Monday, November 27. Russia’s War On Ukraine: News And Information From Ukraine

Dispatches from Ukraine. Day 642.

Local news.

Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, as well as other cities across the country, saw the largest drone attack to-date in the early morning hours of Nov. 25, according to Ukraine’s Air Force. Of the total of 75 Shahed-131/136 unmanned aerial vehicles Russia launched, 71 were intercepted by Ukraine’s air defenses. An air raid alert continued for five hours in Kyiv, Russia’s primary target. In the city’s western Solomiaynskyi district, wreckage from a downed drone fell on a kindergarten building, setting it ablaze. In the central, historic Pecherskyi district, drone debris damaged a multi-story building. Kyiv’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, said that five residents, including an 11-year-old girl, were injured during the prolonged attack.

Kyiv hosted the second international “Grain from Ukraine” summit on Nov. 25, when Ukraine also commemorated victims of the Soviet-era Holomodor, or Great Ukrainian Famine, which saw millions of Ukrainians starve to death in 1932-1933. Leaders of 23 countries joined President Volodymyr Zelensky at this year’s summit, either in person or virtually, to discuss measures to ensure the safe storage and passage of Ukrainian grain through Black Sea ports to export markets. “Never again should hunger become a weapon against the freedom of people,” Zelensky said in his opening remarks. “And anyone who tries to use hunger in such a way, anyone whose terror creates chaos in the food market, must be held accountable before the entire world.” The summit concluded with a Joint Statement that reiterates the partners’ support of Ukraine’s efforts to export its grain despite Russian aggression, and urges increased international pressure on Russia to stop targeting Ukraine’s ports. “Food security is an increasingly pressing concern for people everywhere, but most of all in developing countries of the Global South. It is crucial to ensure safe, nutritious food is available, accessible, and affordable for everyone,” the draft statement said.

World news.

Denmark pledged to increase annual aid to Ukraine, its ministry of defense announced on Nov. 24. The Danish government decided to give its Ukraine Fund, the vehicle for delivering financial and military support to Kyiv, “an extra boost” of 2.3 billion Danish kroner ($338 million) in 2023. “We don’t know how long the war in Ukraine will continue, but we do know that donations are crucial for Ukraine to continue the fight against Russia,” said Minister of Defense Troels Lund Poulsen in a press release. “Throughout the war, Denmark has been a faithful supporter of Ukraine, and when we now strengthen our support, both in 2023 and especially by allocating significant funds in 2025-2027, we send a clear signal that the Ukrainians can count on Danish support in the long term.” With the increases pledged for 2023 and on, the Ukraine Fund will reach 60.4 billion Danish kroner ($8.8 billion) for the period of 2023-2028.

The European Commission allocated 50 million euros ($55 million) for the restoration of Ukraine’s port facilities, Ursula von der Leyen, the Commission’s President, announced in a letter to President Zelenskyy on Nov. 25. “Despite the war, Ukraine keeps feeding the world,” the letter says. “Improved port capacities will speed up exports of food and other goods which Ukraine supplies to global markets. Over time, our investment should allow Ukraine’s ports to return to export quantities that were in place before the war.” Just in October this year, Ukraine exported 4.6 million tons of grain, via southern routes by vessels or by rail and trucks. “In complementarity with the Solidarity Lanes on land,” von der Leyen continued, “the routes by sea will make Ukrainian food supplies more competitive and predictable, thus benefiting consumers worldwide, including facilitating food security in most vulnerable regions.”

Culture.

With 2023 winding down, here is the short list of noteworthy Ukrainian films that premiered or aired this year:

Title: “Dovbush. Legend of the Carpathians”

Genre: Historical Adventure

Director: Oles’ Sanin

Plot: In the Carpathian region, during the reign of the Polish nobility, two brothers, Oleksa and Ivan Dovbush, become outlaws in their quest to avenge the murder of their father. Ivan desires money, Oleksa demands justice. Led by the latter, the Hutsuls, an indigenous group, start an uprising.

Where to watch: Available on Amazon.

Title: “Mavka. The Forest Song”

Genre: Animated Fantasy Drama

Director: Oleksandra Ruban, Oleh Malanuzh

Plot: Based on Lesya Ukrainka’s celebrated poetic play, “The Forest Song,” the film brings to life Ukraine’s folk mythology.

Where to watch: Available on YouTube, Apple TV and Amazon Prime.

Title: “20 Days in Mariupol”

Genre: Documentary

Director: Mstyslav Chernov

Plot: An Associated Press team of Ukrainian journalists spends 20 days in besieged Mariupol following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, documenting the horrors taking place in the city under constant, heavy bombardment.

Where to watch: Schedule for upcoming, in-person screenings available on the film’s official site.

Title: “Pamfir”

Genre: Drama.

Director: Dmytro Sykholytkyi-Sobchuk

Plot: When a man returns home after working abroad for a few years, his past as a local smuggler begins to haunt him, dragging him, and his son, into deadly danger.

Where to watch: available on Youtube, Apple TV, Amazon Prime.

Title: “Luxembourg, Luxembourg”

Genre: Tragicomedy

Director: Antonio Lukich

Plot: Twin brothers travel by car to Luxembourg in search of their father, who abandoned them as little kids.

Where to watch: Available on Netflix (in selected countries).

By Daria Dzysiuk, Karina Tahiliani