November 14, 2022 Russia-Ukraine news

By Rhea Mogul, Jack Guy, Aditi Sangal, Elise Hammond and Maureen Chowdhury, CNN

Updated 12:25 a.m. ET, November 15, 2022
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9:46 a.m. ET, November 14, 2022

CIA Director Bill Burns meeting with Russian counterpart today

From CNN's Natasha Bertrand

Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns prepares for a Senate Select Committee on Intelligence hearing on worldwide threats, at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, D.C., on March 10.
Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns prepares for a Senate Select Committee on Intelligence hearing on worldwide threats, at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, D.C., on March 10. (Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA/AP)

CIA Director Bill Burns is meeting with his Russian intelligence counterpart, Sergey Naryshkin, in Ankara today as part of an ongoing effort by the US to "communicate with Russia on managing risk" and to discuss the cases of "unjustly detained US citizens," a National Security Council spokesperson tells CNN. 

"We have been very open about the fact that we have channels to communicate with Russia on managing risk, especially nuclear risk and risks to strategic stability," the spokesperson said. "As part of this effort Bill Burns is in Ankara today to meet with his Russian intelligence counterpart."

CNN has previously reported that National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has also been in touch with his Russian counterparts to warn them of the consequences should Russia use a nuclear weapon in Ukraine. 

The spokesperson emphasized that Burns "is not conducting negotiations of any kind."  

"He is not discussing settlement of the war in Ukraine. He is conveying a message on the consequences of the use of nuclear weapons by Russia, and the risks of escalation to strategic stability. He will also raise the cases of unjustly detained US citizens," the spokesperson added, saying that the US briefed Ukraine on the meeting in advance of Burns' trip. 

"We firmly stick to our fundamental principle: nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine," the spokesperson said. 

8:19 a.m. ET, November 14, 2022

It's mid-afternoon in Kyiv. Here's what you need to know

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made an unannounced visit to the formerly Russian-occupied city of Kherson on Monday, where work is underway to restore the power supply as NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warns that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to “leave Ukraine cold and dark this winter.”

Here are the latest headlines:

  • Zelensky visits Kherson: Ukraine's president visited the formerly Russian-occupied city of Kherson on Monday. “We are going forward. We are ready for peace. But our peace for our country is all our country, all our territory," he said.
  • Kherson still "Russian territory," says Kremlin: Asked to comment on Zelensky's visit to Kherson on Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded: "No comment. This is Russian territory."
  • Ukraine warns of Russian attacks in Kherson region: The Ukrainian military has warned that Russia may be planning to step up attacks on newly liberated parts of the southern Kherson region. “The enemy is intensifying aerial reconnaissance, which may indicate that they are planning to strike at both military and civilian targets,” the Ukrainian military’s General Staff said in its regular update on Monday.
  • Work continues to restore power to Kherson: “All possible measures” are being undertaken to restore electricity supply to Kherson, Ukraine’s top official in the region said Monday. “We must understand that all four power lines that supplied electricity to Kherson region are destroyed,” said Yaroslav Yanushevych, head of the Kherson region military administration.
  • NATO chief highlights Russian strategy: Putin’s aim is to “leave Ukraine cold and dark this winter,” NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday. Russia’s withdrawal from Kherson has shown the “incredible courage of Ukrainian armed forces,” said Stoltenberg. However, “it also shows the importance of our continued support to Ukraine.”
  • Slow progress in Luhansk region: Ukrainian forces have recaptured 12 settlements in Luhansk since initiating a counteroffensive in September, said Serhiy Hayday, head of the Luhansk regional military administration. “The advance is not easy,” said Hayday. “Every meter passed in the Luhansk region is a continuous struggle for the AFU [Armed Forces of Ukraine].” 
8:10 a.m. ET, November 14, 2022

Ukraine jails pro-Russian tank gunner who fired at residential buildings in Mariupol

A pro-Russian tank gunner who was accused of firing into residential buildings in Mariupol will spend 12 years in prison, Ukraine’s State Security Service (SBU) said on Monday.

“The Security Service of Ukraine collected indisputable evidence of crimes committed by the militant of the ‘DPR’ [Donetsk People’s Republic] terrorist organization nicknamed ‘Phil,’” the SBU said in a statement. “The evidence allowed the court to imprison him for 12 years.”

As the gunner of a T-72 tank, the SBU said that the man “fired at least 20 shots at residential high-rise buildings in Mariupol.”

The SBU said that he was found guilty of high treason and the “creation of unauthorized armed groups or participation in its activities.”

He was taken captive near the eastern village of Rivnopil in April after his tank came under attack by the Ukrainian military.

The SBU said that the man joined separatist, pro-Russian militants in 2014, and then joined Russia’s 8th Army after the full-scale invasion this February.

8:07 a.m. ET, November 14, 2022

Russia "in no position" to be setting rules for negotiations, Ukraine says

Russia is “in no position” to be setting rules for negotiations, said a Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesperson on Monday.

“Russia is in no position to laying down the rules,” Oleh Nikolenko, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, said during a press conference.

“The peace formula for Ukraine remains unchanged: Immediate cessation of the war, withdrawal of all Russian troops, restoration of Ukrainian territorial integrity, damages reimbursement and provision of effective guarantees of non-repetition of aggression.

"Achieving sustainable peace is impossible under any other conditions.”

8:00 a.m. ET, November 14, 2022

UN working "nonstop" to renew the "essential" Black Sea Grain Initiative, says UN chief

From CNN's Niamh Kennedy in London 

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during a news conference ahead of the G20 leaders' summit in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia, on November 14.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during a news conference ahead of the G20 leaders' summit in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia, on November 14. (Willy Kurniawan/Reuters)

The United Nations is "working nonstop" to renew the "essential" Black Sea Grain Initiative, according to UN chief António Guterres. 

Speaking during a press conference at the G20 summit in Bali on Monday, Guterres said the UN is trying to resolve all remaining issues around payments and to "renew the Black Sea Grain Initiative." 

Guterres stressed the effectiveness of the UN brokered grain deal in helping "to stabilize markets and bring food prices down." 

"The Black Sea grain initiatives and efforts to ensure Russian food and fertilizers can flow to global markets are essential to global food security," Guterres stressed. 

He expressed his hope to meet with both the Russian and Ukrainian delegations during the summit and "remove the last obstacles" blocking the restoration of the deal

7:48 a.m. ET, November 14, 2022

Ukraine working to restore power lines to Kherson after all four were destroyed

Damaged power lines in the northern Kherson region, Ukraine, on November 7.
Damaged power lines in the northern Kherson region, Ukraine, on November 7. (Hannibal Hanschke/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

“All possible measures” are being undertaken to restore electricity supply to the formerly occupied southern city of Kherson, Ukraine’s top official in the region said Monday.

“We must understand that all four power lines that supplied electricity to Kherson region are destroyed,” said Yaroslav Yanushevych, head of the Kherson region military administration, standing alongside President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“In cooperation with NPC Ukrenergo (Ukraine's national energy company) we are working on solving this problem day and night," said Yanushevych. "The power will be restored in the near future.”

7:04 a.m. ET, November 14, 2022

Putin’s aim is to “leave Ukraine cold and dark this winter,” says NATO chief

From CNN’s Alex Hardie in London

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks during a joint news conference in The Hague, Netherlands, on November 14.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks during a joint news conference in The Hague, Netherlands, on November 14. (Piroschka Van de Wouw/Reuters)

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aim is to “leave Ukraine cold and dark this winter,” NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday.

Russia’s withdrawal from Kherson has shown the “incredible courage of Ukrainian armed forces,” said Stoltenberg. However, “it also shows the importance of our continued support to Ukraine.”

The NATO chief was speaking during a press conference in The Hague with Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra and Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren.

“We should not make the mistake of underestimating Russia. The Russian armed forces retain significant capabilities as well as a large number of troops and Russia has demonstrated the willingness to bear significant losses. They have also shown extreme brutality,” Stoltenberg said.

“The coming months will be difficult. Putin’s aim is to leave Ukraine cold and dark this winter so we must stay the course,” he added.

6:56 a.m. ET, November 14, 2022

"This is Russian territory," says Kremlin after Zelensky visits Kherson

From CNN's Anna Chernova

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in central Kherson, Ukraine, on November 14.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in central Kherson, Ukraine, on November 14. (President of Ukraine)

Asked to comment on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to the formerly Russian-occupied city of Kherson on Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the city was "Russian territory."

"No comment. This is Russian territory," Peskov said Monday during a regular call with reporters. 

Some context: Ukrainian forces swept into the city of Kherson on Friday as the Russian military withdrew from the west bank of the Dnipro River in the Kherson region.

Elated civilians who had survived months of Russian occupation descended on Kherson’s central square, hugging newly arrived Ukrainian soldiers, snapping selfies with them, and waving Ukrainian flags.

The withdrawal delivered a major victory to Kyiv and marked one of the biggest setbacks for Russian President Vladimir Putin since his invasion began.

6:55 a.m. ET, November 14, 2022

Zelensky visits newly-retaken Kherson city, says "we are going forward"

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, center left, visits Kherson, Ukraine, on November 14.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, center left, visits Kherson, Ukraine, on November 14. (Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the formerly Russian-occupied city of Kherson on Monday.

In a video circulating on Telegram, Zelensky told a group of reporters that he thought it was necessary to visit the city.

“The military takes risks every day, journalists take risks,” he said. “I think it is necessary to be here and talk about Kherson residents, to support people. To make them feel that we are not only talking about it, but we are really returning, really raising our flag.”

“I would also like, in a human way, to get the emotion, the energy from people. It is motivating.”

Zelensky said that “peace for our country is all our country, all our territory.”

“We are step by step coming to our country, to all the temporarily occupied territories,” he told the media during an unannounced visit to the city. “And of course it’s a pity, but it’s a long way, a difficult way, because this war took the best heroes of our country.”

“We are going forward. We are ready for peace. But our peace for our country is all our country, all our territory," added Zelensky.

"We respect the law and respect sovereignty of all the countries. But now we are speaking about our country. That’s why we are fighting against Russian aggression.”

Some context: Crowds have been celebrating the liberation of Kherson city after Ukrainian forces swept into the regional capital and Russian troops retreated to the east on Friday.

But life remains far from normal, with authorities warning residents to be wary of explosives littering the city, and Russian forces still nearby — just across the strategically important Dnipro River.