On the 1,009th day of the Russia-Ukraine war, key developments unfolded on Friday, November 29. Russia launched a second major attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, causing severe power cuts affecting over a million people across three regions. President Putin justified the attack as a response to alleged Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy condemned Russia’s actions, calling it a “despicable escalation” and sought support from Western leaders. US President Biden criticized Moscow’s attack as “outrageous”, emphasizing the importance of supporting Ukraine in defending against Russian aggression.
The conflict escalated with Russian air defences destroying Ukrainian drones and reports of drone fragments injuring civilians in Kyiv. Explosions were also heard in Odesa amid a cruise missile attack.
On the financial and diplomatic front, President Zelenskyy signed wartime tax increases to fund Ukraine’s defence sector. Ukraine urged partners to expedite military aid delivery and expressed readiness to host a second global summit to end Russia’s invasion. Meanwhile, France declined to confirm if it would arrest President Putin under an ICC warrant while Germany offered to redeploy Patriot missiles to Poland.
Amid escalating tensions, Putin warned of severe consequences if Ukraine acquires nuclear arms and reiterated his conditions for peace talks, including Kyiv dropping NATO ambitions. In a humanitarian exchange, Russia and Ukraine agreed to reunite nine children with their families. These developments underscore the ongoing turmoil and heightened tensions in the Russia-Ukraine war.
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