Kyiv says Russia suffered more than 2,000 casualties in 24 hours
Ukraine’s military announced on Friday, Nov. 29, that Russia suffered 2,030 casualties in a 24-hour period, which would be the first time since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine that the casualty count among Russian troops reached a number that high. Ukraine did not reveal whether those numbers included Russian soldiers killed, captured or missing.
The casualty total reportedly breaks the previous 24-hour record of 1,950, which Kyiv said happened on Nov. 12. Ukraine said that it calculated the Russian losses through leaked data and published Russian intelligence reports.
Despite the losses for Moscow, Russian troops, along with the help of thousands of North Korean troops, have reportedly continued to advance, sparking fears that Ukrainian forces do not have sufficient manpower to hold them off. U.S. researchers reportedly found that Moscow has captured territory at a rate of nearly nine square miles per day over the past month.
Ukrainian officials warn that its 600-mile frontline is now at its highest risk of collapse since February 2022.
Earlier this week, the Biden administration reportedly pushed Ukraine to lower the age of draft eligibility to counter Russian gains. Ukraine estimates that it will need around 160,000 more troops. However, according to the report, the United States believes that number is higher than Ukrainian estimates.
The Biden administration is also rushing aid to Ukraine amid concerns the incoming Trump administration could limit U.S. aid. President Joe Biden recently announced that he is forgiving $4.7 billion in Ukrainian debt.
N Korea ballistic missile facility growing as revealed by new satellite images
U.S. defense experts revealed on Monday, Nov. 25, that they believe that Pyongyang may be ramping up its production of weapons for Moscow to use in its war in Ukraine. Researchers said new satellite images reveal North Korea is expanding a crucial weapons manufacturing complex that produces short-range missiles.
The California think-tank behind the findings noted that the plant is the only one known to produce a certain class of ballistic missiles used by Russia to strike Ukrainian forces.
Known as the KN23, the rockets are reportedly capable of evading missile defense systems by flying at low altitudes, which makes them useful for Russian forces trying to penetrate Ukrainian air defenses.
The satellite images show what reportedly appears to be an additional assembly building under construction and a housing structure for workers near North Korea’s east coast.
North Korean missiles allegedly account for only a fraction of Moscow’s strikes in Ukraine. However, the developments stoked fears among South Korea and the United States because both countries have long sought to prevent North Korea from expanding its production of ballistic missiles.
Both Moscow and Pyongyang denied that North Korea is supplying weapons to Russia for its war in Ukraine, despite the countries signing a mutual defense treaty in June 2024 and vowing to boost military ties.
Meanwhile, thousands of North Korean troops are reportedly being deployed to help Russia in its war efforts.
France, UK weigh military support for Ukraine as US commitment wavers
France and the United Kingdom are discussing the potential deployment of troops to Ukraine as part of a European coalition. French officials say all options remain under consideration, particularly as U.S. aid to Kyiv faces uncertainty with President-elect Donald Trump set to take office in January 2025. Talks between London and Paris have intensified, focusing on forming a European defense coalition to bolster Ukraine’s position and counter the risk of further Russian advances.
NATO reported that Russia’s ground forces have grown since the war began, even as the quality of equipment and training has declined. Moscow ramped up aerial attacks and missile launches, underscoring escalating tensions.
In response, the U.K. announced its largest sanctions package yet, targeting Russia’s “shadow fleet” of oil tankers allegedly used to evade Western restrictions. British leaders are calling on allies to ensure Ukraine receives sufficient resources to maintain its defenses through 2025.
NATO is now preparing for emergency talks as the situation grows more volatile. France has signaled it may send long-range weapons capable of striking targets in Russia.
Meanwhile, France has completed training for a newly formed Ukrainian brigade under its “Champagne” task force. Known as the “Anne of Kyiv” brigade, the unit is named after a Ukrainian princess who became a queen of France.
The brigade, which will eventually comprise 4,500 troops, underwent more than two months of rigorous training in battlefield tactics, coordination and the use of advanced weaponry. Equipped with French-supplied light tanks, artillery and missile systems, the soldiers are now better prepared for the intense combat scenarios they are likely to face.
Biden to cancel $4.7B in Ukrainian debt as time in office nears end
With just weeks left in his presidency, President Joe Biden is working to secure support for Ukraine before President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20. As he hits the lame-duck portion of his presidency, Biden announced on Wednesday, Nov. 20, the forgiveness of $4.7 billion in Ukrainian debt.
The president does have the authority to forgive the debt due to U.S. Congress granting him the power in an April funding bill that approved $9.4 billion in loan forgiveness.
The move by Biden is important to the White House because some within the administration are reportedly concerned Trump could limit U.S. funding for the war.
The White House and Ukraine said the loan forgiveness will give Ukraine the ability to maintain its defense while keeping government functions intact.
However, some Republicans have issues with the plan. They argue loan forgiveness before leaving office won’t have the proper oversight and sets a bad precedent for lame-duck presidential actions.
Other actions taken by the Biden administration recently include shipping anti-personnel land mines to Ukraine and authorizing Ukraine’s armed forces to strike targets in Russia with long-range ATACMS.
The White House says its decisions are in response to Moscow using around 10,000 North Korean troops to clear Ukrainian forces out of the Kursk region.
His proposal includes freezing the conflict along the current front lines, allowing Russia to retain significant territory, including Crimea and large portions of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions.
These areas account for nearly 20% of Ukraine’s territory, an expanse roughly equivalent to the size of Virginia. The territory also includes critical land routes to Crimea.
Putin ruled out returning Crimea or making any major territorial concessions and insisted Ukraine abandon its ambitions to join NATO.
The Kremlin’s conditions reportedly include limits on Ukraine’s military size and assurances to protect the use of the Russian language. While Moscow is open to offering security guarantees for Ukraine, it insists on the complete absence of NATO forces or influence within the country.
The Kremlin’s stance reflects its broader objective of solidifying territorial gains while countering what it perceives as NATO’s encroachment. Putin has characterized the conflict as a pivotal moment in resisting Western influence in regions Moscow considers part of its sphere of control. However, NATO has emphasized that its members join voluntarily.
Potential negotiations could resemble a 2022 draft agreement discussed during the Istanbul talks. Those talks proposed Ukrainian neutrality in exchange for international security guarantees from U.N. Security Council members.
However, Kyiv remains steadfast in its demand for full territorial sovereignty, including the return of Crimea.
Reports from the front lines indicate that fighting has intensified. Russian forces have made their fastest advances since the early days of the war, further complicating the prospect of a cease-fire. The Kremlin has stated that if no agreement is reached, military operations will continue.
Putin retains decisive control over any potential negotiations, reflecting the centralized decision-making within the Kremlin. While a temporary truce may be achievable, analysts widely agree a comprehensive peace agreement addressing both sides’ security concerns remains unlikely.
US closes embassy in Kyiv over potential Russian air attack
The United States closed its embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Wednesday, Nov. 20, after officials received information about a possible air attack. This signals another twist in the escalation in the war between Russia and Ukraine.
The embassy released a one-paragraph statement saying it was closing after it received specific information of a potential significant air attack on Nov. 20. The embassy instructed employees to shelter in place and be prepared in case an air alert is announced.
The message didn’t mention Russia by name. However, the Kremlin’s press secretary is quoted as saying the embassy closure is “about the course of the special military operation,” which is Russia’s formal term for its war with Ukraine.
This latest news comes after Russia accused Ukraine of firing American-made long-range missiles into Russia on Tuesday, Nov. 19. Russia said it intercepted five and destroyed a sixth.
Neither Ukraine nor the United States has commented on that Russian claim. However, the Russian foreign minister called the apparent attack an escalation by the West.
On the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin lowered the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons. He said the Kremlin may use nuclear weapons in the event of a critical threat to its sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as ally Belarus.
All of this comes after the Biden administration permitted Ukraine to begin using long-range missiles for strikes on Russia late last weekend.
Biden allows Ukraine to strike Russia with long-range US missiles
With North Korea entering the war, the Biden administration is now allowing Ukraine to use long-range missiles inside Russia. And President-elect Donald Trump returned to New York for a UFC showdown this weekend while also making more presidential picks. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Nov. 18, 2024.
Biden allows Ukraine to strike Russia with long-range US missiles
It’s been nearly three years since Russia invaded Ukraine, and while the U.S. has supported Ukraine since the start, President Joe Biden is now easing limitations on how U.S.-supplied weapons can be used.
The policy shift comes as President Biden’s time in office winds down and President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to limit U.S. support for Ukraine. Trump has also promised to quickly put an end to the war with Russia but has yet to say how.
Biden’s decision comes as Russia unleashed a barrage of its own missiles in Ukraine Sunday, Nov. 17. Ukrainian authorities said 10 people, including two children, were killed and dozens injured in a Russian strike on a residential building in Sumy, near the Russian border.
Earlier in the day, Russia launched its largest attack against Ukraine since August, once again targeting power plants and energy infrastructure across the country. Ukrainian authorities said at least five people were killed in those strikes.
On the social site Telegram, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said about 120 missiles and 90 drones were fired into the country, with Ukrainian air defenses downing more than 140 targets.
Israeli strike in Beirut kills Hezbollah’s top spokesman
An Israeli strike on a neighborhood in Beirut killed Hezbollah’s top spokesman, according to the militant group.
Mohammed Afif was an adviser to the late Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, whom Israel killed in an attack on Beirut in September. Afif had been responsible for Hezbollah’s media relations since 2014.
Lebanon’s health ministry said no evacuation warning was issued before the strike, which happened in the middle of the day, and four people were killed.
🔴ELIMINATED: Chief Propagandist and Spokesperson of Hezbollah, Mohammed Afif
Afif was a senior Hezbollah military operative, in contact with senior officials and directly involved in advancing and executing Hezbollah’s terrorist activities against Israel.
The Israel Defense Forces said it carried out a “precise, intelligence-based strike” that “eliminated the terrorist Mohammed Afif, the chief propagandist and spokesperson of the Hezbollah terrorist organization.”
Trump attends UFC event in New York City, makes more picks for 2nd term
Over the weekend, President-elect Trump returned to Madison Square Garden to see the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s pay-per-view event. It was the first time Trump was back at the New York City venue since his rally last month and he received roaring applause from the UFC crowd Saturday night, Nov. 16, including chants of “USA!”
Trump was joined by friend and UFC President Dana White, as well as some of the names he’s recently picked to join his administration, including Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Tulsi Gabbard. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and Trump’s oldest sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, were also in attendance.
The president-elect also shook hands with Joe Rogan, one of the commentators for the event. Trump was a guest on Rogan’s podcast in the days leading up to the election.
Trump’s weekend also involved filling more key positions in his administration, including nominating Chris Wright to lead the Department of Energy. Wright is the chief executive of Liberty Energy, a Denver, Colorado based fracking company.
He also picked current FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr to be the agency’s chairman. Carr recently made headlines after claiming Vice President Kamala Harris’ appearance on Saturday Night Live violated FCC rules.
More nominations from the president-elect are expected to come this week.
Biden becomes first sitting president to visit Amazon rainforest
President Biden made history Sunday, Nov. 17, becoming the first sitting president to visit the Amazon rainforest.
While there, Biden met indigenous leaders and visited a museum at the gateway to the amazon. He also toured the drought-shrunken waters of the Amazon River’s greatest tributary and signed a U.S. proclamation designating Nov. 17 International Conservation Day, highlighting his commitment to the preservation of the region.
He also touched on concerns the incoming Trump administration might change U.S. climate policy.
“It’s no secret that I’m leaving office in January,” Biden said. “I will leave my successor and my country in a strong foundation to build on if they choose to do so.”
Today I issued an official proclamation to support the conservation of nature around the world.
That was the most that Biden publicly referenced President-elect Trump during his South American tour.
The transition was briefly mentioned during Chinese president Xi Jinping’s remarks on Saturday, Nov. 16 during his final meeting with Biden. While he also did not mention Trump by name, Xi appeared to signal his concern over what the new administration could mean for China’s relationship with the U.S. During his campaign, Trump promised to levy 60% tariffs on Chinese imports.
Reports: WBD, NBA settle with 11-year deal; ‘Inside the NBA’ to air on ABC
Warner Brothers Discovery is back in the game when it comes to the NBA. Though the company will no longer be airing games on its TNT network after this season, the Wall Street Journal and other outlets report the two sides have come to an agreement to keep NBA programming in the Warner Bros. family.
The reports said the new deal will settle Warner Brothers Discovery’s breach of contract lawsuit, which it filed against the league after the NBA signed rights deals with Disney’s ESPN, Comcast’s NBC, and Amazon.
This 11-year agreement will see NBA content remain on Warner Bros. Discovery’s digital platforms Bleacher Report and House of Highlights. It also gives Warner Brothers Discovery the right to distribute games overseas in places such as northern Europe and parts of Latin America, excluding Mexico and Brazil.
Reports said Warner Brothers Discovery also struck a deal with Disney to license its popular TNT show “Inside the NBA,” featuring former-players-turned-commentators Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley starting next season. The show will air throughout the season on ABC and ESPN.
The deals are expected to be officially announced this week.
Netflix says 60 million households tuned in live for Tyson vs. Paul
Netflix also said 50 million households watched the co-main event that saw Katie Taylor retain her championship against Amanda Serrano. The streaming giant said that would make it the most-watched professional women’s sporting event in United States history.
Netflix said more information, like total viewers, will be released later this week.
Netflix’s future live sporting events will include NFL games on Christmas Day and WWE weekly programming starting next year.
Kyiv faces major attack, Crimea bombing kills Russian commander
Russia launched a missile and drone attack on Kyiv early Wednesday, Nov. 13, marking the first major attack on the Ukrainian capital in more than two months. Ukrainian officials reported that air defenses intercepted multiple cruise and ballistic missiles, along with nearly a dozen drones. Emergency crews are assessing the extent of the damage.
In Kyiv’s Brovary district, debris from the strikes injured a 48-year-old man and started a fire at a warehouse, according to local authorities. In response, officials imposed daytime electricity restrictions on businesses and industries to conserve power as critical infrastructure remains a key target for Russian forces.
The attacks appear to signal a shift in Russian strategy, with the coordinated use of missiles and drones aimed at overwhelming Ukraine’s defenses and targeting civilian and industrial sites. Analysts suggest the tactics are designed to strain Ukraine’s resources and destabilize the region further.
Meanwhile, in Crimea, a senior Russian naval commander, Capt. Valery Trankovsky, was killed in a car bombing in Sevastopol. Russian authorities identified Trankovsky as the chief of staff for a missile boat brigade involved in the war against Ukraine. Officials labeled the incident a terrorist act.
Crimean Telegram channels report that a vehicle was blown up in Russian-occupied Sevastopol. Allegedly, a captain of the 1st rank of the Russian Black Sea Fleet was in the car. He was killed.
According to media reports, a car with an improvised explosive device flew into the… pic.twitter.com/LSYcbhY1f2
Ukrainian sources described Trankovsky as a “war criminal” responsible for missile strikes on civilian sites in Ukraine. Reports indicate the bomb was detonated remotely after he had been under surveillance for several days.
This car bombing follows a series of high-profile attacks targeting Russian officials in occupied territories. Analysts view these incidents as part of Ukraine’s broader efforts to disrupt Russian operations and weaken its military leadership.
10,000 North Korean troops join Russia near Ukraine border
Russia has amassed a force of 50,000 troops, including 10,000 North Korean soldiers, near the Kursk region in preparation for a new assault to retake Ukrainian-held territory, according to U.S. and Ukrainian officials. This escalation comes as North Korean forces, training with Russian troops, are expected to join in direct combat in what could mark a significant turning point in the two-year conflict.
A recent U.S. intelligence assessment suggests Moscow has bolstered its forces in Kursk without reducing its eastern Ukraine presence, allowing it to pressure Ukraine on multiple fronts simultaneously. The North Korean soldiers, drawn from elite units and equipped with Russian weapons, are divided into assault and support units and are expected to fight in their own discrete groups.
According to Ukrainian officials, Russia has provided the North Korean forces with machine guns, sniper rifles, anti-tank missiles and rocket-propelled grenades. Training for the North Koreans has reportedly included artillery fire, basic infantry tactics and trench clearing in preparation for frontal assaults on entrenched Ukrainian positions.
AP Images
This new offensive looms as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office with a stated priority of ending the war quickly. While Trump has not specified his approach, Vice President-elect JD Vance has suggested a plan that would allow Russia to retain territory it has captured in Ukraine.
U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, indicate that North Korea may have agreed to send its troops in exchange for missile technology and diplomatic support from Russia. The North Korean forces, known for cohesion and discipline, are expected to bolster Russia’s capability in Kursk, though the nation’s lack of combat experience raises questions about their battlefield effectiveness.
In the past 24 hours, Ukraine reported Russia’s deadliest day of the war, with 1,770 Russian soldiers killed or wounded. British defense officials noted that Russian forces sustained an average of 1,500 casualties per day in October 2024, resulting in Moscow’s highest monthly losses since the war began.
Ukraine launched its largest attack on Moscow since the start of the war, striking Russia’s capital late Saturday night, Nov. 9, into early Sunday, Nov. 10. Russia said a total of 34 drones were launched in Moscow’s direction, but all of them were shot down. Five people were injured in the Moscow region, Russia’s defense ministry said.
“An attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack using airplane-type drones on the territory of the Russian Federation was thwarted,” the ministry said.
The attack prompted “temporary restrictions” at multiple airports serving the Moscow region. Russia’s federal air transport agency said the airports of Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo and Zhukovsky diverted at least 36 flights, but then resumed operations.
That attack came after Ukraine said Russia launched a total of 145 drones Saturday night, the most ever in a single night-time attack during the war. Ukraine said its defenses shot down more than 60 of the drones, while others left Ukrainian airspace.
Reuters and The Washington Post reported over the weekend that Trump spoke with Putin last week. However, on Monday, Nov. 11, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said no such call had taken place.
“This is completely untrue. This is pure fiction, it’s just false information,” Peskov told reporters. “There was no conversation.”
“This is the most obvious example of the quality of the information that is being published now, sometimes even in fairly reputable publications,” he said.
Peskov said “there are no concrete plans yet” for Putin to contact Trump.
