Victory Chronicles-DAY 629

Germany has handed over another military aid package to Ukraine, including special-purpose vehicles and tanks, as well as ammunition, drones, and surveillance radars. The list of the military assistance provided by the Federal Republic of Germany to Ukraine has been updated on the website of the German Federal Government. In particular, Ukraine received 10 main battle tanks LEOPARD 1 A5 (in addition to 20 delivered before); 14 tracked all-terrain vehicles Bandvagn 206 (BV206) (46 delivered before); one mine clearing tank WISENT 1 (10 delivered before); and five All Terrain Tracked Vehicles Warthog Ambulances.

Additionally, the German side sent three border protection vehicles (in addition to 230 delivered before); four truck tractor trains 8×8 HX81 and four semi-trailers (75 and 70 accordingly delivered before); 16 trucks Zetros (200 delivered before); three vehicles (trucks, minibusses, all-terrain vehicles) (297 delivered before); and 13 trucks MAN TGS (12 delivered before).

Ukraine also received over 1,000 rounds of 155mm ammunition; 1.5 million rounds of ammunition for firearms; 10 reconnaissance drones VECTOR; 14 ground surveillance radars GO12; and 10,000 safety glasses (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks).

The U.S. Treasury Department requested information on about one hundred ships suspected of violating Western sanctions on Russian oil, Reuters reported on Nov. 13. Official notices were sent by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control to shipping management companies in thirty different countries on Friday. “While we do not confirm or comment on investigations or enforcement actions, Treasury is committed to enforcing the price cap and reducing Russia’s resources for its war against Ukraine,” a Treasury spokesperson said.

The military orchestra of the 59th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade named after Yakiv Handziuk visited the 111th Separate Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces. The orchestra’s artistic director is Mykola Serha, a well-known Ukrainian musician, TV presenter, actor, and poet, founder of the “Kulturny Desant” (Cultural Landing) project.

Yesterday, sappers from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine were working in the Mykolaiv Oblast and found artillery shells in an irrigation canal. They were removed for further destruction. The SES specialists used the DIGITAL VANGUARD-S robotic system, which they recently received with the support of the Government of Canada.

Russian state media released and later retracted reports about the “regrouping” of Russian forces on the east (left) bank of Kherson Oblast to positions further east of the Dnipro River, suggesting that the Russian command and/or Russian state media apparatus has failed to establish a coordinated information line for the Russian response to ongoing Ukrainian ground operations on the east bank. 

Kremlin press wire TASS and Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti published reports claiming that the command of the Russian “Dnepr” Grouping of Forces (currently active in east bank Kherson Oblast) decided to transfer troops to unspecified “more advantageous positions” east of the Dnipro River and that the Russian military command would transfer elements from the “Dnepr” Grouping of Forces to other directions for offensive operations following the regrouping.

TASS and RIA Novosti withdrew the reports within minutes and TASS later issued an apology wherein it claimed that it had “erroneously” released its report. Russian state-affiliated outlet RBK reported that the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) called the reports of a regrouping on the east bank of Kherson Oblast “false” and a ”provocation.” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded to a question about the situation in Kherson Oblast by stating that only the Russian military can and should comment on the situation.

The Russian MoD has not acknowledged persisting Ukrainian positions on the east bank or ongoing larger-than-usual Ukrainian ground operations in recent weeks. Russian milbloggers have increasingly reported on Ukrainian activity on the left bank, however, sharply contrasting with the continued lack of acknowledgement from Russian state media and Russian officials. The Russian command has previously struggled to establish a coordinated informational approach to developments in Ukraine, particularly when the Russian command failed to set informational conditions for defeats during the Kharkiv 2022 counteroffensive.

Previous failures to set coordinated informational approaches have led to chaotic fractures and pronounced discontent in the Russian information space, and the Russian command risks repeating these incidents with the situation on the east bank, which has drawn notable concern from Russian ultranationalists. The reports‘ references to Russian “offensives“ elsewhere on the front suggests that the uncoordinated informational approach may be more widespread than the east bank, since the Russian command has not explicitly recognized any current Russian operations in Ukraine as an offensive effort.

Junior Sergeant Kostiantyn Klymenko, with the call sign Klym, died on August 19, 2023, during the storming of the village of Andriivka in Donetsk Oblast. The defender was 41 years old. Kostiantyn was born and lived in the village of Hradyzk, Poltava Oblast. He received his secondary education at a local school. He worked at construction sites in Hradyzk and Kyiv. He was interested in drifting and racing.

During the full-scale Russian invasion, the man joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine and went to the front. He served in the 3rd separate assault brigade. “Kostiantyn was very sincere, he always helped everyone, never left anyone in trouble. He didn’t want to upset anyone, so he always said that he was fine and would definitely come home… He was the best brother, son and father,” said the fighter’s sister Tetiana Chala. The defender was buried at the Old Cemetery in his native village. Kostiantyn is survived by his parents, sister, daughter, relatives, friends and brothers in arms.

• Kuleba: EU shells delay due to ‘lamentable state of the defense industry’
• Politico: Western training for Ukrainian fighters adjusts after criticism
• Russian attacks kill 3, injure 19 over past day
• Air Force: Ukraine downs 7 of 9 attack drones overnight
• Drone damages Bryansk explosives plant
• Russian forces have already killed 510 Ukrainian children
• UK: Russia punishing drug and alcohol abusers by sending them to front