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Ukraine has captured two North Korean soldiers and transported them to Kyiv for questioning in what the country’s security services say is “irrefutable evidence” of Pyongyang’s involvement with Russia.
Both soldiers were captured on 9 January in the Russian border region of Kursk. Another North Korean soldier was captured last month but died from their wounds shortly after being detained.
The Ukrainian security service, known as the SBU, said one of the two latest soldiers captured had fake Russian identification documents. The other had none at all.
Russia and North Korea both deny their soldiers are working together in Kursk. The US, Ukraine, UK and South Korea have all said they believe otherwise.
Communication with the two prisoners is being done through translators and in cooperation with South Korean intelligence.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, posting pictures of the two prisoners of war, said “the world needs to know the truth about what is happening”.
Meanwhile, the Russian military claimed to have taken control of the town of Shevchenko in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, located near the outskirts of the city of Pokrovsk.
The city is a key defensive position protecting the wider region. Ukrainian war trackers suggested the town had been, if not occupied, almost completely captured.
Russia’s defence ministry said it has captured the settlement of Shevchenko, one of its key targets in its advance through Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region.
The Kremlin said its troops launched over 50 attacks against Ukrainian forces in the eastern Ukrainian region in the past 24 hours.
The “decisive action” ended in the capture of Shevchenko, said Russia, which has been steadily advancing westward in Donetsk for several months.
Vishwam Sankaran12 January 2025 04:15
Taliban-led Afghanistan emerged as the largest importer of flour from Russia in 2024, according to a new report by the Kremlin’s state agricultural export agency Agroexport.
The report notes that Afghanistan’s purchases doubled last year to about $80 million compared to numbers in 2023.
This is in line with the Taliban’s growing ties with Russia, including Moscow’s steps to officially recognise the regime.
Vishwam Sankaran12 January 2025 03:50
The Russian glide bombs changing the face of the war in Ukraine
Winged explosives weighing up to 1,500 kilograms – and nicknamed the ‘building destroyer’ – have had a devastating impact wherever they have been used, writes Tom Watling. Kyiv is battling them as best it can but needs Western allies to step up and provide more weapons, air defences and ammunition
Tom Watling12 January 2025 03:30
Ukraine claims it has conducted a drone strike on Taneko oil refinery in Tatarstan, one of Russia’s largest oil-processing facilities.
Ukraine’s head of the Center for Countering Disinformation Andrii Kovalenko confirmed the strike with local footage showing smoke from the site.
The plant’s staff were urgently evacuated to safety, according to Kyiv Post.
Russia’s largest refinery, “Taneko,” is raging with fire right now in Tatarstan, located 1000 km from Ukraine, after a drone attack.
The plant’s employees are being urgently evacuated as the fire continues to spread. pic.twitter.com/ZjjbCtvrZU
— KyivPost (@KyivPost) January 11, 2025
“The refinery plays a key role in providing fuel to the Russian military. Taking out refineries and oil depots directly affects Russia’s ability to wage an intensive war,” Mr Kovalenko said.
Vishwam Sankaran12 January 2025 02:55
Cali wildfires: Did sending aid to Ukraine leave LA Fire Department unprepared?
As the worst wildfires in LA’s history continue to ravage the city, Donald Trump Jr. and Elon Musk suggested that the fires have been worsened by the LA Fire Department’s aid to Ukraine during Russia’s invasion, depleting local resources. This theory, gaining millions of views, claims surplus equipment sent to Ukraine left LA unprepared. Ivan O’Neill, co-founder of Wuuii and certified wildfire mitigation specialist, told The Independent that ‘this equipment had nothing to do with the outcome in Los Angeles.’ He added, ‘as soon as you have more than 10 houses burning on a block, your fire hydrants are going to run dry, no matter how much water you have.’
Tom Watling12 January 2025 01:52