Ukraine Live Briefing: Incursion Into The North Caucasus

RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Western military aid to Kyiv, worldwide reaction, and the plight of civilians and refugees. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

Latest Developments At A Glance

• President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has warned European leaders that capitulation to Russia after it invaded Ukraine would be "suicidal" for Europe, just hours after Kyiv and the Black Sea port of Odesa were rocked by an unusually intense wave of air strikes.
• Zelenskiy, who has a long and complicated history with Donald Trump, said he spoke by phone with the U.S. president-elect and congratulated him on his election victory.
• Britain on November 7 announced its largest package of Russia sanctions in one year and a half, slapping punitive measures on 56 people and entities linked to Moscow's war machine.
• A Ukrainian drone made an incursion into Russia's North Caucasus region of Daghestan in an attempt to strike the city of Kaspiysk near the Caspian Sea.
• Ukraine's air defenses shot down 38 out of the 63 drones launched by Russia early on November 6 at nine regions -- Odesa, Mykolayiv, Kyiv, Sumy, Kirovohrad, Zhytomyr, Cherkasy, Chernihiv and Zaporizhzhya -- the air force said.
• The governor of the southeastern region of Zaporizhzhya said that the number of casualties following a Russian missile strike on his region had grown to seven dead and 25 wounded on November 6.

Ukraine's Forces Are Dangerously Stretched. Will North Korean Troops Break Them?

The quality of the North Korean force hired by Russia to deploy to the Ukrainian front is questionable. Their quantity alone, however, may be enough to break beleaguered Ukrainian defenses. Read the story by Mike Eckel here.

What Did The Kremlin's Early Peace Plan For Ukraine Contain?

RFE/RL’s Russian investigative unit has obtained a draft treaty that Moscow proposed early in talks that began days after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. If signed, it would have left a truncated Ukraine deeply vulnerable, with a minuscule military and no hope of protection by the West. Read the story by Yelizaveta Surnacheva and Systema here.

What Does Trump's Victory Mean For Ukraine?

Following the U.S. presidential election on November 5, the decision by Americans to return Donald Trump to the White House has reverberated around the world. Ukraine, whose defense against Russia is heavily dependent on U.S. military, financial, and diplomatic support, may feel the effects more than any other foreign country. Read the story by Todd Prince here.

Analysis: North Korean Troops Are 'Fair Game' In Russia's War Against Ukraine

After weeks of intelligence reports, it has been confirmed that North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia. The development raises concerns that they could be sent into battle against Ukraine, but there are questions about their readiness and what Pyongyang might get from Moscow in return. Read the story by Mike Scollon here.

Has Russia's Invasion Brought Ukraine And Romania Closer?

Romania's parliament has approved a two-year program to train Ukrainian marines, the latest in a series of moves by Bucharest to help Kyiv defend itself from Moscow's full-scale invasion. Romania has quietly become one of Ukraine's most indispensable allies. Read the story by Tony Wesolowsky here.

The Moment A Russian Shell Landed Next To An RFE/RL Crew In Ukraine

A Russian shell came close to directly hitting an RFE/RL crew on the front line in Ukraine's Donetsk region. By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, Roman Pahulych, and Pavlo Kholodov

Tense Times For Ukraine As Pressure Mounts On The Battlefield And Beyond

Russian forces push forward in the Donbas, diplomatic pressure on Kyiv increases, and the U.S. election looms. It's all adding up to one of the toughest points for Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Read the story by Steve Gutterman here.

The Fall Of Vuhledar: What Does It Mean For Ukraine's Beleaguered Military?

Ukraine lost the Donbas coal-mining city of Vuhledar, amid a relentless, months-long offensive by Russian forces. It probably doesn’t herald the entire collapse of Ukrainian lines, but it’s definitely not a good sign. Read the report by Mike Eckel here.

Why Is Ukraine Attacking Russia's Oil Refineries?

Russia said it would protect oil refineries better after several were struck by Ukrainian drones. Ukraine continues to hit the facilities, despite U.S. warnings against such attacks, as it launches larger and larger drone swarms. The strikes have decreased refinery output but beyond a morale boost for Ukraine, the effects are moderate so far. Read the story by Todd Prince here.

Interactive: Occupied, Militarized Crimea

As Ukrainian leaders vow to reclaim all territories seized by Russia, Moscow has prepared extensive defensive measures, particularly in Crimea, a region unlawfully annexed in 2014. This area, now under Russian occupation, has been heavily militarized with an array of air bases and army bases, making it one of the most fortified zones in the war. View the interactive map by Crimea.Realities, Schemes, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, and Central Newsroom here.