255th day of fighting: the main thing

A battalion of mobilized people was defeated near Makeyevka Iran admitted the sale of drones to Russia Ukraine is afraid of losing the Starlink network A prison for those who refused to participate in battles was moved in the Lugansk region Russia demands easing of sanctions against Rosselkhozbank to extend the grain deal ISW : mobilization continues in Russia

• “Layout” writes that during shelling near Makeyevka in the Svatovsky district of the Lugansk region, a battalion mobilized from the Voronezh region was defeated. One of the surviving reservists, Alexey Agafonov, said that the death toll could exceed 500 people. He also said that the command deceived them: they promised that they would be near Svatovo, but then they found themselves on the front line. In the same positions, he saw dozens of corpses: the military personnel have information that conscripts are constantly sent here to “close holes” in the defense.
• Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian acknowledged the supply of drones to Russia at a meeting in Tehran. But, according to him, this was several months before the fighting began in Ukraine. He also asked Kyiv to provide documents confirming the use of Iranian drones in the country. The Kremlin did not comment on his words, but consistently denies purchasing weapons from Iran. Intelligence services reported on Moscow's plans to purchase about 1,000 more Iranian weapons in the near future, including high-precision missiles. Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War note that because of its dependence on Iranian drones, Iran is influencing Moscow to support its nuclear program.
• Ukraine may lose access to Elon Musk's Starlink network. CNN reported that 1,300 of the network's terminals had not been paid for and had lost contact. In total, there are about 23 thousand terminals operating in Ukraine. In October, it became known that Musk asked the Pentagon to pay for the operation of the satellite network, but then he withdrew the request for funding.
• ASTRA learned that the camp for Russian conscripts in Perevalsk, Luhansk region, was dispersed. The men who were held there were transported to a new basement camp. His location is still unknown. Those mobilized who refused to participate in the battles are forced to return to the front by threats and torture.
• In Uglegorsk, an attempt was made on the life of DPR Supreme Court judge Alexander Nikulin. According to the local Ministry of Internal Affairs, he received gunshot wounds and is in serious condition. According to Denis Pushilin, who was appointed head of the region, Nikulin passed sentences on “war criminals.”
• DW * reports that the German oil and gas company Wintershall Dea could be involved in the Russian “special operation”. In particular, it is accused of supplying fuel that is now used in fighter jets. The commodity company is involved in a joint venture in Russia and supplies gas condensate, also known as “white oil,” to Gazprom. Wintershall Dea denies any connection with the Russian armed forces, but stressed that it cannot guarantee that its products will be used exclusively for civilian purposes. Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine Irina Mudra demanded that Wintershall Dea leave Russia, and if “the company’s activities are considered related to war crimes, this case should be transferred to the International Criminal Court (ICC),” she added.
• According to Reuters , Russia is proposing to lift sanctions from Rosselkhozbank during negotiations on the “grain deal.” This will facilitate the export of Russian grain. Moscow wants foreign partners to restore relations with the bank. However, the agency's sources emphasize that previously Rosselkhozbank did not play a significant role in food supplies. Nothing is known about the reaction to this proposal.
• Among the mobilized there is a new revolt - now in Kazan. The men demanded decent conditions: now they have poor food, no water, and rusty weapons. They were promised to be dispersed by riot police and the National Guard, but the servicemen threatened to overturn the paddy wagons.
• British intelligence writes that Russian reservists brought in for mobilization have poor training: training with them is minimal or non-existent. The intelligence service also notes problems with qualified officers: they are either in Ukraine or dead.
• Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War ( ISW ) reported that mobilization in Russia continues, but in a hidden mode. The “partial” mobilization announced by Putin did not help achieve results in Ukraine. The Russian authorities plan to attract volunteers with payments of 195 thousand rubles. Convicts with outstanding convictions for serious crimes can now also be mobilized - all this should increase the influx of people into the armed forces.

* DW is considered a “foreign agent” by the Russian Ministry of Justice.