Ukraine Invasion: Part 59

[MagicFox]

Well, it’s thread 59.

Thanks to all regular contributors, especially those doing the daily hard work. Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦

Agreed thread guidance:

A. The agreed purpose of the thread is for the sharing of information and commentary on current events

B. If you post a link please tell us where it leads/give a precis of the content

C. Discussion and debate is welcome, but please keep it respectful

D. Please keep on topic

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

❗️A record 40% of Russia’s 2026 budget will go to the military and security forces. In monetary terms, the sector will receive $166 billion — the largest military spending since the Soviet era. Putin has approved the federal budget for next year.
At the same time, social spending has been cut to 25.1%, down from 38.1% before the war against Ukraine. Support for the national economy has fallen to 10.9%.
The annual budget deficit is set at an unrealistic 4 billion rubles, with inflation projected at 4%.

Sea Baby drones of the SBU struck two Russian shadow-fleet tankers — KAIRO and VIRAT — in the Black Sea. Both vessels are under sanctions.
The operation was carried out jointly by the 13th Main Directorate of Military Counterintelligence of the SBU and the Ukrainian Navy.

Ukrainian naval drones have completely disabled the mooring device of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) Marine Terminal in Novorossiysk, halting oil shipments.
According to the CPC press service, the CPC VPU-2 remote mooring device was heavily damaged in the morning attack and cannot be restored.
The captain of the Novorossiysk seaport ordered all cargo operations suspended, and tankers were diverted outside the CPC water area. No personnel or contractors were injured. Emergency protection systems shut the pipelines at the moment of the explosion, and no oil leaked into the Black Sea.
The CPC noted that further operation of VPU-2 is impossible. Shipments from the terminal will only resume once threats from naval drones and UAVs are eliminated.

Russia is increasingly sending “disposable infantrymen” into assaults without helmets or body armor, The Telegraph reports.
Komok, deputy battalion commander of the 66th Brigade, told the outlet that of the last 20 groups attacking Ukrainian positions in the Lyman direction, only four had even minimal equipment.
Zhmailo, executive director of the Ukrainian Center for Security and Cooperation, said this reflects Russia’s enormous losses and shortages. According to him, commanders view most assault troops as expendable: they receive low-quality gear or none at all.
He added that sending soldiers without protection may also serve as punishment for disobedience. Commanders deliberately “zero out” personnel by exposing them to Ukrainian drones.
Komok noted that many captured Russians likely did not even know they were heading toward Ukrainian positions, having been told that “allies” were ahead. Others, Zhmailo said, are pushed forward only to scavenge weapons and gear from the dead and pass them to the next assault wave.
Russia also uses so-called “camels”—unarmed troops carrying ammunition to the front on foot. They are almost always spotted and destroyed by Ukrainian drones, Komok said.

Ukraine’s Iron People: The Railway Crews Who Don’t Stop, Even Under Russian Fire (https://united24media.com/life-in-ukraine/ukraines-iron-people-the-railway-crews-who-dont-stop-even-under-russian-fire-13799)

Rosneft’s net profit for January–September fell by 70% to $3.57 billion, according to the company’s report. Revenue dropped by almost 18%.
Rosneft said the decline was driven by the Central Bank’s high key rate, lower oil prices, and the stronger ruble, which reduced ruble-denominated export earnings. The company also reported higher spending on “anti-terrorism security,” without explaining the term.
Reuters notes that Western companies such as Shell and TotalEnergies also saw profits fall due to lower oil prices.
US sanctions are adding further pressure. In October, Washington imposed restrictions on Rosneft and Lukoil, placing more than 30 of their divisions on the sanctions list. Within two days, the market value of both companies dropped by $5.2 billion.

In a country where missiles and drones have halted civilian flights, train chief Pavlo Vynarchyk and thousands of railway “iron workers” keep Ukraine moving under Russian bombings, evacuating families and sustaining the nation’s lifeline.

Polish President Nawrocki has canceled his planned meeting with Viktor Orbán following the Hungarian prime minister’s visit to Putin.
Nawrocki was set to begin his visit to Hungary on Wednesday for the Visegrad Group summit, with a bilateral meeting with Orbán scheduled for Thursday in Budapest. However, his office has revised the plans.

Orbán said that Ukraine should become a “buffer state” and that Russia should “keep” the territories it has occupied.

Moldovan authorities reported that Russian drones entered the country’s airspace, creating a threat to aviation. This is the third such incident in the past nine days, Reuters notes.
Another violation occurred the previous night during a massive Russian attack on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.

This cat was evacuated from the area near Kostiantynivka. Fighters carried it on themselves for more than 10 km as they withdrew from their positions.

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

The Ukrainian delegation is already on its way to the United States, and the next few days could bring agreed steps toward a dignified end to the war — Zelensky
He noted that dialogue with Washington based on the Geneva points is ongoing, and the American side is showing a constructive approach.
The Ukrainian delegation has received clear directives, and the president expects the team to work strictly in line with Ukraine’s priorities.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

North Korea will introduce mandatory Russian-language instruction in schools.
North Korean pupils will begin studying Russian starting from the fourth grade. The launch date of the program has not been disclosed.
According to the co-chair of the Moscow–Pyongyang intergovernmental commission, Russian is already among the three most popular foreign languages in the DPRK — around 600 students currently study it.
Meanwhile, more than 3,000 Russian schoolchildren are learning Korean as a second or third foreign language.
Officials in both countries say cooperation now extends far beyond primary education, covering training programs for bankers, power engineers, doctors and geologists.
Intensified ties between Russia and North Korea have been visible since 2022, after the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Intelligence assessments indicate that by the end of 2025, Kim Jong Un plans to send more than 12,000 North Korean soldiers to support Russian forces.

The daughter of former South African president Jacob Zuma is stepping down over her role in recruiting Africans to fight against Ukraine.
Duduzile Zuma has agreed to resign from her position as a member of parliament. Her party, uMkhonto weSizwe, claims she is now working to bring home the men who were sent to the war.
Separately, South African authorities today detained four potential mercenaries preparing to travel to fight against Ukraine. A preliminary investigation found that their recruitment was also organised by a South African citizen.

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-november-29-2025/

Key Takeaways

1. Russian state media is leveraging Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent statements to intensify the false narrative that the frontline in Ukraine will imminently collapse, likely in an effort to coerce the West and Ukraine into capitulating to Russian demands that Russia cannot secure itself militarily. ISW continues to assess that the frontline in Ukraine is not facing imminent collapse.
2. Russia launched another combined missile and drone strike primarily targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure in Kyiv Oblast overnight on November 28 and 29, killing at least three civilians and injuring at least 52.
3. Ukrainian forces recently struck two Russian shadow fleet oil tankers in the Black Sea — the first time Ukrainian forces attacked shadow fleet vessels. Ukrainian forces also struck and a marine terminal with unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) amid continued drone strikes against Russian oil refineries and military infrastructure.
4. The Russian economy continues to show signs of fracturing as Russia continues to prioritize its war time economy over stability.
5. Balloons from Belarusian airspace continued incursions into NATO airspace in Lithuania overnight on November 28 to 29.
6. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov is leading a Ukrainian delegation to the United States.
7. Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Novopavlivka. Russian forces recently advanced in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area and near Kupyansk.

Photos from UK Defence Intelligence about the Ukrainian UAS strike on 5 Nov on the Russian base near Donestsk airport in Ukraine occupied territory. The base was used to store, assemble and launch drone strikes against targets in Ukraine.

Seems to me that if Russia will be devoting 40% of its 2026 budget to the military and security forces, the USA's 4-6% and everyone else's 2-3% are shown to be insignificant in comparison.

Wondering if Trump will decide to try to match Russia.

I think to do a worthwhile comparison you need to compare GDPs.

I think Russia's economy is surprisingly small so it is possible the US's 6% is bigger in $ terms than Russia's 40%, but that's just speculation....one for an economics/politics expert.

I was trying to think (??) like Trump. He deals only in headline figures, doesn't he?

(Sorry, I realised too late to change it that tongue-in-cheek really hadn't come though very well.)

😊

https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-november-30-2025/

Key Takeaways

1. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the US-proposed peace plan aims to ensure Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and economic development during the US-Ukrainian talks in Hallandale Beach, Florida on November 30.
2. Russian information space voices continue to argue that the Kremlin will likely reject a ceasefire or any iteration of the US-proposed peace plan because the Kremlin views these efforts as inconsequential and as a hindrance to Russia’s goals in Ukraine and globally.
3. The Kremlin continues to advance a false narrative that Ukraine’s front line and political stability are on the verge of collapse in an effort to convince the West to capitulate to Russian demands that Russia cannot secure militarily. ISW continues to assess that a Russian battlefield victory is neither imminent nor inevitable and that the Russian war effort has vulnerabilities the West has not exploited.
4. The Russian effort to seize Pokrovsk remains prolonged and costly as Russian forces are optimized for positional warfare and can only achieve a slow rate of advance.
5. Russian drones appear to be violating Moldovan airspace during large, combined missile and drone strikes.
6. Ukrainian forces successfully used the Sting interceptor drone to down Russian jet-powered long-range drones for the first time as Ukraine increases technological innovation efforts to combat Russia’s long-range drone and missile campaigns.
7. Ukrainian forces recently advanced in western Zaporizhia Oblast and near Pokrovsk.

United 24 Media:

🔹 Moldovan authorities reported that Russian drones entered the country’s airspace, creating a threat to aviation. This is the third such incident in the past nine days, Reuters notes.

Another violation occurred the previous night during a massive Russian attack on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.

According to Moldova’s Interior Ministry, two drones were identified as Russian. They crossed into Moldova’s airspace, forcing authorities to temporarily close it, and later returned to Ukrainian airspace.

“Intending to kill civilians, Russian drones have once again violated Moldovan airspace, forcing it to be temporarily closed. We condemn these attacks and stand with Ukraine,” President Maia Sandu wrote.

Moldova, which already reported similar incidents on November 20 and earlier this week, called the latest case an act of intimidation amid the war in Ukraine. The authorities condemned the “illegal and dangerous actions that pose a threat to civilian flights and people’s lives.”

Russian Ambassador Oleg Ozerov has been summoned to the Moldovan Foreign Ministry several times over these violations.

Since Sandu’s election in 2020, Moscow has accused Moldova of taking “unfriendly steps” and “inciting anti-Russian sentiment.”

🔸 Ukraine and Norway have signed a document on the joint production of Ukrainian drones.

“The next stage is to quickly deploy a pilot production line in 2026 and, in parallel, work on further increasing capacity,” Shmyhal said.

🔹 Ukraine has introduced two new sanctions against Russia.

In coordination with the United States, Kyiv imposed restrictions on 26 Russian energy-sector companies, including Rosneft, its subsidiaries, and firms linked to the Lukoil group. According to the Office of the President, the U.S. measures target segments that account for about 55% of Russia’s oil production.

A second decree targets 36 individuals and 13 entities involved in producing, training, and operating Russian drones. This list includes figures connected to the Rubicon criminal center, which tests new weapons and takes part in combat operations against Ukraine.

🔸 Putin will meet an American delegation led by Witkoff early next week and will travel to India on December 4, Kremlin spokesman Peskov said.

Today, Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are holding talks with a Ukrainian delegation.

Bloomberg reports that India plans to open negotiations with Russia on purchasing Su-57 fighter jets and the S-500 air defense system during Putin’s visit. With the Indian Air Force facing a fighter shortage, officials in New Delhi view Russian aircraft as easier to integrate and maintain. Long-range missiles on the Su-57 would also expand India’s combat capabilities. These talks continue despite pressure from the Trump administration, which aims to limit India-Russia defense cooperation.

🔹 First Deputy Foreign Minister Serhii Kyslytsia said the meeting in Miami “started well” and has been “very meaningful and constructive so far.”

🔸 Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told Welt am Sonntag that a Ukraine–Russia agreement could secure regional peace for 50–70 years. He said such a deal should oblige both sides “not to attack each other under any circumstances.”

Fidan stressed that a peace treaty would not mean giving up security measures. Europeans, Russians, and NATO will still prepare for various scenarios.

He added that Russia is also facing economic and social strain and would benefit from such an agreement.

🔹 US Secretary of State Marco Rubio summarized the Florida meeting with Ukrainian representatives as follows:

▫️For a peaceful settlement, Ukraine needs long-term security guarantees.
▫️Russia must be part of the settlement “equation,” which is why Witkoff will travel to Moscow.
▫️The United States is taking a realistic approach to the negotiation process.
▫️The talks in Florida address not only the immediate settlement but also Ukraine’s future.

🔸 Trump said he does not have a deadline for the Russia–Ukraine deal.

🔹 Ukraine’s Interceptor Drone Downs Russia’s Jet-Powered Shahed for the First Time

Ukraine has for the first time used a domestically produced interceptor drone to destroy a Russian Geran-3—known internationally as the Iranian Shahed-238—during an overnight attack.

🔸 One of China’s largest suppliers of drone components, Shenzhen Minghuaxin, has acquired a 5% stake in the Russian company Rustact, which manufactures FPV drones for the occupation forces, the Financial Times reports.

The new minority shareholder is Shenzhen-based entrepreneur Wang Dinghua. According to customs data, Shenzhen Minghuaxin and affiliated companies have supplied Rustact with 304 million dollars’ worth of components since mid-2023, including lithium-ion batteries, motors and controllers.

Another 107 million dollars in goods went to Santex, a company linked to Rustact. The supplies were coordinated.

Rustact is 95% owned by Pavel Nikitin, formerly of Santex. He was later replaced there by Belarusian Yegor Nikitin, who appears to be his twin brother based on identical personal data except for the first name. Yegor Nikitin also holds a 90% stake in Shenzhen Nasmin Investment, with the remaining 10% belonging to Wang Dinghua.

Rustact produces the VT-40 FPV drone, widely used against Ukraine. Each drone has four BrotherHobby Avenger engines costing 20 to 30 dollars. Given the 120 million dollars’ worth of engines purchased by Rustact and Santex, the Chinese partner enabled the production of around 1.25 million VT-40 drones. Companies linked to Wang Dinghua also supplied Rustact with metalworking and plastic-molding equipment.

China’s Foreign Ministry said it had no information about the businessman’s dealings and stressed that China has never supplied lethal weapons to any party to the conflict and controls dual-use exports.

Rustact is sanctioned by Ukraine and the EU. Open sources show the company participates in the Doomsday project, which trains FPV drone operators for combat deployment. According to the Kyiv-based Center for Defense Strategies, Rustact was Russia’s largest importer of FPV drone components from July 2023 to February 2025.

🔹 Two people were injured in a Russian attack on Chernihiv region, the State Emergency Service reported.

The region came under UAV strikes over the past day.

In Koryukiv district, a fire broke out after a hit on an infrastructure facility. A local resident was injured and hospitalized.

In Chernihiv district, two strikes on a residential area set a house, an outbuilding and a car on fire. An injured woman was taken to a medical facility.

❗️Three people were killed and eight injured in a missile attack in Dnipro.

Rescue efforts are ongoing. Preliminary reports indicate damage to a service station and a business.

Live:Ukraine

🔹Photos of the Russian tanker Virat, struck by SBU maritime drones, have appeared online. (Photo below)

The damaged vessel is currently being towed toward the coast of Turkey.

🔸 President Zelensky has appointed Oksana Markarova, Ukraine’s former ambassador to the United States, as his adviser on reconstruction and investment.

🔹 Ukrainian military intelligence says its operatives eliminated a group of Kadyrov fighters near Berdyansk in a joint operation with the local resistance.

According to the HUR, partisans discovered that members of the Akhmat unit had set up a scheme to sell stolen diesel fuel, running their operation from a fixed spot along a highway.

The location was mined in advance. On November 29, when the occupiers gathered there, the first explosion went off. Those who survived tried to flee. Moments later, a second mine detonated as another Russian pickup truck arrived at the site.

🔸 Russian media report that Putin will meet with Witkoff before December 4–5, ahead of his state visit to India.

Earlier, The Telegraph wrote that U.S. President Donald Trump had sent Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner to Moscow. Their task is to deliver a message to Putin that the United States is prepared to recognize Russia’s control over the occupied territories of Ukraine in order to reach a peace agreement.

🇺🇸🇺🇦 A meeting between U.S. and Ukrainian delegations has begun in Florida.

The Ukrainian delegation is led by National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov — instead of former Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak.

On the U.S. side, participants include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.

According to Umerov, he will brief President Zelensky following the day’s talks.

In his opening remarks, Umerov thanked the United States and President Trump for their support, highlighted recent progress, and said both sides are working on Ukraine’s future: security, preventing renewed aggression, reconstruction, and prosperity. He emphasized that the United States “hears and supports” Ukraine and expressed hope for a productive meeting.

🇺🇸US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Washington wants to create a long-term mechanism that will ensure Ukraine remains an independent and sovereign state after the war.

Rubio stressed that the goal is to prevent a new Russian invasion and to help Ukraine enter an era of major economic growth. He noted that Ukraine has “enormous economic potential and enormous opportunities for real prosperity,” but this potential cannot be fully unlocked until the war ends.

According to him, the United States aims to build a system that guarantees security and creates conditions for Ukraine’s postwar recovery and long-term stability.

❗️Talks between the US and Ukrainian delegations in Miami have ended, and sources told The Wall Street Journal what issues were likely discussed.

According to a senior White House official, the negotiations touched on several sensitive topics, including the timeline for holding elections in Ukraine, the possibility of “territorial exchanges” between Russia and Ukraine, and a number of other points.

The source also said that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will now travel to Moscow to continue talks with the Russian side.

🔸 Ukraine’s State Emergency Service carried out a unique demining operation in Vyshhorod after Russia’s night attack.

A damaged drone, its warhead, and 21 cluster submunitions were found on the roof. Another cluster element fell into a courtyard. All of them posed a critical threat to residents because they were equipped with self-destruct mechanisms and could detonate at any moment.

Emergency workers cordoned off the danger zone and evacuated people from the upper floors. To minimise risks, they used robotic systems: operators deployed aerial drones and a ground multi-purpose robot that collected the explosives into a special container. A crane then loaded the container into a demolition vehicle.

All discovered explosive hazards were destroyed in a controlled detonation at a designated.

🔹 As a result of the Russian strike on Vyshhorod on 30 November, an employee of the company Fire Point which produces Flamingo missiles was killed said the company’s co-founder Shtilerman.

His family is in hospital in critical condition.

🇳🇱The Netherlands is providing a new aid package for Ukraine.

Two hundred fifty million euros will be allocated through the PURL initiative, a NATO mechanism that allows allies to jointly fund the purchase of American weapons and military equipment for Ukraine. The Netherlands was the first country to join this initiative.

The new package will be used, among other things, to procure air-defense systems and ammunition for F-16 aircraft.

Kyiv Independent:

⚡️ India to seek purchase of Russian jets, air defenses during Putin's visit, Bloomberg reports.

According to Bloomberg's sources, Russia and India are expected to discuss the potential purchase of the fifth-generation Su-57 aircraft and the S-500 air defense system.

The Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur covers leaked calls showing U.S.-Russia coordination on a controversial peace plan and reports on backlash to Reese Witherspoon’s Moscow-set novel. The episode also covers the resignation of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak.

⚡️Update: Officials tout 'productive' talks as Ukraine, US conclude peace deal talks in Florida

Ukrainian delegates concluded their meeting with U.S. officials in Florida on Nov. 30 as both parties continue negotiations on the Washington-backed peace plan aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war.

In a press briefing following the meeting, Rubio called the meetings "very productive," adding that the talks focused on both the terms to ending the war as well as Ukraine's "long-term prosperity."

"I thought we started laying the groundwork in Geneva. I think we continued that work in our communications throughout the week. I think we've built on that today, but there's more work to be done," Rubio told reporters.

"This is delicate, it's complicated, there are a lot of moving parts and, obviously, there's another party involved here," Rubio added, referring to Russia.

Ukraine troop cap contentious as US pushes for peace deal to end war

A peace plan approved by Ukraine and the U.S. includes a limitation on the post-war Ukrainian army to 800,000 service members, the Financial Times (FT) reported on Nov. 26, citing unnamed Ukrainian officials.

While imposing such restrictions on Ukraine, a country that has only been trying to defend itself from the Russian invasion, is unjustified, the post-war Ukrainian army size would realistically be much lower than the cap due to factors such as economic constraints, according to experts who spoke with the Kyiv Independent.

⚡️Vilnius airport halts flights again after balloon sightings.

The incident marks yet another disruption in Lithuania, which has faced repeated flight interruptions over the past months. Lithuanian authorities extended the latest airspace restrictions until 5 a.m. local time on Dec. 1.

⚡️NATO may get 'more aggressive' in countering Russia’s hybrid attacks, top military official says.

Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, who chairs NATO’s Military Committee, told the Financial Times that the alliance is reassessing how it confronts hybrid threats that have intensified across Europe.

⚡️Ukraine, US call Florida peace-deal talks ‘difficult but productive,’ warn ‘more work’ still ahead

One of the most contentious points in the original U.S. peace proposal reportedly required Ukraine to abandon its constitutional goal of joining NATO — a core Russian demand that Kyiv refuses to accept.

A source told CNN that negotiators are discussing “a possible scenario in which Ukraine would effectively be barred from joining the U.S.-led Western military alliance via arrangements that would have to be negotiated directly between NATO member states and Moscow.”

⚡️ Zelensky meeting Macron in France after US-Ukraine peace deal talks.

The visit follows talks between Ukrainian and U.S. officials in Florida, as Kyiv seeks to negotiate better conditions in the Washington-backed peace deal.

⚡️ Polish prosecutors seek European arrest warrant for 2 Ukrainians over suspected Russian-backed sabotage.

Yevhenii Ivanov, 41, and Oleksandr Kononov, 39, are suspected of sabotaging the Warsaw-Lublin railway line in mid-November before fleeing to Belarus.

⚡️ Drone attack reported in Russia’s Dagestan, damaging area near military facility, governor says

Drones targeted Russia’s republic of Dagestan on the morning of Dec. 1, with explosions reported in the city of Kaspiysk, the head of the republic, Sergey Melikov, said.

These are the indicative estimates of Russia’s combat losses as of Dec. 1, according to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Kyiv Post:

🔹 The United States plans to resolve the last outstanding disagreements with the Ukrainian delegation today in Florida, focusing on two key issues — territory and security guarantees, Axios reports.

During last Sunday’s meeting in Geneva, the sides reached preliminary agreements on all points except these two. Washington now wants to “close the remaining gaps.”

🔸 The talks between the Ukrainian and U.S. delegations in Florida have concluded, with both sides describing them as productive.

Washington noted progress toward steps aimed not only at ending the war but also at building a more prosperous future for Ukraine, while Kyiv emphasized that key issues concerning the country’s future were discussed and that U.S. support remains strong.

🔹 Zelensky confirmed that Rustem Umerov has briefed him on the key points, priorities, and preliminary results of Ukraine’s dialogue with the United States, noting that the talks showed clear signs of constructive progress.

According to the president, discussions with the US side were direct and focused on safeguarding Ukraine’s sovereignty and national interests.

Zelensky said that both sides will continue working on the next steps.

🔸 Trump said he believes Ukraine is facing serious challenges, including corruption issues that are harming the country, but he also sees a strong chance that a deal can be reached.

🔹 Russia won’t negotiate seriously until Washington decides it’s done negotiating with itself, veteran US diplomat Daniel Fried said in an interview with Kyiv Post.

“I would like to see the president be a stronger advocate for the free country, the sovereign country of Ukraine that wants to be a democracy, and have a little more clear-eyed view of who Putin is, that Putin is the invader,” joining Democratic voices on Capitol Hill, Rep. Don Bacon, expressed disgust at Trump’s appeasement of the Kremlin in the latest peace proposal.

🔸 NATO is weighing a more proactive response to Russia’s hybrid attacks, including cyber strikes, sabotage and airspace violations, with officials even considering a potential “pre-emptive strike.”

🔹 As US Secretary of State Rubio meets with Ukraine’s delegation in Miami to push for a peace deal, Russia continues to attack innocent civilians.

On Sunday alone, at least seven people were injured in Kherson after Russian forces unleashed artillery, mortars, rocket systems, and drones on the region.

The day after the Ukrainian delegation concluded peace talks with US officials, Putin’s forces slammed a missile into Dnipro, killing at least three civilians.

Rescuers are now digging through the rubble, fearing more people may still be trapped beneath the destroyed building.

🔸 Witkoff’s meeting with Putin is scheduled to take place on December 2 in Moscow, AFP reports, citing sources.

🔹 Russian oligarchs long linked to Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin reportedly held secret talks with US business figures over potential mining and energy deals, part of behind-the-scenes US diplomacy aimed at ending Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

Zelenskyy is meeting with Macron whilst Witkoff and Kushner are going to Moscow.

It all feels a bit pointless when any deal bashed out between Europe/US/Ukraine is just either going to be flatly rejected by Putin or treated as a starting point for his maximalist demands.
it takes two to tango and the Kremlin don’t seem to be in a dancing mood.

Trump said he believes Ukraine is facing serious challenges, including corruption issues that are harming the country, but he also sees a strong chance that a deal can be reached.

Is he seriously talking about corruption. How much is he and his entourage making out of the presidency?

Hi Ukraine supporters, I used to post under another name but I've been moving house and stuff and namechanged un the middle of ot all. Not the point.
Just posting because I'm watching C4 News and they just said it'll be Witkoff's sixth trip to Moscow. He's never been to Ukraine. That kind of thing just disgusts me.
I honestly wish we could bomb Putin to smithereens. And I'm normally a very peaceful person. The US on this is a mess. I still don't know if it's a duplicitous mess or a stupid incompetent mess.

On the other hand, the very real affection between Zelenskyy and Macron is heartwarming. Macron has been a real steadfast ally.

Or equally any deal bashed out with only Russia is going to be completely unacceptable to Ukraine

Russia claiming to have captured Pokrovsk. And Vovchansk.
Source; BBC World Service Radio, followed by various Google sources to confirm. 🙁

How many times is it now that they have claimed that, it seems to be every couple of days

it's been coming a long time; the ISW maps are gradually showing the Russians taking it all over, and there has been talk of difficult withdrawals.

Sigh.

https://x.com/WarMonitor3/status/1995611293882220787

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️ Update: Zelensky discusses (kyivindependent.com/zelensky-arrives-in-france-after-us-ukraine-peace-deal-talks/) Florida peace deal talks with Witkoff, Umerov, European leaders.
"It was an important briefing, and we agreed to discuss more details in person," said Zelensky, who is on an official visit in France.

⚡️ Ukraine's Umerov meets Trump envoy Witkoff (kyivindependent.com/ukraines-umerov-meets-trump-envoy-witkoff-again-after-florida-talks/) again after Florida talks, White House says.

⚡️ Update: Territory remains 'most difficult' issue in peace talks, Zelensky says. (kyivindependent.com/zelensky-arrives-in-france-after-us-ukraine-peace-deal-talks/)
Speaking at a joint press conference with Macron, Zelensky acknowledged that the peace plan "looks better" after consultations between Ukraine and the U.S.

⚡️Ukraine, US call Florida peace-deal talks ‘difficult but productive,’ warn ‘more work (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-us-begin-peace-deal-talks-in-florida-ahead-of-witkoffs-moscow-trip/)’ still ahead
One of the most contentious points in the original U.S. peace proposal reportedly required Ukraine to abandon its constitutional goal of joining NATO — a core Russian demand that Kyiv refuses to accept.
A source told CNN that negotiators are discussing “a possible scenario in which Ukraine would effectively be barred from joining the U.S.-led Western military alliance via arrangements that would have to be negotiated directly between NATO member states and Moscow.”

⚡️Putin claims Russian capture (kyivindependent.com/putin-claims-russian-capture-of-pokrovsk-vovchansk-as-kyiv-warns-of-kremlin-propaganda-blitz-amid-peace-talks/) of Pokrovsk, Vovchansk as Kyiv warns of Kremlin propaganda blitz amid peace talks.
"All of this is done exclusively for Western audiences and to raise the stakes in diplomacy," said Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation.

⚡️Ukraine denies (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-denies-russian-occupation-of-klynove-in-donetsk-oblast/) Russian occupation of Klynove in Donetsk Oblast.
"The informational 'victories' that the Russian Defense Ministry announces daily on paper have nothing to do with the real situation on the front lines," Ukraine's 11th Army Corps said.

⚡️Ukraine returns (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-says-1-859-abducted-children-have-been-returned-zelenska-tells-paris-summit/) 1,859 abducted children, Zelenska says in Paris.
According to Ukraine’s national "Children of War" database, at least 19,546 Ukrainian children have been abducted from Russian-occupied territories and taken to Russia or Russian-controlled areas since February 2022.

⚡️Ukrainian Special Forces hit Russian Shahed drone launch site (kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-special-forces-hit-russian-shahed-drone-launch-site-in-occupied-crimea-military-says/) in occupied Crimea, military says.
A Ukrainian deep-strike unit hit a Russian "storage and launch area" for Shahed-type drones near Cape Chauda, Crimea, overnight on Nov. 28, the Special Operations Forces said.

⚡️Update: Drones attack Russia’s Dagestan, damaging buildings near military-industrial plant, (kyivindependent.com/drone-attack-reported-in-russias-dagestan-damage-near-military-facility/) media reports.
Drones attacked the Russian republic of Dagestan overnight on Dec. 1, damaging buildings and cars near the Dagdizel machine-building plant, the Telegram channel Astra reported, citing local residents.
Earlier, Dagestan's head Sergey Melikov confirmed the incident but did not disclose any further details, citing operational work at the scene.
Astra reported that explosions were heard in Kaspiysk early in the morning. Based on footage from the scene, the outlet said the attack damaged residential buildings and vehicles parked near a high-rise on Molodiozhnaya Street, about 3.5 kilometers (2 miles) from the Dagdizel military-industrial plant. The courtyard of the building complex includes a kindergarten.

⚡️ Ukraine rejects Kazakhstan's criticism (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-rejects-kazakhstans-criticism-over-drone-strike-on-russian-oil-terminal/) over drone strike on Russian oil terminal.
"No actions by Ukraine are directed against Kazakhstan or other third parties — all of Ukraine's efforts are focused on repelling full-scale Russian aggression," Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said.

⚡️Vilnius airport halts flights (kyivindependent.com/vilnius-airport-halts-flights-again-after-balloon-sightings/) again after balloon sightings.

⚡️ Court orders detention (kyivindependent.com/court-orders-detention-of-zelensky-associate-mindich/) of Zelensky's fugitive associate in Ukraine's biggest corruption case.
Businessman Timur Mindich, a former business partner of President Volodymyr Zelensky, fled Ukraine before the court considered the motion.

⚡️Russian ballistic missile hit Dnipro industrial area (kyivindependent.com/russian-ballistic-missile-strike-on-dnipro-kills-four-injures-over-20/), leaving at least four dead, 40 wounded
The missile reportedly hit an industrial area, severely damaging a car service station and nearby businesses where people were already at work.

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦
‪@ragnarbjartur.bsky.social‬
⚡️ WAR IN UKRAINE & RUSSIA — DEC 2, 2025
■ Engagements slightly below the 7-day average, but casualties above it
Unusually few drone attacks (and losses); land-based equipment losses remain well below average
■ Double-digit overnight attacks, all drones; interception rate could be better, 8 locations hit
■ Russian strikes above average, one 🇺🇦 strike reported; 30-day strike ratio at 27.0×

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cwypq7xjvdqt The Ukrainians are saying Pokrovsk still in their hands

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

The White House is “very optimistic” about the peace talks on Ukraine.

NSDC secretary Rustem Umerov reported to President Zelenskyy on the results of the conversation with Witkoff and Kushner in Florida, USA.
President Zelenskyy said he had discussed the content of the talks in Florida with European leaders. The discussion involved France, Great Britain, Germany, Poland, Italy, Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands and Finland, as well as representatives of the European Commission, the European Council and the NATO Secretary General.

The Coalition of the Willing has completed work on security guarantees for Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron said. He noted that Europeans will approve them with the Americans in the near future.
“When it comes to security guarantees, they must involve the Ukrainians. This is their territory, and representatives of the Coalition of the Willing must also be at the table — because they act as guarantors and because this concerns the security of Europe,” Macron emphasized.

Italy has approved its 12th military aid package for Ukraine.
The list of equipment is contained in a classified document prepared by the General Staff of the Italian Armed Forces. As with previous packages, its contents have not been disclosed for security reasons.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU is preparing new sanctions against Belarus in response to its hybrid actions targeting Lithuania.
After speaking with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, she stressed that such hybrid attacks by the Lukashenko regime are unacceptable.

Türkiye cut its imports of Russian Urals crude in November due to Western sanctions, Reuters reports.
According to Kpler and LSEG, deliveries of Urals fell by about 100,000 barrels per day. In response, Turkish refineries switched to alternative grades — Kazakhstan’s CPC Blend and KEBCO, as well as Iraq’s Basrah.
Imports of CPC reached 105,000 barrels per day in November, the highest level since February 2024.

Revenue from arms sales by the world’s 100 largest defense companies rose by nearly 6% to a record 679 billion dollars, according to a new report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
Companies in the United States and Europe accounted for most of this growth.
The report’s authors explain that rising revenues are driven by increased demand amid the Russia-Ukraine war, the war in Gaza, as well as broader global tensions and higher military spending.

Despite active air defense, there is damage: an energy facility, an administrative building, and several private homes were hit, said the head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, Oleh Kiper.

❗️Putin instructed the Russian military to ensure troops are fully supplied for combat operations during the upcoming winter period, Kremlin spokesman Peskov said after the dictator’s meeting with General Staff representatives.

In South Africa, Mantula, a presenter for the state-owned SAfm radio station, was arrested on suspicion of recruiting men to fight on Russia’s side in the war against Ukraine.
South African law prohibits serving in a foreign army without government permission, so the five detainees were placed in custody until a court hearing on preventive measures next week

Porsche Cars in Russia “Turn Into Bricks” After Massive Satellite Security Outage (united24media.com/latest-news/porsche-cars-in-russia-turn-into-bricks-after-massive-satellite-security-outage-13921)
Porsche owners throughout Russia are reporting that their vehicles have become immobile due to a failure of the factory satellite alarm system, the Rolf dealership network told RBC on December 1.
The surge in service requests began on November 28.
The outage was first highlighted by the Telegram channel Shot, which said that hundreds of Porsche vehicles had “turned into bricks” in cities including Moscow and Krasnodar. Drivers described being unable to start or unlock their cars as the system abruptly went offline.

A rare fungus found at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant can not only survive intense radiation but also use it as an energy source, Interesting Engineering reports.
This black fungus, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, contains melanin—the same pigment that protects human skin from UV light—which allows it to shield ionizing radiation and grow faster under its influence, a process known as radiosynthesis.
Experiments show that on the International Space Station it grew more than 20% faster than on Earth and absorbed part of the cosmic radiation.
Scientists believe such fungi could serve as biological radiation shields. Unlike traditional shielding materials such as lead—which are heavy and costly to transport—a fungal shield could be grown directly in space: on the ISS, the Moon, or Mars.
NASA is already studying “mycoarchitecture,” structures built from fungal mycelium that can self-repair and provide radiation protection, potentially forming the basis of future extraterrestrial habitats.