Day 268: Ukrainian experts at missile blast site in Poland, almost half Ukraine’s energy system disabled

Decision by District Court of The Hague in MH17 case lays basis for holding to account those responsible at high level, President Zelenskyi says

A verdict issued by the District Court of The Hague on November 17 that convicts three in absentia for their roles in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, lays the basis for holding to account those responsible at a high level, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi said in a daily address on the evening of November 17.

“Now the perpetrators have been convicted and the basis is provided to convict the culprits of a higher level, too. Those who bear full personal responsibility for the crime of aggression against Ukraine – the original crime that gave rise to all the others committed by the ‘ruscists’ since 2014. (…) When all the murderers and torturers are convicted, when their commanders and political leaders face fair sentences, when Russia compensates for all the damage caused by Russian aggression, it will be a very solid foundation for a lasting peace,” Zelenskyi said.

Ukrainian experts work at missile blast site in Poland, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister says

“Ukrainian experts are already working at the site of the tragedy in Przewodów caused by Russian missile terror against Ukraine. I am grateful to the Polish side for granting them access,” Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba twitted on Friday. “We will continue our cooperation in an open and constructive manner, as closest friends do,” he said.

Almost half Ukraine’s energy system disabled after Russia’s missile attacks, PM says

Russia continues to carry out missile strikes on Ukraine’s civilian and critical infrastructure, fighting against civilians and cutting them off from power, water, heat and internet as winter approaches. “On November 15 alone, Russia launched about 100 rockets on Ukrainian cities. Almost half of our energy system is disabled,” Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal told a news conference on Friday.

More than 10 million Ukrainians lost electricity supply after another wave of Russian missile strikes, President Zelenskyi said in an evening address on November 17. Most were in Vinnytsia, Odesa, and Sumy regions, and in Kyiv. 

Most difficult military situation is in eastern Ukraine, Ukraine’s General Staff says

In the past week, in eastern Ukraine, there had been more than 500 combat clashes between the Ukrainian troops and Russian forces, Deputy Chief of the Main Operational Directorate of Ukraine’s General Staff, Brigadier General Oleksiy Hromov stated in a news conference on November 17. He said that the most difficult situation is in eastern Ukraine as the Russian forces are attempting to reach the administrative border of Donetsk region. The Russians are waging an offensive on the Bakhmut, Avdiyivka, and Novopavlivske directions.

Ukraine’s other regions to help ease humanitarian situation, rebuild infrastructure in de-occupied Kherson region

Three Ukrainian regions – Mykolayiv, Odesa, and Dnipropetrovska will help to deal with a difficult humanitarian situation in Kherson region, newly liberated from the Russian forces, deputy head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Kyrylo Tymoshenko said on Telegram. “The regions’ representatives bring in food, water, medicines, fuel, generators, construction and fire fighting vehicles, ambulances, and buses,” he said. 

Other regions were tasked to form the “teams with equipment to help fix the energy, gas, water, and road infrastructure in Kherson region,” Tymoshenko said. Works are underway to meet an “ambitious goal” of restoring electricity supply within a week, he added.

Roles and challenges of Academia during the war. Ukraine in Flames #253

Universities and academic community are not the first things that come to mind when we think about the military actions. However, they have play a significant role in financial, humanitarian, psychological, and legal support for both academic community and general public. Watch Ukraine in flames #253 to learn more about challenges for the Ukrainian higher education system after the full-scale invasion of Russia into Ukraine.