Most Russian drones were shot down, says Ukrainian air defence; US and Ukraine plan military industry conference in Washington
Today’s fighting comes a day after Ukrainian troops had a number of successes in skirmishes east of the Dnipro River.
The Ukrainian Marine Corps said in a statement on social media that: “The defence forces of Ukraine conducted a series of successful operations on the left bank of the Dnipro River, along the Kherson front.”
Ukraine and the US will hold a military industry conference in Washington on 6-7 December, officials from both countries have said. Ukraine is ramping up production of its own weapons and seeking joint ventures with international armament producers. Ukraine has set up a joint venture with Rheinmetall of Germany to service and repair western weapons, and in September hosted a forum with more than 250 western arms producers.
Ukraine has said it has carried out “successful actions” on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River. It comes after Ukraine and Russia acknowledged earlier this week that Ukraine had established positions on the eastern side of the river, which marks part of the frontline in south-east Ukraine.
Celebrating the development, Volodymyr Zelenskiy published pictures showing Ukrainian soldiers on the eastern bank of the river. “Left bank of Kherson. Our warriors. Thank you for your strength and for moving forward!” Ukraine’s president said. “Glory to each and everyone who is returning freedom and justice to Ukraine!”
A total of 4.4m tonnes of cargo, including 3.2m tonnes of grain, has been shipped via Ukraine’s new Black Sea shipping corridor since it was established in August, according to a report by the Interfax-Ukraine agency. A UN-brokered deal that had allowed Ukrainian exports to pass through the Black Sea fell through in July after Russia withdrew, prompting Ukraine to announce a “humanitarian corridor” hugging the sea’s western coast.
Thousands of people living near the frontlines in southern and eastern Ukraine were left without power after Russian strikes on energy facilities, the Ukrainian government said. Last winter, systematic targeting of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure by Russia left millions without light or heating. Zelenskiy said this week that western support had allowed Ukraine to improve its air defences ahead of the coming winter months.
At least nine people were killed in Russian shelling of the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, according to local officials. Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the Kherson regional military administration, said shelling on Thursday had targeted residential areas, shopping districts and administrative buildings. Another two people were killed in the eastern region of Donetsk, according to the acting head of its military administration.
Russian casualties since the start of the war now stand at 316,760, according to the Ukrainian military.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said he has “no doubt” Vladimir Putin will still be Russian president after the election in March. Putin has not yet announced his intention to run but is widely expected to stand for another six-year term. Asked in an interview with student journalists what the next president should be like, Peskov said: “The same.”
The British foreign secretary, David Cameron, followed his trip to Ukraine on Thursday with a visit to neighbouring Moldova. The Moldovan president, Maia Sandu, posted a photo of her and Cameron together to social media and said the two had met on Thursday night to discuss “Black Sea security, bilateral cooperation and our united stance against corruption”.
The Dutch government has announced it has earmarked an additional €2bn in military aid for Ukraine in 2024. It is part of a wider package that includes an initial €102m (£89m/$111m) for reconstruction and humanitarian aid that will be increased during the year if needed.
