Travel, property, and local info for Ukraine

2+ min ago (63+ words) Russian drones struck six locations in Kyiv's city centre and eastern suburbs early on Saturday, injuring four people, as apartment buildings and other dwellings were hit, said the head of Kyiv's ... Here are the key events from day 1,374 of Russia's war on Ukraine. By Alastair McCready and News Agencies Here's where things stand on Saturday, November 29....

1+ hour, 47+ min ago (384+ words) US President Donald Trump previously said that he had directed his envoy to meet with the Russian president to discuss revisions to a US-drafted 28-point "peace" plan to end Russia's war in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to receive US President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow in "the first half" of next week, Russian state media reported on Friday. RIA Novosti quoted Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov as their source for the information. "We'll announce the date in due course," he said. Writing on Truth Social, Trump said on Tuesday that he had directed Witkoff to meet with Putin in Moscow to discuss the revised 28-point "peace" plan drafted by the US to bring an end to Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine. In its original form, the plan required Ukraine to forswear NATO membership, limit the size…...

1+ hour, 53+ min ago (884+ words) Key senators warn of a "dark new chapter" as the pro-Russian "Georgian Dream" party slides the country away from democratic norms toward Moscow"s orbit " and one Senator blocks key legislation A year after hundreds of thousands of Georgians poured into the streets to protest the pro-Russian ruling party, Georgian Dream"s abrupt suspension of the country"s EU accession bid has set off a bipartisan alarm in Washington. On the anniversary of the 2024 mass demonstrations, Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) Chairman James Risch (R-ID) and Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) issued a pointed joint statement. Their message was stark: Georgia is actively sliding away from democratic norms. The senators framed the past year as a "dark new chapter," marking a sharp pivot from the pro-Western promises the Georgian Dream party made during its election campaign. "The level of frustration…...

4+ hour, 49+ min ago (322+ words) Russian communications regulator Roskomnadzor has repeatedly claimed that WhatsApp is used to organize terrorism in Russia, as the Kremlin seeks to impose a state-backed alternative. Russian communications regulator Roskomnadzor once again threatened to block WhatsApp in Russia on Friday, accusing the Meta-owned messaging service of enabling terrorism against Russia. The statement comes after widespread reports from within Russia that WhatsApp was jammed in major Russian cities on Friday, as well as Siberia and the Urals the previous day. As per AFP, Roskomnadzor claims that WhatsApp is being used to "organise and carry out terrorist acts in the country, to recruit perpetrators, and for fraud and other crimes against our citizens." "If the messenger fails to comply with Russian legislation, it will be completely blocked." Meta, WhatsApp's parent company, is already banned in Russia " designated as an "extremist" organization by authorities…...

5+ hour, 58+ min ago (994+ words) Lessons are to be drawn, but new opportunities have also appeared and this may be the jolt Ukraine's political and financial set-up has been in need of. On Nov. 28, Andriy Yermak resigned as chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, hours after anti-corruption investigators raided his home. The timing could not be worse. Yermak wasn't just another presidential aide " he was Ukraine's second most powerful figure, and he was leading Ukraine's delegation in critical peace talks with the United States when the scandal broke. His departure creates a power vacuum at the center of Ukrainian governance at perhaps the most dangerous moment since Russia's full-scale invasion began. Major decisions on military strategy, economic policy, and diplomatic initiatives all flowed through his office. He had become what one European official privately called "Zelensky's man," or rather his gray cardinal " the…...

6+ hour, 40+ min ago (72+ words) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, has resigned after his home was raided as part of a corruption investigation involving the energy sector. Retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges joins CBS News with more. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, has resigned after his home was raided as part of a corruption investigation involving the energy sector. Retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges joins CBS News with more....

7+ hour, 6+ min ago (93+ words) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Friday the resignation of his powerful chief of staff, Andrii Yermak, who was also the country's lead negotiator in talks with the U.S, after Yermak's residence was searched by anti-corruption investigators. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Friday the resignation of his powerful chief of staff, Andrii Yermak, who was also the country's lead negotiator in talks with the U.S, after Yermak's residence was searched by anti-corruption investigators. Zelenskyy announces resignation of chief of staff and lead negotiator in peace talks Andrii Yermak...

7+ hour, 25+ min ago (391+ words) Ukraine has launched the auction of IDS Ukraine, producer of Morshynska and Myrhorodska, frozen since 2022 due to state sanctions on its owner, Russian oligarch Mikhail Fridman. The Ukrainian government launched a public auction for IDS Ukraine, the company behind mineral water brands Morshynska and Myrhorodska, whose assets have been frozen since 2022. Under the new management, the state expects the company to contribute at least 24 million hryvnias ($6.5 million) per month to the national budget. The assets of IDS Ukraine were frozen after the Kremlin's full-scale invasion as they belong to Russian oligarch Mikhail Fridman, who is sanctioned by the US, EU, UK, and Ukraine. The Ukrainian government Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) opened bidding for the collection of tender proposals today. Bids will be accepted until 6 p.m. Kyiv time (EET) on Dec. 12, 2025. The auction itself will take place later in December…...

7+ hour, 42+ min ago (546+ words) The United States is reportedly preparing to recognize Russia's control over Crimea and other occupied Ukrainian territories. The move comes as part of President Donald Trump's effort to secure a deal to end the war, which involved proposing a plan directly to the Kremlin. The offer is to be delivered by US envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, who are expected to travel to Moscow next week to present the proposal directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin, The Telegraph reported. The plan would mark a significant break with longstanding US diplomatic convention by granting legal recognition to territory seized by force. One well-placed source said: "It's increasingly clear the Americans don't care about the European position. They say the Europeans can do whatever they want." Putin said on Thursday, Washington's potential recognition of Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk as…...

7+ hour, 59+ min ago (353+ words) Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces said they destroyed three high-value Russian air-defense systems worth an estimated $60 million " a Buk-M1, Buk-M2 and Tor-M2 " in a three-day drone blitz. Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces say they wiped out three major Russian air-defense systems in just three days, inflicting an estimated $60 million loss on Moscow. In a statement on Telegram, the branch said operators from the Asgard battalion of the 412th Nemesis Brigade " working with the 12th Special Purpose Center and the special unit "Kabul 9" from the Defense Intelligence (HUR) " struck three high-value targets: a Buk-M1, a Buk-M2, and a Tor-M2 system. The destroyed systems are among Russia's most valued battlefield assets: Together, they form a critical layer of Russia's air-defense shield. Their loss "significantly weakens" Russia's ability to defend strategic sites, the Unmanned Systems Forces said. The strikes come amid a growing wave of long-range Ukrainian…...