The day of the war at a glance
“Russians steal bicycles” – London: New commander succeeds in orderly withdrawal from Cherson
11/20/2022, 8:45 p.m
The reports from the front are rare. According to Ukrainian sources, Russia is building defensive positions in the south of the country. At the same time, there are signs of further withdrawal preparations. Meanwhile, Kyiv is reporting figures on civilians killed and Russian war crimes recorded. The 269th day of the war at a glance.
Kyiv: More than 8,000 civilians killed
According to Ukrainian investigators, more than 8,300 civilians have been killed in Russia’s war against Ukraine, which has now lasted almost nine months. Among them are 437 children, said Attorney General Andriy Kostin, according to the Internet portal Unian. More than 11,000 people were injured. According to Kostin, the actual number of victims is likely to be higher because Ukrainian authorities do not yet have access to some areas occupied by Russia. In the liberated regions, Ukrainian troops continue to find bodies and evidence of suspected atrocities.
Zaporizhia NPP under fire again
The situation at the largest nuclear power plant in Europe is coming to a head again. The International Energy Agency (IAEA), citing its own experts, reported several strong explosions near the Zaporizhia plant. So far, the damage has not affected nuclear safety. As with previous shelling, Russia and Ukraine blamed each other.
Ukraine calls Russia’s call for negotiations ‘bizarre’
Ukraine again rejects proposals to negotiate with Russia. “When you take the initiative on the battlefield, it’s a bit bizarre to receive suggestions like: ‘You won’t achieve everything by military means anyway, you have to negotiate,'” said presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak. This would mean that the country “that regains its territories must capitulate to the country that loses”.
US media recently reported that senior US officials were increasingly urging Ukraine to consider negotiations with Russia. According to Podoljak, Moscow has so far made “no direct proposal” to Kyiv for peace talks. Instead, Russia prefers to convey these through intermediaries and to bring about a ceasefire. Kyiv sees such talks as maneuvers by Moscow to buy time and prepare a new offensive. “Russia does not want negotiations. Russia is conducting a communication campaign called ‘negotiations’,” Podoliak said.
Authorities record tens of thousands of war crimes
Ukrainian authorities have so far registered more than 45,000 war crimes. 216 people were reported as suspected war criminals, including 17 Russian prisoners of war, it said. Of the 60 people charged, 12 were convicted. In the liberated areas around Cherson, Kharkiv and Donetsk, the Ukrainians are finding more and more evidence of atrocities committed by the former Russian occupiers, according to official reports. In the past two months, more than 700 bodies have been discovered in these areas, the Attorney General said on state television. Around 90 percent of the cases involved civilians.
London: General Surovikin ensures orderly withdrawal from Cherson
According to British military experts, the Russian withdrawal from the city of Cherson and the surrounding area north-west of the Dnipro River was relatively orderly. This is partly due to the effective command of General Sergei Surovikin. Surovikin was appointed in early October after numerous defeats. At the middle and lower command levels, however, there is still a lack of leadership, according to the British Ministry of Defense’s daily intelligence update.
“Russians steal bikes”
After withdrawing to the east bank of the Dnipro River near Cherson in southern Ukraine, Russian soldiers are building new defensive positions there, according to information from Kyiv. At the same time, in the Kakhovka district, for example, they have increasingly started stealing vehicles from the civilian population, the Ukrainian general staff said. “They steal people’s private cars, motorcycles and even bicycles,” the statement said. Such raids in occupied areas are usually a harbinger of further retreats by the troops. As soon as Russian units withdrew from Izyum in the Kharkiv region in eastern Ukraine, the occupiers “used” on the population’s bicycles because they ran out of fuel for their vehicles, it was said.
Moscow and Tehran reportedly close drone deal
According to a media report, Russia has agreed with Iran to build hundreds of weaponized drones in their own country. The Washington Post reports, citing intelligence information from the United States and other Western countries. Accordingly, representatives of both sides are said to have concluded a corresponding agreement at a meeting in Iran in early November. Russia and Iran are in the process of transferring designs and key components. Production could start within a few months, several insiders said.
Germany wants to continue “massive help”
Germany pledges further help to Ukraine in light of Russian attacks on infrastructure. “Yes, from Germany we will do our utmost to ensure that Ukraine can withstand this war,” said Federal Development Minister Svenja Schulze on ARD. “We supply generators. We help repair power lines, water lines, gas lines.”
Second Polish victim buried
In Poland, the second of the two fatalities of the rocket hit in the border area with Ukraine was buried with a state funeral. The funeral of the 59-year-old tractor driver in the small village of Przewodow took place at the request of the relatives without the participation of the military, as reported by the PAP news agency. The day before, the first victim was buried in Przewodow. A company of honor from the Polish army gave the 60-year-old camp manager the last escort. A rocket hit the village, just six kilometers from the border with Ukraine, on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, emergency services and investigators have left the site of the explosion for the time being. A reporter from the PAP news agency reported that at the entrance to the village of Przewodow there were no more police officers who had previously secured the area around the impact site.
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