This week, the European Commission recommended starting negotiations with Ukraine on accession to the EU, and the Verkhovna Rada adopted the state budget for 2024.
What other important events happened during the week – further in the material.
Death of soldiers of the 128th brigade
Photo: 128th separate mountain assault Transcarpathian brigade
Last Friday, November 3 , the Russian occupiers fired an Iskander-M missile at the military of the 128th separate Transcarpathian mountain assault brigade.
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The tragedy occurred in the village of Zarechnoye, Zaporozhye region. On that day, the military was gathered to celebrate the Day of Missile Forces and Artillery.
Western media, citing soldiers of the 128th brigade, reported that about 100 people had gathered in the village.
As a result of the Russian strike , 19 military personnel were killed . The number of wounded was not officially announced.
There are also civilians among the dead and wounded.
In the Transcarpathian region, three days of mourning were declared for the fallen soldiers.
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Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov ordered a full investigation into the tragedy. An official investigation has been initiated into the actions of military officials who organized an event for the Day of Missile Forces and Artillery near the front line.
The State Bureau of Investigation registered criminal proceedings under Part 4 of Art. 425 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (negligent attitude towards military service).
The commander of the 128th brigade was removed from his post.
Strike on the Russian Askold rocket launcher in Kerch
Photo: StratCom Armed Forces of Ukraine
In the evening of November 4, the Ukrainian Armed Forces launched successful strikes on the infrastructure of the Zaliv shipyard in temporarily occupied Kerch.
The Ukrainian military likely used long-range Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG missiles provided by Western partners.
As a result of the strike , the Russian missile corvette Askold, a new ship of the Karakurt project with stealth technology, was hit . It was docked at a shipyard and had not yet been put into operation.
The ship suffered significant damage and is likely beyond repair.
This attack is a unique operation, because for the first time in history, Ukraine destroyed a Russian missile ship that had not yet left the factory and was not included in the Russian fleet.
The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense announced the preparation of a number of similar operations.
The European Commission recommended starting negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU
Photo: Office of the President
On November 4, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen visited Kiev. She met with Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky and noted Ukraine’s “excellent progress” towards membership in the European Union.
And already on November 8, the European Commission recommended starting negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU. As von der Leyen noted, Kyiv has completed 90% of the necessary steps.
The European Commission report contains four recommendations for Ukraine: adopt a law to increase the staff of NABU; cancel the restriction on the powers of the National Antimonopoly Committee to verify assets; adopt a law on lobbying according to European standards; implement all recommendations of the Venice Commission on the reform of legislation on national minorities.
The European Commission's report is a recommendation to the European Council. Already in mid-December, EU members will make a final decision whether to launch negotiations with Ukraine on accession to the EU.
Abolition of conscription after the war
Photo: UNIAN
Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov approved the Concept of military personnel policy of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine until 2028.
The document determines the development of personnel policy both during martial law and in peacetime.
The concept contains a number of key provisions:
- After the war, the Armed Forces of Ukraine will switch to contract military service. The conscription will be abolished, and military service will be replaced with intensive military training.
- A system for recruiting professional and motivated people into the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be launched in Ukraine.
- A person-centric approach to military career management, equal opportunities for men and women in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
- An improved electronic military records system will be in place.
During martial law, conscription in Ukraine will continue.
Attack on Odessa
Photo: ICTV Facts
On the night of November 6, Russian troops attacked Odessa and the region with various types of missiles and Shahed attack drones. Eight people were injured.
The blast wave damaged several multi-storey residential buildings in Odessa.
One of the missiles hit near the Odessa National Art Museum, located in the historical part of the city – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The museum building was damaged.
UNESCO condemned the Russian attack on Odessa, noting that “cultural sites must be protected in accordance with international law.”
There will be no elections during the war
Photo: UNIAN
This week, Vladimir Zelensky put an end to the question of whether elections will take place in 2024, despite the martial law. He noted that there will be no elections in Ukraine during a full-scale war.
“I believe that now is not the time for elections,” said the head of state.
The Central Election Commission explained that, according to Ukrainian legislation, elections are not held during martial law. Therefore, the current president and the composition of the Verkhovna Rada will continue to fulfill their powers.
Death of Zaluzhny's assistant
Collage Facts ICTV
On November 6, in the village of Chaiki, Kiev region , 39-year-old serviceman Gennady Chastyakov was killed as a result of a grenade explosion. He was an assistant to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny.
Chastyakov's 13-year-old son was seriously injured.
That day Gennady Chastyakov celebrated his birthday. One of the officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine gave him six combat grenades, packing them in a gift wooden box along with a bottle of strong alcohol.
The grenade exploded while Zaluzhny's assistant was inspecting the gifts at home.
The investigation into this case is being carried out by the State Bureau of Investigation, which is checking four versions : an accident due to careless handling of ammunition; murder ordered by the Russian special services; murder based on hostile relations; attempted murder by the Russian special services of another officer of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The main version in the State Bureau of Investigation is considered to be an accident.
The officer who gave grenades to Gennady Chastyakov received suspicion under Part 1 of Art. 263 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (Storage, acquisition, transfer or sale of firearms, ammunition, explosives without permission provided by law). He faces up to 7 years in prison.
Strike of Polish carriers
Photo: UNIAN
On November 6, Polish carriers began a strike, blocking the movement of trucks on the border with Ukraine.
At about 14:00, carriers began to block the movement of trucks at the checkpoints Krakovets – Korchova, Yagodin – Dorohusk and Rava Russkaya – Hrebiene. They allowed no more than one export and import vehicle per hour.
According to Polish media, carriers intend to go on strike until January 3, 2024.
They voiced a number of conditions, in particular: return permits to Ukrainian carriers; launch a separate queue in the e-queue for cars with EU license plates and a separate queue at all borders for empty trucks; gain access to the Ukrainian Shlyakh system.
As of the evening of November 9 , more than 20 thousand vehicles were blocked on both sides of the border.
At the same time, Polish carriers never submitted their official demands to Kyiv. All their statements were addressed only to the Polish government.
Evacuation of Ukrainians from the Gaza Strip
Photo: Getty Images
On November 7, the evacuation of Ukrainian citizens from the Gaza Strip began. That day, the first 20 people were released through the checkpoint with Egypt.
Currently, 203 Ukrainians have been rescued from the Gaza Strip. In particular, on November 9, 160 Ukrainian citizens were evacuated.
Extension of martial law in Ukraine
On November 8, the Verkhovna Rada voted to extend martial law and general mobilization in Ukraine for 90 days: until February 14, 2024 .
This was the ninth vote on martial law since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion.
President Vladimir Zelensky has already signed the relevant laws.
Under martial law, it is prohibited to hold presidential and Verkhovna Rada elections, all-Ukrainian and local referendums, strikes, mass meetings and actions.
In Ukraine, along with martial law and general mobilization, there is also a curfew.
Russian strike on a ship near the port of Odessa region
Photo: Defense Forces of Southern Ukraine
On November 8, Russian troops fired an X-31P anti-radar missile in the direction of one of the ports of the Odessa region.
The strike was carried out from tactical aircraft in the Black Sea. A Russian missile hit the superstructure of a civilian ship flying the Liberian flag as it entered port.
A citizen of Ukraine, 1st class pilot Sergei Surin, died. He worked for the Seaports Authority.
Several crew members – Filipino citizens – were injured. There was also information about a port worker being injured.
The ship was supposed to transport iron ore to China.
Adoption of the state budget for 2024
Photo: Pixabay
On November 9, the Verkhovna Rada approved the state budget of Ukraine for 2024.
Revenues of the country's main financial document are set at UAH 1.768 trillion, and expenses – UAH 3.35 trillion.
The state budget deficit is UAH 1.57 trillion ; they plan to cover it with the help of Western partners.
Expenditures on national security and defense account for 22.1% of Ukraine's GDP, or UAH 1.692 trillion . Expenditures are provided for the development of the military-industrial complex: the production of weapons, UAVs and naval drones.
About UAH 470 billion will be allocated for social protection of the population in 2024. In particular, state budget expenditures on medicine will amount to UAH 203.4 billion, and on education – UAH 179.1 billion.
From January 1, the cost of living per person per month will be UAH 2,920.
The minimum wage will be increased twice : from January 1 – to UAH 7,100, from April 1 – to UAH 8,000 (monthly).
The average monthly salary in 2024 will be UAH 21,809 (according to the forecast of the Ministry of Finance).
The average annual dollar exchange rate is set at 40.7 UAH per $1 .
Attack on Russian landing boats in Crimea
Photo: our website
On the night of November 10, the Ukrainian military hit two Russian small landing boats near the Black Sea in the temporarily occupied Crimea.
We are talking about Project 11770 Serna class boats. At the time of the attack, the ships were carrying crew and armored vehicles, in particular, BTR-82.
The operation was carried out by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
Shakhtar defeated Barcelona in the Champions League
Photo: Getty Images
On November 7, Donetsk Shakhtar defeated Catalan Barcelona in the match of the fourth round of the group stage of the Champions League.
The game took place in Hamburg at the Volksparkstadion stadium. The match ended with a score of 1:0 in favor of the miners.
The only goal was scored by Daniil Sikan's header at the end of the first half.
With the victory over Barcelona, Shakhtar broke a streak of four defeats to the Catalans in a row. The last time the Ukrainian team won was in December 2008 at the group stage of the Champions League.
