Missile attack on Ukraine, verdict in the MH17 case, and the "grain deal" extension: today's highlights

Missile attacks on November 17

In the morning, the Russian occupation forces continued missile attacks on the territory of Ukraine. In particular, they attacked infrastructure facilities in Dnipro. 14 people were hospitalized in the city, including one child.

As a result of a morning missile strike, three missiles hit Vilniansk in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, destroying a two-story building. The Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Kyrylo Tymoshenko informed that 7 bodies had already been removed from the rubble.

Russia also launched a missile attack on an infrastructure facility in Odesa Oblast. In Odesa, a logistics facility in the regional center was hit, and one civilian was injured.

In addition, air defense was working over Kyiv, Kharkiv, Cherkasy, and Poltava Oblasts.

Verdict in the MH17 case

The Hague District Court announced the verdict in the case of the crash of Malaysian Boeing 777 flight MH17, which was shot down over Donbas in 2014. Russian citizens Igor Girkin-Strelkov, Sergey Dubinsky, and Ukrainian citizen Leonid Kharchenko were found guilty.

The prosecutor's office noted that none of the accused personally participated in the launch of the missile. But, according to the investigation, Girkin and three other defendants played a key role in the plane crash by facilitating the arrival of the weapon with which the crime was committed and coordinated the actions of the SAM crew.

Naftogaz confirms the shelling of gas production infrastructure in the east

Chairman of the Board of Naftogaz of Ukraine Oleksiy Chernyshov confirmed that on November 17, Russian troops shelled the gas production infrastructure of Ukrgazvydobuvannya JSC in eastern Ukraine. This is stated in the company's statement.

It is currently known about several destroyed facilities, others suffered varying degrees of damage. Ukrgasvydobuvannya specialists promptly arrived at the damaged facilities.

"Grain initiative" has been extended for another 120 days

"Grain Initiative", which was to end on November 19, was extended for another 120 days. The UN and Turkey remain the guarantors of its implementation. This decision was made on November 17 in Istanbul, said the Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine Oleksandr Kubrakov.

Moreover, Ukraine officially appealed to the partners of the initiative with a proposal to extend it for at least 1 year and to involve the port of Mykolaiv in it. Now the response is awaited.

“Millions” of dollars from Israel for “strategic equipment” for Ukraine

Under pressure from the U.S. administration, Israel has agreed to finance millions of dollars worth of “strategic material” to assist Ukraine's war effort. This is reported by Haaretz with reference to three senior European diplomatic officials.

According to media reports, the United States appealed to the Israeli government several weeks ago to Tel Aviv to work with the West to counteract Russia. The Americans wanted Israel to supply Ukraine with anti-aircraft batteries, but after negotiations, the countries agreed that Israel would finance strategic materials instead.

According to Haaretz, a payment of several million dollars was transferred to a NATO member state, which is actively engaged in the supply of military equipment to Ukraine. This country then purchased strategic materials and sent them to Ukraine.