Ukraine Monitor Articles
Ukraine’s SBU Focuses on Orthodox Clergy Believed to Be Loyal to Russia
Fractures within the Ukrainian Orthodox Church aggravated shortly after the Russian invasion as more and more parishioners and clergymen are joining the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate.
Russia’s Terrorist Strategy Threatens Ukraine’s Utilities
All of Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants were automatically disconnected from the power grid for the first time in the country’s history following a barrage of Russian missile attacks. Since early October the Russian military has destroyed enough of Ukraine’s infrastructure to make life intolerable.
Ukraine Launches Assault On The Strategic Kinburn Peninsula
Ukrainian troops are now fighting to liberate the Kinburn Peninsula to dislodge Russian troops from their stronghold. Located on the western bank of the Dnieper River, both the peninsula and its spit are of key strategic importance.
Ukraine’s Naftogaz Names New CEO
The Ukrainian government accepted the resignation of Yuriy Vitrenko as chief executive of the state energy company Naftogaz. Former government minister for communities and territorial development Oleksiy Chernyshov on November 3 took over as chief executive of Naftogaz, facing some challenges including government personnel reshuffles and the ongoing war with Russia.
No Battle Of Kherson As Russia Ordered Troop Withdrawal
Ukrainian forces swept into the key city of Kherson as Russian troops retreated to the east. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said by the evening of November 12 Ukraine’s defense forces had liberated more than 60 cities, towns, and villages in Kherson Oblast. Russia has suffered a major defeat in the south of Ukraine, withdrawing from the western Kherson region––far more painful than in Kyiv and Chernihiv back in March.
Ukrainian Lawmakers Recognize Independence Of Chechen Republic Of Ichkeria
The Ukrainian parliament has declared Chechnya temporarily Russian-occupied land––a move that has little political significance but was a demonstrative effort, though. The Russian war is a sort of testing site for Chechen independence advocates and Kadyrov acolytes. Literally––Chechen battalions fight in Ukraine, siding with both Russian and Ukrainian forces.
Russia Destroys Power, Energy Infrastructure Across Ukraine
Russian military strategy in Ukraine specifically calls for strategic operations to destroy critical infrastructure, bringing the country to the verge of a humanitarian crisis. Since the invasion began, Russian forces targeted critical infrastructure facilities, including power plants, energy grids, and oil and gas pipelines. A mass-scale campaign began on October 10. Russian drone strikes have damaged at least 40 percent of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, raising concerns about the coming winter.
Who’s Actually Interested In Blowing Up Ukrainian Dam?
It started with a Russian claim blaming Ukraine for staging a plot to blow up a Dnieper dam, which yet would make no sense as its destruction would slow down a Ukrainian offensive and cause a large-scale disaster affecting towns and cities. Ukrainian officials accused Russia of plotting to blow up the dam. For the Kremlin, it is a matter of honor to launch a fierce campaign to defend Kherson, and blowing up the dam suits neither side.
Ukraine Launches Diplomatic Counteroffensive in Africa
African nations are closely watching what is taking place in Ukraine as they depend heavily on grain supplies from the two warring sides. Shortly after the war broke out, many either remained neutral or sided with Russia. Now it has started to change. It is largely due to tremendous diplomatic efforts Ukraine has made in Africa––the continent where Kyiv has never had much political interest. Russia is doing differently––seeking to rebuild its Cold War influence by sending Wagner Group mercenaries and weapons to the continent.
Artillery And Rain: Situation Along Front Line In Ukraine
Russia failed to draw any conclusions from the uneasy situation that Ukrainian forces were in while in Kherson Oblast due to rainy weather. An advance towards Vuhledar and Pavlivka in the south of Donetsk Oblast was hampered by muddy weather. The bottom line is that the daily Russian death toll stood at a record number. The chilly, wet weather is making conditions particularly difficult, slowing the Russian and Ukrainian offensive over the next two months.
Russia Suspends Participation In Grain Export Deal
The Russian Federation’s decision to temporarily suspend its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative is little surprising. Moscow has been bracing for this since at least mid-October. This fits into the Russian war strategy that involves targeting civilians to cripple the economy and create a humanitarian catastrophe.
Ukraine’s Former Central Bank Chief Declared Wanted
The true reason behind the resignation of the chairman of Ukraine’s national bank is an old embezzlement case––and not his conflict with the finance ministry. Kyrylo Shevchenko was allegedly involved in an embezzlement scheme while serving as the chairman of one of the country’s state banks.
Russia’s Shoigu Warns of “Dirty Bomb” Provocation
Russia has again waved the nuclear blackmail, a strategy that the Kremlin has followed since it invaded Ukraine. The Kremlin now claims that Ukraine could stage a false flag operation by detonating a dirty bomb.
Russian, Ukrainian Troops Brace For Battle In Kherson
Russia seems unlikely to expose thousands of its troops on the western bank of the Dnieper River and thus will possibly exit the right bank of the Dnieper River in the southern Kherson region. In the past few weeks, Ukrainian forces have won a considerable advantage in the region, where the occupier is doomed to fail whatever its military will do next. Sergey Surovikin, who commands the southern group of Russian troops in the war against Ukraine, told Vladimir Putin that the defense of Kherson could deliver a severe blow to Russian forces.
Warsaw Institute
