Ukraine-Russia war – latest: Poll reveals much of world doesn’t have same view of war as West; photos show Ukrainian troops crossing key river
Most people in non-Western countries want the war in Ukraine to end as soon as possible, even if it means Kyiv losing territory. Listen to a Daily podcast special on what Vladimir Putin is doing while the world’s focus is elsewhere while you scroll.
Wednesday 15 November 2023 19:40, UK
Russia
Ukraine
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Key points
Russia raining ‘hell fire’ on Ukrainian troops on bank of Dnipro river View post
Weather beginning to affect battlespace, ISW says View post
Fierce fighting at Avdiivka continues as Russia brings in ‘more and more’ infantry View post
Hungary seeks to review EU policy on Ukraine accession View post
Poll reveals much of world doesn’t have same view of war as West View post
Sean Bell analysis:Putin hesitant to mobilise more troops to Ukraine – why? View post
Philip Ingram analysis:Who is winning the war? View post
Live reporting by Lauren Russell
59m ago
14:00
Estimated 30,000 Ukrainian troops killed since start of war
More than 30,000 Ukrainian troops have died since the start of Russia’s invasion, a Ukrainian civic group has said.
The number of losses is typically kept as a state secret in Kyiv, as it believes disclosing this number could harm its war effort.
But using the Book of Memory project – which has tracked the number of deaths since Russia’s first invasion in 2014 – historian Yaroslav Tynchenko and volunteer Herman Shapovalenko said they were able to confirm some figures.
According to their estimates, they confirmed there have been 24,500 combat and non-combat deaths.
They acknowledged that the real figure is likely higher, as many of the 15,000 missing troops were likely dead.
“Obviously, the 24,500 names are not the final number of dead, but by our assessment it is no less than 70%,” the authors wrote.
“That is, the real number of dead in combat and non-combat situations is more than 30,000 people.”
Their estimates also put the number of wounded Ukrainian troops at up to 100,000.
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2h ago
12:59
NATO to replace jets in one of alliance’s ‘biggest-ever capability purchases’
NATO has announced the production of six new Boeing aircraft will begin as it moves to replace its ageing fleet of AWACS surveillance planes.
The older aircraft have been in service since the Cold War in the 1980s.
The alliance said the first Boeing E-7A Wedgetail aircraft is expected to be ready for operational duty by 2031.
The planes will be able to “detect hostile missiles and ships at great distances and can direct NATO fighter jets to their targets”, it said.
The US, Britain and Turkey plan to either fly the Wedgetail or operate it.
The approval of the project by members mean it is one of NATO’s “biggest-ever capability purchases”, though there was a lack of information on cost.
“This investment in state-of-the-art technology shows the strength of transatlantic defence cooperation as we continue to adapt to a more unstable world,” Jens Stoltenberg, the alliance’s secretary general, said.
Boeing’s E-7A Wedgetail
Boeing’s E-7A Wedgetail
NATO
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2h ago
12:00
In pictures: Ukrainian troops attend air defence drills
Away from the frontline, Ukrainian troops have been pictured attending air defence drills in the Chernihiv region, northern Ukraine.
The drill took place on 11 November, but images released today show troops launching various forms of ammunition.
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3h ago
11:15
Ukrainian troops navigating Dnipro river
As we have been reporting today, Ukrainian troops have crossed the Dnipro river into Russian-occupied areas of the Kherson region.
Ukrainian troops are operating in small groups, but Russian officials have said they have deployed more troops to stop the Kyiv advance.
Below are the latest images from the area.
They show Ukrainian marines navigating along the river close to the front line.
AP
AP
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4h ago
10:45
Russian foreign ministry: Ukrainian accession to NATO ‘unacceptable’
In the past few minutes, Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for Russia’s foreign ministry, has been speaking to reporters.
The notable line was her suggestion that Ukrainian accession to NATO in any form was “unacceptable”.
It comes after Anders Fogh Rasmussen, a former NATO secretary general, put forward a proposal for Ukraine to join the military alliance.
The proposal stripped Ukraine of the territories controlled by Russia, the Guardian newspaper reported.
EU has become Washington’s ‘useful idiot’
Ms Zakharova went on to address the EU’s 12th sanctions package against Russia.
The sanctions include measures against military and IT individuals linked to the country.
The EU Commission said it also aims to sanction over 120 additional individuals and entities for their role in undermining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
Ms Zakharova said the sanctions were part of a “hybrid war” waged by the West and that they would achieve nothing.
“Due to the endless sanctions flow against Russia, the EU has become Washington’s ‘useful idiot’,” she said.
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4h ago
10:06
Non-Western countries want Ukraine war to end as soon as possible – poll
Most people in non-Western countries want the war in Ukraine to come to an end as soon as possible, even if it means Kyiv losing territory, according to a new poll.
The major opinion poll, published by the European Council on Foreign Relations, found that there remains a clear preference in China, India, and Turkey (and obviously Russia) that the war should end as soon as possible.
This is also the prevailing view in Brazil, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa, the poll found.
In addition, many people do not accept that Russia is at fault for perpetuating the war.
It is only Europe, the US, and South Korea where a clear majority of respondents say that Russia is the biggest obstacle to achieving peace between the two nations.
Going even further, only the US holds the view that Ukraine will win this war.
Even in Europe, 30% of respondents expressed a view that Russia is likely to win the war within five years, while only 38% say that Ukraine is likely to win.
The poll was conducted this year across 11 European countries, and 10 non-European countries.
A total of 25, 266 adults responded.
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5h ago
09:14
London insurance brokers pledge to cut costs of cover for Black Sea ships
A London-based insurance broker has launched a programme to cut the cost of claims for damages to ships and crew transporting grain through the Black Sea corridor.
Marsh, Lloyd’s of London said it will underwrite – assess the amount of risk something presents to a potential insurer – the programme which will provide $50m (£40m) of war risk cover and $50m of protection and indemnity (P&I) insurance for every voyage.
The programme also has the support of the British government, Marcus Baker, Marsh’s global head of marine and cargo said.
Mr Baker said the programme could reduce the cost to as little as “a third of the existing pricing”.
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6h ago
08:35
Two emergency workers killed after trying to put out fire in alleged Russian strikes
Two emergency workers have been killed in southern Ukraine as they tried to extinguish a fire from an attack moments before, Ukrainian officials have said.
At least seven other people were wounded in the strikes in the Zaporizhzhia region, in which Russian forces were said to have fired three missiles in about half an hour, Yuriy Malashko, governor of the region, said.
After the first strike, rescue workers rushed to the scene, but another attack followed shortly afterwards, Ihor Klymenko, Ukraine’s interior minister said on the Telegram messaging app.
“Employees of the State Emergency Service were already at the scene in a matter of minutes. Then the (Russian) invaders struck again,” he said.
He said the two men killed were aged 31 and 34.
A further three emergency workers and four civilians were wounded, Mr Klymenko added.
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7h ago
07:45
Hungary seeks to review EU policy on Ukraine accession
Hungary has today sought a review of the European Union’s policy towards Ukraine’s bid for formal membership into the bloc.
Next month, EU leaders are expected to start talks with Ukraine, which has upped efforts to integrate with the West since Russia’s invasion last year.
The bloc is also planning to assign €50bn (£43bn) in aid for Kyiv from its budget until 2027.
These decisions require unanimity from the 27 member states, but Viktor Orban, Hungary’s prime minister, has said he is opposed to starting membership negotiations.
He claims that money and military aid that has already been sent to the country has failed.
Janos Boka, Hungary’s affairs minister, added: “We need a period of reflection and a strategic discussion on the policy of the European Union towards Ukraine.”
Until such discussion, Budapest would not support any EU decisions to advance Ukraine’s accession, he said.
This is not the first time Hungary has temporarily blocked EU decisions. In the past, the country demanded a “strategic” discussion over EU sanctions against Russia for waging the war.
Mr Orban eventually aligned himself with the rest of the bloc, but this was not without negotiations going down to the wire over concessions he sought for Hungary.
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7h ago
07:08
Watch: Aftermath of alleged Russian strike on residential area
Earlier today, we reported that an apartment building in the Ukrainian town of Selydove was hit by an alleged Russian missile.
At least one person was said to have been killed in the blast.
Watch below as rescue teams carried out searches for people trapped under rubble and helped free those who were stuck.
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8h ago
06:38
Boost for Biden as poll shows support for Ukraine weapons
A two-day opinion poll in the US has found that 41% of people said they backed sending weapons to Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
This compared to 32% who were opposed – the rest were unsure.
The poll, carried out by global market research group Ipsos and Reuters in October, found that support for weapons was stronger among Democrats than Republicans.
Around 1,006 US adults were questioned for the poll.
US officials have cautioned that funding for military aid destined for Ukraine is running low, as the Republican-controlled House and Democratic majority Senate remain at odds.
The Biden administration requested back in October, around $60bn (£48bn) more in assistance to Kyiv, with an additional $40bn (£32bn) to provide aid to Israel.
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8h ago
06:08
‘The enemy is trapped’ – update on Russia’s response to Ukraine crossing Dnipro
More from the ongoing situation on the banks of the Dnipro river now, and Vladimir Saldo has said he predicts the average life expectancy of a Ukrainian solider in the area is two days.
Mr Saldo is the Russian-installed governor of the part of the Kherson region which Moscow controls.
In a statement, he acknowledged that Ukrainian forces had managed to cross to the east bank of the river, but predicted they would be wiped out.
Russia saw the river as a difficult barrier for Kyiv’s soldiers to overcome.
“Our additional forces have now been brought in,” Mr Saldo claimed.
“The enemy is trapped in (the settlement of) Krynki and a fiery hell has been arranged for him: bombs, rockets, heavy flamethrower systems, artillery shells, and drones.
“They (the Ukrainians) are sitting in basements and run from one basement to another at night.
“In the last two or three days alone, total enemy losses have totalled about a hundred fighters.”
Sky News has not independently verified these reports.
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9h ago
05:56
Russian minister visits North Korea amid new missile development
Yesterday, we reported that one potential gain for North Korea after supplying Russia with weapons to use in Ukraine is for assistance on its own weapons programmes.
North Korea is specifically after a military satellite and its own nuclear weapons programme.
Today there has been potential progress on this, as Alexander Kozlov, the Russian natural resources minister, is visiting Pyongyang.
The visit is important to note as North Korea announced new progress on its ballistic missile programme, which along with its nuclear weapons programme is banned the UN Security Council. The country is under sanctions.
State media reported today that the country had successfully conducted static tests of “new-type high-thrust solid-fuel engines” for intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs).
As Mr Kozlov arrived in the North Korean capital, Lloyd Austin, the US defence secretary, met with UN member states after concern that China and Russia are helping North Korea expand its military capabilities by enabling Pyongyang to evade UN sanctions.
North Korean government welcome Russian delegation
North Korean government welcome Russian delegation
Test of North Korea’s new solid-fuel engines for an intermediate ballistic missile
Test of North Korea’s new solid-fuel engines for an intermediate ballistic missile
Korean Central News Agency
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9h ago
05:26
Russia raining ‘hell fire’ on Ukrainian troops on bank of Dnipro river
The Russian military has claimed it is raining “hell fire” on Ukrainian troops that have crossed the Dnipro river to the east bank – which is currently held by Russia.
Comments from Vladimir Saldo, a Russian-installed official, came after Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, said Ukraine had secured a foothold on the bank of the river (see our post below).
In reaction, the Ukrainian military said it was trying to push back Russian forces along the river in the southern Kherson region.
It called for operational “silence” along what it described as a “fairly fluid” front line.
“Along the front line, which runs along the Dnipro… The pushback from our side is taking place on a line 2-5 miles along the entire bank from the water’s edge,” Natalia Humeniuk, spokesperson for the southern military command, said in televised comments.
She said informational silence would allow troops to “report later on great successes.”
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10h ago
04:57
Ukraine ‘gain foothold’ on bank of key river in step to demilitarise Crimea
Ukrainian troops have “gained a foothold on the eastern bank of the Dnipro” river, according to the Ukrainian president’s office.
Andriy Yermak, Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, said Ukraine’s Defence Forces had made progress in the Kherson region “against all odds”.
“Step by step, they are demilitarising Crimea. We have covered 70% of the distance,” he said, in comments published on Mr Zelenskyy’s website.
“And our counteroffensive is developing.”
This is the first official acknowledgement that Ukraine were stationed on the east bank of the river.
Officials have been cautious in describing activities in the area as Ukraine’s counteroffensive has only made small gains in four months.
In the early days of the invasion, Russia seized the Kherson region and held the west bank of the Dnipro, but later abandoned the territory to focus on other towns from new positions on the east bank.
Kherson City was then recaptured by Ukraine last November.
The comments from Ukraine came shortly after two Russian state news agencies withdrew information after reporting that troops were moving to “more favourable positions” east of the Dnipro.
The RBC news outlet quoted the defence ministry saying on Monday: “The sending of a false report about the ‘regrouping’ of troops in the Dnipro region, allegedly on behalf of the press centre of the Russian Ministry of Defence, is a provocation.”
