Tuesday, November 5

Russia’s war against Ukraine

A man casts his vote in advance polls on Nov. 4, 2024, at the voting center in the McNichols Civic Center Building in downtown Denver, Colorado, ahead of the U.S. general election on Nov. 5, 2024. (RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

First North Korean troops come under fire in Kursk Oblast, Ukrainian official claims. Andrii Kovalenko did not provide any more details on the circumstances of the engagement or possible losses on the North Korean side.

North Korea receiving cash, food, space technology from Russia in return for soldiers, South Korean lawmaker says. North Korean soldiers are believed to receive $2,000 per month for their service from Russia, adding up to a total of at least $200 million annually if calculated by 10,000 soldiers, Wi Sung-lac, a member of the South Korean parliamentary intelligence committee, told The Korea Herald.

Russia distributes manual for digging mass graves to soldiers. The instructions have been reportedly distributed among Russian troops as Moscow’s losses in Ukraine have–according to Kyiv–crossed 700,000 dead and wounded as of Nov. 4.

Number of North Korean troops in Kursk Oblast increases to 11,000, Zelensky says. “We see an increase in the number of North Koreans, and we do not see an increase in the reaction of our partners,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address.

Ukraine, Lithuania to produce drones, electronic warfare under new memorandum. Under the document, Kyiv and Vilnius will jointly produce drones and parts for them, ammunition and components, and electronic warfare systems.

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Germany to provide $217 million in humanitarian winter aid for Ukraine. During a visit to Kyiv on Nov. 4, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock announced that the country will provide 200 million euros ($217 million) in humanitarian winter aid, as Ukraine prepares for more Russian attacks against energy infrastructure.

Artillery supplies from partners for Ukraine have increased, Zelensky says. “We are recording an increased supply of defense aid packages. The situation with artillery has improved,” President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Telegram after a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief’s Staff.

63% of Ukrainians ready to endure the war as long as necessary, survey shows. A further 15% of respondents said they were willing to bear the burden of the conflict for a few more months, and 4% said they could endure it for six more months.

Russia launches nearly 10 times more Shahed drones year to year, Zelensky says. Russia launched more than 2,000 strike drones against Ukraine in October, breaking the previous record set in September by nearly 700, according to Ukraine’s General Staff.

Russia’s first peace offer in 2022 was all but Ukraine’s surrender, leaked documents show. The six-page document envisioned Ukraine reducing its army to 50,000 people, five times less than the country had by 2022, and accepting the independence of the country’s eastern Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, by then partly occupied by Russia.

Read our exclusives

Ukraine war latest: Artillery supplies from partners for Kyiv have increased, Zelensky says

Ukraine has begun receiving increasingly more military assistance from international partners, namely in terms of artillery, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Nov. 4.

Photo: Oleh Arkhanhorodsky/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

14 essential Kyiv Independent stories about the US presidential election

While U.S. presidential elections are routinely closely watched by countries around the world, perhaps none have as much at stake this time around as Ukraine.

Photo: Hannah Beier / Bloomberg via Getty Images

As Russian losses in Ukraine pass 700,000, the Kremlin runs low on non-mobilization options

Russian losses in Ukraine have passed the 700,000 mark, according to figures released by Kyiv on Nov. 4, just 77 days after they hit 600,000, according to the same source.

Photo: Metin Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Editorial: When casting your vote in the US, think about Ukraine

As a Ukrainian publication based in Kyiv, we are far from trying to tell U.S. voters who to support in the election — it is fully in the right of the American people to elect whoever they see fit to lead their country.

Photo: Andrew Kravchenko/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

Human cost of war

Russia attacks supermarket in Kharkiv, injures 15. The attack damaged a supermarket, multistory apartment buildings, commercial facilities, and cars.

McFaul on Ukraine’s future with Trump vs. Harris

International response

Russia to launch 2 Iranian satellites on Nov. 5, Iran’s ambassador says. Russia will launch two Iranian satellites, Kowsar and Hodhod, into orbit on Nov. 5 using a Soyuz launcher, Iranian Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali said on Nov. 4.

Former UK PM Johnson optimistic about Ukraine support if Trump wins. “I cannot believe that a guy who is so passionate about his country… would want to kick off his presidency by basically allowing the Soviet Empire to be great again,” Boris Johnson said in reference to Trump’s “Make America Great Again” motto.

Ukraine open to Qatar mediating energy security with Russia, says no talks currently ongoing. Ukraine is not holding direct talks with Russia on an energy ceasefire but is open to a third country mediating the implementation of the peace formula, said Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office, in a televised interview on Nov. 4.

Russia grants citizenship to over 3,300 foreigners under Putin’s military decree. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed in January a decree allowing foreigners who have served a year under contract in the Russian army, as well as their close relatives, to obtain Russian citizenship under a simplified procedure.

Canada sends first NASAMS system to Ukraine. “We expect to receive it by the end of this year,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said after a call with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

EU’s Borrell asks South Korea to ‘set up’ aid to Ukraine. “Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is an existential threat. The Republic of Korea is best positioned to understand it,” Josep Borrell said on X after meeting South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun.

North Korean FM meets with Putin in Moscow. North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Nov. 4, as Choe’s state visit of Russia continues.

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