Friday, November 3

Russia’s war against Ukraine

A bird’s-eye view of the city of Kupiansk which has suffered from shelling from the Russian forces on Nov. 2. The city is 10 kilometers from the front line. (Kostya Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images)

Russian forces launch massive drone attack in Kharkiv. Russian forces launched at least 10 drones on the city of Kharkiv overnight on Nov. 3, causing multiple fires and damage to civilian infrastructure, including a school.

Baerbock hints at positive signal on Ukraine’s EU accession in December. “We want to see Ukraine as a member of our Union. And I am convinced that the European Council will give a signal this December,” Baerbock said at a press conference on EU enlargement in Berlin.

Zelensky: Ukraine deals heavy losses to Russia in Vuhledar direction. Russian forces attempted to advance in the Vuhledar direction in Donetsk Oblast but were fought off by Ukrainian defenders, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Nov. 2.

Ukraine announces evacuation of 275 children from Kharkiv Oblast. Ukrainian authorities have mandated the evacuation of 275 children and their families from 66 settlements of Kharkiv Oblast due to a “difficult security situation,” the Reintegration Ministry announced on Nov. 2.

Ukraine designates Nestle as ‘international sponsor of war.’ Ukraine’s National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) added Nestle to its list of “international sponsors of war,” for its continued business in Russia, the agency’s press service announced on Nov. 2.

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Economy Minister: Economic recovery requires return of 4.5 million Ukrainians. While over 6 million Ukrainians fled abroad during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, only one million have come back, according to UN figures. Preliminary Economy Ministry estimates show that attracting another 4.5 million people to return will “significantly accelerate the pace of recovery.”

EBRD and UK to develop war risk insurance project to encourage investment in Ukraine. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the British government are to develop a war risk insurance project, Ukraine’s Economy Ministry announced on Nov. 2. The aim is to help private sector companies do business in Ukraine, supporting reconstruction efforts.

International court rules Russia must pay $267 million to energy giant DTEK. The International Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that Russia must pay $267 million in damages to DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, the company announced on Nov. 2.

Putin signs law revoking Russia’s ratification of Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed on Nov. 2 a law revoking Russia’s ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), according to the government’s website.

Media: Russian drone manufacturer to open factory in Uzbekistan. A Russian drone manufacturer plans to open a factory in Uzbekistan’s Navoi free economic zone, AFP reported on Nov. 2. The company, Flyseeagro, claims to only produce drones for agricultural purposes.

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Ukraine war latest: Russia suffers heavy losses near Vuhledar

Ukrainian forces repelled Russia’s attempted advance towards Vuhledar in Donetsk Oblast, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Nov. 2. Russian troops suffered heavy losses as a result, including “dozens of vehicles and many killed and wounded,” according to Zelensky.

Photo: Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu via Getty Images

Human cost of war

2 more killed, 1 injured in Russian attacks on Kherson Oblast. Russian forces attacked Kherson Oblast with artillery and airstrikes over the past day, killing two men and injuring another, the regional prosecutor’s office said on Nov. 2.

International response

Reuters: White House to reveal new $425 million Ukraine aid package. The U.S. plans to unveil a $425 million aid package for Ukraine which will include counter-drone capabilities and other munitions, officials told Reuters on Nov. 2.

US sanctions 200 entities and individuals for taking part in Russian war effort. The U.S. is sanctioning over 200 foreign and Russian individuals and entities for their role in supporting Russia’s military and economy amidst the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, the State Department announced in a press release on Nov. 2.

Top Republicans push for longer-range weapons for Ukraine. Four senior Republicans in the U.S. House and Senate signed a letter urging President Joe Biden to send longer-range weapons to Ukraine, Reuters reported on Nov. 2. “Ukraine’s requirement for deep-strike capability remains urgent, particularly to range targets throughout Crimea,” the letter read.

Biden threatens to veto new $143 billion Israel aid bill without Ukraine funding. The U.S. House of Representatives on Nov. 2 passed a bill to provide $14.3 billion in aid for Israel, a move that President Joe Biden has promised to veto if it does not also include support for Ukraine, The Hill reports.

Poll: Republican support for Ukraine has declined, reaching new lows. A recent Gallup poll showed there is a significant partisan divide. A strong majority (62%) of Republicans think the U.S. is doing too much to help, while only 14% of Democrats think so. Independents remain in the middle at 44%.

Latvia to ban Russian-registered cars, confiscated vehicles to be sent to Ukraine. Russian vehicles not registered with the Latvian authorities by mid-February will be seized and sent to Ukraine, the Latvian parliament announced on Nov. 2.

Reuters: Polish truckers plan protest at Ukraine’s border crossings. One of the protest’s organizers told Reuters that the lack of restrictions governing Ukrainian truckers in Poland was hurting business for Polish drivers.

In other news

WSJ: Wagner Group may supply air defense systems to Hezbollah. Wagner Group may be providing Pantsir anti-aircraft systems to the Lebanese militia Hezbollah, U.S. sources told the Wall Street Journal on Nov. 2. According to one unnamed U.S. official, the transfer is still unconfirmed, and the situation is still being monitored.

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Today’s Ukraine Daily was brought to you by Toma Istomina, Martin Fornusek, Nate Ostiller, Oleksiy Sorokin, Elsa Court, Olena Goncharova, Li Luo, and Abbey Fenbert.

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