Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Kherson, a major city in southern Ukraine, on Monday (November 14), three days after it was recaptured by the Russian army after weeks of fighting.

The Kremlin, for its part, continued to affirm this the Ukrainian cityofficially annexed in September, along with the region of the same name, belonged to Russia, although its troops were forced to leave.

Here is an update on Monday 14th November 2022 on the 264th day of the war.

Map of Ukraine on the 264th day of the conflict. © Ouest-France information service

Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s surprise visit to Kherson

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday visited Kherson, a key city in the south of the country that was retaken from the Russians last week.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy strolled through the city streets in military fatigues, surrounded by heavily armed bodyguards but without wearing a helmet or body armor himself, according to videos posted to social media.

“Honour to Ukraine! ‘ shouted residents from the balcony of a building. “Honour to the heroes! »according to tradition, the head of state and his companions answered.

The President of Ukraine also sang the national anthem in Kherson, and the blue and yellow flag was hoisted in front of the regional administration building.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, putting his hand on his heart, hoists the Ukrainian flag in front of the Kherson Regional Administration building on November 14, 2022. © UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE / AFP

According to a video posted to Twitter by Ukrainian Presidency Chief of Staff Andriï Yermak, Volodymyr Zelensky was seen hand on heart singing the words of the national anthem in front of soldiers and residents: “Our enemies will perish like dew on the sun, and we too, brothers, will reign in our land”.

“It is impossible to kill Ukraine”also launched Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. “(Russia) showed the world that it can kill. But all of us, our armed forces, our national guard and the secret services have shown that it is impossible to kill Ukraine.”welcomed Volodymyr Zelenskyy, quoted in a press release by the Ukrainian Presidency.

Russian troops had withdrawn from Kherson a few days earlier after an eight-month occupation, clearing the field for Ukrainian soldiers who were able to enter the city on Friday.

“It is the territory of the Russian Federation”

For its part, the Kremlin stressed that the Ukrainian city of Kherson is part of Russia, in response to the arrival of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in this southern Ukrainian city.

“We will not comment, you know perfectly well that this is the territory of the Russian Federation.”Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said as Russian forces pulled out of that city last week, the capital of the Kherson region that Moscow is said to be annexing.

Joe Biden welcomes acquisition of Kherson

US President Joe Biden hailed the takeover of Kherson in southern Ukraine as one “significant victory” for Kyiv against Russia, but felt that the development of the situation on the ground was underway ” slow it down “ in the winter.

“I think we will see things slow down because of the winter […] but I think the result [du conflit] remains to be seen, plus I am confident that Russia will not occupy.” Ukraine, Joe Biden told reporters on the Indonesian island of Bali.

New US sanctions

The United States announced a new barrage of sanctions aimed at disrupting the supply chains of Russia’s military apparatus and financial networks linked to the Kremlin, including facilities in France and Switzerland.

The sanctions are aimed in particular at the Russian electronics group Milandr and front companies in Armenia, Taiwan and Switzerland linked to the Russian company, according to statements by the US Treasury and State Departments.

“In response to Moscow’s unprovoked war on Ukraine, the United States will continue to disrupt Russia’s military supply chains and impose heavy costs on those who come to the aid of President Vladimir Putin, as well as on those who support Russian brutality – to his neighbor”Foreign Minister Antony Blinken is quoted as saying in the press release.

Antony Blinken, November 12, 2022. © CINDY LIU/ REUTERS

Washington also announces it will impose sanctions on members of the family of Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov, who himself has already been hit by American sanctions, including one of his daughters, Gulnara Kerimova, who owns four real estate agencies in France. The Swiss Laurin Katz, who runs these agencies, is also sanctioned.

These new restrictions also target the management of the Russian-Maltese luxury airline, Emperor Aviationwhich made luxury travel possible for the Kerimov family.

Russia claims capture of a town in eastern Ukraine

The Russian army claimed to have taken Pavlivka, a site in eastern Ukraine, a rare success Moscow claimed after weeks of setbacks and retreats.

“On November 14, after heavy fighting, Russian soldiers completely liberated the city of Pavlivka in the Donetsk People’s Republic.”Without further elaboration, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a brief statement, using the name Russia has given to this region of eastern Ukraine that Moscow claims to annex.

In early November, the media reported violent fighting near that city, resulting in hundreds of dead, injured and missing on the Russian side. A Russian official had admitted casualties, but not of this magnitude.

“The coming months will be difficult”

“The coming months will be difficult” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has issued a warning for Ukraine as the country celebrates the liberation of Kherson.

Russia’s withdrawal from Kherson “Shows the incredible courage of the Ukrainian armed forces”but “We must not make the mistake of underestimating Russia”Jens Stoltenberg said at a press conference in The Hague after talks with the Dutch government.

“The Russian armed forces have significant capabilities and a large number of soldiers, and Russia has shown its willingness to sustain significant casualties.”added the NATO chief.

The Russian army, which is in trouble on the ground, has launched several waves of massive missile and kamikaze drone attacks on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, particularly energy grids, in recent weeks.

Jens Stoltenberg, November 14, 2022. © PIROSCHKA VAN DE WOUW / REUTERS

“The coming months will be difficult. Putin’s goal is to keep Ukraine cold and dark this winter.”continues Jens Stoltenberg.

Jens Stoltenberg met Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra and Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren to discuss the Dutch contribution to NATO and the war in Ukraine. “Winter is coming… and we must stay the course”said Kajsa Ollongren.

“If Russia stops fighting tomorrow, there will be no more war. If Ukraine stops fighting, there will be no more Ukraine.”She added.

Emmanuel Macron will continue to speak to Vladimir Putin

French President Emmanuel Macron becomes ” Continue “ to speak to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, who is absent from the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, and will call him after that meeting, the Elysée said.

“There is a range of tension and isolation […] that is one of the reasons for this choice” Vladimir Putin will not come, but the head of state will “keep talking” with him and “will name it after this G20”stated the French Presidency on the eve of the opening of the summit.

Canada doubles military aid to Ukraine

Canada’s government has announced it will double military aid to Ukraine, which has now passed the Canadian $1 billion (€729 million) threshold.

“This additional military aid will help Ukrainians to continue their brave fight against President Putin’s illegal invasion, and these new sanctions will put additional pressure on those who support these acts of war.”Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement.

Justin Trudeau, 14 November 2022. © EPO-EFE/MADE NAGI

Ottawa also imposes new sanctions on 23 Russian officials. Below are “Police and investigators, prosecutors, judges and prison officials implicated in gross and systematic human rights abuses against Russian opposition leaders”.

That list includes Russian officials accused of violating the rights of two opponents now in prison: Alexei Navalny, figurehead of the opposition to Vladimir Putin, and Vladimir Kara-Mourza, winner of the Vaclav Human Rights Prize.-Havel 2022.

This new funding aims to do just that “to help the Ukrainian armed forces defend their country against the brutal and unjustifiable invasion of Russia”.

Russia bans actor Jim Carrey from its soil

For its part, Russia announced that it would ban 100 Canadians, including actor Jim Carrey and several journalists, from entering its territory, particularly in response to Canadian sanctions imposed on Russian journalists and actors in October.

This decision was made in response to ” the practice of the regime of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau imposing sanctions on the leaders of Russia, its politicians, its parliamentarians […]journalists and cultural figures”explains the Russian Foreign Ministry in a press release.

Among those banned from entering Russia is actor and comedian Jim Carrey, 60.

In addition to the Hollywood star, the list also includes journalist Paul Workman from the television station CTV and Margaret Evans of the CBCCaroline Xavier, head of the Communications Security Establishment, as well as several Canadian figures of Ukrainian descent.

Moscow accuses them“direct involvement in shaping an aggressive anti-Russian policy”it says in the press release.