On the 1377th day of war, a Russian ballistic missile hit the industrial area of the city of Dnipro, causing the death of four people and injuring another 40.
Russian attacks also resulted in casualties in the Sumy and Kherson regions.
Furthermore, a fire broke out this morning on the roof of a high-rise building in the city of Mykolaiv following a Russian attack, but the flames were quickly extinguished, and no casualties were reported.
On the other hand, several Ukrainian drones targeted the city of Kaspiysk in the Russian republic of Dagestan today, with explosions heard near the Dagdizel defense factory, which produces naval underwater weapons for the Russian navy. The republic's leader confirmed that a drone attack took place but did not mention its consequences.
Regarding the situation on the front, Ukraine denied the information provided by the Russian Ministry of Defense, which announced the occupation of two localities in the Donetsk region. Kyiv claims it is a new attempt at misinformation by Moscow.
On the diplomatic front, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in Paris today, where he was received by Emmanuel Macron, in the context of peace negotiations in Florida.
The Kremlin confirmed that Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, will be received on Tuesday afternoon in Moscow by Vladimir Putin, while the EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, warns that a "crucial week" is ahead for Ukraine in the context of negotiations led by the US.
Russian Attacks
- Dnipro Hit by a Rocket - A Russian ballistic missile hit the industrial area of the city of Dnipro today. Four people were killed, and 40 were injured, local authorities cited by Kyiv Independent announced. The explosion occurred at 10:14 local time, about four minutes after the Ukrainian Air Force issued an alert about a possible ballistic missile launch from Taganrog, Russia. Dnipro, the fourth-largest city in Ukraine with a population of 968,000 before the war, continues to be targeted by regular Russian missile and drone attacks due to its proximity to Ukraine's front-line regions. The city is about 130 km away from the nearest combat zones.
- Victims in Sumy and Kherson - One person was killed and five others injured this morning in Russian attacks in the Sumy and Kherson regions, local authorities cited by Ukrainska Pravda announced. In the Sumy region, a Russian drone hit a car carrying two civilians. The driver died on the spot, and the passenger suffered minor injuries. In Kherson, a Russian FPV drone hit a minibus. The vehicle was damaged, but there were no casualties. Additionally, five people were injured in drone attacks in the Dniprovsky district, Kherson region.
- Fire on Building - A fire broke out this morning on the roof of a high-rise building in the city of Mykolaiv following a Russian attack, announced Vitalii Kim, the head of the regional military administration. Around 07:00 local time, the Ukrainian Air Force reported multiple Russian drones heading towards Mykolaiv. Shortly after, Suspilne mentioned an explosion in the city. Kim stated that the fire was quickly extinguished, and there were no casualties.
Ukraine's Strikes
- Drone Attack in Dagestan - Several drones attacked the city of Kaspiysk in the Russian republic of Dagestan today, with explosions heard near the Dagdizel defense factory, which produces naval underwater weapons for the Russian navy. Residents reported on social media about the explosion, and the republic's leader, Sergey Melikov, later confirmed a drone attack. "Today, an attack by enemy drones was thwarted in our republic. Aerial means were shot down above the city of Kaspiysk. Emergency services are on site, and all authorities are operating as an emergency response team," he announced. Melikov did not mention the consequences of the attack but stated that authorities are doing "everything necessary for the safety of citizens and facilities," as reported by Ukrainska Pravda. He also reminded residents that there is a ban in Dagestan on publishing information "about terrorist attacks, drone attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the deployment of Defense Ministry forces, and the location of critical infrastructure." Astra later published photos and videos from Kaspiysk, reporting that windows and parked cars were damaged near a residential building about 3.5 km from the Dagdizel plant.
Frontline Situation
- Ukraine Denies Loss of Two Villages - The Russian Ministry of Defense announced the occupation of the villages of Stavki and Novoselivka in the Donetsk region, but the Ukrainian Armed Forces stated that this information is false, as reported by Ukrainska Pravda. According to the Ukrainian army, this is a new attempt at disinformation by Moscow. Russian forces rely on an old tactic where small groups infiltrate areas near villages they do not actually control, create videos with the Russian flag to simulate a Russian presence, and then present their losses as gains on the battlefield, the source cited.
- Russian Advances Last Month - Russian forces have captured 505 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory in November, with nearly half of the advance recorded near Huliaipole in the Zaporizhia region, according to Ukrainian military analysts from DeepState. The situation is challenging near Pokrovsk-Mirnohrad, where 32.5% of enemy attacks were recorded. The cited source indicates that in September, Russian forces occupied 259 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory, and in October, the occupied area reached 267 square kilometers.
Peace Negotiations
- Zelensky Received by Macron at the Élysée Palace - Volodymyr Zelensky is in Paris today, where he was received by Emmanuel Macron in the context of peace negotiations in Florida, from which Europeans were excluded. "The war must end as soon as possible," stated the Ukrainian President after the meeting with Macron. The discussions between the leaders lasted several hours, as reported by Nexta. Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned that he will also meet with other leaders today.
- Kremlin Confirms Putin's Meeting with Witkoff - Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, will be received on Tuesday afternoon in Moscow by Vladimir Putin, announced the Kremlin. The meeting follows the negotiations in Florida between the US and Ukraine, described as "productive" by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that discussions will continue "in the second part of the day" as Washington seeks to adjust the peace plan initially formulated without consulting Europeans.
- Trump: Ukraine Corruption Scandal "Doesn't Help" Negotiations - Donald Trump stated that the corruption scandal shaking Ukraine "doesn't help" peace efforts. Speaking aboard Air Force One after "productive but without major announcements" discussions in Florida, Trump emphasized that "Ukraine has some tough little problems," but he insists that there are "good chances" for an agreement with Russia. The investigation into the embezzlement of $100 million from the energy sector led to the dismissal of Andrii Yermak, Zelensky's chief negotiator with the US.
- A Crucial Week for Diplomacy - EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas warns that a "crucial week" is ahead for Ukraine in the context of negotiations led by the US. Ahead of the EU defense ministers' meeting, Kallas stated that the discussions in America were "tough but productive" and emphasized the need for Europeans to be involved in the diplomatic process. "Ukrainians are alone at these meetings. With Europeans by their side, they would be stronger," she said. Kallas reiterated that Russia "does not want peace" and that the priority is for Ukraine to remain as militarily strong as possible.
- EU: Putin Must Not Be Pardoned - European Commissioner for Justice Michael McGrath delivers a direct message to the Trump administration: any peace agreement must include holding Russia accountable for war crimes. In an interview with Politico, McGrath stated that the ceasefire "should not become a disguised amnesty" and warned that impunity would prepare for "the next aggression." The EU official pointed out that over 178,000 cases of Russian atrocities are being investigated in Ukraine, while the ICC has had an arrest warrant out for Vladimir Putin since 2023. The American peace plan includes Russia's reintegration into the global economy, a scenario that raises concerns in European capitals.
Other Relevant Information
- Drone Agreement between Ukraine and the Netherlands - Ukraine and the Netherlands signed an agreement on Monday, December 1, for joint drone production in both countries, announced Ruben Brekelmans, the Dutch Minister of Defense, on X. Brekelmans signed the agreement with his Ukrainian counterpart, Denys Shmyhal, in Brussels on the sidelines of the EU Council meeting, as reported by Ukrainska Pravda.
- Vilnius Airport closed again due to balloons - The airport in the capital of Lithuania announced on Sunday the suspension of operations due to suspicious balloons in its airspace, the latest in a series of flight disruptions in the Baltic country, Reuters reports. European aviation has been repeatedly affected in recent months due to the appearance and incursions of drones, including in Copenhagen and Brussels, and Vilnius Airport has been closed at least 10 times since the beginning of October. The Baltic country stated that the weather balloons launched by smugglers carry contraband cigarettes and accuses Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko of allowing this practice, calling it a form of "hybrid attack." Lithuania closed both border crossings with Belarus in October in response to the launched balloons, but reopened them last week as the disruptions in air traffic seemed to have ceased.
- Zelensky to visit Ireland for the first time - Volodymyr Zelensky will make his first official visit to Ireland on Tuesday, announced the government in Dublin. The Ukrainian president will meet with Prime Minister Micheal Martin, inaugurate the Ireland-Ukraine Economic Forum, and have a meeting with President-elect Catherine Connolly. The visit comes at a key moment for Kiev's peace plan and amid intense negotiations coordinated by Washington.
- Chinese Foreign Minister begins official visit to Moscow - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is in Russia on Monday and Tuesday for the 20th round of the Beijing-Moscow strategic dialogue, EFE reports. Wang is traveling at the invitation of Sergei Shoigu to discuss "international and regional issues of common interest" and to strengthen coordination between the two countries. China maintains an ambiguous position on the war in Ukraine, calling for respect for the "territorial integrity of all states" but also taking into account the "legitimate concerns" of Russia.
- NATO may react more aggressively - NATO is considering a stronger response to cyber attacks, sabotage, and airspace violations by Russia in Europe, said Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, president of the Alliance's Military Committee, to the Financial Times. Details HERE.
- Putin expected in India - India intends to discuss with Russia the acquisition of fifth-generation Su-57 aircraft and advanced S-500 air defense systems during President Vladimir Putin's visit on December 4–5, Bloomberg reports. The visit comes amid cooling relations between New Delhi and Washington following pressures from the Trump administration regarding Indian imports of Russian oil. Although India remains one of the main clients of the Russian arms industry, the share of equipment imported from Russia has sharply declined in recent years, from 72% to 36%, according to SIPRI.