Russo-Ukrainian war, day 1374: Yermak resigns as Ukraine’s biggest corruption scandal engulfs Presidential Office

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Exclusives

She declared a house worth $76. Authorities found $6 million in her closet. The agency saw no problem.. Brussels shifts from praise to “concerns about impartiality” as €50 billion in EU assistance hangs in the balance on anti-corruption benchmarks.

Ukraine gave up 1,700 nukes. Now ex-President Yushchenko says the US offers “Munich-2” shameful peace deal. Calling it a replay of the 1938 Munich appeasement, Yushchenko says the US proposal is humiliating and could disgrace Western diplomacy.

Head of Zelenskyy’s Office Yermak resigns following anti-corruption probe. President Zelenskyy announced on 28 November that his chief of staff Andriy Yermak has resigned as Ukraine’s biggest corruption scandal engulfs the Presidential Office.

Ukraine’s unglamorous SUV lifeline just entered the kill zone. Drone warfare changed the math: more dispersion, more vehicles, more losses.

Russia’s war machine is running out of cash—and out of illusions. Moscow resorts to money printing as state railways drown in debt, oil revenues plunge 35%, and even China exploits Russia’s desperation.

Military

Frontline report: Street-by-street battle for Kupiansk turns against overextended Russian forces — Russia controls roughly 30 percent of the town after narrow infiltration tactics left their gains unstable. Now Ukraine’s newly formed Joint Forces Group is counterattacking from four directions to encircle them instead.

Frontline report: Ukraine’s missile production surge tears through Russian strategic targets — With 40-50 Neptune and 90 Flamingo missiles rolling off production lines monthly, Ukraine is now conducting some of its most complex deep-strike operations yet.

Command center, drone depot, three air defense systems – Ukraine’s Navy guts Saky airfield in joint strike (VIDEO, MAP) — Navy and special forces wipe out Orion drone storage, Tor-M2, Pantsir-S1, and truck-mounted gun.

Russia’s Saratov refinery among key targets hit by drones last night, Ukrainian Army’s General Staff says (VIDEO, MAP) — Ukrainian UAVs reportedly also targeted air defense systems, drone hangars, and a command center at the Saky airfield in occupied Crimea.

Russia-bound tankers hit by explosions off Turkish coast — Two oil tankers under international sanctions for transporting Russian crude exploded within an hour of each other off Türkiye’s Black Sea coast.

Two Russian shadow fleet tankers hit by mysterious blasts off Türkiye’s coast — both incidents in same area (MAP) — Türkiye confirms Kairos suffered external impact and fire, while Virat billowed smoke just miles away in the Black Sea.

Frontline report: Russia’s prison-to-frontline pipeline breaks down as convicts choose escape over certain death — Russian prisoners are increasingly killing their guards and fleeing—recognizing that running offers better odds than either prison or combat.

Intelligence and Technology

Ukraine’s new “Bullet” drone already downing Shaheds weeks after trials ended — Over 20 units equipped with 309 km/h interceptor as maker scales to thousands per month.

Ukrainian troops train to shoot down drones using Seagull and Flyswatter VR simulators — The Defense Ministry says soldiers are learning to destroy Russia’s Shahed, Lancet, and FPV drones on virtual trainers that save ammo and simulate real attacks.

Drones spotted over German base during Ukrainian military training in October — A drone incident at a German military base hosting Ukrainian troops is part of a broader pattern of thousands of unexplained flights over defense facilities this year, which authorities suspect may be linked to Russian hybrid operations.

International

Trump envoys offer Putin US recognition of Crimea annexation in leaked peace plan — The Trump administration has sent Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to Moscow with an offer to recognize Russian control over Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk, breaking decades of US policy against legitimizing territory seized by force.

Yermak resigned day before planned Miami talks with Trump’s envoy and Kushner — Axios — The timing of Andrii Yermak’s resignation came 24 hours before he was set to fly to Florida for talks aimed at aligning US and Ukrainian positions.

Orban meets Putin in Moscow as EU sidelined from Ukraine peace talks — Putin reveals Trump proposed Budapest as venue for Russia-US summit as both leaders have “good relations with Viktor.”

Belgium’s De Wever adds “peace deal” argument to block €140 billion Ukraine loan — Prime minister’s letter to von der Leyen introduces new objection: frozen assets should be “bargaining chip” with Moscow.

Helping Ukraine brought Czechia $607M more than it spent, outgoing PM says — Despite big spending, the PM says foreign aid and contracts kept Czechia in the green.

Jordan demands Russia release its citizens and stop illegal military recruitment — Foreign ministry says it will “take all available measures” and demands Moscow terminate existing contracts.

Jacob Zuma’s daughter quits parliament amid claims she sent South Africans to fight for Russia — Police investigate how 17 citizens ended up stranded in eastern Ukraine after signing Russian military contracts they believed were for bodyguard training.

“The stronger our defense, the more we achieve in diplomacy”: Zelenskyy signals no territorial concessions after Geneva talks — Despite a corruption scandal at home and Russian advances in the east, Ukraine’s president delivered a firm message on the eve of renewed American negotiations.

Humanitarian and Social Impact

Media: Body of 21-year-old Ukrainian found in Vienna, murder suspected — A 21-year-old Ukrainian refugee was beaten in the garage of a luxury Vienna hotel and then burned alive in his own car, Austrian police say.

Russian troops tied POW’s hands, beat him, then shot him, Ukrainian prosecutors say — Incident near Pokrovsk adds to pattern of illegal executions documented across frontline.

Russian occupiers tell Donetsk residents to drink toxic mine water as infrastructure collapses — Water samples show lead, arsenic, mercury and radiation risks from Soviet-era nuclear test site.

Kyiv bids farewell to 21-year-old Hungarian who died defending Ukraine — A 21-year-old Hungarian who walked away from his military contract to join Ukraine’s fight against Russia was buried at Kyiv’s National Military Cemetery.

Political and Legal Developments

Ukrainian with 46 Russian passports released by Polish court amid rail sabotage probe — Prosecutors appeal the release, citing “legally flawed” ruling.

Read our previous daily review here.

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