Ukraine-Russia war latest: UK warns of ‘hidden cyber war’ as Putin hails ‘unstoppable’ hypersonic missiles
Putin vowed to launch more intermediate-range ballistic missiles targeting Ukraine
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A UK cabinet minister has warned of a hidden cyber war being waged by Russia as Vladimir Putin ramped up his threats to the West, hailing Moscow’s “unstoppable” hypersonic missiles.
Liz Kendall warned that Russia would do everything within its power to destabilise Ukraine as well as Nato allies.
“There is not only open military war with Russia as the aggressor, but there is also a hidden cyber war,” she told Sky News.
“Russia will do everything in its power to destabilise not only within Ukraine but amongst the Nato allies There is a threat from Russia, this hidden warfare, as well as the open military aggression.”
Meanwhile, Putin claimed there was no way of stopping the intermediate-range “Oreshnik” ballistic missile used to strike Ukraine on Thursday.
“There is no countermeasure to such a missile, no means of intercepting it, in the world today. And I will emphasise once again that we will continue testing this newest system,” Mr Putin warned.
He also said: “We consider ourselves entitled to use our weapons against the military facilities of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against our facilities.”
Threat of world war is ‘serious and real’ Poland says as Putin steps up threats against West
Satellite images show North Korea breaking sanctions to get million barrels of oil from Russia
What do we know about Putin’s ‘experimental’ ballistic missile?
From Poland’s ‘iron dome’ to boots on the ground: How Europe is preparing for a Third World War
North Korean General becomes first high-ranking military official injured in Ukraine
North Korean General becomes first high-ranking military official injured in Ukraine
North Korean general injured as British Storm Shadow missiles hit Kursk in Russia
What do we know about Putin’s ‘experimental’ ballistic missile?
What do we know about Putin’s ‘experimental’ ballistic missile?
The Russian experimental missile could be fitted to carry nuclear warheads, the US Pentagon has warned
The week that upped the stakes of the Ukraine war
The week that upped the stakes of the Ukraine war
This past week has seen the most significant escalation in hostilities Ukraine has witnessed since Russia's full-scale invasion and marks a new chapter in the nearly three-year war
Ukraine has lost over 40 per cent of Russia’s Kursk region
Ukraine has lost over 40 per cent of the territory in Russia’s Kursk region that it rapidly seized in a surprise incursion in August as Russian forces have mounted waves of counter-assaults, a senior Ukrainian military source said.
The source, who is on Ukraine’s General Staff, said Russia had deployed some 59,000 troops to the Kursk region since Kyiv’s forces swept in and advanced swiftly, catching Moscow unprepared 2-1/2 years into its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“At most, we controlled about 1,376 square kilometres (531 square miles), now of course this territory is smaller. The enemy is increasing its counterattacks,” the source said.
“Now we control approximately 800 square kilometres (309 square miles). We will hold this territory for as long as is militarily appropriate.”
Nato chief visits Trump at Mar-a-Lago
Nato general secretary Mark Rutte has travelled to Donald Trump’s 126-room gold-encrusted Mar-a-Lago estate to meet with the president-elect.
Mr Rutte met with Trump on Friday 22 November to discuss a “range of global security issues facing the Alliance”, Nato said.
He also met with US Congressman Mike Waltz and other members of the President-elect’s national security team.
During Trump’s first term, he repeatedly said he wanted out of the alliance and complained about the US paying for most of the organisation’s defence.
Trump argued he was sick of European “free-loaders” who were profiting from US protection, despite not living up to the Nato goal of spending 2 per cent of their GDP on defences.
This is no time to surrender to Putin’s rockets – still less his words
This is no time to surrender to Putin’s rockets – still less his words
Editorial: The West can either give the Russian leader what he craves without a fight or it can call his bluff and watch while he does precisely nothing. The Russian leader is a bully – everything he does proves it
Russia claims advance in eastern Ukraine
Russia’s Defence Ministry said on Friday that its forces had captured the settlement of Novodmytrivka in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, their latest gain in what Defence Minister Andrei Belousov described as an accelerated advance.
Ukraine’s military made no mention of the village, north of the key town of Kurakhove. But in a late night report, the General Staff noted it was among eight villages where Russian forces were engaged in fighting and trying to advance.
From Poland’s ‘iron dome’ to boots on the ground: How Europe is preparing for a Third World War
More than 900 miles from London, frenetic activity is underway in the countryside of Poland, Finland, and the Baltic States: bulldozers and diggers are constructing field defences. Anti-tank ditches, tank traps, and pillboxes are being built and installed. In all these countries, laying minefields – even controversial anti-personnel minefields – is under active consideration.
Poland is spending at least €2.5bn (£2.1bn) on its border defence system, including building a sky shield system akin to Israel’s “Iron Dome” to protect its eastern border from a growing threat from Russia.
Meanwhile, in response to the “hybrid war” tactics on several Baltic fronts, hundreds of millions of euros are being invested by the Baltic states to strengthen their defence lines with another major project, planned by Nato members Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, set to begin in 2025.
And what is the UK’s response to an increasing global threat? The country is scrapping £500m worth of military equipment – ships, drones, and helicopters – and will conduct a strategic defence review to decide what to do next.
Francis Tusa has more analysis here:
From Poland’s ‘iron dome’ to troops: How Europe is preparing for World War III
As Britain announces a review on defence spending, much of Europe is busy preparing for an act of war that would demand a Nato response. Here, defence expert Francis Tusa explains what is being planned for and how Britain is lagging dangerously behind
Listen: Starmer denies UK at war after Ukraine fires British Storm Shadow missiles into Russia
Senior North Korean general wounded in Ukrainian strike on Kursk, Western officials say
A senior North Korean general has been wounded in a Ukrainian strike in Russia’s Kursk region, Western officials have told the Wall Street Journal.
Washington has previously warned that the 10,000 North Korean troops reportedly deployed in Kursk, where Kyiv’s forces staged an incursion in August, could be targeted by Russian forces. But the fresh claims mark the first time Western officials have said that a North Korean military officer has become a casualty.
The officials did not disclose the identity of the senior North Korean officer or how he was wounded, the outlet reports.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments