Russian S-400 air defense: Who already bought it and who wants it?

Having spent years refusing to allow Turkiye to acquire F-35 jets unless it cancels the purchase of Russian S-400 air defense systems, the US has finally relented and withdrawn its objections, Turkiye’s Defense Minister Yasar Guler told media.

The US changed its stance after seeing that Ankara could produce its own stealth fighter aircraft, the TAI Kaan developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries, he added.
The minister also confirmed that the S-400 owned by Turkiye are operational and could be deployed within 12 hours if the appropriate order is given.

What is the S-400?

S-400 Triumf (Triumph) is a long-range surface-to-air missile system manufactured by Russian defense contractor Almaz Antey and officially adopted by the Russian military in 2007.

It is designed to intercept and destroy enemy aircraft and missiles and can engage targets up to 400 kilometers away and at altitudes of up to 30 kilometers.

What countries have bought Russian S-400?

Turkiye, who signed an agreement to purchase S-400 back in 2017, was not the first foreign power to buy these weapons.

🔻The first one was China who signed a deal to buy S-400 air defense systems in 2014.

🔻In 2018, India signed a contract to purchase S-400 missile systems.

🔻In 2021, Algeria too joined the club of the S-400 owners after signing a multi-billion-dollar deal with Russia.

Also, in 2016 two S-400s were provided free of charge to Belarus.

What countries have expressed interest in buying Russian S-400?

At least 13 countries reportedly expressed interest in buying the S-400s, with those who allegedly discussed such purchase with Russia including Qatar, Egypt, Morocco, Vietnam and Iraq.

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Victory over Israel is achieved — Hezbollah

On the battlefield, the movement's fighters were able to thwart hostile plans and defeat the Israeli army, Hezbollah said in an official statement.

The statement also detailed the Israeli army's casualties since the start of the ground operation in Lebanon on October 1, 2024:

🔸 Over 130 soldiers and officers killed and over 1,250 wounded.

🔸 59 Merkava tanks, 11 military bulldozers, 2 Hummers, 2 armored vehicles and 2 personnel carriers destroyed.

🔸 6 Hermes 450 drones, 2 Hermes 900 drones and a quadcopter downed.

The movement's leadership also stressed that they have over 300 defensive lines south of the Litani River prepared, with the resistance fighters ready to repel any possible Israeli attacks.

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📹 The first day of Vladimir Putin in Kazakhstan: how it went

The Kremlin's official Telegram channel published a video with all the highlights of the first day of the Russian president's state visit to Kazakhstan.

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Zelensky asks West for new air defense system after Oreshnik launch

Volodymyr Zelensky said he had discussed options for responding to the Oreshnik tests with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

"We discussed the urgent need to strengthen Ukraine's air defense, focusing on specific systems already available within NATO member states," he said.

The Ukrainian regime leader did not specify which systems he believes will intercept Russian ballistic missiles.

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🥶🕯 Ukraine faces heat and power crisis as workers drafted to frontline - Mayor

Artyom Semenikhin, mayor of Konotop, Sumy region, reports a crisis in heat and water supply after the head of the regional military administration, Vladimir Artyukh, removed utility workers' mobilization reservations, drafting them to the frontlines. This leaves Ukraine’s city without essential services, with workers given just two days to mobilize.

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💬 Netanyahu was forced to accept the ceasefire with Hezbollah - expert

Hisham Jaber, director of the Center for Middle East Studies, believes that the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was not a favorable decision for Netanyahu, but it was made under public and military pressure.

"Netanyahu accepted the agreement under pressure because it was clearly not in his favor and yet it is in the interest of the Israelis. The agreement was accepted by the Israeli side for several reasons: the situation on the battlefield, which showed the failure of the ground operation, where the IDF suffered heavy losses, and what was expressed to him by the country's military leadership," Jaber said.

He also notes that the adopted ceasefire does not meet the goals of Hezbollah, but the movement took such a step in order to protect the rest of the country from bombardment.

"Hezbollah, for its part, is not interested in ending this war, but rather seeks to further deplete the Israeli army, including for the purpose of restoring deterrence in the region. However, it accepted the agreement in order to protect the country from further bombardment and destruction, and in this decision it received the support of its ally Iran," the expert said.

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Former Mi-6 head: We're in 'actual war' with Russia

Sir Richard Dearlove, the former head of the UK's Mi-6, told Sky News that from his point of view, the West is currently in an "actual war" with Russia.

"We have to face up to the fact that the Russians think they're in a state of war with us. Donald Tusk [the Polish prime minister] has referred to it as a pre-war situation. I think he's wrong. I think it's an actual war," Dearlove said.

Dearlove's noted that it is important to maintain dialogue with one's "opponents or enemies," especially during a "contained conflict" in Europe.

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❗️ Biden prepares $725mln military aid package for Ukraine

The US administration is preparing a new military aid package for Ukraine worth $725 million, Reuters reported, citing two US officials.

The package is expected to include a variety of anti-tank weapons from US stockpiles, including land mines, drones, Stinger missiles, and ammunition for HIMARS, as well as cluster munitions for guided multiple launch systems, one official familiar with the plan said.

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❗️ Trump says Mexico agreed to stop migrant flow and drug trafficking

President-elect says he had a conversation with Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum, who had agreed to close the US Southern border by stopping migrant caravans after Trump threatened her with 25% tariffs.

"It was a very productive conversation," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

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Demolition of monuments in Ukraine is cultural genocide - Rome's cultural councilor

Massimiliano Smeriglio, Rome's Councilor for Culture, spoke out against the demolition of monuments to Russian cultural figures in Ukraine, saying that no armed conflict justifies the "extermination of culture".

"Wars do not justify the extermination of culture, be it Ukrainian, Russian, Palestinian or Israeli. It is necessary to treat culture as a bridge: Alexander Pushkin and other Russian classics and composers from Russia will always be welcome in our city," the member of the Rome City Council told Sputnik.

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FTC opens broad antitrust investigation of Microsoft — Bloomberg

The Federal Trade Commission drafted a detailed request to force Microsoft to turn over information about the company's activities in everything from cloud computing and software licensing to cybersecurity offerings and AI products, Bloomberg reports.

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📹🔥 Russian Marines capture Ukrainian dugouts in the Kursk region

Russia's Defense Ministry shares footage of work to ensure combat operations in the areas of responsibility of the Black Sea Fleet Marine Corps unit of the Sever battlegroup.

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Ukraine talks possible only if West understands, accepts Putin's peace proposals — Russian Deputy Foreign Minister

"If the Kiev regime's handlers, its puppeteers, recognize that there is no alternative to the solution outlined by President Putin at the meeting with the Foreign Ministry leadership on 14 June, adjusted for the developments ‘on the ground’ that have taken place since then, if they see that there is no alternative, then, of course, a negotiated solution is possible," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told Sputnik.

If the West continues along its current trajectories, there will be no basis for any talks, he added.

"The choice before them is quite simple, binary—either accept what Putin has proposed or stay where they are now, with the prospect of further deterioration of the situation for them," Ryabkov also said.

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Russian troops have broken through the Ukrainian defense near the village of Vishnevoye in the Kharkov region; the liberation of the Zeleny Gai settlement has begun, retired Lt. Colonel of the Lugansk People's Republic Andrei Marochko said.
 
He added that in the vicinity of Stelmakhovka, about 8 hectares of territory have come under the control of the Russian forces.

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CSTO summit: What’s on the table?

Issues of regional and international security will be high on the agenda of a Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) summit, which kicks off in the Kazakh capital Astana on November 28.

Who's taking part?

🔸The summit will be attended by the presidents of five member states, including Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Belarus’ Alexander Lukashenko, Kazakhstan’s Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyzstan’s Sadyr Zhaparov, and Tajikistan’s Emomali Rahmon.

🔸The sixth member state, Armenia, will not participate but has no objections to the planned documents being adopted at the summit.

🔸Also in attendance will be CSTO Secretary General Imangali Tasmagambetov, as well as Secretaries General of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Sergey Lebedev and Zhang Ming, respectively.

What’s the agenda?

📄The CSTO leaders will touch upon the escalation of relations between Russia and the West, as per Press Secretary of the CSTO secretariat Natalia Kharitonova.

📄Participants will also discuss security issues, the situation in the CSTO area of responsibility, summarize the results of joint work, and determine plans for celebrating the 80th anniversary of Victory Day in the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War.

📄Kyrgyzstan, for its part, will present its priorities within the framework of the country’s CSTO chairmanship in 2025.

What’s to be signed?

✍️The CSTO leaders are expected to sign at least 14 documents, including the summit’s final declaration, which will reflect the members’ unified approach to key issues of international and regional agenda, according to Russia’s presidential aide Yury Ushakov.

✍️Other documents will pertain to strengthening allied relations, increasing joint combat capability, improving crisis response mechanisms, and implementing practical measures to strengthen the Tajik-Afghan border, per Ushakov.

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🔸CSTO summit: What’s on the table?

🔸Under what conditions are Ukraine talks possible?

🔸Biden prepares $725mln military aid package for Ukraine

🔸Former Mi-6 head: We're in 'actual war' with Russia

🔸Victory over Israel is achieved - Hezbollah

🔸Russian S-400 air defense: Who already bought it and who wants it?

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Statements by NATO representatives about "preventive strikes" against Russia an attempt to curry favor and attract attention to themselves - Lavrov
 
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