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Volodymyr Zelensky says everyone in Ukraine involved in the war can feel the beleaguered country’s victory against Russia approaching, sounding an optimistic note after the liberation of the city of Kherson. The president said those who repelled Moscow’s attacks – whether soldiers, civilians or diplomats – have not had a day’s rest since Vladimir Putin’s invasion. “All of us already feel the approach of our victory. Because we maintain our unity and know that we are rightfully on our land,” Mr. Zelensky said in his night speech. Earlier on Sunday, Ukrainian soldiers in liberated Kherson said they had found bins filled with discarded Russian uniforms – evidence that Putin’s troops had fled in an attempt to join civilians. Stanislav Stoikobv, head of territorial defense in the region, told the Independent that the Ukrainian military estimates that 15 percent of Moscow’s troops stationed in Kherson have been left behind. Russia could yet send “more cannon fodder” to Ukraine after its failure in Kherson, UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace warned, even as Kherson residents celebrated liberation.
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Ukraine reveals messages left behind by Russian soldiers: ‘It’s not a war crime if you had fun’
Ukraine’s defense ministry says it has found messages in Kherson apparently left behind by retreating Russian soldiers. Some of these messages from undisclosed locations read: “I will burn down other people’s villages with a happy smile,” “It’s not a war crime if you had fun,” and “Behind us, there’s a house on fire. Well, let it burn. One more, one less.” Photos of these messages, which they claim were left behind by Russian troops, were shared on Twitter by the Ukrainian ministry. Arpan Rai14 November 2022 06:18 1668405136
Ukraine begins work to restore order in Kherson after Russia’s withdrawal
Ukraine’s military said it was deploying “stabilization measures” in and around the southern city of Kherson over the weekend after an eight-month occupation by Russian forces ended. Locals in Kherson celebrated the return of their city without Russian control after the Kremlin announced that its troops had withdrawn to the other side of the Dnipro River. Ukrainians have already begun removing symbols of Russian occupation – including plaques commemorating the authorities installed by the Kremlin to run Kherson. On Friday, Zelensky said that “the residents of Kherson themselves are already removing Russian symbols and any traces of the occupiers’ stay in Kherson from the streets and buildings.” Senior officials from Volodymyr Zelensky’s office warned that while special military units had entered the city of Kherson, the full deployment to reinforce the advancing troops was still underway. On Friday, Ukraine’s intelligence service said it believed some Russian soldiers stayed behind, mistaking their uniforms for civilian clothes to avoid detection. Read the full story here: Arpan Rai14 November 2022 05:52 1668401425
Fighting in Donetsk remains intense, says Zelensky
Donetsk remains the hardest-fought region of Ukraine, with Volodymyr Zelensky saying the intensity of Russian attacks there has not abated. “The fighting in the Donetsk region is as intense as in the previous days. The level of Russian attacks is not decreasing. The level of endurance and bravery of our fighters is the highest. We will not allow our defense to be breached,” Mr Zelensky said in his nightly speech. Arpan Rai14 November 2022 04:50 1668399607
‘Months of hell’: Inside Kherson, shocked survivors fear what Russia left behind
Without electricity, water or natural gas and with little food supplies, 76-year-old Ludmila limps in the dark all alone. That was until Ukrainian soldiers opened Kherson on Friday to an ecstatic crowd. She had earlier managed to evacuate her daughter-in-law and grandchildren to Poland, but remained in Kherson to take care of the family home. “God bless you? I haven’t had a decent meal in months,” he told staff at the global food charity World Central Kitchen, who were distributing hundreds of emergency food packages to crowds in the center of the newly liberated city on Sunday. Each package, containing canned meat, fish, vegetables and staple foods, is a lifeline. People described food prices tripling under the occupation and supplies running out. “It’s been months of hell,” Ludmila continued, clutching her food parcel like a lifeline. Bel Trew reports from Kherson: Arpan Rai14 November 2022 04:20 1668398453
40 Russian soldiers killed, armored vehicles destroyed – Ukrainian army
At least 40 Russian soldiers have been killed in fighting by Ukrainian troops, the country’s southern operational command said in a military briefing today. The soldiers were neutralized on Sunday after the Ukrainian military command attacked four concentrations of Russian troops, it said. Seven armored vehicles were also reportedly destroyed. Arpan Rai14 November 2022 04:00 1668398400
Biden is set to discuss Ukraine with China’s President Xi
Joe Biden is set to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping today in his first meeting with him as US president. Ukraine is set to be among the talking points during their discussion at the G20 summit in Indonesia. Mr. Biden will be “unapologetic” in defending the country, officials said. Xi Jinping and Joe Biden meeting in California in 2012 (Getty Images) On Sunday, ahead of their meeting, Mr Biden warned China against an invasion of Taiwan and also said he wanted to keep the lines of communication open with Beijing. “I know Xi Jinping, he knows me,” he added, saying they had always had “straight talks.” The pair have known each other for more than a decade, since Biden and Xi were both vice presidents of their countries, but this will be their first face-to-face meeting as presidents. “We have a very small misunderstanding. We just have to figure out what the red lines are,” Biden said. Lamiat Sabin14 November 2022 04:00 1668396487
I can feel Ukraine’s victory in the war approaching, says Zelensky
Volodymyr Zelensky said everyone in his country involved in the war can feel Ukraine’s victory against Russia approaching, as he said those resisting Moscow’s attacks, including soldiers, civilians and diplomats, have not had a day’s rest. “All of us already feel the approach of our victory. Because we maintain our unity and know that we are rightfully on our land,” Mr. Zelensky said in his night speech. Beginning his speech, the Ukrainian president said he was working with his team on Sunday. “The office works, Kyiv does not stop, the country works non-stop. Look around – there are always people fighting and working without weekends for the sake of our victory,” he said. “The front line has no weekends. Lifeguards and fencers don’t have weekends off. Doctors who help the injured do not have weekends. The doctors who help our children also don’t have weekends off. Ukrainian energy workers fighting against Iranian drones have no rest,” Zelensky said. He added: “Diplomats working almost around the clock for 263 days already… Communications workers, security forces, hundreds and hundreds of other sectors, thousands of organizations and businesses, millions of people.” Arpan Rai14 November 2022 03:28 1668394800
ICYMI: Russia could send ‘more cannon fodder’ after Kherson
UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said Russia would be “concerned” and “disappointed” by the loss of Kherson. He also said it was important not to “underestimate” Moscow and urged “care” when considering the joyful scenes on the streets of the liberated city. “History will remind you that Russia can be brutal to its own people. And if they need more cannon fodder, that’s what they will do,” he told reporters in Westminster earlier on Sunday. Lamiat Sabin14 November 2022 03:00 1668391200
MTV EMA audience waves Ukrainian flags for Kalush Orchestra
The Kalush Orchestra received a warm welcome at the MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) with audience members waving Ukrainian flags as they took to the stage on Sunday night. The folk-rap group performed their Eurovision-winning song Stefania as the award ceremony drew to a close at the PSD Bank Dome in Dusseldorf, Germany. The group was supported by dancers wearing singer Oleg Psyuk’s trademark pink hat. Traditional designs from the war-torn country and an image of a raised and clenched fist were projected across the stage. Kalush Orchestra performs at MTV Europe Music Awards 2022 (Ian West/PA) Before the show, Oscar-winning director Taika Waititi, who was performing with his partner Rita Ora, said the group wore costumes that “dated back thousands of years”. He described their music as “bringing an infusion of hip hop to traditional Ukrainian folk music”. Ora added: “Along with our world winners, we would like to welcome them from Kyiv, Ukraine – Kalush Orchestra.” Speaking earlier on the red carpet, Psyuk told the PA news agency “culture is one of our weapons” in the war against Russia “so today we are soldiers presenting the culture of Ukraine.” The performers wore traditional costumes and pink hats (Martin Meissner/Associated Press) The band has become an international spokesperson for the Ukrainian war effort since winning Eurovision in May. They later raised more than £700,000 for the Ukrainian military by auctioning off their crystal microphone trophy and are touring with a portion of the proceeds going to relief efforts at home. Psyuk recently said they were “grateful” to the UK for showing solidarity with Ukraine by hosting Eurovision next year in…
