Latest news with #NorthKoreanTroops
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine downs fighter jet in Russia's Kursk Oblast, Air Force says
Ukraine shot down a Russian Su-35 fighter jet in Russia's Kursk Oblast on the morning of June 7, the Air Force reported. Although no details of the operation were disclosed, the downing brings the total number of Russian aircraft destroyed since the start of the full-scale invasion to 414, according to Ukraine's General Staff. Ukraine launched a cross-border incursion into Kursk Oblast in August 2024, marking the first large-scale invasion of Russian territory by foreign forces since World War II. Reinforced by North Korean troops, Russia launched a push to recapture the region in early March, with Ukraine being forced to pull back from much of the initially taken territory, including the town of Sudzha. The downing of the Su-35 fighter jet also adds to the losses Ukraine has inflicted on the Russian Air Force over the past week. On June 1, Ukraine launched its Operation Spiderweb, conducted by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), reportedly hitting 41 Russian bomber planes and other aircraft. According to Kyiv, Ukraine inflicted $7 billion in damage and disabled over a third of Russia's strategic bomber fleet. The Kyiv Independent could not independently confirm the number of planes allegedly damaged and destroyed by the SBU. The SBU said 117 drones, launched from concealed trucks positioned across Russian territory, simultaneously struck airfields in at least four regions, including sites thousands of kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The targeted air bases reportedly housed Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 bombers, essential carriers of long-range cruise missiles used in Moscow's air strikes on Ukrainian cities. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russia hits Ukraine with large-scale attack days after Operation Spiderweb; Ukraine targets Russian air bases in 'preemptive strike' We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Washington Post
6 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
North Korea's Kim says he'll 'unconditionally support' Russia's war against Ukraine
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told a visiting top Russian official that his country will 'unconditionally support' Russia's war against Ukraine, the North's state media reported Thursday, the latest sign of expanding cooperation between the two nations. In April, the two countries officially confirmed North Korean troops' deployment to Russia for the first time, saying that soldiers of the two countries were fighting alongside each other to repel a Ukrainian incursion into Russia's Kursk border region. At the time, Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked North Korea's participation in the war and promised not to forget their sacrifices.
The Sun
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Putin visits Kursk just 35 miles from Ukraine for first time since recapturing territory with waves of suicide missions
VLADIMIR Putin has visited the Kursk region for the first time since his troops prised their land back from Ukraine in a long and costly face-saving mission. Zelensky's forces bravely booted Moscow's troops out of the Russian territory last summer, playing Putin at his own game. 11 11 11 Russia had to fight tooth-and-nail for months to reclaim the land, with Putin three weeks ago declaring it back in Russian hands - ending the largest incursion into his country since WW2. Vlad met with volunteer organisations on Tuesday, the Kremlin said, and marched around a nuclear power plant wearing a silly white helmet. He also said the Kremlin supported the idea of continuing monthly payments to displaced Russian families that still could not return to their homes. Disgruntled local residents have complained about a lack of compensation - and took the rare step of publicly protesting against Vlad's government. Kursk has seen some of the fiercest fighting of the war, with the Russians enraged by the humiliation of losing their own land. Ukrainian forces first took the area with a surprise incursion in August 2024, in their largest cross-border raid of the war. It was a savvy move from Zelensky, as any Russian territory his forces hold could prove to be a valuable bargaining chip in negotiations. They repelled repeated counter-attacks by Russia - and even fought off 12,000 North Korean troops Putin funnelled in. In October 2024, it became apparent that North Korean troops were fighting for Russia on the battlefield. Kim Jong Un is an ally of Putin and sent over his men to support Russia in its illegal war. Dramatic moment a British fighter is overwhelmed by Russian troops grabbing back territory in Kursk region The North Koreans were trained back from the frontline before being deployed - and saw most of their action in the Kursk region. However, it became obvious that the Koreans fighting in a foreign land were frightened and ill-equipped for the battlefield - particularly the advanced drones used by Ukraine. Russia slowly chipped away at Ukraine's grip over the territory with wave after wave of attacks, losing thousands of troops to the meat-grinder. At the end of April, nine months after Kursk was first seized, Putin declared that the area had been fully "liberated". However, following Putin's boast to have reclaimed the land, Kyiv insisted that fighting in the area continued. Putin said last month: 'The Kyiv regime's adventure has completely failed." But Oleh Shyriaiev, a Ukrainian army commander, fired back: 'Russia has not yet liberated the Kursk region by 100%. We are working, fighting. "These are not territorial successes… But successes in destroying enemy armoured vehicles and personnel.' 11 11 11 Ukraine is still yet to declare it has been fully pushed out of the area, and just two weeks ago launched a fresh offensive in Kursk, smashing through Russia's border once again. Putin's victory lap to Kursk comes as he continues to frustrate the peace process - just last week snubbing the opportunity for face-to-face peace talks with Zelensky in Turkey. His representatives proceeded to make a series of totally unrealistic demands - and even threatened Ukraine with the idea of an "eternal war". President Trump had a two-hour phone call with the tyrant on Monday, described by Putin as "frank and very useful", in a third direct effort to force him into negotiations. Following the conversation, Trump said the Vatican could play host to direct peace talks between the warring nations. Vlad told state media: 'A ceasefire in Ukraine for a certain period of time is possible if appropriate agreements are reached.' Zelensky and Trump spoke beforehand for a few minutes. 11 11 Trump posted to Truth Social: 'I believe it went very well. Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a ceasefire. "The Vatican, as represented by the Pope, has stated it would be very interested in hosting negotiations.' Meanwhile, a despicable plan to turn decimated Ukrainian cities into ghastly museums of death for tourists to visit has emerged out of Moscow. The bloody invasion has seen civilians forced out of their homes on a mass scale while towns have endured relentless blitzing. A senior mouthpiece for the tyrant has now suggested Russia should leave these ruins as they are as a sick reminder of Vlad's war efforts. 11 11
Telegraph
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Putin and Xi's meeting marks the start of a dangerous new world order
Xi Jinping's arrival in Moscow, to commemorate Russia's VE day, on May 9, (a day after Europe, the UK and the US), wasn't just a formality. It was a very public and deliberate show of support from Russia's closest ally. We already know that China is a critical part of the 'axis of totalitarian states', made up of China, North Korea, Russia and Iran. The countries in this group, prompted by China, have delivered a great deal of support to Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. This includes a significant number of drones from Iran in the early stages of the war, and now weapons and ammunition from North Korea. It was China that helped arrange the rapprochement between North Korea and Russia, opening the door to huge levels of military support. It is worth remembering that, at that time, Russia was in some difficulty and had begun running low on artillery ammunition and other weaponry. Perhaps the best example of this support is the estimated delivery of over five million artillery shells from North Korea, not to mention the thousands of North Korean soldiers now engaged in fighting alongside Russian troops in the Kursk region. During a recent visit to Ukraine, the Ukrainian military revealed to me that these North Korean troops have proven to be more effective than existing Russian troops. But we should cast our minds back to the Winter Olympics in China in 2022. On February 4 2022, Putin flew in, clearly to discuss the coming invasion with Xi. Just 20 days later, Putin's forces invaded Ukraine. What is absolutely clear is that Russia would not have invaded Ukraine without Xi's agreement. On March 22 2023, president Xi gave Putin the strongest level of support when he said: 'Change is coming that hasn't happened in 100 years. And we are driving this change together.' This visit of Xi now re-emphasises this strong alliance between them. After all, the alliance isn't just words, as China now buys a huge proportion of Russia's oil and gas; and in return it supports Russia at the UN. This purchase of Russia's oil and gas has increased dramatically in the year following the invasion. China has also encouraged a network of other nations to do the same. When Russia invaded Ukraine, the West not only froze Russian assets but also cut off Russian financial institutions access from SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication), the backbone of global financial transactions. In response, China immediately stepped in and facilitated financial transactions through its own system, Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS). This intervention alone saved Russia from a cash flow crisis. What should not be forgotten is that China has its own territorial ambitions in Taiwan. China's support for Russia is also because what happens in Ukraine will have a bearing on what happens in Taiwan. Xi is watching carefully to see how strong the West's resolve is over Ukraine, as this will give him a strong indication of how the US and other elements of the Nato alliance might respond if and when Taiwan is blockaded or invaded. So far, what China has seen from the West has significantly emboldened its position over Taiwan. Since the beginning of this conflict, it has become clear that Europe first and foremost was unprepared for any kind of conflict and unable to support Ukraine as they should have done. Even under president Biden, the US was unable to make its mind up whether it wanted Ukraine to win or just not to lose. This was evidenced by the early refusals to supply F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine and in restrictions on Ukraine's use of US missiles to target sites within Russia. Whilst we all want peace, any deal that trades away significant Ukrainian territory would be manna from heaven for president Xi. As he got off the plane in Moscow, Xi must be smiling to himself as he watches the divisions in the West. Small wonder that this brutal dictator now contemplates the beginning of a new world order.
