Ousted: Russian general replaced amidst Aleppo turmoil

"The commander of Russian forces in Syria

, Gen. Sergey Kisel, has been removed from his position following the capture of the city of Aleppo by militants, reported the Russian defense ministry-affiliated channel "Rybar".
"It is said that the commander of the Kisel troop group was dismissed. This removal probably doesn't change anything for now. What needs to change is the approach: the Syrian sandbox has been a place for rebuilding the reputations of generals who proved incompetent in the special military operation zone for a long time," wrote "Rybar"." MS

Aleppo bombed by Russian and Syrian airstrikes as rebels capture half of city

"Rebel fighters are being bombed by Russian and Syrian jets as the fight to control the city of Aleppo intensifies.

Insurgent forces now claim to control around half of the heavily-populated city after a surprise offensive against President Bashar al-Assad's regime." Mirror

Zelensky dismisses Ukraine's ambassador to Netherlands

"Zelensky has dismissed Oleksandr Karasevych, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Netherlands. "Oleksandr Karasevych shall be dismissed as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Kingdom of the Netherlands and as Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons," the decree says." Pravada

Syria: Insurgents storm Aleppo

 

"The governor of Aleppo, police and security branches have withdrawn from the center of Aleppo and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham militants taken control of “the majority of the city,” according to The Syrian Observatory of Human Rights." NBC

Russia Strikes Warehouse Containing ATACMS, Storm Shadow Missiles

"Over the past week, the Russian Armed Forces also launched 32 precision strikes with high-tech weapons and drones, destroying two Ukrainian Grom-2 ballistic missile launchers and a Neptune anti-ship missile launcher.....a strike was carried out near the Odessa region port of Chernomorsk on a railway train carrying ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles that had arrived in Ukraine from Romania." Sputnik

Israel hits ‘weapons smuggling’ site in Syria

"The Israeli Air Force announced that its jets hit what it said was a Hezbollah-linked site in Syria. This strike was carried out following the identification of the transfer of weapons to Hezbollah from Syria to Lebanon, even after the ceasefire agreement." RT

224 combat clashes on front lines, fighting heaviest in Kurakhove sector

"As many as 224 combat engagements between Ukrainian forces and Russian invaders were recorded on the front lines.
In the Kharkiv sector, the enemy made nine unsuccessful attempts to break through Ukrainian defenses near Vovchansk, Kozacha Lopan, and Hoptivka.
In the Kupiansk sector, seven enemy attacks were recorded, with Ukrainian forces repelling Russian assaults near Pishchane, Kolisnykivka, Lozova, and Zahryzove.

In the Lyman sector, Russian forces launched 20 attacks, trying to penetrate Ukrainian defenses near Hrekivka, Druzheliubivka, Novoiehorivka, Zarichne, Terny, and Torske.
In the Kramatorsk sector, the occupiers launched 17 attacks on Ukrainian positions near Chasiv Yar, Predtechyne, and Stupochky.
In the Toretsk sector, Russian forces carried out 16 attacks near Toretsk, Nelipivka, and Shcherbynivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled 47 Russian assaults near Myroliubivka, Promin, Myrnohrad, Lysivka, Krasnyi Yar, Dachenske, Zhovte, Chumatske, Yelyzavetivka, and Novyi Trud.
In the Kurakhove sector, Ukrainian forces repelled 54 attacks, with the heaviest fighting recorded near Sontsivka, Berestky, Novodmytrivka, Kurakhove, Dachne, Dalnie, Katerynivka, Romanivka, Antonivka, Yelyzavetivka, Hannivka, and Uspenivka.
In the Vremivka sector, Russian troops, supported by aircraft, carried out 18 assaults on Ukrainian positions near Veselyi Hai, Kostiantynopolske, Rozlyv, Velyka Novosilka, Novodarivka, and Novopil.
In the Dnipro River sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled four Russian advances, forcing the enemy to retreat with losses.
In the Volyn and Polissia sectors, no signs of enemy offensive group formations were observed.
Ukraine's operation is underway in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian defenders repelled 22 Russian attacks in the past 24 hours." Ukrin

Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service Warned About A 100k-Strong NATO Intervention In Ukraine

"The NATO-Russian proxy war in Ukraine might be on the brink of an unprecedented escalation that could easily spiral out of control if Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) is correct in claiming that NATO is planning a 100,000-strong military intervention in Ukraine under the guise of peacekeepers. The purpose is to freeze the conflict, presumably by having these troops function as tripwires for deterring a Russian attack that could spark World War III, and then rebuild Ukraine’s military-industrial complex (MIC).
SVR revealed that Poland will have control over Western Ukraine (like it did during the interwar period); Romania will be responsible for the Black Sea coast (which it seized during World War II via and ruled as the “Transnistria Governorate”); the UK will lord over Kiev and the north; while Germany will deploy its forces to the center and east of the country.

Another important detail is that “NATO is already deploying training centers in Ukraine, through which it is planned to drag at least a million mobilized Ukrainians”, while police functions will be carried out via Ukrainian nationalists that SVR likens to World War II-era Sonderkommandos. The last part is intriguing since it raises the question of why 100,000 NATO troops/peacekeepers would be required. Only a fraction of that is needed for tripwire and training purposes so perhaps those numbers are inaccurate.
Nevertheless, the fact that SVR warned the world about it suggests that it’s no longer the far-fetched scenario that it was thought to be, though the clock is also now ticking for NATO too since the possible rise to power of a populist conservative-nationalist in Romania next month could spoil these plans. NATO might therefore intervene before 21 December when that figure will take office if he wins. If he loses, then they might bide their time to prepare better, possibly placing this responsibility on Trump’s lap." ZeroHedge

Zelensky Offers To End 'Hot Phase' Of War In Exchange For NATO Membership

"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he's willing to end the "hot phase of the war" with Russia - including ceding captured territory - in exchange for NATO membership that includes Ukraine's internationally recognized borders.

Zelensky said that a ceasefire was needed to "guarantee that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin will not come back" to take more Ukrainian territory," or that "he [Putin] will come back."
In short, to end the war, Zelensky wants the thing that started the war." ZeroHedge

192 combat clashes on front lines in past day

"As many as 192 combat engagements between Ukrainian forces and Russian invaders were recorded on the front lines.
In the Kharkiv sector, the enemy made seven unsuccessful attempts to break through Ukrainian defenses near Kudiivka, Hlyboke, Vovchansk and Tykhe.
In the Kupiansk sector, eight enemy attacks were recorded, with Ukrainian forces repelling Russian assaults near Kolisnykivka, Lozova, Pershotravneve, and Zelenyi Hai.

In the Lyman sector, Russian forces launched 20 attacks, trying to penetrate Ukrainian defenses near Hrekivka, Novoiehorivka, Terny, Yampolivka, Dibrova, Torske, Zarichne, Hryhorivka and in the Serebrianskyi Forest.
In the Kramatorsk sector, the occupiers launched four attacks near Chasiv Yar and Bila Hora.
In the Toretsk sector, Russian forces carried out two attacks near Druzhba and Toretsk.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled 41 Russian assaults near Myroliubivka, Promin, Lysivka, Dachenske, Chumatske, Novyi Trud, and Zhovte.
In the Kurakhove sector, Ukrainian forces repelled 46 attacks, with the heaviest fighting near Sontsivka, Berestky, Novodmytrivka, Zoria, Kurakhove, Dachne, Dalnie, Yelyzavetivka, Hannivka, and Uspenivka.
In the Vremivka sector, Russian troops, supported by aircraft, carried out 26 assaults on Ukrainian positions near Veselyi Hai, Kostiantynopolske, Sukhi Yaly, Rozdolne, and Novodarivka.
In the Dnipro River sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled five Russian advances, forcing the enemy to retreat with losses.
In the Volyn and Polissia sectors, no signs of enemy offensive group formations were observed.
On the border with the Sumy region, Russian forces actively used artillery and aircraft from their territory to target Ukrainian settlements.
Ukraine's operation is underway in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian defenders repelled 23 Russian attacks in the past 24 hours." 

Ukrin

Putin’s secret love child, 21, living in Paris, working as DJ under pseudonym

"Putin’s alleged secret love child is living in France and working as a DJ under a pseudonym — with her fake identity linked to a dead ally of the Russian president, according to a report.

Elizaveta Krivonogikh, 21, who is believed to Putin’s youngest daughter, is reportedly living and working in Paris under the names Luiza Rozova and Elizaveta Olegovna Rudnova, according to an investigation by Ukrainian TV station TSN.
The stunning discovery was made using leaked airline manifests, which matched Krivonogikh’s date of birth and phone number with one of her aliases. However, one of her false names was linked to Oleg Rudnov, a close friend of Putin’s who died in 2015, to conceal her true identity.
Krivonogikh is rumored to be the product of an affair Putin had with Svetlana Krivonogikh, a former cleaner, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, while he was still married to his ex-wife Lyudmila Putina.
Svetlana Krivonogikh is now one of Russia’s wealthiest women, according to reports." NYP

Syrian Jihadists Mount New Assault On Aleppo After Surprise Advance

"The Syrian proxy war never really ended, but it certainly had quieted down for a time, with various factions confined to various areas, and the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) seeming stuck in Idlib Province. Today the war is flaring up again in a big way.

HTS forces have pushed eastward out of Idlib into the western part of Aleppo Province and toward Aleppo itself, seizing several towns along the way. It is being reported that around 182 people have been killed Thursday alone in the fighting on the ground in the area. That includes 102 HTS fighters and 80 fighters including both Syrian troops and their allies.
The Syrian military seems to be seeing substantial backing from Russian air assets in the area. The HTS is also reported using Ukrainian drones against the Syrian forces. It has been reported for months that Ukraine has offered "drones for fighters" to HTS, but this would mark the first time such drones are being used in a big way in combat." ZH

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Meets with Trump After Threat of 25% Tariff

"Liberal Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrived in Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday evening to meet with President-elect Donald Trump, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) reported.

Senior government sources told the outlet Trudeau’s plane landed at the Palm Beach International Airport on Friday. Unnamed sources said Trudeau would dine with Trump at the former president’s Mar-a-Lago estate and leave Florida the following morning. Trudeau is accompanied by Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, sources said.
Trudeau’s visit comes after Trump said on Monday that he plans to impose a 25 percent tariff until Mexico and Canada shut down their inflows of migrants and deadly drugs." Breitbart

Zelensky hikes taxes

"Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky signed into law an unpopular tax increase on Thursday to help remedy the country’s growing budget deficit. Rates will increase by between 1.5% and 5% starting December 1." RT

123 combat clashes, most fighting on Kurakhove front

"Ukrainian Defense Forces have engaged in 123 combat clashes with Russian invaders, with over half of the attacks occurring in the Kurakhove, Vremivka, and Pokrovsk sectors.
In the Kharkiv sector, two enemy assaults were repelled near Vovchansk and Tykhe, with one battle still ongoing.

In the Kupiansk sector, Russian forces attacked the Ukrainian positions six times, with Ukrainians defenders repelling assaults near Kolisnykivka, Lozova, Pershotravneve, and Zelenyi Hai.
In the Lyman sector, clashes occurred near Hrekivka, Novoyehorivka, Terny, Yampolivka, Dibrova, Torske, Zarichne, Hryhorivka, and the Serebriansky Forest. Ukrainian forces have already repelled 16 attacks today.
In the Kramatorsk sector, two assaults took place near Chasiv Yar and Bila Hora, with both battles still ongoing.
In the Toretsk sector, Ukrainian forces thwarted an enemy attack near Druzhba, while Russian aviation struck Oleksandro-Kalynove and Oleksandro-Shultyne.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Russian troops made 21 attempts to displace Ukrainian defenders near Myroliubivka, Promin, Lysivka, Dachenske, Chumatske, Novyi Trud, and Zhovte. Of these, 19 attacks were repelled, with heavy enemy losses in manpower reported.
In the Kurakhove sector, the fiercest fighting has been reported, with 33 Russian attacks aimed at advancing near Sontsivka, Berestky, Novodmytrivka, Zoria, Kurakhove, Dachne, Dalnie, Yelyzavetivka, Hannivka, and Uspenivka. Ten battles are ongoing.
In the Vremivka sector, Russian forces launched 22 attacks near Veselyi Hai, Kostiantynopolske, Sukhi Yaly, Rozdolne, and Novodarivka. Eleven clashes are still underway; guided airstrikes hit Novosilka and Makarivka.
In the Huliaipole sector, enemy forces used attack aircraft, striking Huliaipole with unguided rockets.
In the Prydniprovske sector, a single assault on the Ukrainian positions was repelled." 

Ukrin