US sees no weapons thefts in Ukraine, NATO expects new members to join: last night's highlights
Washington found no evidence of weapons theft in Ukraine; NATO Secretary General urged Turkey to ratify Sweden and Finland's accession to the Alliance; G7 and Australia tentatively agreed on a ceiling price for Russian oil. Here is what you may have missed from the previous night.
US weapons inspections in Ukraine
The United States. has conducted "numerous inspections" over the past few months to track American weapons provided to Ukraine. Washington has no evidence of widespread illegal diversion of weapons, Pentagon spokesman and Brigadier General Pat Ryder said.
NATO expects new members to join
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg urged Turkey to ratify the accession of Sweden and Finland to the Alliance, as the countries have already fulfilled the requirements of the Turkish side.
"They have become strong partners in our joint fight against terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations. And they are clearly committed to a long-term engagement with Türkiye to address your security concerns. it is time to welcome Finland and Sweden as full members of NATO," the official said.
Russia expresses "protest" to the UK
The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed "strong protest" to the British Ambassador to Moscow Deborah Bronnert over London's alleged involvement in the attack on Sevastopol. At the same time, Russia does not provide concrete evidence to support its statements.
The Russians also announced the active participation of British military specialists in the training and supply of units of Ukrainian troops, in particular "in order to conduct sabotage operations at sea".
Price cap on Russian oil
The Group of Seven (G7) countries and Australia have tentatively agreed to set a ceiling fixed price for Russian oil by the end of November, Reuters reports citing its sources.
The initial ceiling price has not yet been set, but it should be agreed in the coming weeks. Partner countries agreed to regularly review the capped price.
Millions of consumers in Ukraine without electricity
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that as a result of the damage to the Ukrainian energy infrastructure by Russians, as of the evening of November 3, about 4.5 million consumers were temporarily disconnected from electricity supply under emergency and stabilization schedules.
The President urged local authorities to ensure that there was no unnecessary use of electricity. He also appealed to energy companies to actively explain to Ukrainians when and why power cuts occur.
Russians increase intensity of hostilities
Russian occupation forces have tripled the intensity of hostilities in certain areas of the frontline. Every day Russians carry out up to 80 attacks, said Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhnyi.
According to Zaluzhnyi, the situation at the front is tense, but controlled: "Thanks to the courage and skill of our soldiers, we are holding the line."
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the occupiers are conducting offensive actions on the Bakhmut, Avdiyivka and Novopavlivka axes.
At the same time, Operational Command "South" reported on holding the initiative on the current positions and advantages in firepower. Russian troops in the south continue defensive actions, leave checkpoints in the occupied territory, redistribute forces and means, move convoys of equipment, put up concrete pillboxes, strengthen existing frontiers and equip new ones.