Russo-Ukrainian war, day 643: Ukrainian society shows high level of unity despite ongoing Russian aggression

Exclusive

Meet Pimbo, the Italian clown returning smiles to Ukraine’s frontline kids. Marco Rodari has brought comic relief to the children in Syria, Iraq, Gaza, Palestine, and, now, Ukraine. "Cultures are different, smiles of kids are the same," he says

Russia’s child brainwashing handbook: victim from 78 years ago speaks out. Echoing crimes of today, in 1945, daughter of Ukrainian Insurgent Army leader was forcibly sent away, given fabricated Russian identity, and raised to hail the Communists

Military

Frontline report: Ukrainian forces push 1 km deeper into Kherson forest. Ukraine began deploying reinforcements to secure newly gained territories. Meanwhile, Russia near Krynky reportedly suffered from insufficient fire support, lack of unit coordination, and air defense. EU allocates additional funds for training of Ukrainian military. EU funding for training the Ukrainian military has now reached 225 million euros. ISW: Winter weather impacts Russian-Ukrainian war, but fighting persists. Artillery targeting and aerial reconnaissance are complicated, but Russian and Ukrainian ground forces continue attacks. Authorities: Battle for Avdiivka intensifies as Russia launches offensive from two new directions. Russians keep storming the Avdiivka Coke plant, yet Ukrainian troops maintain control of the territory, the head of City Military Administration, said. As of 28 Nov 2023, the approximate losses of weapons and military equipment of the Russian Armed Forces from the beginning of the invasion to the present day:

• • • Personnel: 326440 (+860)
    • Tanks: 5523 (+3)
    • APV: 10285 (+3)
    • Artillery systems: 7876 (+1)
    • MLRS: 907
    • Anti-aircraft systems: 597
    • Aircraft: 323
    • Helicopters: 324
    • UAV: 5905
    • Cruise missiles: 1565
    • Warships/boats: 22
    • Submarines: 1
    • Vehicles and fuel tanks: 10302 (+23)

Intelligence and technology

British intel: Russia secures minor gains near Avdiivka at heavy cost. "Small Russian advances," in particular 2 km near the strategic town of Avdiivka since October, came at the cost of thousands killed, according to British intelligence. Ukraine’s budget allocates over $2 billion for arms production in 2024. The 2024 state budget of Ukraine provides $1,2 billion for the production of unmanned aerial vehicles and another $1,2 billion for the production of ammunition and weapons. Wife of Ukraine’s intel chief allegedly poisoned. Marianna Budanova was recently hospitalized after being poisoned by heavy metals, which are not used in everyday life or military affairs, indicating this was likely a targeted poisoning attempt.

International

Foreign Ministry: Ukraine boycotts OSCE meeting over Lavrov’s attendance. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Oleh Nikolenko said that "the presence of Russia's delegation there would only worsen the crisis Russia caused within the OSCE." Finland closes eastern border, accuses Russia of hybrid warfare. All checkpoints on the Finnish-Russian border will be closed for at least two weeks due to the influx of illegal migrants from Russia. Kuleba: Russia is fighting for impunity, Ukraine is fighting for justice. On 28 November, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba spoke at the European Parliament in Brussels at the conference "Justice and Responsibility for Russia's War against Ukraine. Recommendations and the way forward."

Humanitarian and social impact

Russian indiscriminate shelling kills a child in northern Ukraine. The Russian army used cluster munitions to shell residential areas of a small town on the Russo-Ukrainian border. Ukraine joins European power grid, boosts electricity trade. After years of technical and political efforts, Ukraine completed a historic synchronization project with continental Europe and gained access to more electricity trade opportunities. Russian strike kills 63-year-old man in Dnipro Oblast, injuring two elderly women. The Russian night attack on Kherson Oblast injured two. One of them, a 71-year-old resident of Kherson, died in the hospital late. Interior Minister: 10 fatalities, 23 injuries in Ukraine following severe snowfall. Rescue services assisted almost 2,500 people, including over 160 children, in Odesa Oblast, one of the worst-hit areas. Russia preparing to deport more children from occupied Ukrainian territories. Russian occupation administrations have been ordered to compile new lists of Ukrainian children without guardianship for potential deportation, Ukraine’s National Resistance Center reported.

Political and legal developments

Ukrainian society displays high level of unity during wartime, survey finds. “Ukrainian society showed an extremely high level of togetherness when it came to confronting the enemy,” the survey states. Euractiv: US and Germany oppose fast-track NATO membership for Ukraine. Two major NATO allies demand that Ukraine fulfill a list of reforms before its NATO membership can be discussed.

New developments

Officials: Finland to close the last border crossing with Russia “if necessary”. Russia’s attempt to create a migrant crisis at the Finnish border likely failed due to the Finnish authorities’ fast reaction, according to the ISW. Europol: Key ransomware suspects arrested in Ukraine. Europol leads an international operation that successfully dismantles a Ukrainian ransomware group, causing substantial global financial losses. Read our earlier daily review here.