A Comprehensive Compilation of Key Events in the Russia-Ukraine War on Day 637

War Update: Key Developments on the 637th Day

Here is the latest update on the ongoing war as of Wednesday, November 22, 2023.

Fighting

• Ukraine’s military spokesperson, Oleksandr Shtupun, reported that Russia has reduced ground assaults and air strikes on Avdiivka, but their plans to surround the town are still in motion. Ukrainian forces successfully repelled eight attacks on Tuesday. Additionally, there has been an increase in Russian attacks on the nearby town of Maryinka. The Russian defense ministry provided limited details but mentioned that their troops were attacking villages south of Avdiivka.
• Russia’s defense ministry claimed that its marines are preventing Ukrainian Armed Forces from carrying out amphibious landings on the Dnipro islands and the left bank of the Dnipro River in the Kherson region. Pro-Russian bloggers reported ongoing clashes between Russian and Ukrainian forces near the village of Krynky. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu alleged that Kyiv had suffered significant losses.
• In a tragic incident, at least two people were killed when Russia launched a new barrage of missiles and drones targeting a hospital in Selydove, Donetsk region, and a nearby mine. The Ukrainian air force managed to destroy nine out of ten drones and a cruise missile launched by Russia. Moscow also launched four guided missiles towards Ukraine.
• Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov clarified that no decision has been made regarding the potential dismissal of two senior military commanders, Joint Forces Commander Serhiy Nayev and Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, chief of the Tavria military command. The Tavria command has been leading Ukraine’s counteroffensive in the southeast but has faced challenges in breaking through heavily-defended Russian lines.

• Odesa Governor Oleh Kiper reported that Russia targeted port infrastructure in Odesa without causing any injuries. The southern military command confirmed that Russia used Х-31 missiles and also struck administrative buildings in the Belhorod-Dniester district.
• The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine released a report stating that over 10,000 civilians have been killed since Russia initiated its full-scale invasion of the country last year. The actual toll is expected to be significantly higher as corroboration work continues.

Politics and Diplomacy

• Ukraine commemorated the 10th anniversary of the pro-Europe Maidan protests, which led to the downfall of Kremlin-backed President Viktor Yanukovych. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed the protests as the “first victory” in Ukraine’s battle against Russia, emphasizing their significance in the fight against indifference and for dignity.
• European Council President Charles Michel visited Kyiv to show support for Ukraine, acknowledging the country’s remarkable progress in recent years. Zelenskyy expressed hope that the European Union would agree to open formal accession talks at an upcoming summit. Michel acknowledged that the discussion would be challenging but assured that he would do everything possible to convince his colleagues to reach a decision in December, which requires the agreement of all 27 member states.
• Russia’s foreign ministry Ambassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik expressed Russia’s inability to coexist with the current government in Kyiv, referring to it as “absolutely toxic.”
• Ukraine’s defense ministry initiated criminal proceedings into the misuse of over $1 million of government funds by a military unit in the Chernihiv region. The investigation revealed inflated costs of generators, which remained in warehouses instead of being delivered to their intended destinations.

• Ukrainian authorities have launched investigations into two lawmakers suspected of involvement in attempts to bribe top reconstruction officials. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) caught one of the lawmakers, a member of parliament’s anti-corruption committee, allegedly offering the country’s first-ever documented bribe in Bitcoin. The other lawmaker is suspected of arranging a cash bribe of $150,000 inside a Chinese decorative box in a Kyiv supermarket parking lot. The officials involved have not been named by NABU.

Weapons

• German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced that Germany will provide Ukraine with new military aid worth 1.3 billion euros ($1.42 billion). The aid package includes four additional IRIS-T air defense units to protect against Russian missile attacks, as well as 155mm artillery shells and anti-tank mines. Germany is the second-largest supplier of military assistance to Ukraine after the United States.

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Conclusion

With no signs of the conflict abating, the war continues to take its toll on both sides. As the international community closely monitors the situation, diplomatic efforts and military aid play crucial roles in shaping the outcome. Let us hope for a peaceful resolution to this devastating conflict.