Day 1000 of the War in Ukraine (19 Nov)
The US gives permission to use long range missiles in Russia (Kursk)
I’ve been watching how the word is reacting to the US giving permission to use long range missiles they have supplied to Ukraine, inside of Russia, and how Putin has responded. Shortly after, the UK gave the green light to use Storm Shadow missiles inside of Russia too. Putin gave the go ahead to use a ballistic missile against Ukraine, stating that Russia will consider countries who supply Ukraine with weapons as legitimate targets. Russia has been making up their own rules this entire time and the UN has been powerless to stop them
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Is this escalation? Putin stated that no other country has weapons that can match Russia as a threat. The questions people will ask is did the US leave it too late? Biden gave the green light as he is out of office soon and he should have done it much earlier. Therefore, by Trump winning the election, it has forced the Biden administration to act quickly and that includes giving Ukraine anti-personnel mines to stop the Russians advancing in the Donbas.
While the Ottawa Treaty of 1997 banned the use of anti-personnel mines the US, China, and Russia were not signatories. The difference in these mines is that they battery operated and can last from four hours to 2 weeks, so de-mining isn’t an issue. The reality is that the US under a Trump administration will not provide Ukraine with the defences it needs to defeat Russia.
Zelenskyy then also changed his tune again and stated that they will lose the war if the US doesn’t send military aid. You can’t have it both ways by saying with Trump the war will end sooner, and then say without US aid they will be defeated by Russia. Is he saying that the war will end sooner as Russia will defeat them quicker without US aid because Trump will halt it?
People were celebrating in a way 1000 days of Ukraine defending itself from Russia, but let’s look at how much Ukraine has done to help itself? I’ve been following this since the start of the invasion and Ukraine has admitted to huge corruption issues before and during the war. Then there is the problem of Russian operatives in Ukraine that effectively handed over territory to the Russians. Another issue is mobilisation and the age of conscription—lower the age to 18 or 21 as in line with other countries and you will have more soldiers (the age was 26 and then lowered to 25 only in 2024). With this, we saw in 2022, men of 18-26 years old going. out to bars and nightclubs in Kyiv while others were fighting on the front line and them saying they are trying to carry on as normal. Then there is the scandal of fake disability papers with draft dodgers paying money to avoid having to go to war.
Part of the internal plan for Ukraine is to implement measures to control mobilisation and to set up systems for those not of conscription age yet. I fail to see how these measures that will take years to take effect will help when reluctantly we have to admit Russia has the edge, having seized more land in 2024 than in has done in 2023. Now that Russia has North Korea as an ally, playing by the rules will lead to Ukraine being defeated. Embassies in Ukraine and in the UK were on high alert with intelligence reporting planned attacks, so will this become the norm?
Ukrainians might pin their hopes on a quick end to the war with Trump in charge, but they may get disappointed as they forget that it was the Republicans who held up US aid for 6 months, citing budgets should go to building a war with Mexico.
Day 999 (18 Nov)
On the afternoon of 17 November 2024, Biden finally gave Ukraine permission to use long range missiles they had provided to be used in Russia, but only in Kursk. The decision was made as a response to North Korean troops being in the Kursk area and attacking Ukraine.
Russia has stated that an appropriate response would be made if Ukraine used US long range massages to strike Russia. They said that the use of such missiles would be seen as an act of escalation. Putin warned that he would consider this as direct participation of NATO countries in the war and would consider countries that supply weapons used in Russia as legitimate military targets that Russia would attack. This obviously seems to be a threat to deter any of the allies to provide weapons or to give permission for them to be used on Russian territory.
Hungary and Slovakia were two countries that criticised the American decision to permit the use of long range missiles inside of Russia. Other world leaders have questioned why they don't want to assist Ukraine and why they support Russian aggression. Italy also disagreed with the American decision, while France and UK had not changed their position on using Storm Shadow and SCALP missiles. All the world leaders were at the G20 Summit on climate change in Brazil (19-19 November 2024)
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By the afternoon at around 6 pm, the UK and France have allowed Ukraine to use long range Storm Shadow and SCALP missiles against targets in Kursk, Russia. The UK needed US permission as parts of the missiles originated from the US.
A Ukrainian MP has said that the next discussion should be about sending troops to Ukraine. Oleksiy Goncharenko made the comment in an address, at least he is realistic about the failures of the mobilisation system in place.
Zelenskyy said he is going to announce an internal resilience plan that would include addressing issues of energy, finance, security, communities, cultural sovereignty, the front and heroes policy-10 points.
Russian drones have violated Modaus airspace again during an overnight attack on Ukraine.
Since Trump won the election, other countries oughts and preparing themselves in the event of war. Norway, Sweden and Finland have begun to distribute leaflets to citizens with advice on emergency situations and what to do if there is an outbreak of war.
Vladimir Shklyarov, a Russian ballet dancer, Putin critic and opponent of the invasion of Ukraine died at the age of 39 falling out of a window from a fifth floor apartment in Saint Petersburg. It seems that many of Putin's critics end up falling out of windows.
Day 1000 (19 Nov)
The anniversary of Ukraine defending itself from Russia led to many messages of support from around the world.
The Dutch foreign minister Casper Veldcamp welcomed the decision by the Americans but stated that it would've been better if the news had not been leaked and it would've been a surprise for the Russians. That is one of the problems with this war join an age where technology is more advanced than in previous wars.
Zelenskyy gave an address in the European Parliament via video link thanking the allies for support, but asks the allies to push Russia harder
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Ukraine fires a US supplied longer range missiles into Russia for the first time in Bryansk at an ammunition warehouse at 03:25. Russia claimed that the US was trying to escalate the conflict
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Russia in retaliation has said they are approving changes to the Russian nuclear doctrine setting out conditions under which the country would justify using nuclear weapons.
This would include aggression against the Russian Federation and its allies by a non-nuclear state with the support of a nuclear state and large scale non-nuclear tax such as those carried out by drones.
Russia claims to have taken the village of Novoseldivka near Kurakhove.
Zelenskyy has said Ukraine is not going to lower the mobilisation age but will establish a military ombudsman to manage mobilisation and a new contract system for those below age of mobilisation will be implemented.
The UK has trained more than 50,000 Ukrainian recruits as part of Operation Interflex since June 2022.
Day 1001 (20 Nov)
Intelligence claimed that a potentially significant air attack would occur in Kyiv which resulted in the US embassy being temporarily closed, this was followed by Italy and Greece who also closed their embassies. The Spanish embassy closed for a few hours but then reopened.
The Biden administration agreed to give Ukraine anti--personnel land mines to help slow down Russian advances in eastern Ukraine. Several countries and other entities have criticised the move but this is in response to North Korean soldiers being deployed and also a change in tactics from the Russians. The Russians send out a small suicide group to clear the land as reconnaissance and then a battalion moves in to attack Ukraine. These mines are battery operated and become inert after a preset period of time from four hours to 2 weeks, therefore, do not need to de-mined as once the battery runs out they will not detonate. These minds can only be used on Ukrainian territory, therefore will not be used in Kursk.
No one would like to admit that Russia has actually gained six times as much territory in 2024 as it did in 2023 in the Donbas region. This is why the decision to provide the land mines was made as Ukraine still lacks weapons and soldiers to use them
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Zelenskyy has said that Ukraine will lose against Russia if the US cuts military funding. He also stated that Ukraine cannot produce its own weapons without foreign aid and support. This will fall on deaf ears of those in the Republican Party and while some hope that Trump has some sort of magic formula to end the war, he has already said that the US does not seek to see Russia defeated. However, the only way the way the war will end in Ukraine is if Russia is defeated, or if they choose to leave Ukraine which is highly unlikely and that includes occupied Crime
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Around 3 pm, reports state that Ukraine has fired UK made Storm Shadow missiles into Russian territory for the first time
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A Chinese cargo vessel Yi Ping, was boarded by a Danish Navy vessel after those discovered it had destroyed two under sea telecom tables in the Baltic Sea they exercise the right under article X of the submarine cables convention where this is only been done once before by the US in 1959. What this means is that China is supporting Russia through acts of sabotage, where the vessel sailed from Russia and the captain was also Russian.
Two Ukrainian prisoners of war were killed by Russian troops near Pokrovsk. They were stripped naked and shot dead as evidenced in a picture obtained by the prosecutors.
Biden is seeking away to cancel the $4.5 billion Ukrainian debt.
We have taken the steps that was outlined in the law to cancel those loans, provide that economic assistance to Ukraine and now Congress is welcome to take it up if they wish. (Biden)
Day 1002 (21 Nov)
Putin makes an address to the nation, stating that the regional conflict in Ukraine has now become a global one and Russia is launching a new hypersonic medium range ballistic missile at Ukraine. The Oreshnik missile was launched against Dnipro in the morning (21 November 2024) and is considered a ballistic missile. Putin also claims that the weapons are so advanced there is no way to counter the weapon, states that Russia has the right to use the weapons against the military facilities of countries that allow their weapons to be used on their facilities. Thus, this was a warning to the US and UK who have supplied long range missiles for Ukraine to use within Russia.
In response to the use of American and British long range weaponry on 21 November this year, the Russian armed forces carried out a combined strike on one of Ukraine's military industrial complex sites. In combat conditions a test was carried out of one of the latest Russian intermediate range missile systems. In this case with a non-nuclear hypersonic version of a ballistic missile. The test was successful and the target was reached. This was one of the largest industrial complex is known since the Soviet area has been hit on Ukraine territory in the city of Dnipropetrovsk. (Putin)
Ukraine believes that Russia used an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) for the first time during the war. Later, Ukrainian intelligence said that the missile came from the Kedr missile system.
Zelenskyy stated that Russia's use of the new missile was ‘a clear and severe escalation of the scale and brutality of the war’. He further urged that the world must respond to Russia after the use of a new type of ballistic missile
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Putin had warned that Russian forces could attack the military facilities of countries that have allowed their weapons to be used against Russia, namely the US and UK at present.
The Russian ambassador to the UK, Andrey Kelin has said that London is now directly involved in the war in Ukraine after British storm shadow missiles were used to hit targets inside of Russia.
More Ukrainian corruption where the SBU has exposed corruption by two Ukrainian Army of logistic officers. using shell companies, they funnelled Hr 27. 3 million of funds.
Hungary has decided to deploy air defences near the Ukrainian border citing that the war has escalated since the US has allowed long range missiles to be used inside of Russia.
Reports claim that Russia had notified the US of the Oreshnik missile strike, with the defence department deputy spokesman Sabrina Singh saying that, “ The United States was pre-notified briefly before the launch through nuclear risk production channels.”
Day 1003 (22 Nov)
Ukraine is seeking to gain the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THADD)systems or to upgrade its Patriot missile defence systems and all negotiating with the US. The request is urgent given that the next administration is unlikely to even want to discuss or negotiate such a matter.
As Russia reviews its nuclear policy, the US has decided to review its nuclear deterrent strategy as well as a response.
The documents suggest that Russia has prepared a plan to divide Ukraine into three parts, where eastern Ukraine would be incorporated into Russia.
Near Vuledar, Donetsk, Russian forces shot five Ukrainian prisoners of war on second October where video footage has now been released.
Day 1004 (23 Nov)
Ukraine and the Lithuania signed a memorandum of understanding whereby this Lithuania will contribute and support the Ukrainian defence industry to produce Ukrainian long range drones.
Sweden has also agreed to finance the production of Ukrainian long range drones. This was announced when the Ukrainian Defence minister visited Sweden for talks with his counterpart Pal Jonson.
The Swiss government is halting exports of ammunition to a Polish company after it became aware that 645 Swiss made small arms were being sent to Ukraine in violation of Swiss law.
Ambassadors to the NATO-Ukraine Council will meet on 26th November to discuss the Russian ballistic missile attack on Ukraine.
The UN has expressed concern about the use of intercontinental ballistic missiles which again is quite pointless if you cannot act. The spokesperson for the Secretary General called upon the parties to de-escalate the conflict.
Reports claim that Russia has advanced near five settlements in Donetsk, Velyka Novosilka, Rozdolne, Pustynka, Torestsk, and Maksymivka.