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Russia’s war against Ukraine

France’s President Emmanuel Macron (R) and President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) shake hands after signing an arms agreement on November 17, 2025. (Christophe Ena / POOL / AFP / Getty Images)

Mike Pompeo joins advisory board of scrutinized Ukrainian defense firm Fire Point. Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has joined the advisory board of a Ukrainian defense company known for its Flamingo long-range missiles, the Associated Press (AP) reported on Nov. 17, citing the company’s executives.

Russia’s largest silicon plant ‘forced’ to halt output as demand collapses. Kremniy, located in east-central Irkutsk Oblast, is the country’s largest refined silicon producer with a yearly capacity of 34,000 tons.

Ukraine’s HUR releases new data on foreign equipment used in Russian weapons, focusing on eastern Asian companies. Ukraine has long highlighted Western and foreign components used in Russian weapons to call for tougher sanctions.

Ukraine to purchase 100 Rafale jets, Zelensky says after signing defense declaration with Macron. Zelensky told TF1-LCI news channel that Ukraine aims to buy 100 Dassault-made Rafale fighters, a 4.5-generation multirole aircraft.

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Russia’s flagship oil price drops as buyers retreat ahead of US sanctions. Discounts on Urals relative to Brent reached $23.5 per barrel, the widest gap since June 2023.

‘Our defense is falling apart’ — Prominent Ukrainian activist criticizes military, political leadership. Sternenko’s warning comes as Russian troops pierce through Ukrainian defenses on multiple hot spot sectors of the war.

IMF and Ukraine begin talks for new loan program amid looming financing shortfall. “The discussions will cover the authorities’ economic policy objectives (…) and structural policies to strengthen governance, combat corruption, and enhance growth,” Priscilla Toffano, the IMF’s representative in Ukraine, said in a press release.

Ukraine reportedly strikes thermal power plant in occupied Donetsk Oblast. Videos posted on social media appear to show a large explosion and subsequent fire emanating from the Zuivska Thermal Power Plant in the occupied community of Zuhres in Donetsk Oblast, following a projectile strike on the target.

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Ukraine war latest: Russia bombed itself 8 times in 11 days, HUR intercepted call suggests

A Russian woman living in Belgorod Oblast has said that Russian forces dropped eight bombs in the area over the course of 11 days, according to an intercepted call released by Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) on Nov. 17.

Photo: Stringer / AFP

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From Poseidon to Kinzhal: Why Russia’s ‘super weapons’ may matter less than the Kremlin claims

For the first time in years, the Kremlin has officially claimed to have tested one of its so-called “super weapons” — the nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile — one of six “next-generation” strategic arms introduced in 2018.

Photo: Russian Ministry of Defense / Telegram

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Several law enforcement agencies come under fire over alleged involvement in Ukraine’s biggest graft scheme

Several law enforcement agencies were lambasted by a parliamentary commission on Nov. 17 for failing to investigate their employees’ alleged involvement in a large-scale corruption scheme at state nuclear power company Energoatom.

Photo: Ihor Kuznietsov / Novyny LIVE/ Global Images Ukraine / Getty Images

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Human cost of Russia’s war

Russian missile strike on Kharkiv Oblast kills 3, wounds 15, including 3 children. “Unfortunately, calls about possible victims continue to come in,” authorities said.

International response

‘Act of sabotage’ — Explosion hits Polish railway track used for Ukraine aid shipments, Warsaw says. “We will catch the perpetrators, whoever they are,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said, noting that the route was “crucially important for delivering aid to Ukraine.”

Romania evacuates border village after Russian drone struck LPG tanker at Ukrainian port. Between 100 and 150 people are to be evacuated from the Plauru village, which lies just across the Danube River from the Ukrainian port city of Izmail, hit by a Russian drone attack overnight.

Poland reopens 2 border crossings with Belarus after their years-long closure. Poland reopened the Kuznica and Bobrowniki crossings with Belarus after they had been closed for years, citing economic reasons and strengthened security along the eastern frontier.

As reparations loan talks stall, EU proposes 90 billion euro grant to cover Ukraine’s financing needs. Based on International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates, the EU expects that if the Russia-Ukraine war ends in 2026, Kyiv will face a financial gap of 135.7 billion euros ($157 billion) in the 2026-2027 period.

Poland in ‘pre-war’ period amid increased Russian sabotage efforts, top Polish general says. Russia has begun preparing for war with Poland as Moscow continues to scale its cyberattack and acts of sabotage on Polish soil, the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces Wieslaw Kukula said on Nov. 17.

Congress to move on legislating Russia sanctions bill following Trump’s ‘blessing,’ US Senator Graham says. The United States Congress will renew its efforts to move forward in an attempt to pass a Russia sanctions bill into law, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham announced on Nov. 17.

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