Ukraine | STERN.de

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has denied a “stalemate” in the war with Russia. “People are tired (…). But this is not a stalemate,” said the Ukrainian head of state on Saturday at a joint press conference with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Kiev, contradicting statements by Ukrainian army chief Valery Saluschny. He had previously spoken of a “stalemate” in the 20-month-long war against Russia. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian army reported “successful” attacks on a shipyard on the Russian-annexed Crimean peninsula.

In an interview with the British magazine “The Economist” this week, Ukraine’s highest-ranking military official said that the conflicting parties were engaged in a war of attrition and position along the front line. “As in World War I, we have reached a level of technology that puts us in a stalemate,” the general said. There will “very likely” not be a “deep” breakthrough.

Russia attacked Ukraine in February 2022. At that time, the Russian armed forces were marching towards Kiev. However, they ultimately failed to take the Ukrainian capital and overthrow President Zelensky’s government. A Ukrainian counteroffensive launched in June of this year has so far achieved only minor territorial gains against the Russian defense lines.

Ukraine attacks Russian Crimean shipyard

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian army confirmed details of an attack on a shipyard on the Russian-annexed Crimean peninsula on Saturday. On the “evening of November 4,” the armed forces “carried out successful attacks on the maritime and port infrastructure of the Saliv Shipyard in the temporarily occupied Kerch,” the army said on Sunday. According to Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleschuk, a carrier ship for Kalibr missiles was stationed in the shipyard in eastern Crimea.

For its part, the Russian Defense Ministry said, according to state media, that the Ukrainian armed forces fired “15 cruise missiles” at the Saliv shipyard on Saturday. 13 of them were repelled, it said. However, as a result of the “hit by an enemy cruise missile,” a ship in the facility was damaged. However, the ministry in Moscow did not provide any information about the type of ship or the extent of the damage.

The day before, Russian-appointed Governor Sergei Aksyonov said that “some of the debris from the launched missiles” had fallen on the site of one of the dry docks. There were no injuries, he wrote in online services.

Ukrainian attacks on Russian territories have increased since the Ukrainian counteroffensive began in June. The Crimean peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014, is regularly targeted because it is a base for the Russian Black Sea Fleet and a key supply route for Russian forces in southern and eastern Ukraine.

Heavy fighting continues for the front-line town of Avdiivka

According to Ukrainian military officials, Russian troops made several advances towards the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka on Sunday. Over 400 Russian soldiers were killed and twelve armored vehicles were destroyed, the commander responsible for this section of the front, Olexandr Tarnawskyj, said on Telegram. The Russian attacks, supported by fighter jets and artillery, were repelled. The information could not be independently verified.

Ukraine has been fending off a Russian invasion for over 20 months. The front line against the separatists supported by Moscow has been running near Avdiivka since 2014. The heavily destroyed city is currently surrounded by Russian troops on three sides. The Russian-controlled regional capital Donetsk is just a few kilometers south of Avdiivka.

Ceremony in the front area – soldiers killed

According to official information, numerous soldiers were killed in a Russian attack at a controversial ceremony in the frontline area of ​​Ukraine. The soldiers took part in an artillery day ceremony in the Zaporizhzhia region, when Russian shells fell there. The Internet portal “Ukrainska Pravda” reported more than 20 deaths. Defense Minister Rustem Umyerov confirmed the “tragedy” but did not give any figures. Authorities in the soldiers’ home region of Zakarpattia declared three days of mourning on Sunday.

Minister Umyerov expressed his condolences to the relatives of the “fallen soldiers of the 128th Zakarpattia Mountain Brigade” on Facebook. He didn’t give any details – not even the day. The incident is said to have occurred on Friday. “All the circumstances of what happened are being clarified,” he said. “Our enemy is an insidious terrorist.” Relatives and joy should receive honest answers.

The head of the Zakarpattia military administration, Viktor Mykyta, said on Sunday that the “brothers” had been tragically killed. In the coming days, state flags should be lowered to half-mast and minutes of silence observed in the morning.

In social networks there was sharp criticism of the military leadership for even allowing such a ceremony in the frontline area. Those responsible must be punished, Ukrainians demanded in comment columns. According to reports, the authorities and the minister only confirmed the incident after the information had been circulating for a long time on social networks and finally in the media.

Minister wants to reform Ukrainian defense

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rusten Umyerov is planning a complete reform of the military service within the next five years. According to the concept published on Sunday, the Ukrainian armed forces should switch to contract military service in the future. When recruiting and later pursuing a soldier’s career, their previous training should be taken into account. The aim is also to achieve professional equality between the sexes within the armed forces.

According to Umjerov’s ideas, cooperation between Ukrainian universities and similar institutions in the EU and NATO states should also be strengthened. The aim of the concept is to cover the personnel needs of the armed forces. In addition, the Ukrainian army should be able to “integrate into the Euro-Atlantic security area and ensure the interoperability of the Ukrainian armed forces with the armed forces of the NATO member states.”

Von der Leyen: EU accession negotiations to open soon

During a visit to Kiev, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen acknowledged Ukraine’s “impressive reforms” in its pursuit of EU membership. “They have made great progress, much greater than one can expect from a country that is at war,” von der Leyen told MPs in the Ukrainian capital on Saturday. The visit came before the presentation of the new EU enlargement report on Wednesday.

Kiev’s goal of opening the EU accession negotiations process this year is “really within reach,” emphasized the Commission head. “You are already well over 90 percent of the way there.”

The head of the EU Commission described Ukraine’s reforms as “impressive”. She referred to the reform of the constitutional justice system, the appointment of the High Council of Justice, an anti-corruption program, progress in the fight against money laundering and measures to curb the influence of the oligarchs. There is also a new media law and progress in the protection of national minorities.

Ukraine applied for membership in the European Union a few days after the start of the Russian war of aggression on February 24, 2022. It received EU candidate status as early as June 2022. This step had, above all, a symbolic effect. The more important hurdle is the start of accession negotiations. Experts had said that Ukraine faces a long and difficult road to membership.

In order for accession negotiations to be opened, Brussels wants Ukraine to meet seven conditions – including progress in the fight against corruption and judicial reforms. Enlargement will be the central topic of the EU summit on December 14th and 15th in Brussels.