Ukraine Live Briefing: Oil Depot Hit In Russia.

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Ukraine Live Briefing: Oil Depot Hit In Russia.

RFE/RL’s Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Western military aid to Kyiv, worldwide reaction, and the plight of civilians and refugees. For all of RFE/RL’s coverage of the war, click here.

Latest Developments At A Glance

• Ukraine said it struck an oil depot and an air-defense radar inside Russia early on November 29 amid an escalation of attacks by both Moscow and Kyiv ahead U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
• Russia unleashed a “massive” attack on Ukraine’s infrastructure on November 28, leaving more than 1 million people without power in freezing temperatures across the country.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Defense Minister Rustem Umerov’s talks in South Korea on November 27 focused on cooperation on the security of both Ukraine and South Korea in light of the deployment of North Korean forces in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
• U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on November 27 tapped Keith Kellogg, a retired Army lieutenant general who has long served as a top adviser to Trump on defense issues, as his nominee to be special envoy for Ukraine and Russia.
• Nordic-Baltic countries and Poland have pledged to step up support for Ukraine, including making more ammunition available to strengthen deterrence and defense against hybrid attacks.
• The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven leading industrialized countries expressed their support for Ukraine on November 26 in the final statement following their summit in Italy..
• Russia’s Investigative Committee announced on November 26 that it had opened a criminal case against James Scott Rhys Anderson, a British citizen accused of committing terrorism and mercenary activities.

Could A Demilitarized Zone End The Ukraine War?

U.S. Naval War College Professor Lieutenant Colonel Jahara “Franky” Matisek talks about the state of the Russian invasion at the 1,000-day mark. Read the interview by Vazha Tavberidze .

Steps Too Far As Moscow, Washington Cross ‘Red Lines’ Over Ukraine?

The United States appears to have done a volte face by allowing Ukraine to fire donated missiles deeper into Russian territory. Russia has significantly loosened its threshold for a nuclear response to even a conventional attack. Why now, 1,000 days into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and just two months before U.S. President Joe Biden leaves office? Read the story by Michael Scollon here.

Could U.S. Long-Range Missiles Tip The Balance In The Ukraine War?

The Biden administration has reportedly given Ukraine permission to strike deep inside Russian territory, opening the door for the U.K., France, and Germany to follow in its steps. Its impact, however, will depend on how many weapons Ukraine is given. Read the story by Todd Prince here.

Peace Talks Brewing, Russia And Ukraine Jockey For Advantage — On And Off The Battlefield

As Donald Trump’s return to the White House draws closer and talk of a concerted effort to stop the fighting in Ukraine grows, Russia is pressing a monthslong initiative on the battlefield. Ukraine, meanwhile, is struggling. Read the report by Mike Eckel here.

Trump’s Win Could Ignite Push For Peace In Ukraine, But On Whose Terms?

Donald Trump’s election to a new term as U.S. president could lead to a push for an end to the war in Ukraine, but the risks and the hurdles are high. Read the story by Steve Gutterman here.

Ukraine’s Forces Are Dangerously Stretched. Will North Korean Troops Break Them?

The quality of the North Korean force hired by Russia to deploy to the Ukrainian front is questionable. Their quantity alone, however, may be enough to break beleaguered Ukrainian defenses. Read the story by Mike Eckel here.

Photo Gallery: Here Are The Weapons The EU’s 300 Million Euros May Provide For Ukraine

What Did The Kremlin’s Early Peace Plan For Ukraine Contain?

RFE/RL’s Russian investigative unit has obtained a draft treaty that Moscow proposed early in talks that began days after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. If signed, it would have left a truncated Ukraine deeply vulnerable, with a minuscule military and no hope of protection by the West. Read the story by Yelizaveta Surnacheva and Systema here.

What Does Trump’s Victory Mean For Ukraine?

Following the U.S. presidential election on November 5, the decision by Americans to return Donald Trump to the White House has reverberated around the world. Ukraine, whose defense against Russia is heavily dependent on U.S. military, financial, and diplomatic support, may feel the effects more than any other foreign country. Read the story by Todd Prince here.

The Moment A Russian Shell Landed Next To An RFE/RL Crew In Ukraine

A Russian shell came close to directly hitting an RFE/RL crew on the front line in Ukraine’s Donetsk region. By RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service, Roman Pahulych, and Pavlo Kholodov

Tense Times For Ukraine As Pressure Mounts On The Battlefield And Beyond

Russian forces push forward in the Donbas, diplomatic pressure on Kyiv increases, and the U.S. election looms. It’s all adding up to one of the toughest points for Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Read the story by Steve Gutterman here.

Why Is Ukraine Attacking Russia’s Oil Refineries?

Russia said it would protect oil refineries better after several were struck by Ukrainian drones. Ukraine continues to hit the facilities, despite U.S. warnings against such attacks, as it launches larger and larger drone swarms. The strikes have decreased refinery output but beyond a morale boost for Ukraine, the effects are moderate so far. Read the story by Todd Prince here.

Interactive: Occupied, Militarized Crimea

As Ukrainian leaders vow to reclaim all territories seized by Russia, Moscow has prepared extensive defensive measures, particularly in Crimea, a region unlawfully annexed in 2014. This area, now under Russian occupation, has been heavily militarized with an array of air bases and army bases, making it one of the most fortified zones in the war. View the interactive map by Crimea.Realities, Schemes, RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service, and Central Newsroom.

(rferl)