RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Western military aid to Kyiv, worldwide reaction, and the plight of civilians and refugees. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.
Latest Developments At A Glance
- The Dutch Defense Ministry said the Netherlands had turned over the final two of 18 promised U.S.-made F-16 fighter warplanes to a Romania training base, where Ukrainian pilots and staff are being taught to fly and maintain the jets.
- The U.S. Defense Department announced an additional security assistance package worth $275 million under the Presidential Drawdown Authority program.
- The Germany government said it had sent a package of military aid to Ukraine, including armored vehicles, artillery, and drones. Four Panzerhaubitze 2000 howitzers and seven M109 howitzers were included, along with 41,000 rounds of 155-mm artillery shells.
- The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv closed its operations on November 20 after receiving "specific information" about "a potential significant air strike." It also urged employees and U.S. citizens in the Ukrainian capital to take immediate shelter if an air-raid alert was announced.
- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on November 19 attacked the final declaration of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro for not plainly stating that Russia was responsible for the war in Ukraine.
- The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement on November 19 that Ukraine used six U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles in an attack on the Bryansk region overnight, claiming that Russian forces managed to shoot down five of the missiles and damage one.
- Ukrainians awoke to the 1,000th day of Russia’s full-scale invasion on November 19 with news of yet another deadly Russian drone strike on an apartment building.
Could U.S. Long-Range Missiles Tip The Balance In The Ukraine War?
The Biden administration has reportedly given Ukraine permission to strike deep inside Russian territory, opening the door for the U.K., France, and Germany to follow in its steps. Its impact, however, will depend on how many weapons Ukraine is given. Read the story by Todd Prince here.
Peace Talks Brewing, Russia And Ukraine Jockey For Advantage -- On And Off The Battlefield
As Donald Trump’s return to the White House draws closer and talk of a concerted effort to stop the fighting in Ukraine grows, Russia is pressing a monthslong initiative on the battlefield. Ukraine, meanwhile, is struggling. Read the report by Mike Eckel here.
Trump's Win Could Ignite Push For Peace In Ukraine, But On Whose Terms?
Donald Trump’s election to a new term as U.S. president could lead to a push for an end to the war in Ukraine, but the risks and the hurdles are high. Read the story by Steve Gutterman here.
Ukraine's Forces Are Dangerously Stretched. Will North Korean Troops Break Them?
The quality of the North Korean force hired by Russia to deploy to the Ukrainian front is questionable. Their quantity alone, however, may be enough to break beleaguered Ukrainian defenses. Read the story by Mike Eckel here.
Photo Gallery: Here Are The Weapons The EU's 300 Million Euros May Provide For Ukraine
Here Are The Weapons The EU's 300 Million Euros May Provide For Ukraine
What Did The Kremlin's Early Peace Plan For Ukraine Contain?
RFE/RL’s Russian investigative unit has obtained a draft treaty that Moscow proposed early in talks that began days after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. If signed, it would have left a truncated Ukraine deeply vulnerable, with a minuscule military and no hope of protection by the West. Read the story by Yelizaveta Surnacheva and Systema here.
What Does Trump's Victory Mean For Ukraine?
Following the U.S. presidential election on November 5, the decision by Americans to return Donald Trump to the White House has reverberated around the world. Ukraine, whose defense against Russia is heavily dependent on U.S. military, financial, and diplomatic support, may feel the effects more than any other foreign country. Read the story by Todd Prince here.
The Moment A Russian Shell Landed Next To An RFE/RL Crew In Ukraine
A Russian shell came close to directly hitting an RFE/RL crew on the front line in Ukraine's Donetsk region. By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, Roman Pahulych, and Pavlo Kholodov
Tense Times For Ukraine As Pressure Mounts On The Battlefield And Beyond
Russian forces push forward in the Donbas, diplomatic pressure on Kyiv increases, and the U.S. election looms. It's all adding up to one of the toughest points for Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Read the story by Steve Gutterman here.
Why Is Ukraine Attacking Russia's Oil Refineries?
Russia said it would protect oil refineries better after several were struck by Ukrainian drones. Ukraine continues to hit the facilities, despite U.S. warnings against such attacks, as it launches larger and larger drone swarms. The strikes have decreased refinery output but beyond a morale boost for Ukraine, the effects are moderate so far. Read the story by Todd Prince here.
Interactive: Occupied, Militarized Crimea
As Ukrainian leaders vow to reclaim all territories seized by Russia, Moscow has prepared extensive defensive measures, particularly in Crimea, a region unlawfully annexed in 2014. This area, now under Russian occupation, has been heavily militarized with an array of air bases and army bases, making it one of the most fortified zones in the war. View the interactive map by Crimea.Realities, Schemes, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, and Central Newsroom here.
