Hungarian Prime Minster Viktor Orban stated in a radio conversation on Nov. 3 that “Europe cannot remain anti-war” if Donald Trump is elected U.S. President, as reported by Telex. Orban was supposedly referring the EU’s military assistance to Ukraine which he has repeatedly criticized.
Orban told Telex that Europe cannot bear the burden alone of Russia’s war in Ukraine, into which Europe has been “irresponsibly” dragged, and that Europeans must “adapt to the current situation.”
Orban’s leadership has led Hungary to repeatedly block aid to Kyiv and push for negotiations with Moscow. They have also spouted Kremlin talk points. Orban has been a close ally of Trump whose potential presidency in the U.S. raised concerns over the fate of Washington’s continued defense assistance to Ukraine.
Orban has recently called President Volodymyr Zelensky’s victory plan “dangerous,” which calls for the use of long-range weapons against Russian targets and the authorization to do so. He also said that the EU should “switch from a war to a peace strategy.”
Orban met with Trump, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin during a “peace-tour” in July. Trump has claimed that he can end Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine within 24 hours, but he has never explained how he will do it.
Politico reported that Orban was also preparing to make a significant concession to Trump. This could allow him to avoid a $50 billion loan meant to support Ukraine in its ongoing war against Russia.
According to Politico, if Trump wins the presidency in November this move will allow him to reassure Republican supporters that he won’t provide additional financial aid to Ukraine.
City officials reported that on Nov. 3, Russia launched its latest drone strike overnight on Ukraine. The attack lasted more than five hours and targeted the capital. Kyiv was rocked by several waves of explosions throughout the night.
After “a public reaction,” Google representatives contacted the Ukrainian side, and the company is already working on fixing the issue, Andrii Kovalenko, the head of the counter-disinformation department at Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, said in a later update on social media.
According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, the majority of these strikes targeted critical infrastructure and civilian facilities.
The most casualties were reported in Kherson Oblast where Russian attacks resulted in the death of one person and the injury of another 10 including three children.
According to reports, Russia has also lost 9,182 tanks and 18,523 armored fighting vehicles that carry troops, 28,160 vehicles, fuel tanks and artillery systems. It has also lost 1,244 multiple launch missile systems, 994 systems of air defense, 369 planes, 329 helicopters, 18,187 drones and 28 ships, boats and submarines.
The Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance-Reason and Justice (BSW), a new leftist populist German party, demands that mainstream parties stop military aid to Ukraine. Germany is Ukraine’s second largest military supporter.
Officials in Moldova have warned that Russia could orchestrate disruptive activities including bomb threats at polling stations throughout Western nations during Moldova’s presidential runoff elections on Nov. 3.
Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner, said on November 3 that Ukraine is still willing to receive its own citizens and blamed Russia as the reason for the slowdown in exchanges.
Officials in the United States believe that two more fake videos, which are now circulating on the internet and have been identified by the FBI as attempts to spread false information about election security, may be part of an influence campaign backed by Russia. The campaign seems to be intended to sway public opinion in advance of the presidential election on November 5.
Zelensky stated in his evening speech that “this volume of ‘Shahed” drones represents over 170,000 parts that should have been prevented from reaching Russia.” “Microchips are necessary for this terror. Microcontrollers, processors and other parts also play a role.”
On Nov. 2, Governor Serhii Lisak reported that a Russian attack damaged infrastructure near Dnipro.
Australian Defense Magazine reported Nov. 1 that Australia has provided glide bomb kits to Ukraine following the withdrawal of the Royal Australian Air Force from service.
Kyiv City military administration said that all drones that were threatening the city had been neutralized, without specifying how many drones were shot down.
“… “We face a pivot in history,” said U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. “If Ukraine falls into Putin’s boot then all of Europe will be under Putin’s shadow.”
Kadyrov stated that after the first drone attack against Russia’s North Caucasus Republic, which targeted the Russian Special Forces University (Vladimir Putin) in the Chechen City of Gudermes, on October 29, he had ordered all his commanders fighting Ukraine to “not take prisoners and destroy” Ukrainian soldier as a retribution.
Radek Sikorski, the Polish Foreign Minister, said that Kyiv can buy weapons on credit from Polish factories. He added that the loan could be repaid after the country’s rebuilding.
Herman Smetanin, Minister of Strategic Industries, said: “This cooperation will strengthen Ukraine’s defense industry and protect critical infrastructure from enemy drones.”
The Air Force reported that Ukrainian forces shot down 39 of the 71 Shahed-type and unidentified drones launched overnight by Russia. The Air Force added that 21 drones were “lost” and five more flew towards Russia.
“Active hostilities which continue in certain regions require constant renewal of resources of Ukrainian units,” Commander in Chief Oleksandr Sryskyi said.
According to Ukraine’s intelligence services, North Korean soldiers were equipped with 60-mm mortars and AK-12 rifles. They also received machine guns, sniper weapons, Feniks guided anti-tank missiles, as well as hand-held antitank grenade launches.
This includes 1,270 casualties that Russian forces have suffered in the last day.
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