Damage in a building from a Russian missile strike, Kharkiv, Ukraine, November 25, 2024

Sunday’s Coverage: Zelensky to Africa — “Fair and Just Consequences for Russia”

Map: Institute for the Study of War

UPDATE 1655 GMT:

The toll has risen to 11 injured from this morning’s Russian missile strike on Odesa.

Eight people are in hospital. One woman is in serious condition, and the rest are moderately wounded.

Five people were injured, two seriously, by a Russian drone attack on the village of Solonchaky in the Mykolaiv region in southern Ukraine.

UPDATE 1233 GMT:

The UK has sanctioned 30 ships in Russia’s shadow fleet, which circumvents international restrictions on Moscow’s transport of oil and oil products.

The Foreign Office declared the “largest UK package of its kind”, with half of the targeted ships transporting more than $4.3 billion of oil and products like gasoline in the last year.

The UK has now sanctioned 73 oil tankers.

The UK’s call for action, announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the European Political Community summit in July, has been adopted by 46 countries and the European Union.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy is expected to call, at Monday’s G7 Foreign Ministers meeting in Italy, for further pressure on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

He told reporters, “It’s hugely important at this G7 that all colleagues … continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it lasts and we are confident that Ukraine can have the funds and the military equipment and kit to get through 2025.”

UPDATE 1106 GMT:

France and the UK are reportedly in discussions about sending troops or private contractors to Ukraine.

The deployment would train Ukrainian soldiers, transfer military know-how, and repair equipment, writes Le Monde.

A British military source says the idea was considered during UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to France on November 11.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, during a visit to London last week, called on Western allies “not to set red lines”. Asked by the BBC about the possibility of sending French troops, he replied: “We do not rule out any option.”

Le Monde says Défense Conseil International, 55% state-owned and mainly staffed by former military personnel, is ready to train soldiers as it does in France and Poland. It can also provide maintenance for French military equipment transferred to Kyiv.

DCI has been approached with a proposal for cooperation by UK firm Babcock, which said in May that “work is underway” to create a technical support platform in Ukraine. The plan includes routine and major repairs of military equipment.

UPDATE 1054 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has commented on Russia’s overnight missile and drone strikes.

These Russian strikes on Ukrainian lives can be stopped — with pressure, with sanctions, by blocking the occupiers’ access to the components they use to manufacture the means of this terror, by providing arms packages for Ukraine, and with a determination that must be unwavering.

Videos of the Russian strike on Odesa that wounded six people:

UPDATE 1043 GMT:

A Ukraine drone attack has set an oil depot on fire in Kaluga in western Russia, 180 miles north of the border.

Blasts were reported at the Kaluganefteprodukt oil facility, which supports Russian military operations in Ukraine, around 12:30 a.m.

Ukrainian officials said Kaluga’s Taifun plant was also attacked. The facility develops and manufactures electronic equipment, optoelectronics and guidance systems, and components for missile and aviation systems.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: At least 23 people have been injured in Ukraine’s second city Kharkiv amid a mass missile and drone attack by Russia across the country.

Fourteen of the victims, who were at work or walking down the street, were hospitalized.

Mayor Ihor Terekhov said the Russian struck a densely populated residential area in central Kharkiv, probably with an S-400 missile: “It landed in a yard surrounded by multi-story buildings. Buildings and cars caught fire.”

Having failed to overrun Kharkiv in the opening weeks of the 33-month invasion, Russia has stepped up strikes on it in recent months with guided bombs, missiles, and drones.

Last month, Russian inflicted mass civilian casualties for four days in a row. The assault began with the slaying of seven civilians, including a 14-year-old girl, in bombing of a 12-story residential building and a playground. Another 97, including 22 children, were wounded.

See also Ukraine War, Day 936: Russia Bombs A Kharkiv Apartment Block

In the port of Odesa, six people were injured, one seriously and five moderately, by a missile.

A school, a university sports hall, and residential buildings were damaged by falling debris.

The Russians fired 145 attack drones alongside missiles across Ukraine overnight. Air defenses downed 71, while another 71 were lost because of electronic counter-measures.