Here are the major events that transpired on the 1,003rd day of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Here is the update for Saturday, November 23:
Military
- Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced more combat test-firing of an experimental hypersonic missile – the Oreshnik – targeting Ukraine on Thursday.
- Ukraine is requesting updated air defense systems from its allies to counter the new threat of Russian hypersonic missiles, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
- The Oreshnik is believed to have the capability to travel at a speed 10 times faster than the speed of sound and strike targets up to 5,500km (3,400 miles) away.
- General Sergei Karakayev, head of Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces, stated that the Oreshnik could reach targets across Europe and could be equipped with nuclear or conventional warheads.
- China’s Foreign Ministry reiterated the need for “calm” and “restraint” in the war following Russia’s confirmation of launching a new ballistic missile at Ukraine.
- Zelenskyy criticized Russia’s escalation of the conflict in his nightly address, saying it undermines international calls for de-escalation. He mentioned that it mocks the positions of countries like China and leaders advocating for restraint.
- Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressed concern over the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine war, calling it a decisive phase with a serious threat of a global conflict.
- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the use of the hypersonic missile, likening it to the deployment of North Korean soldiers in the war for Putin’s imperial ambitions.
- NATO and Ukraine are set to hold emergency discussions following Russia’s attack with the experimental hypersonic ballistic missile.
- In Kyiv, parliament canceled its regular Friday session amid fears of an attack. Several members of parliament opted to work remotely as a precaution.
Fighting
- Russia’s Defence Ministry announced the capture of the settlement of Novodmytrivka in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, marking their latest territorial advance.
- Ukraine’s General Staff reported that Russian forces were engaged in fighting and attempting to advance in eight villages, including Novodmytrivka.
- A Ukrainian military source revealed that Russian forces are moving forward by “200-300 meters a day” near the Ukrainian hub of Kurakhove in the eastern Donetsk region, describing the situation as worse than in Pokrovsk, another key target for Russia.
- US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated that thousands of North Korean troops stationed in Russia are expected to join combat against Ukraine soon. The troops are being integrated into Russian formations near the border region of Kursk.
- Authorities in the northeastern Ukrainian region of Sumy reported two fatalities and 12 injuries from a Russian drone attack, highlighting the strategic significance of the area as a key supply route for Ukrainian troops in western Russia’s Kursk region.
Diplomacy
- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban urged taking Russia’s threat of additional strikes seriously, warning of potential consequences. He criticized Russia’s reliance on military force and possession of modern and destructive weapons.
- US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, as per a statement from the White House.
- Reports suggest that US President-elect Donald Trump is considering appointing Richard Grenell, his former intelligence chief, as a special envoy for the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Grenell would play a pivotal role in Trump’s efforts to halt the war in Ukraine if chosen for the position.
- Pam Bondi, Trump’s nominee for attorney general, was involved in his first impeachment trial where he was accused of pressuring Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in exchange for military aid.
Regional security
- The leaders of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania convened in Vilnius for the Baltic Council of Ministers meeting to discuss common defense and security issues, focusing on the threat of hybrid warfare.
- Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal emphasized the importance of safeguarding critical undersea infrastructure following recent damage to cables in the Baltic Sea.
- A Norwegian student in Oslo was arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia and Iran while working as a guard at the US embassy. He runs a security company jointly with an individual from an Eastern European country.
- Switzerland announced a ban on exports to a Polish military hardware supplier after determining that Swiss-made ammunition ended up in Ukraine in violation of Swiss laws. The ban was imposed due to the high risk of diversion to conflict zones.
- A man pleaded guilty in a UK court to an arson attack on a Ukrainian-linked business in London, allegedly carried out on behalf of Russia’s paramilitary Wagner group.
Humanitarian
- Ukraine is set to receive $4.8bn from the World Bank for social and humanitarian purposes, with total foreign funding surpassing $100bn since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022.
- Dozens of residents from the Kursk region in Russia were repatriated following negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv. The reasons for their initial transportation to Ukraine remain unclear.
