Ukraine news LIVE — Evil Putin faces ‘extremely large losses’ as Kremlin plots new wave of missile strikes

In pictures: James Cleverly meets President Zelensky

Today, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs James Cleverly met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.

During the visit, the UK official announced a new aid package for Ukraine, and reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to defending the under-siege nation.

Ukraine pays tribute to famed ballet dancer who lost his life fighting Russia

This week, Ukrainians paid tribute to Vadym Khlupyanets, a ballet dancer who died resisting Putin’s brutal invasion.

Taking to Twitter, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence penned a touching tribute.

The tweet read: “Vadym Khlupyanets, a ballet dancer of the Kyiv Operetta Theater, died in the battle for freedom and independence of Ukraine.

“He traded the stage for trenches so that millions of people would never lose their free lives to authoritarianism. Eternal glory!

Russian losses continue to mount

According to Ukrainian military sources, Russian losses have reached 86,150 as of Nov.25.

This makes a further 430 losses for Putin’s forces in the last 24 hours.

This comes as the Kremlin bombarded Ukraine with mass missile strikes this week, leaving much of the country without power.

Ukraine's nuclear power stations back online, UN watchdog reports.

Ukraine's nuclear power stations are back online, following the decision to disconnect them from the national grid yesterday amid Russian shelling.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, all four stations are back up and running.

They were disconnected after a massive wave of Russian shelling that left millions of Ukrainians without power.

EU chief brands Russian missile strikes 'deliberate and barbaric'

Following her conversation with President Zelensky today, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the EU Commission, shared a statement revealing some details of their call.

She said: "I expressed to President Zelenskyy the EU's full solidarity with Ukraine as it suffers at the hands of Putin's deliberate and barbaric bombing of the country's civilian infrastructure.

"I strongly condemn these attacks. Russia must be held accountable for what constitute war crimes."

The EU chief went on to reveal it latest aid package for Ukraine, which consists of:

• 200 medium-sized transformers and a large autotransformer from Lithuania.
• a medium-sized autotransformer from Latvia.
• 40 heavy generators from the rescEU reserve located in Romania. Each of these generators can provide uninterrupted power to a small to medium sized hospital

Zelensky hails latest EU aid package

President Zelensky took to Twitter this evening to reveal he shared a phone call with Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the EU Commission.

Sharing the details of the call, Mr Zelensky noted the recent Black Sea grain initiative was discussed, as well as the proposed price cap on Russian oil.

Russia will not 'break' Ukraine, claims defiant Zelensky

Speaking in his nightly address, Ukraine's President Zelensky defiantly said his people would not be broken despite constant missile strikes and rolling blackouts.

“Together we endured nine months of full-scale war and Russia has not found a way to break us, and will not find one,” he said.

This comes as the Kremlin bombards Ukraine with missile strikes, targeting key infrastructure as Putin looks to break the will of the Ukrainian people ahead of a freezing winter.

NATO reaffirms commitment to Ukraine

Taking to Twitter today, the official NATO account reaffirmed its commitment to Ukraine.

Sharing a clip outlining its support, NATO declared it "stands with Ukraine in its brave fight against Russian aggression."

And added: "We will continue to provide support for as long as it takes."

United States donates 22,500 blankets to Ukraine as blackouts continue

The US has announced it has donated 22,500 blankets to Ukraine this winter, as civilians across the country face the cold months without electricity.

Bridget A. Brink, the United States Ambassador to Ukraine, announced this new initiative on Twitter today.

She said: "Russia’s cruel attacks against civilians make it all the more important that we all work around the clock to help Ukraine weather the cold this winter in every way we can."

10 dead, 54 injured in Kherson shelling

Russian shelling of Kherson yesterday has reportedly left 10 dead and a further 54 people injured.

Sharing the details via Telegram, regional official Yaroslav Yanushevych said: “The Russians targeted private and apartment buildings, a shipyard, a building on the school grounds, and gas pipes.

"The enemy also shelled the following settlements in the district: Zelenivka, Chornobayivka, and Stepanivka.

“Unfortunately, we have victims among the civilian population. The Russians killed 10 residents of the Kherson region, and another 54 people were injured of varying degrees of severity."

In pictures: James Cleverly meets President Zelensky

Today, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs James Cleverly met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.

During the visit, the UK official announced a new aid package for Ukraine, and reaffirmed Britain's commitment to defending the under-siege nation.

Ukraine pays tribute to famed ballet dancer who lost his life fighting Russia

This week, Ukrainians paid tribute to Vadym Khlupyanets, a ballet dancer who died resisting Putin’s brutal invasion.

Taking to Twitter, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence penned a touching tribute.

The tweet read: “Vadym Khlupyanets, a ballet dancer of the Kyiv Operetta Theater, died in the battle for freedom and independence of Ukraine.

“He traded the stage for trenches so that millions of people would never lose their free lives to authoritarianism. Eternal glory!

Kherson hospitals evacuated amid Russian shelling

Hospitals across the liberated city of Kherson have reportedly been evacuated amid constant Russian shelling.

Regional Governor Yaroslav Yanushevych announced via Telegram, children being treated at the Kherson Regional Clinical Hospital are being moved to Mykolaiv.

Yesterday, the British Ministry of Defence reported the Kremlin is specifically targeting medical facilities with its bombing campaign.

Zelensky calls for the liberation of Crimea

President Zelensky has called the liberation of Ukraine without Crimea a "waste of time."

Speaking to the , the steadfast leader said: “We must return all lands… because I believe that the battlefield is the way when there is no diplomacy.

“If you can’t get your land back entirely, the war is simply frozen. It’s a question of time before it resumes.”

Over 47,000 Russian war crimes reportedly under investigation in Ukraine

According to a recent report from , over 47,000 Russian war crimes are set to be investigated in Ukraine.

This comes as the war enters its ninth month and just days after several “torture facilities” were discovered in the liberated city of Kherson.

Yesterday, a newborn baby was killed in a Russian strike on a maternity ward.

Zelensky calls on European unity in video address

President Zelensky called on Europeans to unite today, as he addressed a conference in Lithuania.

"There is no split, there is no schism among Europeans and we have to preserve this. This is our mission number one this year," he said.

NATO will defend Ukraine for 'as long as it takes'

NATO's Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg, has vowed to aid Ukraine "for as long as it takes" today.

“NATO will continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes. We will not back down,” the NATO chief said.

“Allies are providing unprecedented military support, and I expect foreign ministers will also agree to step up non-lethal support.”

Almost 5,600 Ukrainian civilians killed since invasion began, report claims

Almost 5,600 Ukrainian civilians have been killed since Russia’s brutal invasion began, according to a report by the Kyiv Independent.

Specifically, Putin’s bloodthirsty invasion has reportedly left 5,595 non-combatants dead.

440 of these casualties are children, the piece claims.

Russian reservists plagued with 'confusion' and 'inadequate training'

The British Ministry of Defence has today reported that the 300,000 reservists recruited in Putin's partial mobilisation plan have been plagued by"confusion' and 'inadequate training."

The MoD statement read: "Two months after President Putin announced a ‘partial mobilisation’, common themes are emerging in the experience of mobilised Russian reservists.

"Their deployment is often characterised by confusion over eligibility for service, inadequate training and personal equipment, and commitment to highly attritional combat missions.

"Most - though not all - mobilised reservists have previously served and numerous examples suggest that reservists are highly likely not having their medical status adequately reviewed and many are being compelled to serve with serious, chronic health conditions.

"Mobilised reservists have highly likely experienced particularly heavy casualties after being committed to dig ambitious trench systems while under artillery fire around the Luhansk Oblast town of Svatove.

"In Donetsk Oblast, reservists have been killed in large numbers in frontal assaults into well-established Ukrainian defensive zones around the town of Bakhmut.

"The Kremlin will likely be concerned that an increasing number of reservists’ families are prepared to risk arrest by protesting against the conditions their relatives are serving under."

Kherson shelled for second consecutive day

The liberated city of Kherson faced Russian shelling for the second day in a row today.

This marks an escalation of the situation in Kherson, following Russia's withdrawal from the city last week.

According to Ukrainian military sources, the city was hit 17 times before noon yesterday.

Citizens flee Kyiv amid Russian bombardment

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has today reported that Ukrainians are fleeing Kyiv amid constant Russian shelling.

“We expect an increase of population movement in the next few months. We are already seeing in Kyiv the city is emptying,” IFRC official Violaine des Rosier told reporters in Geneva.

Yesterday, the Ukrainian capital was left in complete darkness, following a mass missile strike by the Kremlin.

Zelensky slams Russia following mass missile strikes

Speaking to the Financial Times on Thursday, Ukraine’s President Zelensky spoke of the crippling missile strikes his country has faced in recent weeks.

On Thursday alone, Ukraine was left in total darkness following Russia’s strategic attack on energy infrastructure.

“It was the kind of incident that hasn’t happened for I don’t know how many years, maybe 80, 90 years: a country on the European continent where there was totally no light,” he told the FT.

“The state superbly fought back. Energy workers, the state emergencies’ ministry, deminers, everyone worked to fix and restore power and provide at least a bit of water.

“This is a war about strength, about resilience, it is about who stands stronger.”

Putin meets with mothers of Russian soldiers

Vladimir Putin has met with the mothers of Russian soldiers who have been sent to Ukraine, at Novo-Ogaryovo - one of his residences on the outskirts of Moscow.

Speaking to women surrounding him, Putin said: “I would like you to know that I personally, and the whole leadership of the country, share your pain.

“We understand that nothing can replace the loss of a son, especially for a mother.''

In a video released by the Kremlin, the Russian women are sat with Putin in a formal boardroom.

In front of each mother sits a microphone, a cup of tea, and a traditional Russian slice of lemon, and a small plate of pastries.

Weather conditions are slowing down the return of power

Ukraine’s national energy grid operator, Ukrenergo, has said the battle to restore power to those without is being slowed by “strong winds, rain and sub-zero temperatures at night”.

In a statement on Facebook, the operate wrote: “Electricity producers provided more than 70% of the country's consumption needs.

“Priority was given to critical infrastructure facilities in all regions: boiler houses, gas distribution stations, water supply, sewage treatment facilities, public electric transport operates in some regions.''

The statement then continued to say: “Reconnection of household consumers is ongoing.

“Difficult weather conditions are slowing the pace of reconnection: due to strong wind, rain and sub-zero temperatures at night, icing and broken wires in distribution (oblenergo) networks are added to the damage caused by Russian missiles.''

Repair crews are working “around the clock to eliminate damage” following Russian targeting of Ukrainian energy infrastructure, it added.

Who controls what in Ukraine?

The Ministry of Defence has once again shared a look at the battlefield in Ukraine.

Russian troops were driven from Kherson in recent weeks, and the Kremlin has since moved much of its forces to Luhansk.

Take a look at the current situation below.