Mon Nov 25 21:50:00 UTC 2024: ## British Soldier Captured in Russia, Ukraine Faces Intensified Russian Offensive
**Moscow/Kyiv, November 26, 2024** – A British national fighting with Ukrainian forces has been captured in Russia’s Kursk region, according to Russian state media. The individual, identified by Tass news agency, reportedly served in the British army before joining the International Legion of Ukraine. His father confirmed the capture, expressing fears for his son’s safety. The UK Embassy in Moscow is providing support to the family. This marks a potentially significant development, as it could be one of the first publicly known instances of a Western national captured on Russian soil while fighting for Ukraine.
The capture comes amidst a significant escalation in the Russia-Ukraine war, now over 1000 days old. Russia has launched intensified attacks, including daylight drone strikes targeting civilian areas across Ukraine, and made significant territorial gains in eastern Donetsk. A Washington think tank, the Institute for the Study of War, reports Russia is achieving gains at a faster rate than at any point last year, exploiting weaknesses in Ukrainian defenses. Russia launched 145 Shahed drones on Monday, adapting its tactics by increasingly using them during daylight hours to conserve more expensive missiles. While the Ukrainian Air Force claims to have intercepted most of the drones, missile strikes in Kharkiv and Odesa injured at least 33 civilians.
Ukraine, meanwhile, continues its counter-offensive, targeting logistical sites within Russia. Overnight, Ukrainian drones reportedly struck an oil depot in the Kaluga region, approximately 200 kilometers from the border. Russia has not commented on this alleged attack. The ongoing conflict continues to escalate with no end in sight.
First Piper 