36 minutes ago
Ukraine asks for “informative silence” amid “fluid” fighting on the Dnieper front
Ukraine called for an “informative silence” amid intense fighting on the Russian-occupied left (or eastern) bank of the Dnieper in the southern Kherson region.
“The Russians understand that the advance of defense forces is inevitable, but they cannot calculate from which direction they can expect such a threat,” Natalia Humeniuk, press secretary for Operational Command South, said Wednesday in televised comments translated by NBC News.
Russian forces tried to “actively defend themselves, actively use heavy artillery, rocket launchers and aviation as much as possible,” she said.
“The resistance from our side is on a line of 3 to 8 km {up to 5 miles]along the entire coast from the water’s edge [of the Dnieper River]. “The front line is pretty fluid today,” she said.
KHRSON OBLAST, UKRAINE – NOVEMBER 5: Destroyed buildings are seen on an island in the middle of the Dnipro River in Kherson, Ukraine, November 5, 2023. (Photo by Viacheslav Ratynskyi/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
“I cannot disclose all the measures we are currently taking, but it is obvious that the enemy is being put under pressure.” [by our measures]. We ask that you keep information confidential for the time being so that our plans can be put into action and we can later report on major successes.”
Ukrainian officials said this week that their forces had gained a foothold on the left bank of the river and were seeking an advance. Russia confirmed the development but said it would attack a “small group” of Ukrainian troops near the village of Krynky.
Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-appointed governor of occupied Kherson, claimed Ukrainian units were now trapped and being hit by “bombs, rockets, heavy flamethrower ammunition and artillery shells.” [and] Drones.”
CNBC could not independently verify the reports.
– Holly Ellyatt
34 minutes ago
Rescuers search for survivors after deadly Russian missile attack in eastern Ukraine
A Russian missile struck an apartment block in the sleepy eastern Ukrainian town of Selydove on Wednesday, killing one person and wounding at least three others, national police said.
Rescuers on the scene set out to clear the rubble and search for the attacker who lay buried beneath. According to police, four S-300 rockets hit the city shortly after midnight, damaging six apartment buildings and 20 houses.
Local officials said on a Telegram messenger channel that four people were believed to be trapped under the rubble.
“There were no soldiers living there, only civilians,” Olha, a 64-year-old woman who lives next to the destroyed building, told Portal. Through tears, she said she knew the woman who was killed.
“Of course I knew her…and her son. He received medical attention and was recovering from surgery. But (she) died.” “People are left with nothing,” said Olha.
About half of the apartment block had been destroyed by the rocket, which had torn a gaping triangular hole at least ten meters long at the top.
Russia has carried out regular missile and drone strikes on population centers behind the front lines during its 21-month-long invasion of Ukraine. Moscow denies attacks on civilians. Ukraine regularly reports that Russian missile and drone strikes have killed and injured civilians and damaged civilian infrastructure during the all-out war launched by Russia in February 2022.
—Portal
An hour ago
Why it is important that Ukrainian units are on the “Russian” side of the Dnieper
Russia’s confirmation on Wednesday that a number of Ukrainian forces have crossed the Dnieper to reach the Russian-occupied left (or eastern) side of the river in Kherson comes after Moscow appeared reluctant to recognize a bold Ukrainian advance.
On Monday, Russian news agencies RIA Novosti and TASS published alerts quoting the Defense Ministry as saying that Russia was moving troops to “more advantageous positions” east of the Dnieper, only to retract the information minutes later and apologize for the mistake. The Russian Defense Ministry then said the “false” reports were “a provocation.”
Ukrainian soldiers from the 123rd Territorial Defense Brigade prepare to fire a mortar at Russian positions over the Dnipro River at an undisclosed location in the Kherson region on Nov. 6, 2023, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. While Ukraine’s recapture of the city of Kherson last November was a shock defeat for the Kremlin, Russian forces on the opposite bank still control vast areas and bombard towns and villages from which they have withdrawn. The Dnipro, Europe’s fourth-longest river and a historic trade route, has become a key frontline since Ukrainian troops pushed Russian forces back across its southern banks last year. (Photo by Roman PILIPEY / AFP) (Photo by ROMAN PILIPEY/AFP via Getty Images)
Roman Pilipey | Afp | Getty Images
Analysts said the mix-up suggested there was confusion within Russia’s military establishment and state media over how to report the situation on the battlefield in southern Ukraine.
Retaking the entire Kherson region is one of the main goals of the Ukrainian counteroffensive launched in June. The region has been partially occupied by Russian forces after they withdrew from the western bank city of Kherson last year following an earlier counteroffensive. Since then, the river had effectively separated Russian and Ukrainian forces until today.
The U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War said Tuesday that it “continues to believe that Ukrainian forces have conducted larger-than-usual ground operations on the eastern bank of Kherson Oblast.” [region] since mid-October 2023 and that the Ukrainian Armed Forces appear capable of maintaining and supplying their current positions on the Russian-controlled side of Kherson Oblast.”
– Holly Ellyatt
2 hours ago
Russia strikes Ukrainian forces that crossed the Dnieper into occupied territory
Russian forces are attacking Ukrainian units that have crossed the Dnieper to the Russian-occupied left (or eastern) bank of the river in Kherson, a Russian-deployed official said on Wednesday.
The Kherson region in southern Ukraine is partially occupied by Russian forces after an offensive to take the city of Kherson last year prompted Russian forces to retreat to the east bank of the river.
Ukraine reported on Tuesday that its forces had gained a foothold on the eastern bank of the river. The announcement could mark the start of an advance into Russian-occupied Crimea, with Ukraine saying on Wednesday it was beginning to push back Russian forces.
“Along the front line that runs along the Dnipro [the Dnieper river]… The pushback from our side is taking place in a line of 3 to 8 km (2-5 miles) along the entire shore from the shore,” Natalia Humeniuk, spokeswoman for the Southern Military Command, said in reported comments by Portal.
“We will ask for information silence for now… so that we can report big successes later,” she added.
A Ukrainian soldier from the 123rd Territorial Defense Brigade guards a position next to the Dnipro River at an undisclosed location in the Kherson region on Nov. 6, 2023, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. While Ukraine’s recapture of the city of Kherson last November was a shock defeat for the Kremlin, Russian forces on the opposite bank still control vast areas and bombard towns and villages from which they have withdrawn. The Dnipro, Europe’s fourth-longest river and a historic trade route, has become a key frontline since Ukrainian troops pushed Russian forces back across its southern banks last year. (Photo by Roman PILIPEY / AFP) (Photo by ROMAN PILIPEY/AFP via Getty Images)
Roman Pilipey | Afp | Getty Images
A Russian-appointed official, Vladimir Saldo, said in Google-translated comments on Telegram that Ukrainian units were able to cross the river – confirming for the first time that this had happened – and said that Ukraine initially had “more manpower than… “Our means of destruction were able to destroy.”
“Now additional troops have been brought in,” he said, claiming Ukrainian forces had been blockaded in the village of Krynki, where “a fiery hell” awaited them. “Bombs, missiles, ammunition from heavy flamethrower systems, artillery shells and drones are flying towards him.” [Ukrainian forces] … In the last two to three days alone, the enemy’s total losses amounted to about a hundred fighters.”
Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War noted Tuesday that “Ukrainian forces are continuing their own offensive operations and making tactical advances along the front, particularly in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast.” [region] and on the eastern (left) bank of Kherson Oblast,” the ISW noted.
“The Russian military command will likely have to decide whether to leave certain Russian elements in certain sectors of the front to defend against ongoing Ukrainian offensive operations or whether to redeploy them to support offensive operations elsewhere that are likely to culminate without reinforcements.”
These decisions would likely prevent Russia from regaining full initiative in the coming weeks, the ISW said.
CNBC was unable to verify developments on the ground.
– Holly Ellyatt
2 hours ago
The Russian ambassador to Israel warns of a “very high” likelihood that the conflict will spread to the Middle East
The likelihood that the Israel-Hamas conflict will spread to the wider Middle East region is very high, Russian Ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov said, according to Russian state media.
“I can say that the level of confrontation between Israelis and Palestinians remains extremely high and, unfortunately, the degree of expansion of the conflict into the region is very high,” he said in Google-translated comments reported by Russian state broadcaster Tass .
“We have to take immediate action against this,” Viktorov added.
The possibility of Israel’s war with Hamas sweeping across the Middle East is a major concern for the international community following exchanges of fire between Israel and Yemen’s Houthi fighters, Lebanon’s Hezbollah and the Syrian government of Bashard al-Assad has received support from Iran, as has Hamas. Turkey is also increasingly condemning Israel in view of the hostilities in the Gaza Strip.
Russia had initially sought a balanced diplomatic response between loyalty to Israel and Iran and even hosting a Hamas delegation on its territory. During the conflict, Moscow has become increasingly critical of Israel.
— Ruxandra Iordache
3 hours ago
According to Ukraine, Russia is suffering greater losses in Avdiivka than in Bakhmut
AVDIIVKA, UKRAINE – OCTOBER 30: Police officer Gennady convinces a local resident living in a run-down house to evacuate on October 30, 2023 in Avdiivka, Ukraine. The National Police of Ukraine, together with the special unit “White Angel”, is carrying out an operation to evacuate the remaining residents from the city, which is subjected to daily destruction from artillery fire. According to state police, there are still around 1,400 people in the city. Fighting has escalated in recent days following Russia’s major offensive earlier this month. (Vlada Liberova/Libkos via Getty Images)
Libkos | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces remains intense around the town of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region. The Ukrainian president said Russia suffered more casualties there than in Bakhmut, another hot spot.
Similar to Bakhmut, the city is considered a strategic target for Russian troops who want to encircle the city, which is heavily fortified by Ukrainian troops, and strengthen their position in Donetsk. There has been intense fighting in the area for months, and little remains of the town that was once home to about 32,000 residents.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday evening that he had spoken to defense and security officials about the situation around Avdiivka and the surrounding area and that “Russian attacks are very intense, especially in the Donetsk region.”
“Russia is already losing soldiers and equipment near Avdiivka faster and to a greater extent than, for example, near Bakhmut. It is extremely difficult to withstand this onslaught. And each of our warriors holds the positions, each of our warriors carries out combat operations there deserves our greatest thanks,” Zelensky said.
“The more Russian forces are now destroyed near Avdiivka, the worse the overall situation and the overall course of this war will be for the enemy,” Zelensky said. CNBC was unable to verify the president’s claims.
– Holly Ellyatt
3 hours ago
Putin is expected to announce his presidential campaign next month
MOSCOW, RUSSIA – SEPTEMBER 9: (RUSSIA OUT) Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during the concert marking the City Day on September 9, 2023 in Moscow, Russia. The festive events were attended by Putin and Moscow Mayor Sobyanin, whose re-election is expected this week. (Photo by Contributor/Getty Images)
Contributor | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely to announce his intention to run in the 2024 presidential election during his annual press conference and public conference call, Britain’s Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.
The Kremlin announced last week that Putin would hold the event, where the president will answer countless questions from the media and public, before the end of the year.
“Kremlin planners will almost certainly see the event as a key milestone in Putin’s expected campaign to secure a fifth term in the March 2024 presidential election. He is likely to announce his candidacy before the end of 2023,” the ministry said in an intelligence update on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The event was canceled in 2022, likely because Russia suffered high-profile military setbacks in Ukraine in previous weeks.
On November 10, Putin visited the Southern Military District headquarters in Rostov-on-Don and met with Chief of the General Staff General Valery Gerasimov and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Putin’s second visit to the headquarters in four weeks was “likely a reinforcement of his ongoing efforts to portray himself as a ‘patriotic’ candidate ahead of the election campaign,” the ministry said.
– Holly Ellyatt
21 hours ago
The Russian army has “eliminated” Ukrainian literature in Donetsk and Luhansk.
The Russian army has “eliminated” almost all Ukrainian literature in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, Gyunduz Mamedov, a former deputy prosecutor general of Ukraine, wrote on social media post Tuesday.
Mamedov said that all Ukrainian books published between 1991 and 2021 had been labeled “extremist literature” and that Russian authorities had replaced them with around 2.5 million Russian books.
In September 2022, Russia claimed to have annexed Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson.
—Karen Gilchrist
21 hours ago
Germany delivers 25 Leopard main battle tanks to Ukraine
The German defense company Rheinmetall announced on Tuesday that it would supply Ukraine with 25 Leopard 1A5 main battle tanks, five recovery tanks (Bergepanzer 2) and two driver training tanks.
In a statement, the company said the deal was financed by the federal government and was worth “in the upper double-digit million euro range”.
It added that the deal also includes training, logistics, spare parts, maintenance and other support services.
—Karen Gilchrist
23 hours ago
Continued and stronger support for Ukraine is crucial, says NATO Secretary General
Continued and increased support for Ukraine is crucial as fighting continues in the country, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday.
“The situation on the battlefield is difficult. And that makes it even more important that we maintain and strengthen our support for Ukraine, because we cannot allow President Putin to win,” Stoltenberg said on the sidelines of a meeting with EU defense ministers in Brussels.
Stoltenberg also said that Ukraine must “exist as a sovereign, independent nation in Europe” and that supporting the country was in the interests of Western allies.
— Sophie Kiderlin
Tue, November 14, 2023, 6:50 am EST
Putin approves new media restrictions ahead of elections
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Acting Omsk Region Governor Vitaly Khotsenko at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on August 28, 2023.
Mikhail Klimentyev | Kremlin | Sputnik | via Portal
Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to changes to the law that would impose new restrictions on media coverage ahead of next March’s presidential election, local Russian media reported on Tuesday.
Under the amended law, only reporters employed by registered media outlets are allowed to cover Election Commission meetings, potentially preventing freelancers and independent journalists from covering the events.
The changes also block any reporting of the commission’s actions on military bases or in areas subject to martial law without prior authorization from regional and military authorities.
—Karen Gilchrist
23 hours ago
Putin pardons convicted murderer who fought in Ukraine
The four suspects in the murder of Russian investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya (from left), Sergei Khadzhikurbanov, Pavel Ryaguzov, Ibragim Makhmudov and Dzhabrail Makhmudov, sit in the defendant’s cage in front of a Moscow court on February 18, 2009. The jury in the trial of The Judge said the judge would retire on February 19 to consider a verdict against the defendant. AFP PHOTO / ALEXEY SAZONOV (Photo by Alexey SAZONOV / AFP) (Photo by ALEXEY SAZONOV/AFP via Getty Images)
Alexey Sazonov | Afp | Getty Images
Former Russian detective Sergei Khadzhikurbanov, who was convicted for his role in the murder of investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya, was pardoned after fighting in Ukraine, RBC News reported on Tuesday.
“After the first contract, Khadzhikurbanov participated in the SVO as a prisoner, then he was pardoned and now he participates in the SVO as a civilian soldier, having concluded a contract with the Ministry of Defense,” said Khadzhikurbanov’s lawyer Alexey Mikhalchik.
SVO is another term for Russia’s so-called “special military operation” – the euphemism Russia uses to describe its invasion of Ukraine.
Politkovskaya, best known for her reporting on abuses in Russia’s war in Chechnya, was shot dead in the elevator of her Moscow apartment in 2006.
—Karen Gilchrist
4 hours ago