All articles tagged with #ukrainewar
Zelenskyy said Russia has received ballistic missiles from North Korea and is preparing to deploy an additional North Korean contingent on its territory, arguing this marks Russia’s loss of a secure strategic rear and signals a broader regional threat; he urged partners to bolster air defense to deter North Korea and prevent its weapons from expanding beyond Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy says Russia is preparing to station 30,000-50,000 North Korean troops on its soil and has received more ballistic missiles from Pyongyang, signaling deeper Moscow-Pyongyang military ties; he offered no evidence or timeframe for the claims.
Kyiv Post, citing Bloomberg and Ukrainian intelligence, reports that North Korea earned up to $22 billion from 2022–2025 by arming and deploying troops to Russia for its Ukraine war, including supplying up to half of Russia’s 122mm and 152mm artillery shells and sending 16,000–22,000 soldiers at about $2,000 per month, a windfall that boosted Pyongyang’s economy and spurred advances in its nuclear and naval programs despite UN sanctions.
President Donald Trump announced plans to significantly increase tariffs on Indian exports to the US due to India's purchases of Russian oil, amid ongoing tensions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine and US efforts to impose sanctions. India defends its energy imports as necessary for affordable energy, while the US aims to pressure Russia financially and curb its war efforts. The situation has strained US-India relations, with negotiations ongoing over trade and tariffs.
The global weapons trade saw significant growth in 2023, driven by conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, and rising tensions in East Asia. According to SIPRI, the world's top 100 arms producers' revenue increased by 4.2% to $632 billion. Russian companies saw a 40% revenue increase, while German manufacturers also experienced growth. However, overall European growth was minimal at 0.2% due to low production capacities. In Asia, South Korean and Japanese companies expanded significantly, while Chinese growth slowed. Israeli manufacturers reported record earnings amid the Gaza conflict.
Ukrainian forces reportedly struck a military airbase in Crimea as President Zelenskyy vows retaliation following a deadly Russian shelling in Donetsk that killed at least 11 people, including five children. The attack in Donetsk also left eight wounded, with more possibly trapped under rubble. Meanwhile, Ukraine claims Russia used North Korean-supplied missiles in an attack on Kharkiv, and local officials in Belgorod, Russia, canceled Christmas Eve masses due to security threats after recent Ukrainian strikes.
Denmark's planned donation of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine will face delays, with the first six aircraft now expected to be delivered in the second quarter of the year, rather than around the new year as initially planned. This report comes from the Berlingske newspaper, citing Denmark's defense ministry. Denmark is recognized as one of the major supporters of Ukraine's defense efforts.
Residents of Belgorod, Russia, are being evacuated after a deadly attack, believed to be from Ukraine, killed 25 and injured over 100. This follows a significant Russian missile bombardment on Ukraine, which itself resulted in casualties. The escalation of cross-border strikes has led to heightened tensions, with the US accusing Russia of using North Korean-supplied weaponry, a claim Russia denies. Meanwhile, further US military aid to Ukraine is uncertain due to political disagreements in Congress.
The United States has accused Russia of using ballistic missiles supplied by North Korea in its war against Ukraine, describing it as a significant escalation and a violation of UN Security Council resolutions. The US plans to address this issue at the UN Security Council and impose additional sanctions on those facilitating arms transfers. North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, has called for increased missile launch vehicle production, following previous discussions on military cooperation with Russia. The US also suspects Russia may seek to purchase missiles from Iran. The UK has condemned Russia's actions, and the US is urging Congress to approve additional funding for Ukraine to support its defense against these threats.
A video released by the Ukrainian 30th Prince Konstanty Ostrogski Mechanized Brigade shows a Russian armor column under heavy fire near Synkivka, resulting in significant losses for Russian forces. The footage, which cannot be independently verified by Newsweek, depicts a failed assault with tanks and APCs being destroyed amid artillery, drone, and machine gun attacks. Despite the intense combat and high casualties, Russian troops continue their offensive in the Luhansk and Kharkiv regions with limited success, facing stiff Ukrainian resistance.
Ukraine and Russia conducted one of the largest prisoner exchanges since the war began, with 230 Ukrainians released in exchange for 248 Russian soldiers. Meanwhile, Russian missile and drone attacks continue to target Ukrainian cities, with significant casualties and damage reported in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Donetsk regions. Ukrainian air defenses, bolstered by NATO's decision to purchase over 1,000 Patriot missiles, have intercepted most incoming threats. Additionally, a Russian cyberattack in December severely impacted Ukraine's largest telecom provider, Kyivstar. Russia is also reportedly acquiring ballistic missiles from North Korea and seeking to purchase more from Iran.
Ukraine's military claims that Russia has lost over 6,000 tanks since the beginning of the conflict in February 2022, with recent figures indicating significant losses of armored vehicles around the town of Avdiivka. While these numbers have not been independently verified and are likely conservative estimates, they reflect the heavy toll on Russian military equipment, including the use of outdated tanks and the withdrawal of the advanced T-14 Armata from the conflict. The war has also affected Ukraine's tank fleet, which has been bolstered by Western-supplied armored vehicles.
The Russian city of Belgorod, near the Ukraine border, suffered a deadly attack with 25 people killed, following Ukraine's response to Russia's largest aerial bombardment of the war. Residents criticized the lack of accessible shelters and the delayed air raid alerts. Despite the ongoing conflict, local authorities have not publicly addressed the shelter issues, and the regional governor has yet to respond to complaints. The situation highlights the vulnerability of civilians in border areas during the war.
Ukraine has intensified its drone and missile strikes on Russian territories, including the city of Belgorod, as the conflict with Russia escalates. Russia has launched significant aerial assaults on Ukraine, resulting in civilian casualties. In response to the increased air threats, NATO has announced plans to purchase up to 1,000 Patriot missiles to bolster the defense capabilities of its member countries. The exchange of attacks comes amid a broader escalation of the war in the air, while ground frontlines remain largely static. Additionally, a major prisoner of war exchange took place with the mediation of the United Arab Emirates, and the EU has imposed sanctions on Russia's largest diamond mining company as part of its support for Ukraine.
The European Union has sanctioned Alrosa, the world's largest diamond producer, and its CEO Pavel Marinychev, in response to Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. The sanctions include a ban on Russian diamond imports, a visa ban, and an asset freeze within the EU. This move aims to cut off significant revenue for the Russian government, as Alrosa accounts for 90% of Russia's diamond production. The EU's ban on natural and synthetic diamonds from Russia took effect on January 1, with further restrictions to be implemented by September. Despite 12 rounds of sanctions, the Russian economy has shown resilience in adapting to the new economic landscape.