Emergency personnel at a building damaged by Russian strikes on Kyiv, November 29, 2025

Friday’s Coverage: Corruption Investigation of Zelensky’s Chief of Staff Yermak

UPDATE 1610 GMT:

Ukrainian officials have given more information about the two Russian tankers “critically damaged” by Sea Baby naval drones in international waters of the Black Sea near Turkey’s Bosphorus Strait (see 1101 GMT).

One official said the “shadow fleet” tankers had been knocked out of service: “This will deal a significant blow to the transportation of Russian oil.”

The Gambian-flagged tankers Kairos and Virat were first struck on Friday. The Virat suffered only light damage, but then took a critical hit on Saturday around 50 km (31 miles) off the Turkish coast.

The Virat was sanctioned by the US in January when it sailed under a different name, and by the UK and European Union later this year.

UPDATE 1426 GMT:

Poland’s President Donald Tusk has responded to the revelations of the economic deals pursued between the Trump camp and the Kremlin, sacrificing Ukraine.

UPDATE 1203 GMT:

Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff defends his collusion with the Kremlin for Ukraine’s capitulation.

Russia has so many vast resources, vast expanses of land.

If we do all that, and everybody’s prospering and they’re all a part of it, and there’s upside for everybody, that’s going to naturally be a bulwark against future conflicts there. Because everybody’s thriving.

The Journal details how Witkoff and Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner worked with Vladimir Putin’s top economic advisor Kirill Dmitriev to develop a Russian initiative which was presented as a 28-point Trump “peace plan”.

EA on Dublin NewsTalk: Trump Envoy Witkoff’s Collusion With Kremlin Over Ukraine

Members of Vladimir Putin’s inner circle — sanctioned billionaires Gennady Timchenko, Yuri Kovalchuk, and Boris and Arkady Rotenberg brothers — have sent representatives to US companies for the exploration of rare-earth mining and energy deals. The talks include revival of the Nord Stream pipelines from Russia to Germany, sabotaged in September 2022.

Exxon Mobil conferred with Russia’s largest State energy company Rosneft, which is now sanctioned by the US, to discuss a return to the massive Sakhalin gas project. Exxon Mobil Senior Vice President Neil Chapman met Rosneft boss Igor Sechin, Putin’s former private secretary, in the Qatari capital Doha.

Gentry Beach, a college friend of Donald Trump Jr. and donor to Donald Trump Sr., is in talks to acquire a stake in a Russian Arctic gas project if it is released from sanctions. Trump donor Stephen P. Lynch, paid $600,000 this year to a lobbyist close to Trump Jr., seeking a Treasury Department license for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline from a Russian State-owned company.

After the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska in August, a European intelligence agency distributed a hard-copy report in a manila envelope to Europe’s senior national security officials. The report detailed the commercial and economic plans pursued by the Trump Administration with Russia, including jointly mining rare earths in the Arctic.

The projects date from April 2, when Dmitriev arrived at the White House with a list of multibillion-dollar business proposals. “We can transition investment trust into a political role,” he said.

Just over a week later, Dmitriev welcomed Witkoff in St. Petersburg for a three-hour meeting with Putin. Witkoff took his own notes, relying on a Kremlin translator.

Witkoff pushed away European requests for consultations as he chatted regularly by phone with Dmitriev. The Russia told the Journal: “We believe that the U.S. and Russia can cooperate basically on everything in the Arctic. If a solution is found in Ukraine, U.S. economic cooperation can be a foundation for our relationship going forward.”

UPDATE 1144 GMT:

Ukraine’s naval drones have halted operations at Russia’s Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which handles more than 1% of global oil supplies.

The drones caused significant damage to a mooring at CPC’s Black Sea terminal near the port of Novorossiysk in southern Russia.

The Consortium exports mainly from Kazakhstan via Russia and the Black Sea terminal.

UPDATE 1132 GMT:

The toll has reached 35 murdered, including seven children, from Russia’s attack on Ternopil in western Ukraine on November 19.

UPDATE 1110 GMT:

Researchers conclude that a Russian military victory in Ukraine would cost Europe twice as much as successful Ukrainian resistance.

The study was published by the Norwegian consultancy Corisk and the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs.

Under the first scenario, Russia’s troops would continue their incremental advance and push westward toward the Dnipro River. This would force Ukraine to accept Moscow’s terms for a settlement, establishing the Kremlin’s influence over Ukraine’s political and economic orientation. Kyiv would be restricted in its efforts for membership of the European Union and NATO.

The researchers conclude Ukraine could lose half its territory, face long-term political destabilization, and risk democratic backsliding or even state failure. Another 6 to 11 million Ukrainians could flee through Europe, generating €524-952 billion ($606 billion-S1.1 trillion) in refugee-related expenses over four years.

Additional defense spending to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank would raise Europe’s total costs to €1.2-€1.6 trillion ($1.4-$1.8 trillion).

Under the second scenario, Ukraine rebuilds combat power and begins retaking occupied territory. This would force Russia into talks that safeguard Kyiv’s vital interests.

The scenario requires a rapid influx of 1,500 to 2,500 battle tanks and 2,000-3,000 artillery systems over one or two years, as well as up to 8 million drones of all types, air defense, and strategic missile systems.

Europe’s estimated cost would be €522–838 billion ($605-$972 billion) over four years. Confiscation of frozen Russian assets could reduce European expenses by up to 50%.

UPDATE 1101 GMT:

Two Russian tankers were set afire by explosions in the Black Sea near Turkey’s Bosphorus Strait on Friday.

The Kairos was struck while en route from Egypt to Russia, and the Virat was reportedly hit about 35 nautical miles offshore.

Both tankers are among the sanctioned ships of Russia’s “shadow fleet”, which circumvent restrictions on Moscow’s oil exports and carry out sabotage operations.

UPDATE 1054 GMT:

An EA correspondent in Kyiv reports that Ukraine military intelligence head Kyrill Budanov will now oversee the delegation discussing an end to Russia’s 46-month full-scale invasion.

Budanov replaces Presidential Chief of Staff Andrii Yermak, who resigned after he was implicated in a $100 million corruption scandal and his premises searched early Friday.

Rustem Umerov, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, and Kyiv’s delegation are en route to the US.

Zelensky commented, “The task is clear: to swiftly and substantively work out the steps needed to end the war. Ukraine continues to work with the United States in the most constructive way possible.”

ORIGINAL ENTRY: At least two civilians have been murdered and 38 injured, including a child, in Russia’s latest missile and drone strikes on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv.

Power was cut in half of the city after an hours-long assault that began around 1 a.m. The attacks resumed around 7 a.m. Dozens of missiles, including hypersonic Kinzhals, were fired.

Apartments were destroyed in the upper floors of high-rise buildings, with fires in at least six blocks.

At least 17 of the injured have been hospitalized.

An EA correspondent texted, “It was a really awful night,” before assuring, “I’m fine.”

Victor Mazepa told the Kyiv Independent that his wife and child were in a shelter, while he was in the bathroom when a Russian drone struck near their apartment.

He pointed to his burnt-out vehicle, “Here is my car. Was. But everyone is alive — that’s the main thing.”

Russia also attacked across Ukraine, launched a total of 596 drones and 36 missiles. Air defenses intercepted 558 UAVs and 19 missiles.

At least one person was slain outside the capital. In the Kyiv region, several homes and 20 garages were damaged.

Russia “Must Face the Strongest Possible Pressure”

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky posted:

We must work without wasting a single day to ensure that there are enough missiles for our air defense systems, and that everything necessary for our protection and for pressure on Russia is in place.

It is time Europe made a decision on the frozen assets if Moscow refuses to end its drone and missile strikes. And we must certainly discuss with all partners the steps needed to bring this war to an end.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha added, “While everyone is discussing points of peace plans, Russia continues to pursue its ‘war plan’ of two points: to kill and destroy.”

European leaders offered condolences and support. Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže added a message for the Trump Administration, some of whose officials have been colluding with the Kremlin.

While most people around the world are enjoying weekend and US their Thanksgiving holiday, ordinary Ukrainians emerge from shelters after a night of Russian bombing. That’s preparation for next round of peace talks and Kremlin butcher’s welcome for the US delegates.

Estonia’s Margus Tsahkna posted, “Russia continues its campaign to terrorize Ukrainians, crush their hope, and break their resilience. In response, the aggressor must face the strongest possible pressure, while support for the victim must only intensify.”