Russia-Ukraine war – live: Putin launches biggest drone attack yet as explosions heard through night in Kyiv

Russia has launched its most significant kamikaze drone attack on Ukraine in months according to the Ukrainian air force, firing nearly a hundred Iranian-made drones and forcing civilians into bomb shelters for most of the night.

The attack in the early hours of Saturday primarily targeted the capital Kyiv. Dozens of Russian kamikaze drones were heard circling over the city for a period of roughly six hours before many were intercepted by Ukrainian air defences.

It was the most significant attack since May this year, in which residents were targeted at least 15 times in a month. Last winter, Russia launched a brutal campaign targeting critical infrastructure across Ukraine for several months.

Two were reported injured in the attacks overnight that struck at least three Kyiv districts, said the city’s mayor Vitali Klitschko.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s long-range precision strikes are inflicting mass casualties among Vladimir Putin’s forces “well behind” Russia’s frontline, the UK’s Ministry of Defence earlier claimed.

The dire lack of rotation among frontline troops is leaving Russia’s commanders with “an acute dilemma” of whether to keep soldiers safely dispersed or gather them in groups to boost morale, the ministry claimed – pointing to two recent strikes which likely caused dozens of casualties in Russian-held territory.

Key Points

• Explosions heard overnight in Kyiv as Putin launches biggest drone attack yet

• Vladimir Putin suffering losses ‘well behind the front line’, says UK

• Chinese executives ‘linked to underwater Crimea tunnel’ in intercepted emails

• Ukrainian troops ‘standing their ground’ in battle for Avdiivka, claims Kyiv

• Russia has never abandoned peace negotiations with Ukraine, insists Putin

Zelensky hosts Swiss president for international meeting

13:47 , Tom Watling

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has hosted his Swiss counterpart Alain Berset for “fruitful talks on humanitarian mine clearing, the use of profits from frozen Russian assets, and the Peace Formula”.

You can view a brief video of their meeting below.

Putin to boost AI work in Russia to fight a Western monopoly he says is 'unacceptable and dangerous'

13:00 , Tom Watling

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday announced a plan to endorse a national strategy for the development of artificial intelligence, emphasizing that it’s essential to prevent a Western monopoly.

Speaking at an AI conference in Moscow, Putin noted that “it’s imperative to use Russian solutions in the field of creating reliable and transparent artificial intelligence systems that are also safe for humans.”

“Monopolistic dominance of such foreign technology in Russia is unacceptable, dangerous and inadmissible,” Putin said.

He noted that “many modern systems, trained on Western data are intended for the Western market” and “reflect that part of Western ethics, norms of behavior, public policy to which we object.”

Putin to boost AI work in Russia to fight a Western monopoly he says is 'unacceptable and dangerous'

Slovak leader calls the war between Russia and Ukraine a frozen conflict

12:18 , Tom Watling

Slovakia’s new prime minister, Robert Fico, said on Friday he considers the war between Ukraine and Russia a frozen conflict that cannot be solved by sending arms to the Ukrainian armed forces.

Fico ended his country’s military aid for Ukraine after his new government was sworn in on Oct. 25.

After meeting his Czech counterpart, Petr Fiala, in Prague on Friday, he said he would prefer the Russian and Ukrainian sides sit at a negotiation table. He didn’t say how to achieve that.

Slovak leader calls the war between Russia and Ukraine a frozen conflict

Ukrainian civilians enjoy live music during Russian drone attack - video

11:30 , Tom Watling

Ukrainian civilians gathered in the underground bomb shelters beneath Kyiv have been enjoying some live music while Russian drones swirled above the capital.

Russia launched its most significant long range drone attack in months overnight, lasting roughly six hours.

Russia pauses attacks across Ukraine frontline amid losses in fierce battle for Avdiivka

11:00 , Tom Watling

Russia’s forces have halted their fighting at hotspots on the frontline as the war in Ukraine entered its 22nd month on Friday.

Russian forces continued to pound the battered Ukrainian town of Avdiivka but were unable to breach the defence of Ukraine’s troops as heavy fighting engulfed Bakhmut, military officials said.

“Basically, nothing has changed. Everything is very tough. As regards the city, there is an average number of eight to 16 to 18 attacks per day. Sometimes 30. We don’t have the time to count them,” said Vitaliy Barabash, head of Avdiivka’s military administration.

Russia pauses attacks across Ukraine frontline amid losses in battle for Avdiivka

Putin pardons two cannibals who joined Russia’s war in Ukraine – report

10:30 , Tom Watling

Vladimir Putin has reportedly pardoned two Russian men convicted of cannibalism after they deployed to the frontline in the war with Ukraine.

One of the men, Denis Gorin, was recruited into a private military company after signing a contract with the Russian ministry of defence but is known to have been convicted thrice for murdering at least four people between 2003 and 2022. He was also convicted of eating the remains of his victims along with his brother, reported Sibir Realii, a news outlet aligned with Radio Free Europe.

He is the 17th person convicted for murder to be pardoned by the Russian president between 2022 and 2023. “At the trial, he (Gorin) admitted that they ate the murdered man who was their acquaintance,” said his neighbour Dmitry Vladimirovich.

Putin pardons two cannibals who joined Russia’s war in Ukraine – report

Swiss president arrives in Kyiv during Russian drone attack

10:00 , Tom Watling

The president of Switzerland has arrived in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv to meet Volodymyr Zelensky and attend an international summit on food security as Russian drones were intercepted over the capital.

Alain Berset posted a picture of his arrival at Kyiv’s main train station this morning.

He had written earlier that he had arrived in the capital.

“Arrival in Kyiv where I will be attending the international summit on food security today and meeting President Zelensky,” he wrote.

“The focus is on the impact of Russia’s war of aggression on global food security and Switzerland’s long-term support for Ukraine.”

Ukraine aims a major drone attack at Crimea as Russia tries to capture a destroyed eastern city

09:30 , Tom Watling

Ukraine launched one of the biggest drone attacks on the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula since the full-scale war that started with Russia’s invasion 21 months ago, Russian officials said Friday.

At the same time, Ukrainian officials reported that the Kremlin’s forces escalated their weekslong and costly attempt to storm Avdiivka, a strategically important city in eastern Ukraine.

The stepped-up efforts came as both sides are keen to show they are not deadlocked as the fighting approaches 2024. Neither side has gained much ground despite a Ukrainian counteroffensive that began in June, and analysts predict the war will be a long one.

Ukraine aims a major drone attack at Crimea as Russia tries to capture a destroyed eastern city

Below are some photos from Kyiv following the Russian drone attack

08:55 , Tom Watling

Here are some of the latest photos from Kyiv after Russia’s six-hour drone attack.

World’s focus must not leave Ukraine, warns former NATO chief

08:26 , Tom Watling

The world's attention must "stay on Ukraine" as the Russian invasion continues, a former Nato secretary-general has warned.

Lord George Robertson said Russian President Vladimir Putin would be emboldened to extend the attacks beyond Ukraine if foreign governments stop providing weaponry.

Lord Robertson, who was in the top Nato role between 1999 and 2003, said: “I think it is inevitable that because we're seeing the television from Gaza every day, that people are paying less attention to Ukraine, but that must change.

“We have got to keep the world's attention focused on Ukraine because they are involved in a fight with Russia that has got huge implications for all of us as well.

“Vladimir Putin is not simply interested in subjugating Ukraine. He has got a much bigger agenda in the future, and if he succeeds in Ukraine, who knows where he is going to stop.”

The conflict in Ukraine has now surpassed 640 days - the invasion began in February 2022 - and Lord Robertson urged Nato member states to continue to press Russia amid Mr Putin's "miserable failure".

Russia ‘proud of its ability to kill people’ - Zelensky

07:58 , Tom Watling

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of being “proud of its ability to kill people” after it launched a significant drone attack against Kyiv this morning during the remembrance day for those killed in the Holodomor genocide.

As the fourth Saturday of November, today marks the Day of Memory for Victims of the Holodomor in Ukraine, honouring those killed in a famine in Ukraine manufactured by Joseph Stalin and the Soviet Union in the 1930s.

Estimates suggest that more than three million people, many of whom were farmers and rural villagers, were killed by forced starvation.

At least 5 injured in drone strikes on Kyiv, local mayor says

07:48 , Tom Watling

At least five people have been injured as a result of Russian drone attacks on Kyiv, including an 11-year-old child, the local mayor has claimed.

Vitali Klitschko said all five were “receiving medical assistance on the spot or in the trauma centre, without further hospitalistion”.

He wrote on Telegram: “The enemy continues to terrorise. To intimidate us, sow panic and decay in our cities and towns.

“But it won’t be like that! We work for the livelihood of communities, we support each other, together we bring Victory closer!”

Russia fire ‘record number’ of drones overnight

07:31 , Tom Watling

Russia has fired nearly 100 Iranian-made kamikaze drones overnight, mainly on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.

Local reports suggested air raid sirens began at around 3am. Mayor Vilati Klitschko wrote at 3.25: “It’s loud in the capital. Several more groups of ‘Shaheeds’ (Iranian drones) are going to Kyiv. Stay in shelters!”

Ukrainian air force commander Mykola Oleschuk said roughly 75 Shahed-131 and 136s were launched overnight, with at least 71 “destroyed by air defence”.

“On this night, November 25, 2023, the enemy released a record number of strike UAVs over Ukraine!” he wrote on Telegram. “The main direction of the attack is Kyiv!”

Explosions heard overnight in Kyiv as Putin launches biggest drone attack yet

07:11 , Anuj Pant

Drone engines and explosions were heard overnight in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv in what the country’s air force said was Vladimir Putin’s biggest drone attack yet.

The air force said Iran-made Shahed drones were used in the assault that mainly targeted Kyiv, and hit at least three of the capital’s districts.

The mass drone attack struck apartment complexes and falling drone fragments set fire to a children’s nursery, said Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko.

Two people were also injured in the attack due to the falling drone fragments.

Ukraine removes 3 Greek companies from 'international sponsors of war' list

07:00 , Alexander Butler

Ukraine’s National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NAZK) fully removed three Greek shipping companies from the international sponsors of war list after they stopped shipping Russian oil, the NAZK announced on 24 November.

Thenamaris Ships Management Inc., Minerva Marine, and TMS Tankers Ltd ceased transporting Russian oil in recent weeks amid tightening U.S. sanctions.

“The National Agency is open to cooperation with international business and is ready to consult on the steps necessary to de-list each individual company,” the NAZK said.

Mass drone attack strikes Kyiv

06:18 , Anuj Pant

A mass drone attack targeted many districts in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv on Saturday, reported Reuters, citing an eyewitness.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko on Telegram said two people were injured by fragments from downed drones that hit residential areas and other buildings in at least three Kyiv districts.

The fragments from one intercepted drone started a fire at a children’s nursery, said the mayor.

Zelensky discusses ammunitation supply with Lativa

06:00 , Alexander Butler

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has discussed the production of ammunition supply for his country’s war against Russia with Latvia.

“We talked about the defense support of Ukraine, our soldiers. About the stability of such support. We discussed the production and supply of ammunition - artillery, caliber 155 - as well as the issue of “Medevacs” - special armored vehicles for evacuating our wounded soldiers,” Zelensky said.

Finland shuts nearly all crossings to Russia

05:00 , Alexander Butler

Finland has temporarily closed all but one of its eight passenger crossings to Russia, its border force has announced.

“All border crossings and application for international protection at the eastern border is centralised at Raja-Jooseppi starting on 24 November 2023. The decision will remain in force until 23 December 2023,” it said in X.

More than 700 migrants from countries such as Afghanistan, Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, and Somalia have entered Finland over the past weeks via Russia.

Ukraine discusses ‘unity’ with Netherlands, Zelensky says

04:00 , Alexander Butler

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said he discussed the importance of maintaining “European unity” with the Netherlands.

“During our call, Mark Rutte and I discussed efforts to maintain European unity. We also discussed the importance of continuing military and financial assistance to Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.

“In this regard, the Netherlands’ recent decision to provide Ukraine with an additional €2bn for 2024 is the best signal to other partners.

“I am grateful to the Netherlands for all of its assistance, as well as for its support of Ukraine’s Peace Formula and the humanitarian initiative,” Zelensky said on X.

Up to 25,000 tons of graine destined for Nigeria, Kyiv says

03:00 , Alexander Butler

Up to 25,000 tons of grain will be sent to Nigeria from Ukraine, according to Ukraine’s foreign ministry.

“In cooperation with UN WFP, in a few days, the loading of vessel with 25K tons of grain to Nigeria will start, as part of the #GrainFromUkraine initiative.

“Ukraine is focused on expanding the list of recipient states and is actively considering supplying 12,5K tons to Somalia,” Ukraine’s foreign ministry said.

Strengthening of Ukraine aids European security, Kyiv says

02:00 , Alexander Butler

The strengthening of Ukraine’s military industry is also an investment into European and global security, a Ukrainian official said.

“Strengthening Ukrainian military industry is an investment into European and global security, not just Ukraine’s. Our state is a reliable partner in ensuring stability,” Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian president’s office, said.

Ukraine prepares army mobilisation reforms as war drags on

01:00 , Alexander Butler

Ukraine is drawing up reforms to its programme for mobilising troops as the war with Russia rages on with no end in sight, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

“The plan will be worked out and all the answers will be there - next week I will see this plan,” he said.

Kyiv does not disclose its troop losses or the workings of its mobilisation programme which has been under way since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Zelensky said he had ordered senior officials to draft proposals.

Ukrainian resident sentenced to 15 years for aiding Russia

00:01 , Alexander Butler

A Ukrainian resident was sentenced to 15 years in prison for passing information to Russia and aiding strikes on Vinnytsia, the Prosecutor General’s Office said.

The man was found guilty of treason on account of providing Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) with information on local military and civilian infrastructure.

The prosecutors pointed to a period between May and June 2023 when the sentenced resident spied on a local defense company’s facility. He also reportedly scanned WiFi networks and cell towers near military facilities using specialized software.

Zelensky names ‘three victories’ Ukraine needs on international front

Friday 24 November 2023 23:00 , Alexander Butler

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine needed to secure three key “victories” abroad, including the approval of major aid packages from the US Congress and European Union, and a formal start of accession talks to join the bloc.

“We need three victories. The first one is the victory with US Congress. It’s a challenge, it’s not easy but Ukraine is doing everything,” Zelensky said.

“The second is we need the help from the EU on the 50bn euro package,” he added. “And the third is to open a dialogue about our future membership.”

President Joe Biden asked Congress to approve many billions of dollars in assistance for Ukraine last month, but Kyiv funding was omitted from a stop-gap spending bill passed last week, raising concerns it may not get through.

A vocal bloc of Republicans oppose sending more aid to Ukraine. Opponents of the aid have said US taxpayer money should be spent at home, but a majority of Republicans and Democrats in Congress still support supplying aid.

Slovak leader calls the war between Russia and Ukraine a frozen conflict

Friday 24 November 2023 22:00 , Alexander Butler

Slovakia’s new prime minister, Robert Fico, said on Friday he considers the war between Ukraine and Russia a frozen conflict that cannot be solved by sending arms to the Ukrainian armed forces.

Fico ended his country’s military aid for Ukraine after his new government was sworn in on 25 October.

After meeting his Czech counterpart, Petr Fiala, in Prague on Friday, he said he would prefer the Russian and Ukrainian sides sit at a negotiation table. He didn’t say how to achieve that.

Slovak leader calls the war between Russia and Ukraine a frozen conflict

Putin to boost AI work in Russia to fight a Western monopoly he says is 'unacceptable and dangerous'

Friday 24 November 2023 21:00 , Alexander Butler

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday announced a plan to endorse a national strategy for the development of artificial intelligence, emphasizing that it’s essential to prevent a Western monopoly.

Speaking at an AI conference in Moscow, Putin noted that “it’s imperative to use Russian solutions in the field of creating reliable and transparent artificial intelligence systems that are also safe for humans.”

“Monopolistic dominance of such foreign technology in Russia is unacceptable, dangerous and inadmissible,” Mr Putin said.

Putin to boost AI work in Russia to fight a Western monopoly he says is 'unacceptable and dangerous'

Pictured: Ukrainians sit atop German leapord tanks

Friday 24 November 2023 20:00 , Alexander Butler

Russia warns Moldova for joining EU sanctions

Friday 24 November 2023 19:00 , Alexander Butler

Russia has vowed to retaliate against Moldova for joining European Union sanctions against it.

“We regard this as yet another hostile step by the Moldovan leadership, which is fully integrated into the anti-Russian campaign of the ‘collective West’,” the Russian foreign ministry said.

“Its aim is the complete destruction of Russian-Moldovan relations, which, through the fault of official Chisinau, are already in a very deplorable state.”

Denmark gives Ukraine £300m in military support

Friday 24 November 2023 18:00 , Alexander Butler

Denmark will increase its military support for Ukraine by £302m this year, its defence ministry has said.

This is in addition to the £629m it has already pledged to spend on military donations for Kyiv.

Interestingly, Denmark, which is a NATO member, said it would include this funding for Ukraine towards its alliance obligations.

Putin calls on Russia to rival West in AI development

Friday 24 November 2023 17:07 , Alexander Butler

Russian president Vladimir Putin has urged his country to rival the West in its development of artificial technology.

“In the very near future, as one of the first steps, a presidential decree will be signed and a new version of the national strategy for the development of artificial intelligence will be approved,” Mr Putin said.

More than 150 ships travel through Black Sea grain corridor

Friday 24 November 2023 16:35 , Alexander Butler

More than 150 ships carrying grain and other cargo have now travelled through Ukraine’s Black Sea corridor, according to the US ambassador in Kyiv.

“As of today, 153 ships carrying over 5.6 million metric tons of grain and other cargo have gone through Ukraine’s Black Sea humanitarian corridor, supporting farmers and other businesses in Ukraine and providing food and other products to the world,” ambassador Bridget A. Brink said on X.

Full report: Ukraine aims a major drone attack at Crimea as Russia tries to capture eastern city

Friday 24 November 2023 15:56 , Andy Gregory

Ukraine launched one of the biggest drone attacks on the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula since the full-scale war that started with Russia’s invasion 21 months ago, Russian officials said Friday.

At the same time, Ukrainian officials reported that the Kremlin’s forces escalated their weekslong and costly attempt to storm Avdiivka, a strategically important city in eastern Ukraine.

The stepped-up efforts came as both sides are keen to show they are not deadlocked as the fighting approaches 2024.

Illia Novikov has the full report:

Ukraine aims a major drone attack at Crimea as Russia tries to capture a destroyed eastern city

More than 150 ships have passed through Black Sea corridor, says US diplomat

Friday 24 November 2023 13:29 , Andy Gregory

Some 153 ships have so far passed through Ukraine’s humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea since Russia pulled out of the UN-brokered grain deal in July, the US ambassador in Kyiv has said.

Germany extends protection status for Ukrainian refugees until March 2025

Friday 24 November 2023 13:02 , Andy Gregory

The residence permits of refugees from Ukraine who fled the war and received protection status in Germany will be extended until March 2025, the interior ministry has said.

The Bundesrat upper house of parliament had approved the decree from the ministry on Friday, the ministry said in a statement.

This means that those affected do not have to apply for an extension of their residence status, and no associated appointments with the immigration authorities are necessary, it added.

Dutch minister says she hopes aid to Ukraine will continue despite election outcome

Friday 24 November 2023 12:43 , Andy Gregory

Dutch defence minister Kajsa Ollongren has said she hoped the country’s military support to Ukraine would continue even under a new government led by anti-EU populist Geert Wilders – who has said the Dutch should stop providing Kyiv with arms.

Ms Ollongren said Mr Wilders’ victory in this week’s elections had led to concerned phone calls from colleagues around Europe asking whether the Dutch stance on Ukraine would change.

“In the Netherlands there is broad support for our help to Ukraine,” she told reporters on Friday. “I hope and expect this will not change in the new parliament. But the PVV is now the largest party and they have never been enthusiastic about support to Ukraine. They have even been pro-Russia at times. So that has me worried.”

The Dutch government last week earmarked an additional €2bn in military aid for Ukraine in 2024, taking total support since the start of the Russian invasion to around €7.5bn.

It is still unclear how Dutch talks that began on Friday on the formation of a new government will unfold, but none of the PVV’s potential coalition partners share his views on ending support for Ukraine.

Moscow accuses Ukraine of launching huge drone attack on Crimea

Friday 24 November 2023 11:51 , Andy Gregory

Ukraine has launched one of its largest drone attacks on Crimea since Moscow’s invasion last February, Russian officials have claimed.

Vladimir Saldo, governor in Russian-occupied parts of Kherson, said claimed dozens of drones were shot down over the region and in northern Crimea after Ukraine launched a major attack early on Friday.

The Russian defence ministry said air defences downed 13 Ukrainian drones over Crimea and three more over southern Russia’s Volgograd region.

Hopes fade for quick end to Polish lorry protests, as two Ukrainian drivers die in cold

Friday 24 November 2023 11:35 , Andy Gregory

Ukraine’s top hauliers’ union has warned that hopes of a rapid end to Polish lorry driver protests at the border were fading, as Kyiv prepared to evacuate its drivers stranded in Poland.

Two Ukrainian drivers have died and thousands of lorries have been stuck for days in the winter cold as Polish truckers blocked the roads to four crossings on the border.

“Frankly speaking, the more we talk to them the less hope we have,” Leonid Kostiuchenko, president of the Ukrainian Association of International Carriers, told Ukrainian broadcasters.

“I spoke to the leader of the protesters and his attitude is that we will block for such a long time that you will ... celebrate New Year in a queue. I don’t understand this humour.”

The Polish truckers say they are losing out to Ukrainian companies who offer a cheaper rate and are now transporting goods within the European Union, and not just back and forth to Ukraine.

Russian and Chinese executives holding secret talks on underwater tunnel to Crimea

Friday 24 November 2023 10:53 , Andy Gregory

Russian and Chinese business executives have been secretly discussing the construction of an underwater tunnel from Russia to annexed Crimea, Ukraine’s security services claim.

Kyiv claims to have intercepted transmissions about plans to build a vast tunnel under the Kerch strait, as Vladimir Putin’s prized 11-mile bridge there comes under sustained Ukrainian attacks.

The emails – handed to the Washington Post, which claims to have corroborated them in its own reporting – suggest one of China’s largest construction companies has indicated its willingness to be involved, and mention meetings with Chinese delegates in Crimea.

The emails also reportedly reveal efforts to maintain secrecy, with one emphasising that the company will participate only under a “strict provision of complete confidentiality”, with its name will be replaced by “another, unaffiliated legal entity” on any contracts. Another email mentions a Chinese bank willing to “convert its dollar funds into rubles for their transfer to Crimea to fund [consortium] projects”, The Post reports.

Experts told the newspaper that any such construction would likely not be completed for many years – but that this may well fit into Mr Putin’s longer-term planning for the Ukrainian peninsula illegally seized by Russia in 2014.

Kremlin expresses concern over Nato calls for military ‘Schengen Zone'

Friday 24 November 2023 10:28 , Andy Gregory

Nato’s desire to create a military equivalent of the Schengen Zone has ratcheted up tensions and is a cause for concern, the Kremlin has said.

The chief of Nato’s logistics command, Lieutenant-General Alexander Sollfrank, told Reuters in an interview on Thursday that he would like to see such a zone, as he was worried that too much red tape across Europe was hindering troop movements.

Mr Sollfrank said it was a problem that could cause major delays were a conflict with Russia to erupt.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov retorted on Friday that Russia would respond if the proposal became a reality.

Russia pauses attacks across Ukraine frontline amid losses in fierce battle for Avdiivka

Friday 24 November 2023 10:10 , Andy Gregory

Russia’s forces have halted their fighting at hotspots on the frontline as the war in Ukraine entered its 22nd month on Friday, my colleague Arpan Rai reports.

Russian forces continued to pound the battered Ukrainian town of Avdiivka but were unable to breach the defence of Ukraine’s troops as heavy fighting engulfed Bakhmut, military officials said.

“Basically, nothing has changed. Everything is very tough. As regards the city, there is an average number of eight to 16 to 18 attacks per day. Sometimes 30. We don’t have the time to count them,” said Vitaliy Barabash, head of Avdiivka’s military administration.

Russia’s troops have unleashed “the fiercest” attacks on Avdiivka – Moscow’s newest target after the bloody battle of Bakhmut.

“I am pleased the defence line has been holding for a month and a half. It has not been breached, no matter what they say,” Mr Barabash said in a daily update of fighting on Thursday.

Russia pauses attacks across Ukraine frontline amid losses in battle for Avdiivka

Pictured: Snow hits Kyiv and hampers efforts on frontline

Friday 24 November 2023 09:52 , Andy Gregory

Snow has been pictured falling as far west as Kyiv in recent days, with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky warning that the changing weather would make the situation more difficult on the frontline.

Finland closes all but one crossing on Russian border

Friday 24 November 2023 09:30 , Andy Gregory

Finland has temporarily closed all but one of its eight passenger crossings to Russia.

Helsinki has accused Russia of funnelling asylum-seekers to its border, after more than 700 people from nations such as Yemen, Afghanistan, Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia and Syria have entered Finland from Russia in recent weeks.

Having last week closed four border stations, Finland overnight closed all remaining passenger crossings except its northernmost one – Raja-Jooseppi, in the Arctic region – for a month.

Raja-Jooseppi opened its gates for traffic this morning and will continue to accept asylum applications during its four daily opening hours, the Finnish Border Guard said.

No migrants arrived overnight outside opening hours, it added.

The European Union’s border agency Frontex said on Thursday it would deploy 50 border guard officers and other staff to Finland along with equipment such as patrol cars to bolster control activities along the Russian border.

High inflation persists in Russia

Friday 24 November 2023 09:01 , AP

The shelves at Moscow supermarkets are full of fruit and vegetables, cheese and meat. But many of the shoppers look at the selection with dismay as inflation makes their wallets feel empty.

Russia’s Central Bank has raised its key lending rate four times this year to try to get inflation under control and stabilize the ruble’s exchange rate as the economy weathers the effects of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine and the Western sanctions imposed as a consequence.

The last time it raised the rate – to 15 per cent, doubled that from the beginning of the year – the bank said it was concerned about prices that were increasing at an annualised pace of about 12 per cent. The bank now forecasts inflation for the full year, as well as next year, to be about 7.5 per cent.

Although that rate is high, it may be an understatement.

“If we talk in percentage terms, then, probably, (prices) increased by 25 per cent. This is meat, staple products — dairy produce, fruits, vegetables, sausages. My husband can’t live without sausage! Sometimes I’m just amazed at price spikes,” said Roxana Gheltkova, a shopper in a Moscow supermarket.

Russian consumers feel themselves in a tight spot as high inflation persists

Putin’s troops suffering mass casualties ‘well behind the front line’, says UK

Friday 24 November 2023 08:36 , Andy Gregory

Ukrainian long-range precision strikes are inflicting mass casualties among Vladimir Putin’s forces gathering in large groups “well behind the frontline”, as lengthy deployments to the front leave commanders with “an acute dilemma” of whether to keep troops separate or arrange events to boost morale, the UK has claimed.

“Russian forces in Ukraine continue to suffer mass casualties from Ukrainian long-range precision strikes well behind the front line,” said Britain’s Ministry of Defence.

“On 10 November 2023, likely over 70 Russian troops were killed in a strike on a convoy of trucks 23km behind the front line in the village of Hladkivka, Kherson Oblast. Subsequently, on 19 November 2023, a strike on Russian troops attending an award ceremony or concert in Kumachove, 60km inside Russian-controlled territory, likely caused tens of casualties.

“Ukraine has also suffered similar incidents: a Russian ballistic missile killed 19 members of Ukraine’s 128th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade at a medal ceremony on 3 November 2023.

“Deployed soldiers are typically well aware of the ranges of their adversary’s weapons systems. However, faced with the reality of very long combat deployments, commanders face an acute dilemma.

“They must balance the best practice of keeping the troops dispersed, and less vulnerable to strikes, and the day-to-day requirement to gather units together to conduct administration and to maintain morale.”

Putin pardons two cannibals who joined Russia’s war in Ukraine – report

Friday 24 November 2023 08:04 , Andy Gregory

Vladimir Putin has reportedly pardoned two Russian men convicted of cannibalism after they deployed to the frontline in the war with Ukraine.

One of the men, Denis Gorin, was recruited into a private military company after signing a contract with the Russian ministry of defence but is known to have been convicted thrice for murdering at least four people between 2003 and 2022. He was also convicted of eating the remains of his victims along with his brother, reported Sibir Realii, a news outlet aligned with Radio Free Europe.

Another man, Nikolai Ogolobyak, was convicted of ritual murders, according to the Russian media reports.

He was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2019 for murdering four teenagers and then consuming their remains. The 33-year-old man was reportedly pardoned this week by the Russian president for fighting in the invasion of Ukraine.

My colleague Arpan Rai has the full report here:

Estonia accuses Russia of weaponising immigration at Europe’s borders

Friday 24 November 2023 06:00 , Alexander Butler

Estonia has accused Russia of weaponising immigration on Europe’s eastern borders amid a rise in the number of asylum seekers trying to enter its territory and Finland.

Speaking during a meeting in Stockholm of Nordic and Baltic defence ministers, Hanno Pevkur, Estonia’s defence minister, claimed the hundreds of people who had arrived at the borders of the two countries in recent weeks were a “fully state-orchestrated” operation by Moscow.

Latvia’s defence minister, Andris SprÅ«ds, went a step further, blaming the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, who he described as the “puppet master”.

Ukrainian embassy asks Warsaw to unblock border following 2nd driver's death

Friday 24 November 2023 05:00 , Alexander Butler

The Ukrainian embassy in Poland appealed to Warsaw to end a haulers’ blockade at the Polish-Ukrainian border after a second trucker died while waiting in the line, Ambassador Vasyl Zvarych said.

Polish protesters have been blocking the movement of cargo vehicles at several border crossings with Ukraine since early November in a protest against the EU’s liberalization of transport rules for Ukrainian trucks.

EU border agency to bolster Finland's border

Friday 24 November 2023 04:00 , Alexander Butler

The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) plans to deploy 50 border guard officers and other staff, as well as equipment, to Finland amid a growing migrant crisis on the border with Russia, the agency announced on Nov. 23.

November saw an unusually high number of third-country asylum seekers coming to the Finnish border from Russia.

Helsinki accused Moscow of orchestrating the migrant influx as retribution for the country’s entry to NATO and moved to close all but one border crossing with its eastern neighbor.

Ukraine sanctions over 300 Russian, foreign companies

Friday 24 November 2023 03:00 , Alexander Butler

Ukraine has introduced economic sanctions against more than 300 companies around the world, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced.

A number of energy companies from across Russia have been targeted by five-year sanctions, while sanctions lasting 10 years were imposed on 87 individuals, among them Ukrainian citizens.

A separate decree imposed 10-year sanctions on Swiss, Cypriot, British, Uzbek, and Russian citizens, as well as companies based in Malta, China, Turkey, Cyprus, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, and Russia.