Ukraine Daily Summary - Monday, November 27

War can spread to more of the country if Russia's tech grows -- Russia likely moved air defense systems from Kaliningrad -- Fire reported at Russian plant manufacturing engines for military equipment -- Shelling and power loss at ZNPP highlight nuclear risks -- and more

Monday, November 27

Russia’s war against Ukraine

A Ukrainian soldier and his dog in a trench as fighting continues in Donetsk Oblast, Nov. 26, 2023. (Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu via Getty Images)

UK Defense Ministry: Russia likely moved air defense systems from Kaliningrad. Russia has likely moved strategic air defense systems from Kaliningrad to backfill recent losses on the Ukraine front, the U.K. Defense Ministry said in its intelligence update on Nov. 26.

Commander: War can spread to more of the country if Russia’s tech grows. If Russia keeps increasing weapons production and improving its technology with its allies’ help, the war could expand beyond the east and south of the country, Lieutenant General Serhii Naiev, responsible for Ukraine’s northern border defense, told ABC News.

Guardian: Ukrainian report calls for disruption of supplies for Russia’s electronic warfare. A Ukrainian report circulated to the major countries which have sanctioned Russia identifies key firms involved in development of Russia’s electronic military equipment, the Guardian reported on Nov. 26.

MP from Zelensky’s party slams commander-in-chief, calls for his dismissal. The statement comes amid speculation in Western and Ukrainian media about alleged disagreements between Zelensky and Zaluzhnyi. Asked whether Bezuhla’s stance was in line with the Servant of the People party’s position, its spokeswoman Yulia Paliychuk told Ukrainska Pravda that Bezuhla “is responsible for her own words.”

Fire reported at Russian plant manufacturing engines for military equipment. An explosion occurred on Nov. 26 at the Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant in Russia, leading to a severe fire, the Moscow Times reported. According to the newspaper, the plant provides engines for T-72 and T-90 tanks, Terminator armored fighting vehicles, and self-propelled artillery.

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Polish truckers to start round-the-clock blockade of border crossing on Nov 27. Polish truckers started blocking three border crossing points on Nov. 6 in protest of the liberalization of EU transport rules for Ukrainian trucks, causing huge lines on both sides of the border.

Ministry: 2,100 trucks stuck at Ukraine border due to Polish blockade. As a result of Polish haulers blocking Ukrainian border crossing points, around 2,100 vehicles are stuck, unable to get into Ukraine as of Nov. 26, Ukraine’s Infrastructure Ministry said in an update.

Snowstorm causes power outages in 10 regions across Ukraine. Emergency services in Odesa Oblast conducted 62 missions, as 145 cars, six buses and five ambulances were dug out from the snow. Also, traffic along the M15 highway is currently prohibited, according to the report.

Snowstorm causes blackouts in 131 towns, villages of Odesa Oblast. Adverse weather in Odesa Oblast caused power loss in 131 towns and villages as of noon on Nov. 26, according to the regional branch of the private energy company DTEK.

IAEA: Shelling and power loss at ZNPP highlight nuclear risks. According to workers at the Russian-occupied plant, a short circuit 100 kilometers north of the site caused the plant to lose connection to its 750 kilovolt (kV) power line at around 10:30 a.m. local time.

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Ukraine war latest: Russia’s increased weapons production may lead to new attacks elsewhere, commander says

The improvements in Russian technology and increased weapons production may expand the war beyond the east and south of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Serhii Naiev, responsible for Ukraine’s northern border defense, told ABC News on Nov. 26.

Photo: Vlada Liberova / Libkos via Getty Images

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Human cost of war

VP of Ukrainian Chess Federation killed in action. Artem Sachuk, 39, was a resident of Zhytomyr who volunteered for the army shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

General Staff: Russia has lost 324,830 troops in Ukraine. Russia has also lost 5,513 tanks, 10,279 armored fighting vehicles, 10,288 vehicles and fuel tanks, 7,874 artillery systems, 907 multiple launch rocket systems, 597 air defense systems, 323 airplanes, 324 helicopters, 5,901 drones, 22 ships and boats, and one submarine, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported on Nov. 26.

International response

Latvia offers to help negotiate end to Polish border blockade. Latvia offered to “provide assistance in seeking solutions” to unblock the Polish border with Ukraine, during a Nov. 25 phone call between Latvia’s Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins and Poland’s EU Affairs Secretary Szymon Szynkowski.

Latvian president: EU should prioritize ammunition procurement for Ukraine over other countries. Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics said that the EU should hold off selling ammunition to third countries, prioritizing procurement for Ukraine.

Lithuania pledges 2 million euros for grain initiative. Lithuanian funding will contribute to the extension of the initiative, which has already accumulated over $100 million in support, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Czechia turns to export licenses as arms for Ukraine run low. Defense Minister Jana Cernochova said her country would compensate for the low supply by providing commercial licenses to private companies.

US official says Ukraine aid bill unlikely to be passed before 2024. “I think it would be very difficult to get it done by the end of the year, and the impediment, currently, is the White House policy on the southern border,” Turner said, as quoted by Bloomberg.

US Senate announces vote on Ukraine aid request. “I intend to bring the President’s national security supplemental package to the floor as soon as the week of December 4th,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said.

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