devices.

5.22 p.m.

Austrian ex-minister becomes a lecturer in Russia

The former Austrian Foreign Minister, Karin Kneissl, is to become a lecturer at Ryazan State University, 200 kilometers southeast of Moscow.

During a visit by the 59-year-old to Yesenin University, an agreement was reached: "Karin Kneissl will teach at our university," wrote the rector of the university, Dmitry Bokov, on Telegram. Details would be announced later.

Kneissl was Foreign Minister in Austria from 2017 to 2019. In this post, Kneissl danced with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin at her wedding, curtsied to the Russian president and drew international criticism.

She later worked for the Russian state propaganda broadcaster RT and the equally state-owned oil company Rosneft. In 2023, one year after Putin's war of aggression against Ukraine began, she moved to Russia.

In June, she declared at the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg that she was happy to have a new opportunity and a new life with her work in Russia. In Russia, she heads the pro-Kremlin think tank Gorky.

3.03 p.m.

US Air Force discovers drones at British bases

According to the US Air Force, several small drones have been spotted near three bases of American soldiers in Great Britain. According to today's information, the bases in the east of England, which are close to each other, were affected.

Just a few days ago, drones were seen near and above the RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall and RAF Feltwell bases, according to the US Air Force. It was not specified who might be behind the drones.

All three bases belong to the British Air Force, but are primarily used by the US Air Force.

14:22

Russia expels British diplomat

Russia has expelled a high-ranking British diplomat for alleged espionage. British Ambassador Nigel Casey has also been summoned to the Foreign Ministry, according to Russian Foreign Office spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, as reported by news agencies in Moscow.

The Russian domestic intelligence service, the FSB, had previously issued a statement alleging that the expelled British diplomat had provided false personal information when entering the country. "Indications of espionage and sabotage activities" had also been uncovered.

BREAKING: Russia has expelled a British diplomat amid accusations of spying, according to reports coming out of the countryhttps://t.co/Y5JVzmgMFg

📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/4d0h7RuaVp

— Sky News (@SkyNews) November 26, 2024

The diplomat had only arrived in Russia in August as one of the replacements for six previously expelled embassy staff. He must now leave the country within two weeks. The British embassy has not yet commented on the incident. It is usual in such cases for the country whose diplomat has been expelled to take similar steps.

Relations between Russia and the West have been particularly tense since the start of the war of aggression against Ukraine ordered by Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. Since then, both sides have expelled diplomats on several occasions. However, there have also been expulsions before - for example after the poisoning of defected Russian agent Sergei Skripal in the UK in 2018.

1.29 pm

Quo vadis, Romania?

Here are three press comments on the upcoming run-off election in Romania:.

"La Repubblica", Italy:

"The Romanian people have 'awakened to consciousness' and want to 'no longer remain on their knees, no longer under invasion, no longer humiliated' - at least that's what the Romanian candidate no one expected, Calin Georgescu, says at an impromptu press conference on Facebook. [...] Public opinion in the easternmost EU country is shocked: Completely under the radar, the pro-Russian and vehemently anti-NATO Georgescu has won an outrageous, perhaps suspicious catch-up race.

According to many observers, he won with the hand of Vladimir Putin. Romania has now fared worse than Moldova, which is deeply imbued with Russian propaganda. [...] Georgescu promised 'peace' on Facebook - peace with Moscow, of course. Romania is a Nato member and has always supported Ukraine. But a Putin fanatic could soon take over the leadership of the country bordering Ukraine."

"Nepszava", Hungary:

"It is hard to imagine that Calin Georgescu got all those votes only because of his anti-NATO, anti-EU, nationalist, fascist, xenophobic and radical views. Rather, the need for a rebellion against the mainstream, for radical, sovereigntist ideas obviously played a role, but the much better-known [right-wing radical and fourth-placed] George Simion also stood for this.

Ultimately, however, nowhere in the world will a candidate win an election without external interference who has a name recognition level of one percent at the start of the campaign and hardly increases this later on. [...] Which country is behind this can only be guessed at, assuming that Romania is currently the most important eastern base for the US and NATO, especially in the current geopolitical context."

"Guardian, UK:

"In a region overshadowed by Vladimir Putin's revanchist ambitions, Romania has been a pillar of pro-Western stability. The country, which has a long border with Ukraine, was a staunch ally of its neighbor under outgoing president Klaus Iohannis. [...]

Worryingly, this bulwark status is under extreme threat following one of the most remarkable election results in Romania's post-1989 history. The little-known far-right candidate Calin Georgescu, who now goes into the run-off in December, is a fierce critic of Nato and aid to Ukraine, as well as a vocal admirer of Donald Trump. He has suggested that Romanian foreign policy should take note of 'Russian wisdom'.

Georgescu's idiosyncratic Christian nationalism bears similarities to Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban. [...] In view of the upcoming decisive phase in which Kiev will try to create a framework for future ceasefire negotiations with Russia, it would be a bitter blow for Ukraine to lose the support of another neighbor."

12.47 pm

Athens trains Ukrainian F-16 pilots and technicians

Following an unprecedented Russian drone attack - see entry 11.48 am - Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte has urgently called for more military assistance. "Our support has kept Ukraine in the fight. But we must go further to change the course of this conflict," he said on the sidelines of a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Athens.

Among other things, additional air defense must be provided and the promises made at the NATO summit in Washington must be implemented. In addition to the establishment of the NATO command to coordinate military aid and training, this also included the commitment to provide military aid totaling 40 billion euros in 2024.

With regard to Greece's support for Ukraine, Rutte praised the country's participation in the development of a powerful Western fighter aircraft fleet. "I welcome the fact that Greece will help to speed up F-16 training for Ukrainian pilots and technicians," said the former Dutch head of government. This would strengthen Ukraine's position in the brutal war.

12.32 p.m.

Crash in Lithuania: Flight recorder found

One day after the crash of a cargo plane in Lithuania, investigators have recovered the flight recorders of the ill-fated aircraft. In addition to the flight data recorder, the voice recorder was also found, the Lithuanian Ministry of Justice announced.

Both devices were removed from the wreckage around midday and will now be examined. As a so-called black box, they could provide information about the previously unknown cause of the crash.

See also previous entries.

12.17 pm

Vienna wants to mediate - and invites Trump

Austria has once again put itself forward as a possible venue for peace negotiations to end the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. In a telephone conversation with future US President Donald Trump, he recalled the country's long tradition of international dialog, announced Chancellor Karl Nehammer.

Nehammer also invited Trump to visit Austria. During the conversation, Trump, who will be sworn in for a second term on January 20, was interested in his impressions of the personal meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Nehammer said.

Yesterday i had a very friendly and forward-looking call with President-elect @realDonaldTrump. I congratulated him on his resounding re-election victory, and we discussed key topics such as energy security, economic and defense cooperation, and Austria’s longstanding tradition… pic.twitter.com/6wwS5Ywdfk

— Karl Nehammer (@karlnehammer) November 26, 2024

The Austrian head of government paid a short visit to Moscow and Kiev a few weeks after Russia's attack on Ukraine to explore diplomatic solutions. The EU member state is not a member of the Western defense alliance NATO, but has so far supported all sanctions against Moscow.

Nehammer is one of the top European politicians urging early talks with Moscow.

11.58 a.m.

How the investigation into the crash in Lithuania is proceeding

Lithuania's police chief Arunas Paulauskas believes that the investigation of the crash site of the crashed cargo plane can be completed in a few days - see also previous entries.

"I think that the on-site inspection can be completed within the next two to three days. Then a new phase will follow - the removal of the aircraft debris from the site. We are currently actively looking for a hangar where we can store these parts," said Paulauskas at a press conference in Vilnius on Tuesday.

The head of the National Crisis Management Center, Vilmantas Vitkauskas, also spoke of the investigation entering the next phase. The task now is to examine, evaluate and compare the collected data and information "calmly and consistently".

This would also include the experts coming to Lithuania from other countries, he said. It would then be possible to see whether the actual information matches the sequence of events that led to the crash.

The Swift Air plane, which was traveling from Leipzig to Vilnius on behalf of DHL, crashed early Monday morning near Vilnius Airport, close to a residential building. One person was killed.

The Lithuanian authorities have launched an extensive investigation following the crash. German experts are also involved. Investigators from Spain and the USA are also due to arrive in Lithuania.

11.48 am

Russia's record drone attack

Russia has attacked Ukraine with an unprecedented number of drones. According to the Ukrainian air defense, Moscow attacked the country on Tuesday night with 188 drones and four Iskander-M ballistic missiles.

❗️ The Russian army fired 4 Iskander-M missiles and a record number of drones at Ukraine - 188 , of which 76 were shot down, 95 were lost locally due to electronic warfare, and 5 flew to Belarus, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported. pic.twitter.com/UZDZ0O6w20

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) November 26, 2024

According to the Ukrainian news portal Ukrajinska Pravda, this was the largest number of drones launched by Russia in one night to date. According to official figures, the air alert lasted more than five hours in the capital Kiev alone.

The Ukrainian air force reported the launch of 76 drones in 17 regions of the country in the morning. The detection of 95 drones was interrupted, which was presumably due to electronic countermeasures. Five drones had flown towards the neighboring country of Belarus.

‼️ The Ukrenergo (national energy company) networks have been damaged as a result of a Russian drone attack on Ternopil. pic.twitter.com/Y3CaS9AAyf

— ZMiST (@ZMiST_Ua) November 26, 2024

Ukraine's power supply was reportedly hit again during the attacks. In Ternopil in western Ukraine, an object of critical infrastructure was damaged by drone attacks, the military governor of the region, Vyacheslav Nehoda, wrote on Telegram. There is no stable power supply in Ternopil and other places.

10.48 a.m.

Kremlin was ready for a nuclear strike at the beginning of the war

In February 2022, the Kremlin was ready for a nuclear strike, a member of the Russian nuclear forces tells the BBC. "Before that, we only did exercises," the source explains. "But on the day the war began, the weapons were fully operational. We were ready to launch from the sea and from the air and - theoretically - to launch a nuclear strike."

The relevant forces were on high alert for two to three weeks. The man's unit had been "locked in the base": "All we had was Russian television. I really didn't know what it all meant. I automatically fulfilled my duties. We didn't fight in the war, we just guarded the nuclear weapons."

According to the BBC, it is extremely rare for a member of those troops to speak to the media. Conscripts did not serve in the units: it was strict and professional. "It was my responsibility to ensure that the soldiers under me did not take cell phones onto the nuclear base," says the informant.

He continues: "It's a closed society, there are no strangers there. If you want your parents to visit you, you have to submit a request to the [domestic intelligence service] FSB three months in advance."

10.19 am

Black week for Kiev's forces

According to the research network Agentstwo, Russia has conquered almost 235 square kilometers in the past week. It was the best week in 2024 for Putin's army. According to the analysis, 600 square kilometers have been captured since the beginning of the month, which is more than in the whole of October.

According to the analysis, Moscow's forces are making the fastest progress in the Donetsk Oblast near the settlement of Velyka Novosilka. Other focal points are Pokrovsk and Kurakhove. However, the Kremlin has also made up 187 square kilometers in the south of the front.

9.56 a.m.

Lithuanian president warns against speculation about the crash

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has called on people to refrain from speculating too much about the cause of the crash of a cargo plane in Vilnius.

The suspicion of a possible act of sabotage should not be overemphasized, but neither should it be played down. At the same time, such a version cannot be ruled out, Nauseda said this morning on Lithuanian radio.

The Swift Air plane, which was traveling from Leipzig to Vilnius on behalf of DHL, crashed early Monday morning near Vilnius airport, close to a residential building. One person was killed.

"I repeat once again: of course there is a possibility of sabotage, we cannot rule it out. That is why this is being investigated with all seriousness," said the Lithuanian President, who has already visited the scene of the accident himself. According to him, there is not yet enough information to determine the cause of the accident.

The Lithuanian authorities have launched an investigation. German experts are also involved. According to police chief Arunas Paulauskas, the circumstances of the accident show that the incident was probably not caused by an external influence.

9.11 a.m.

Kiev has lost 40 percent of the territories in Kursk again

The Ukrainian armed forces have lost a considerable part of the territory they captured in the Russian Kursk Oblast. This is what an anonymous military official told the news agency "Reuters".

At the peak, we controlled 1376 square kilometers," the man was quoted as saying. "Now this territory is smaller. The enemy has its counterattacks. Now we still control about 800 square kilometers. We will hold this territory as long as it is militarily appropriate."

6.43 a.m.

Fierce fighting in eastern Ukraine

The east of Ukraine was rocked by further heavy fighting. The fighting once again centered on areas around the towns of Pokrovsk and Kurakhove on the edge of the Donbass. An independent assessment of the events was not possible.

The Russian military launched new groups of combat drones at targets in Ukraine in the evening. Several drones struck in the Sumy region in the east of the country in the evening, as reported by the Ukrinform agency. No information was initially available about any possible effects. An air alert was triggered in the neighboring regions.

A Shahed-136 UAV and two Gerber drones flying over the Sumy region were shot down using small arms fire. #SumyRegion #Shahed136 #GerberDrones #Ukraine #AirDefense pic.twitter.com/75DrKLLWyE

— X Headlines (@XHeadlinec) November 26, 2024

4.20 a.m.

Military expert considers deployment of ground troops conceivable

Political scientist and military expert Carlo Masala believes that European ground troops could be deployed to support Ukraine if US President-elect Donald Trump drastically reduces military aid for Kiev.

"We need a fall-back option in the event that the USA stops supplying arms to Ukraine," Masala told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland. This involves a "coalition of the willing, which is also prepared to send ground troops to Ukraine in case of doubt". In France, the UK and Poland, there is "a lot of movement" in this regard.

Tuesday, November 26, 2024, 3.50 am

Merkel defends Russia policy after the annexation of Crimea

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel defends her Russia policy following the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014.

"Because I was tough with him. But looking back, I don't see that cutting all economic ties would have changed his thinking," she told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland with regard to gas supplies and Russia's President Vladimir Putin.

He had invaded Ukraine without the Nord Stream 2 Baltic Sea pipeline being in operation. "I wanted to prevent this war, but I didn't succeed." Merkel regrets that Germany did not rearm more quickly after 2014. "The only reproach I have is that, despite all my efforts, I did not manage to build up deterrent military capabilities quickly enough," she adds.

7.27 pm

NATO states want to strengthen arms production in Ukraine

In view of further escalation steps by Russia in the Ukraine war, Germany and other NATO states want to further strengthen arms production in Ukraine. In a first step, this will be financed with the interest income from frozen Russian assets, said German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius after a meeting with the defense ministers of France, Great Britain, Poland and Italy. Among other things, there are plans to promote the development and procurement of drones controlled by artificial intelligence. Cooperation is also to be expanded in the production of ammunition.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov joined the meeting for half an hour. Afterwards, Pistorius said: "Our goal: Ukraine must be able to act from a position of strength.". He emphasized that the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine was no longer a regional conflict: "It has taken on an international dimension." He referred to the 10,000 soldiers from North Korea that Russian President Vladimir Putin had brought into the country and to whom he was paying a one-off payment of 2,000 euros per head. "That can hardly be surpassed in terms of cynicism."

18:58

Reports: ATACMS missiles at Russian airport near Kursk

According to officially unconfirmed media reports, the Ukrainian armed forces have attacked a Russian military airport near Kursk with artillery missiles from the US ATACMS system.

Video of ATACMS strikes on Kursk tonight. In addition to the strikes on the Khalino airfield Russian S-400 positions was also targeted.

Two strikes were carried out on the S-400 position while it was trying to repel the attack.

Approximate geolocation: (51.7486691,36.3712049) https://t.co/0r9omd39hU pic.twitter.com/BBoruOdS19

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) November 25, 2024

The Kursk-Vostochny airport was hit by at least two missiles with multiple warheads, Ukrainian media reported. The attack took place on Monday night. No information was available on the extent of the damage. The reports could not be independently verified, neither the Ukrainian nor the Russian military initially confirmed the attack.

An image shared by CyberBoroshno shows the moment of impact of two ATACMS missiles at Khalino airfield in the Kursk region. The area of impact has been geolocated as one of the apron's of the airfield. https://t.co/imG96pExYD pic.twitter.com/awXe45q9pV

— NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) November 25, 2024

18:39

Russian sentenced for allegedly leaking video to Ukraine

A Russian has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for allegedly passing on a video to the Ukrainian secret services. The district court in Volgograd accused the man of high treason on Monday. The accused had "disagreed with the political course of the Russian Federation" and had exchanged information with a representative of the Ukrainian secret services on the internet, the court ruled. The man had taken on tasks for his contact, it said. No details were given.

According to the public prosecutor's office, the man had filmed a train carrying armaments and warplanes in 2023 and passed the footage on to Ukraine. According to activists, the accused is a political prisoner. He had been beaten in custody by the 15-year-old son of Chechen head of government Ramzan Kadyrov. Kadyrov himself posted the video on social media and praised his son for the attack.

The convicted Russian is already serving a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence, which he received in February for allegedly burning a Koran in front of a mosque.

Nikita Zhuravel was sentenced to 13.5 years in a Russian colony under the "state treason" article.

In September 2023, a video was published on Kadyrov's Telegram channel showing h
Kadyrov's 15-year-old son Adam brutally beating up Nikita Zhuravel. No criminal case was open… https://t.co/rbAYVPDDyL pic.twitter.com/nbEy4YDaqc

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) November 25, 2024

4.43 am

Selenskyj: Ukraine receives support

According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, Ukraine has been assured of further massive support from its partners. In addition to new weapons and ammunition aid from the USA worth 275 million dollars, the Nordic countries Denmark, Sweden and Norway have put together a financial package to benefit the Ukrainian arms industry.

"Denmark has provided around one billion kroner (just under 125 million Swiss francs)," said Selenskyj. Sweden wants to join the Danish financing model, while Norway has already prepared a first tranche. Selenskyj did not specify the exact sums from these countries. Germany and Canada had also provided new weapons and equipment in recent days.

4.29 p.m.

Ministerial meeting in Italy and Germany

The foreign ministers of the G7 countries are meeting today in Fiuggi near Rome for their last meeting of the year. During their two-day meeting, the chief diplomats of the seven democratic industrialized nations will discuss the situation in the trouble spots in Ukraine and the Middle East, among other things.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius plans to meet with his colleagues from France, Great Britain, Poland and Italy in Berlin today to discuss measures to strengthen security and defense in Europe. The recent deployment of a new Russian medium-range missile against Ukraine is also likely to play an important role.

4.14 am

Russians arrest British mercenary

According to the Russian news agency Ria, Russian forces have arrested a British mercenary in the Kursk region. The agency reported this with reference to security circles. In a video distributed via unofficial pro-Russian telegram channels, a young bearded man in military uniform can be seen introducing himself in English as James Scott Rhys Anderson and stating that he had previously served in the British army. The authenticity of the video, the date it was recorded and the information provided by Ria could not immediately be independently verified.

The British Foreign Office did not initially respond to a request for comment, but had previously said it was supporting the family of a British citizen following reports of his arrest, according to the BBC.

4.10 a.m.

Attacks on Ukrainian police officers are broadcast live

In Ukraine, police officers are becoming victims of sadistic traps. According to Ukrainska Pravda, a policeman in uniform discovered a package next to a car. "When he came closer and bent down to examine it, an explosive device was detonated remotely," the newspaper reported, citing sources in the authority. The man died from his injuries. A camera was later discovered nearby, which had probably transmitted the scenes.

It was not the first such incident: In mid-November, investigators were lured into an ambush in which a grenade exploded. They were able to escape to safety.

2.24 a.m.

Romania: Right-wing extremist goes into run-off for president

In the presidential election in Romania, the extreme right-wing non-party member Calin Georgescu surprisingly comes first. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu from the Social Democratic Party (PSD) is in second place. The decision between the two will be made in the run-off election on December 8.

According to the results, Georgescu has 22.09 percent of the vote and Ciolacu 21.99 percent. This was announced by the Central Election Office after the ballots had been counted in 83.07 percent of the polling stations. This does not include the votes of Romanians living abroad.

Georgescu, who was previously little known and without a party affiliation, had previously attracted attention with his pro-Russian and anti-Western positions as well as his cult of the Romanian fascists from the Second World War era. The 62-year-old agronomist and veterinarian had mainly campaigned for himself on the Tiktok platform. Georgescu used to be a member of the extreme right-wing parliamentary party AUR, but left after a dispute. More about Georgescu here.

Monday, November 25, 2024, 1:20 a.m.

Moscow reports fire in industrial plant after drone attack

According to Russian reports, debris from downed drones has set fire to an industrial plant around 200 kilometers southwest of Moscow. Three of the aircraft were destroyed by air defenses on the outskirts of Kaluga, wrote the governor of the region of the same name, Vladislav Shapcha, on Telegram. The debris had fallen onto the site of the industrial company and caused a fire. No one was injured.

Ukraine has been fending off a large-scale Russian invasion for more than two and a half years. Russia has been firing its long-range weapons at Ukrainian territory from the air almost every night in an attempt to paralyze the energy supply. Many civilian targets are also hit. Ukraine lacks air defense. For its part, it has increased the range of its combat drones and is targeting Russian refineries and fuel supply facilities.

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You can find the older entries here.