Here’s your daily morning briefing on the latest in defense and global affairs for Friday, November 22. From hypersonic missile launches in Ukraine to deepening Russia-North Korea military ties, global tensions are on the rise.
Putin Taunts the West with New Hypersonic Missile
Russia escalated tensions in the ongoing war by launching a new intermediate-range ballistic missile (ICBM), dubbed the “Oreshnik” (Hazelnut Tree), at a missile factory in Dnipro, Ukraine.
President Vladimir Putin claimed Thursday that the missile, capable of carrying nuclear or conventional warheads and flying ten times faster than sound, is unstoppable by US air defense systems.
This move comes after Ukraine used US and British long-range missiles to strike Russian targets earlier in the week.
Pentagon officials confirmed the missile is a new experimental type based on Russia’s RS-26 Rubezh, raising concerns over its potential lethality.
The Kremlin said it notified the US 30 minutes before the launch, but the strike marks a worrying shift in rhetoric and actions, with Putin warning that allies aiding Ukraine could also face attacks.
🚨🇷🇺 Full translated Putin Statement following a ICBM first
It’s a sad state of affairs when you trust the Leader of The Country you’re supposed to be at war with, more than your own.
Here’s your daily morning briefing on the latest in defense and global affairs for Friday, November 22. From hypersonic missile launches in Ukraine to deepening Russia-North Korea military ties, global tensions are on the rise.
Putin Taunts the West with New Hypersonic Missile
Russia escalated tensions in the ongoing war by launching a new intermediate-range ballistic missile (ICBM), dubbed the “Oreshnik” (Hazelnut Tree), at a missile factory in Dnipro, Ukraine.
President Vladimir Putin claimed Thursday that the missile, capable of carrying nuclear or conventional warheads and flying ten times faster than sound, is unstoppable by US air defense systems.
This move comes after Ukraine used US and British long-range missiles to strike Russian targets earlier in the week.
Pentagon officials confirmed the missile is a new experimental type based on Russia’s RS-26 Rubezh, raising concerns over its potential lethality.
The Kremlin said it notified the US 30 minutes before the launch, but the strike marks a worrying shift in rhetoric and actions, with Putin warning that allies aiding Ukraine could also face attacks.
🚨🇷🇺 Full translated Putin Statement following a ICBM first
It’s a sad state of affairs when you trust the Leader of The Country you’re supposed to be at war with, more than your own.
Yet here we are. pic.twitter.com/HXt7TmUfmi
— Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) November 21, 2024
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the attack a dangerous escalation, urging global partners to respond strongly.
Today, Putin admitted to taking a second step this year toward escalating and expanding this war. A new ballistic missile was used. Putin struck our city of Dnipro, one of Ukraine’s largest cities. This is a clear and severe escalation in the scale and brutality of this war—a…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 21, 2024
Analysts suggest the missile was meant to intimidate both Ukraine and the West, signaling Russia’s willingness to compete with advanced weaponry, including nuclear-capable systems.
The US dismissed concerns that Ukraine’s use of Western missiles would escalate the war, instead blaming Russia for provoking conflict.
Russia Trades Missiles for North Korean Troops
Russia and North Korea are deepening their military cooperation in a deal that swaps advanced missile systems for North Korean troops.
According to South Korea on Friday, Pyongyang has sent over 10,000 troops to support Russia’s war effort in Ukraine, with some already fighting on the front lines.
In return, Russia has reportedly supplied North Korea with air defense systems, possibly including its advanced S-400 missiles.
Experts question how much these systems will enhance North Korea’s aging defenses, especially given Russia’s struggles against Ukrainian drones.
But with recent tensions over South Korean drones allegedly scattering propaganda over Pyongyang, North Korea seems keen to upgrade its air defense and counter-drone capabilities.
Beyond missile systems, Russia may also be helping North Korea develop its surveillance technology, including efforts to improve its spy satellites.
However, experts say it would take significant time and external support for North Korea to match the air power of South Korea and the US. This partnership highlights the growing alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang as they confront the US and its allies.
North Korea has also been supplying Russia with weapons, including artillery and missiles, to support its war in Ukraine.
Recent talks in Pyongyang suggest even more economic and military cooperation is on the horizon.
Gaza Death Toll Tops 44,000 in Ongoing War
The war between Israel and Hamas has claimed over 44,000 lives in Gaza, with more than half of the fatalities reported as women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry on Thursday.
While Israel states it has killed over 17,000 militants, no evidence has been provided to support the claim.
Thousands of additional bodies are believed to remain trapped under rubble or in inaccessible areas.
The conflict, which began after Hamas militants launched a deadly attack in southern Israel in October 2023, has devastated Gaza.
Israel’s genocide in besieged Gaza — now in its 413th day — has left 44,056+ Palestinians dead, wounded 104,268+, with 10,000+ feared buried under debris of bombed homes. In Lebanon, Israel has killed 3,583+ people since October 2023
Follow our live coverage👇 pic.twitter.com/qfdSjWh43N
— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) November 22, 2024
Around 90 percent of the 2.3 million residents have been displaced, with many forced to live in overcrowded, unsanitary camps.
Aid shipments have dwindled, and experts warn that northern Gaza could already be experiencing famine.
Israel asserts it targets militants, while Hamas uses civilian areas for military operations.
Rights groups and some nations accuse Israel of war crimes, with the UN investigating allegations of genocide.
Israel rejects these claims, citing international bias.
Efforts to broker a cease-fire stalled months ago, leaving the region in turmoil.
US President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to end Middle Eastern wars but has yet to outline a specific plan.
Meanwhile, Gaza faces an uncertain and increasingly dire future.
Southeast Asia Defense Chiefs Debate South China Sea
Southeast Asian defense chiefs met with the US, China, and other global powers in Laos on Thursday for key security talks amid rising tensions over the South China Sea.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and China’s Defense Minister Dong Jun attended, but hopes of improving US-China military communication fizzled after Dong declined Austin’s request for a one-on-one meeting.
Austin called the snub a “setback for the region.”
The South China Sea disputes were a major focus.
Beijing defended its assertive territorial claims and criticized US arms sales to Taiwan, calling them a challenge to China’s “core interests.”
Meanwhile, ASEAN nations like the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia continue to clash with China over overlapping maritime claims.
Negotiations on a code of conduct for the sea are ongoing but remain bogged down by disagreements.
Adding to the tension, ASEAN member Myanmar’s ongoing civil war and humanitarian crisis were discussed, along with regional security concerns like transnational crime and border issues.
With US policy on the Indo-Pacific uncertain under the incoming Trump administration, ASEAN nations are left wondering how the new dynamic will shape future regional stability.
US Navy Bribery Scandal Kingpin Fights Jail Time
Leonard “Fat Leonard” Francis, the mastermind behind the US Navy’s largest-ever bribery scandal, is appealing his 15-year prison sentence, claiming it’s too harsh.
The sentence, handed down earlier this month, exceeded prosecutors’ recommendation of nearly 12 years, despite Francis’ extensive cooperation in helping expose corruption within the Navy.
Prosecutors credited him with aiding investigations into roughly 1,000 Navy personnel, but the judge called his scheme “insidious” and ordered $20 million in restitution.
Francis, 60, defrauded the Navy of at least $35 million by bribing officers to steer ships to ports controlled by his company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia (GDMA). He inflated service prices and lavished officers with gifts, luxury trips, and cash.
More fallout from Justice Dept misconduct in the Fat Leonard case: Dave Haas, a retired Navy captain who admitted taking prostitutes and >$90K in bribes, now wants his felony conviction tossed out. Via @Alex_Riggins https://t.co/fh3nQOmLwp
— Craig Whitlock (@CraigMWhitlock) November 21, 2024
Arrested in 2013, Francis pleaded guilty in 2015 and later became a key government witness.
Now, Francis is fighting the length of his sentence, though his appeal doesn’t detail his arguments yet.
With time served, he faces about eight-and-a-half more years behind bars, pending the outcome of his appeal.
US Army Installs Massive Battery to Boost Resilience
US Army’s Fort Carson is stepping up its energy game with a state-of-the-art chemical battery designed to keep operations running during power outages and save money during peak demand.
The Gridstar Flow battery, built by Lockheed Martin, is the largest of its kind at a Department of Defense site. It’s a 1-megawatt system capable of powering 400 homes for 10 hours and stands out because it doesn’t rely on rare minerals like lithium.
According to reports, the battery will pair with Fort Carson’s growing solar power capabilities, including a soon-to-be doubled 16-megawatt solar field.
Over the next year or two, the Army will gather data on the battery’s performance to optimize its use.
This project highlights the Army’s push for energy resilience, with officials emphasizing its importance for maintaining mission readiness.
Fort Carson is testing a new energy storage system. This pilot project is designed to help the Mountain Post be energy efficient and keep it supplied with electricity during power outages. See this story and our full coverage of today at https://t.co/gqq2SMx74g pic.twitter.com/xeqhijLW2v
— KOAA News5 (@KOAA) November 21, 2024
While flow batteries aren’t new, this system uses an innovative water-based electrolyte to store energy. The setup could pave the way for similar solutions in municipalities and utilities as renewable energy becomes more common.
Fort Carson previously installed an 8.5-megawatt battery in 2019, but this new addition takes energy savings to the next level.
As renewable energy grows across Colorado, batteries like these are becoming essential to storing wind and solar power for when it’s needed most.
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