Ukraine
Valerian Sobolev, a missile technology designer known as the creator of the Topol and Iskander missiles, has died in Russia. The latter are used by Russia to strike Ukraine.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen outlined five EU priorities for peace talks to end Russia's war against Ukraine in the European Parliament on November 26. She emphasized the importance of a just peace, Ukraine's sovereignty, financial support, the role of the EU and NATO, and the return of abducted children.
Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže arrived in Kyiv on November 26, where she was met by her Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Sybiha. She declared the support of the Latvian government and society for Ukraine in its struggle for a peaceful future.
In Ukraine, a decision has been made to conduct border and customs control directly in train carriages. This practice, already in effect on some Intercity+ trains to Poland, will be extended to sleeper cars on the Kyiv — Przemyśl and Kyiv — Chełm international night routes, which are used by over 130,000 Ukrainians monthly.
The number of vacancies with booking options has increased 8-fold over the year, with the most offers in blue-collar professions. Demand among job seekers has also significantly increased, rising 16-fold, according to OLX Robota.
On November 27, Ukraine is expected to have heterogeneous weather with a sharp contrast in temperatures. The west will be the coldest (+2...+6°C), while the south and Crimea will see temperatures reach +12...+20°C.
Putin's aide, Yuri Ushakov, stated that the Kremlin had not discussed the US peace plan, having received several unofficial options. He added that representatives of the Russian and Ukrainian special services periodically meet in the UAE to discuss sensitive issues, including prisoner exchanges.
EU countries are working on a "plan B" in case they cannot reach an agreement on seizing frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine.
Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko announced the dismissal of 74 prosecutors and the removal of 66 from administrative positions after a review of the validity of disability status. Another case concerning a prosecutor's fake disability, who illegally received a pension, has been sent to court.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced her readiness to present a legal text for a reparations loan to Ukraine amounting to €140 billion. This will happen after presenting EU countries with financing options for Ukraine in 2026-2027.
Leonid Fedun, co-founder of Russia's Lukoil, sold his stake in the company, valued at approximately $7 billion. This happened after months of avoiding Western sanctions that affected Lukoil in October.
On October 16, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin convinced Donald Trump not to approve the transfer of long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. This happened on the eve of Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to the White House.
Russian troops attacked energy infrastructure in Donetsk and Kharkiv regions. Emergency power outages have been applied in Kharkiv, Sumy, and Poltava regions.
French authorities have arrested three people on suspicion of spying for Russia and promoting its war propaganda. The arrests come amid growing concerns about Russian interference across Europe.
Over 794,000 enforcement proceedings regarding utility debts have been recorded in Ukraine, 60% of which have been closed without payment. This year, 194,000 new proceedings have been opened, two-thirds of which remain open.
European leaders, including France and Great Britain, are discussing the creation of multinational military forces to support Ukraine after a peace agreement with Russia. A working group has been established to clarify the details of military assistance, which may include troop deployment and air support.
Russia and the United States have tentatively agreed on a visit by US President's special envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow next week. US President Donald Trump confirmed Witkoff's visit to Moscow, where he will meet with President Putin.
During the night, Russia attacked Ukraine with two ballistic missiles and 90 drones. Air defense forces shot down or suppressed 72 Shahed, Gerbera, and other types of drones.
International Obesity Awareness Day highlights the growing problem in Ukraine, where stress, physical inactivity, and cheap food contribute to weight gain. Dietitian Oleksandr Kushch notes that visceral obesity is particularly dangerous for internal organs, and excess estrogen affects youth development.
US Army Secretary Dan Driskell stated that Ukrainian forces are in a difficult position and will soon be defeated. He also added that the Russians are escalating their attacks and can fight indefinitely. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Vice President J.D. Vance reacted to this.
The 28-point US peace plan, unveiled last week, is based on a Russian document submitted to the Trump administration in October. That document contained Moscow's terms for ending the war, including concessions that Ukraine had previously rejected.
Over the past day, 156 combat engagements took place at the front, which is fewer than the day before. The most intense battles were recorded in the Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka directions, where almost half of all engagements occurred.
US President Donald Trump announced the reduction of the initial 28-point peace plan to 22 points.
The Kremlin and the White House commented on Bloomberg's publication of the transcript of the conversation between US envoy Witkoff and Putin's aide Ushakov. Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the publication a fake, and Donald Trump said he saw nothing unusual in the conversation.
On November 25, Russian troops lost 980 soldiers and 743 UAVs in the war with Ukraine. The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02.22 to 26.11.25 are estimated at 1,168,550 personnel.
On Wednesday, November 26, cloudy weather with clearings is expected in Ukraine without precipitation, with the exception of light rain in the far west. The air temperature will be from 5-10° Celsius in the west and east to 17° Celsius in the south.
Russian soldiers in the Kherson direction are massively suffering from ARVI and flu, leading to critical personnel losses. Commanders force them to stay in cold fortifications without medication, sending them to hospitals only in critical condition.
The Russian government has approved a list of 42 specialties for which the admission of fee-paying applicants to higher education institutions is restricted. This decision is explained by improving the quality of education, but the real goal is to increase the number of young people in the army and in blue-collar jobs in the military-industrial complex.
On the night of November 26, the city of Cheboksary was subjected to a massive drone attack, resulting in several explosions and a fire. One of the UAVs hit the roof of a twelve-story building, damaging window panes, and a plant producing components for the war was also hit.
Changes to the US peace plan, which emerged after meetings between American and Ukrainian negotiators in Geneva, could force Putin to reject the proposal. Russia will resist any deviation from the maximalist positions that were in the original plan.