Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla resigned from parliament after allegations surfaced accusing her of involvement in recruiting 17 South African men to fight for Russia in Ukraine. The MK party, led by her father, stated her resignation was voluntary, though authorities are working to repatriate the South African citizens. The MK party denies any involvement in sending the men abroad but has pledged support for their families. Ukrainian authorities have warned of the presence of numerous foreign mercenaries fighting alongside Russian forces, highlighting the need for increased prevention efforts.
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On November 27, Russia deployed Tu-22M3 long-range bombers armed with Kh-32 supersonic cruise missiles over the Baltic Sea, accompanied by fighter jets. The five-hour flight in international airspace was monitored by foreign military aircraft, including Swedish Air Force QRA fighters who intercepted and identified the Russian bombers. The bombers originated from Olenya air base, recently reactivated for long-range aviation, and the mission rehearsed a maritime strike profile targeting NATO assets. This exercise, along with a separate Arctic Ocean patrol by a Tu-160 bomber, is considered part of routine long-range aviation training, but is seen by NATO as strategic signaling.
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French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot asserts that Vladimir Putin must agree to a ceasefire to avoid new sanctions, citing significant Russian losses on the battlefield and the targeting of civilian infrastructure. Barrot suggests Putin should seriously consider a new US peace plan, which is being revised to be more favorable to Ukraine after an initial version favored Russia. This plan, expected to be finalized during a meeting between Presidents Zelenskyy and Trump, is currently under negotiation with a Ukrainian delegation traveling to the US for further talks alongside a visit from Trump’s envoy to Moscow.
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The core of President Trump’s plan to end the Russia-Ukraine war appears to prioritize profit over peace, with envoys like Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner negotiating with Russian officials to position U.S. businesses for financial gains. These negotiations center around revitalizing Russia’s economy through joint ventures, including the potential use of $300 billion in frozen Russian assets for investments and reconstruction in Ukraine. Key figures, like Trump megadonors, are in talks to acquire stakes in lucrative projects such as Arctic gas ventures and the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. While the plan aims to create economic opportunities for both Russia and the U.S., it has faced criticism for potentially sacrificing Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
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The US has requested Lebanon return an undetonated GBU-39 bomb, a Boeing-manufactured glide bomb capable of traveling up to 110 km, due to concerns it could fall into the hands of Russia or China. This request follows the discovery of the unexploded bomb. The US fears the technology could be reverse-engineered by rival nations.
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The focus of former President Trump’s plan to end the Russia-Ukraine war appears to be driven by profit rather than peace, with envoys like Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner negotiating with Russian officials to position U.S. businesses, including those connected to Trump, to benefit from the war’s conclusion. Central to these discussions is the potential utilization of $300 billion in frozen Russian assets for joint ventures, such as exploiting Arctic resources and potentially acquiring the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. These ventures aim to revitalize Russia’s economy, potentially at the expense of Ukraine’s sovereignty, as evidenced by a controversial peace plan drafted by Witkoff and based on a Russian proposal. Although the specifics of how Ukraine would benefit are unclear, the plans have generated criticism from Europe and within the U.S., leading to amended peace proposals.
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European officials are concerned about the US’s shifting stance on Russia, especially regarding potential peace plans. Kaja Kallas highlighted Russia’s history of invasions, emphasizing its consistent aggressive behavior, which contrasts with the views of some US figures, particularly those aligned with Donald Trump. A US-Russian plan, revealed by the article, favors Russia in negotiations, prompting European leaders to recognize the potential betrayal of Ukraine’s sovereignty and the weakening of the transatlantic alliance. Europe is now working to counter these plans and ensure Russia’s future military aggression.
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Ukrainian security sources have confirmed that underwater drones were used in attacks on two tankers, part of Russia’s shadow fleet, in the Black Sea. The strikes, which occurred on the Gambian-flagged Virat and Kairos, resulted in critical damage, effectively taking them out of service and disrupting the transportation of Russian oil. The Virat, sanctioned by multiple countries, sustained damage over two days while the Kairos saw all crew members evacuated following an explosion and fire. Additionally, a mooring point at the Russian port of Novorossiysk was hit by a marine drone.
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On November 28th, Ukrainian Sea Baby naval drones successfully targeted two sanctioned Russian oil tankers, Kairos and Virat, off the coast of Turkey in the Black Sea. The strikes disabled vessels linked to the Kremlin’s shadow fleet, which is known for evading international sanctions by transporting Russian oil. Both tankers, en route to a Russian port, were empty at the time of the attack. The operation, a joint effort with the Ukrainian Navy, delivered a significant blow to Russia’s oil transportation capabilities.
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Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, verified Russian military deaths have reached at least 152,142, according to BBC Russian and Mediazona. This count is based on open-source reports and only includes Russian citizens, excluding fighters from the Donetsk and Luhansk republics. Regions like Bashkortostan, Tatarstan, and the Sverdlovsk region have recorded the highest numbers of confirmed fatalities. Furthermore, losses disproportionately affect residents of small towns and rural areas, and casualty levels appear to correlate with local budget reliance on federal subsidies.
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John Q. Hosedrinker