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In Bashkortostan, educational institutions held an event marking the deaths of 8,000 residents from the region killed in the war in Ukraine. The reaction was so sharp that many institutions began removing their posts. Preschools, schools, colleges and other institutions in the Russian republic took part in a campaign called “8,000 Heroes,” dedicated to local residents who died in the war. Teachers and students visited memorials, held “remembrance lessons,” and recorded videos with children holding flags and placards. Videos and posts appeared from municipal institutions in Sterlitamak and other cities. After a public outcry, the posts were swiftly deleted. Critics said the figure underscores the scale of losses rarely discussed publicly in Russia. The numbers in context: - In the Soviet-Afghan war (1979–1989), about 11,500 residents of Bashkortostan served; 341 were killed. - In the First and Second Chechen wars, 446 service members from Bashkortostan were killed. Combined total: 787. - Today, in the war in Ukraine alone, about 8,000 people from Bashkortostan have been killed, according to the republic’s own data - nearly nine times more than in the two previous major wars combined. Critics say that while Moscow may view this as “just statistics,” for the region it amounts to a demographic blow and a generational tragedy. One of the main sources of anger was the involvement of preschoolers under slogans linked to Russia’s “special military operation.” Videos showing small children with signs reading “In honor of fallen Bashkir heroes” in front of a memorial sparked criticism from those who said the scenes blurred the line between remembrance and political messaging. The subsequent deletions suggested even officials recognized how inappropriate and cynical it appeared, critics argued.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the negotiations on a peaceful settlement in Ukraine are continuing despite criticism and the publication of purported transcripts of talks between Russian and American officials. Materials first labeled as fake are now being described by the Kremlin as harmless, with Peskov urging people not to exaggerate their impact. RIA Novosti reported that Peskov stressed those pushing to oust U.S. presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff are aiming to derail what he called still modest trends toward a settlement on Ukraine. “There is a process under way; it’s a serious process,” he told Pavel Zarubin of the state-run Rossiya-1 channel. Peskov also addressed media reports about alleged recordings of phone conversations between Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov and U.S. special representative Steve Witkoff. Initially dismissed as fake, the publications are now being described in the Kremlin as “nothing terrible,” with Peskov saying their significance should not be overstated. Earlier, Bloomberg published what it said were transcripts of Ushakov’s conversations with Witkoff and Russian Direct Investment Fund chief Kirill Dmitriev, discussing ways to engage the United States on a Ukraine settlement. Dmitriev called the publication a fake, though Bloomberg says it listened to a recording dated October 29. RIA Novosti also quoted Peskov as saying the publications have no destructive impact and that the focus should remain on the progress and results of the talks. “I wouldn’t overstate, let’s say, the destructive significance of these leaks,” he said. On November 25, Bloomberg published what it said was a leak of conversations between Yuri Ushakov and U.S. special representative Steve Witkoff, without disclosing the source of the recordings. The materials claim a 28-point U.S. peace plan was drafted in Moscow and handed to Washington, and that Witkoff advised on how to effectively communicate with Donald Trump ahead of a meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky. Later, U.S. President Donald Trump commented on the report, saying the plan was part of routine talks and that the main goal of contacts with Russia is to “sell” Ukraine. Meanwhile, Yuri Ushakov declined to discuss the substance of the call but said Russia had nothing to do with the leak. Ukraine’s Presidential Office responded to the Witkoff audio, saying Ukraine had no involvement in the publication and that key issues are discussed only at the presidential level.

the Telegram Archive with Video and media files on the open web

Russia’s armed forces have taken the village of Promin outside Myrnohrad and Vysoke (formerly Krasne) near Hulyaipole, according to analysts. On parts of the front, the line has shifted by 1–2 km. Which positions are now 5–12 km behind the new line? On November 26, analysts with the DeepState project updated their battlefield map , showing the red zone moving along stretches near Pokrovsk, by Myrnohrad, and around Hulyaipole. No changes were recorded on other parts of the roughly 1,000-km front in the south and east. DeepState’s note lists six settlements in Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions where Russian forces either captured new localities or pushed forward. Pokrovsk–Myrnohrad. Analysts reported that Russian forces took new streets in Pokrovsk and seized a village on the southeastern edge — Promin. Estimated Russian advance: in Pokrovsk, about 1 km, closer to the central railway station; by Myrnohrad–Promin, nearly 2 km. The DeepState map shows the gray zone, under Russian fire control, extending beyond Pokrovsk’s northern outskirts but not linking up with the pocket stretching from Rodynske and Krasnyi Lyman. The distance between these areas is about 1.2 km. The gap to the farthest Russian position near Myrnohrad is 11 km to a salient near Myroliubivka, and 13 km to Sukhy Yar and Lysivka. On the Hulyaipole axis, Russian forces captured the village of Vysoke (formerly Krasne) and advanced near Zatyshshia (to the northeast) and Marfopil (to the southeast). The estimated advance near Vysoke is nearly 2 km. As of November 25, the gap between the edges of the occupied zone (Zatyshshia–Marfopil) was about 4.3 km, according to DeepState’s map. By November 26, the entrance to the “pocket” near Zelenyi Hai had narrowed to 3 km, with a depth of about 5 km. The entire segment is marked gray and is under Russian strikes. On the morning of November 26, Ukraine’s General Staff reported the number of Russian assaults over the past day. It counted 52 attacks on the Pokrovsk axis (the most of any sector) and 16 on the Hulyaipole axis (third most). The command did not report Russian advances in Pokrovsk or the loss of two villages. Also on November 26, DeepState analysts reported confirming the presence of Russian soldiers in central Pokrovsk. Using videos posted by Russian troops, they geolocated the footage and concluded the enemy moved from north to south, inspecting homes that survived Russian shelling. The note suggests it may be unwise to send Ukrainian assault units onto central streets of Pokrovsk that the enemy took under the cover of rain and fog. Earlier on November 26, the Ukrainian Forces’ Southern Command acknowledged a difficult situation near Hulyaipole.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for a review of personnel distribution within Ukraine’s combat units after frontline soldiers complained of severe imbalances during his recent visit to the…

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Ukrainian military says fortifications, EW systems and personnel destroyed as Russian forces take losses near Chasiv Yar A Ukrainian defensive operation is ongoing around Chasiv Yar, a town almost entirely captured by Russian forces, the military said. Heavy fighting continues in the Kramatorsk sector near Chasiv Yar, but Ukrainian troops are holding their positions and inflicting significant losses on Russia, according to the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade . Over the past week, soldiers of the 24th Brigade, together with units operating on adjacent sections of the front, significantly degraded the offensive capabilities of Russian forces. In the past seven days around Chasiv Yar, Ukrainian forces say they killed 59 Russian soldiers and wounded 32 more. They also destroyed 256 enemy UAVs of various types, underscoring the rapidly growing role of drones in combat and reconnaissance. Ukrainian units additionally disabled four Russian artillery systems, six vehicles, two electronic-warfare stations and one fortification. These actions have complicated Russia’s ability to advance, the military said. Overall, the defense of Chasiv Yar continues, and Ukrainian troops maintain control over the outskirts and suburbs. Earlier, Ukrainian troops carried out a successful operation near Lyman, destroying a Russian “Solntsepyok” flamethrower system.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas called for ramping up pressure on Russia to improve the odds of the current US initiative to end the war in Ukraine. “To secure the best outcome for Ukraine and Europe, we need to move faster. That means more sanctions to deprive Russia of the means to wage war, and more military and financial support for Ukraine,” Kallas said after a videoconference with EU foreign ministers and their Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Sybiha on Thursday, November 27. Kallas said there are no signs Russia is ready for a ceasefire. “But we are getting closer to putting Russia in a position where it will truly have to negotiate,” she noted. In her view, “Russia’s summer offensive has failed, and US and EU sanctions are showing a major impact,” leaving Moscow “losing money and soldiers.” If the Kremlin could achieve its aims by force, “it would have done so long ago,” she said. Because President Vladimir Putin cannot get what he wants on the battlefield, “he will now try to reach his goals at the negotiating table,” she added. With work on the American peace plan ongoing, Kallas urged providing Ukraine with the maximum possible support. “There are few conflicts in the world where the situation is this clear,” the EU’s top diplomat said. “There is an aggressor and there is a victim, and the focus must be on what the aggressor—Russia—must do, not on what the victim – Ukraine - should concede.” On frozen Russian assets in the EU, Kallas pressed for a swift decision. She said a so-called “reparations loan” is the clearest way to cover Ukraine’s financing needs in 2026 and 2027 - and would send Moscow a clear signal that running out the clock won’t work.