Here’s the status as of Monday, November 25:

Conflict Updates

• Overnight, Russian air defenses intercepted and destroyed seven Ukrainian missiles targeting the Kursk region, according to a statement by Kursk regional governor Alexei Smirnov on Telegram.

• Debris from downed Ukrainian drones caused a fire at an industrial site in Kaluga, Russia, as per regional governor Vladislav Shapsha. The fire caused no injuries, and three drones were reportedly intercepted.

• Russian forces captured a British national fighting for Ukraine, identified as James Scott Rhys, a mercenary operating in the Kursk region. This was reported by Russia’s state news agency, RIA Novosti, citing a security source.

• Kyiv’s air defenses were active in response to a fresh wave of Russian drone strikes, confirmed by Mayor Vitali Klitschko through Telegram.

• Earlier, the Ukrainian military reported successfully shooting down 50 out of 73 drones launched by Russia in attacks aimed at multiple targets.

Political and Diplomatic Developments

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Western allies to prioritize providing air defense systems to protect citizens from intensified attacks.

• A report by the Kommersant newspaper suggests Russia is set to appoint Alexander Darchiev, head of the Foreign Ministry’s North American department, as its new ambassador to the United States.

• United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the "renewed threat" posed by antipersonnel landmines, just days after the U.S. announced plans to supply such weapons to Ukrainians combating Russia’s advances.

• Ukraine displayed fragments of the Russian missile responsible for last week’s strike on Dnipro, following reports from Moscow that it had tested the new Oreshnik hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile.

• Russian President Vladimir Putin signed legislation enabling individuals who enlist to fight in Ukraine to have unpaid debts of up to $100,000 forgiven, as confirmed by the government.