Category: War in Ukraine

Russia may have transferred MiG-29 and Su-27 fighter jets to North Korea in exchange for North Korean soldiers, Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, said on Dec. 8, according to Aviation Week Network.

Paparo also noted that North Korea likely seeks additional military capabilities from Russia, including ballistic missile technology, reentry vehicles, submarine technology, and air defense systems.

Aviation Week highlighted that the transfer of MiG-29s and Su-27s would significantly upgrade North Korea’s air force, which currently relies on aging Soviet-era aircraft.

Defense Express says North Korea possesses 18 MiG-29s, 34 Su-25s, and a variety of older MiG models, many of which may be non-operational.

According to the publication, the extent of Russia’s aircraft transfers will depend on its current inventory, which reportedly included 185 MiG-29 and Su-27 as of early 2024.

North Korea’s strengthening military ties with Russia have drawn international scrutiny. During a Nov. 30 meeting with a Russian defense delegation, Kim Jong Un reaffirmed North Korea’s "invariable support" for Russia’s war in Ukraine.

This cooperation has also included the deployment of North Korean soldiers.

The Ukrainian National Resistance Center reported that North Korean troops, numbering between 10,000 and 12,000, have been stationed at observation posts and checkpoints in Russia's Kursk Oblast.

Chinese exports to Russia decrease for first time in 4 months, Reuters reportsThe decrease of 10.5% compared to November 2023 marks the first drop since July, Reuters writes.The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

The president said that 10-12 additional Patriot systems would be able to fully protect Ukraine's skies. He proposed to purchase them at the expense of frozen Russian assets worth 30 billion.

10-12 additional Patriot systems will ensure Ukraine's life and make the war meaningless for Putin, and they can be purchased at the expense of frozen Russian assets. This was stated by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, UNN reports.

"The main security guarantees for us today, if we are not talking about strategy, but about tactics, about what will now save lives, first of all for Ukrainians – and as you can see, they are hitting everyone, not just Ukrainians – these are certainly air defense systems. Everyone understands that 10-12 Patriot systems will additionally provide us with life for Ukraine and make the war meaningless for Putin. Because if our sky is completely protected, they have no advantage in the sky. No cockpit missiles – any ballistic missiles, etc. – will be able to hit the civilian infrastructure of Ukraine, nor the energy sector, nor our hospitals, schools, universities," Zelensky said.

He noted that he does not understand why partners cannot take funds from frozen Russian assets in order to purchase such systems for Ukraine.

"I really sometimes don't understand whether one system costs 1.5 billion rubles. Please take this money from Russian assets – 30 billion rubles. It will cost 30 billion rubles, but completely, finally, close our sky," Zelensky added.

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Doctors were able to resuscitate one of the victims, who was found dead during the search operation as a result of the strike on Zaporozhye.

As a result of the strike on Zaporozhye, it is now known about 16 victims, they receive medical care. At least eight more people are under the rubble of the building destroyed as a result of the impact.

German Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz would closely coordinate the delivery of Taurus missiles to Ukraine with the U.S. and European partners, he said in an interview with Bild on Dec. 9.

According to Merz, training the Ukrainian personnel for these missiles would take at least four months and would not be completed before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

"And that is why I advocate answering these questions together with the Americans. Not alone, not in Germany, but together with Europe and America," Merz told Bild during his visit to Kyiv.

Trump's return to the White House is causing concern among Kyiv's partners in Europe as the president-elect signaled a decrease in military support for Ukraine.

Merz, whose conservative CDU/CSU alliance is leading in the polls ahead of the February elections, arrived in Ukraine's capital for talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky, promising a more decisive strategy on long-range strikes against Russia.

"We want your army to be capable of hitting military bases in Russia. Not the civilian population, not infrastructure, but the military targets from which your country is being attacked," Merz said.

Merz previously voiced support for providing Ukraine with the Taurus missiles, a step Chancellor Olaf Scholz refused to take, fearing it would draw Germany into war.

Talking to Bild, Merz nevertheless said that the Swedish-German cruise missiles with a range of 500 kilometers (310 miles) would not be a "miraculous" game-changer in the war.

The politician also stressed he agrees with Scholz that Germany must not become a party at war, but he pointed out that neither the U.K. nor the U.S. became belligerents when lifting restrictions on the weapons they provided.

Ukraine fields U.S. ATACMS and the SCALP/Storm Shadow missiles from France and the U.K., with Washington and London only recently permitting strikes within Russian territory.

German opposition leader vows Ukraine won’t fight one-handedDuring his meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky, Friedrich Merz, the leading contender to become Germany’s next chancellor, condemned the German government’s hesitance to provide long-range weaponry like Taurus cruise missiles.The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova

A Russian missile strike on Zaporizhzhia injured 14 people. Three of the dead were killed, a private clinic was hit.

As a result of the Russian strike on Zaporizhzhya, the number of victims increased to 14, said the head of Zaporizhzhya RMA Ivan Fedorov, reports UNN.

"… as of now, the number of victims has increased to 14 people," Fedorov said.

In addition, the head of the RMA showed what the center of Zaporozhye looks like after the Russian strike.

The number of wounded in Zaporizhzhia is growing due to the Russian strike: two doctors were injuredDec 10 2024, 02:20 PM • 7322 views

Earlier it was reported that as a result of a Russian missile strike on a private clinic in Zaporozhye, three people were killed from.

Russian occupation authorities in the Donetsk Oblast city of Yenakiieve announced evacuations from some areas on Dec. 10 amid reports of explosions.

Local Telegram channels shared footage that purports to show explosions in the town, with authors speculating about a possible missile attack. A blurred video published by the Tipichny Donetsk Telegram channel captures what seems to be multiple secondary explosions.

Ukraine has not officially commented on the incident.

Russian occupation authorities in the city did not clarify the reasons for the announced evacuation, claiming that the situation was "under control."

No further details on possible consequences have been provided at the time of the publication.

Yenakiieve, a mining and metallurgy center and the birthplace of Ukraine's former pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych, has been occupied by Russia since the start of its aggression in 2014.

Ukrainian forces have repeatedly targeted Russian military facilities across the occupied territories after Russia unleashed its full-scale invasion in 2022.

Once liberated Kupiansk braces for worst as Russian troops approach, and future Western support looks uncertainVolodymyr paused his Sunday stroll from a shopping center in Kupiansk to take pictures of rubble from a Russian strike that almost killed his wife late last month. “It was broad daylight when they struck,” he said. “Our only luck was that my wife was in the kitchen, soThe Kyiv IndependentBoldizsar Gyori

DONETSKOBLGAZ suspends natural gas distribution in Pokrovsk due to significant damage to gas pipelines and constant shelling. Customers are asked to turn off gas taps on appliances and gas pipelines.

Starting December 12, gas supply to houses in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region, will be cut off due to constant shelling by the Russian Federation . This was reported by Donetskoblgaz, according to UNN.

Due to the aggravation of the situation related to the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, the distribution of natural gas in Pokrovsk is suspended from 12.12.2024

– the regional gas company said in a statement.

It is noted that due to significant damage to gas pipelines and constant enemy attacks, it is impossible to eliminate the consequences of military operations on the gas distribution system and restore gas supply to subscribers.

Residents of Pokrovsk were asked to turn off the gas taps on gas appliances and on the gas pipeline to the appliances. Subscribers of the private sector need to close the shut-off device on the gas pipeline-the entrance to the House.

Shocking drone footage: military shows what Toretsk looks like nowDec 10 2024, 12:08 PM • 8055 views

Some 70.3% of Ukrainians are in favor of their country's gradual accession into NATO in a model resembling the entry of West Germany, according to a survey by the Kyiv-based New Europe Center published on Dec. 10.

A key difference is that the invitation would encompass the entire Ukraine, but the alliance's defensive "umbrella" would extend to the occupied territories only after their future liberation.

Talks about a possible post-war security structure grew increasingly relevant as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump showed reluctance to maintain long-term support for Ukraine and pledged to push both sides to the negotiating table.

As Russia holds the upper hand on the battlefield and the prospects of liberating occupied territories militarily appear slim in the near future, NATO accession pathways resembling that of West Germany begin to gain traction both in the West and Kyiv.

West Germany entered the alliance in 1955, with the territories of East Germany joining only after the country's reunification in 1990.

The growing difficulties are also reflected in the New Europe Center's survey. While the majority of Ukrainians remain distrustful of Russia and are averse to making concessions, the latter indicator has decreased in comparison to last year.

At the same time, the Ukrainians are reluctant to enter talks with Russia without security guarantees, believing that a ceasefire would simply give Moscow a chance to recover and launch another war.

According to the poll, 64.1% of Ukrainians do not believe that talks with Russia are worthwhile without appropriate security guarantees by the West. In comparison, 30% favor negotiations without preconditions, believing Ukraine does not have the resources to sustain a war of attrition.

Some 31.3% of respondents consider the development of nuclear weapons — a step rejected by Kyiv — to be the most effective security guarantee. Only a slightly smaller number — 29.3% —see the accession to NATO as the most optimal course. Only 6.4% of Ukrainians have trust in the possible deployment of European peacekeepers in Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Dec. 1 that if Ukraine were to join NATO, the alliance's Article 5 collective defense principle may not apply to Ukrainian territories facing active combat. This marked a notable shift in Ukraine's rhetoric, which previously insisted on fully restoring territorial integrity as a precondition for a successful peace settlement.

More recent statements show a willingness to temporarily forego military liberation in the occupied territories for security guarantees, namely NATO membership. Zelensky said certain regions, like Crimea, might have to be liberated through diplomacy.

As signs of talks about West Germany model for Ukraine peace emerge, experts weigh in on feasibilityUkraine is seeking membership in the NATO military alliance as a part of its plan to end Russia’s war, and recent reports suggest a West Germany model is seriously being discussed among Kyiv and its allies. During a September visit to the U.S., Head of the Presidential OfficeThe Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima

China is introducing new restrictions on the export of key components for the production of UAVs to the United States and Europe. This could significantly affect the production of drones in Ukraine, as China controls 80% of the component market.

China has begun to reduce the supply of important components for the production of drones to Europe and the United States, which could negatively affect Ukraine's defense capabilities.

Reports UNN with reference to Bloomberg.

Details

China has begun cutting supplies of key components for drones (including civilian ones) – for both American and European companies.

According to Bloomberg, there is speculation that the relevant steps are a prelude to broader export restrictions on drone parts. Beijing will put them into effect in the new year, sources say.

According to one of the interlocutors, these rules can take the form of licensing permits based on the intended use of components or more lenient requirements for Chinese companies to notify the government of their supply plans.

In July 2024, China announced a ban on the export of drones for military use, while Beijing claims that it does not supply weapons to any of the parties to the conflict. But European officials say Chinese companies are developing attack drones for Russia's aggressive actions, particularly Russia's war in Ukraine.

How Russia, China and nuclear weapons are involved in unknown drones in the UK – expertDec 1 2024, 03:26 AM • 61151 view

Bloomberg recalls that the trade conflict between the West and China escalated this month when Washington restricted sales of high-bandwidth memory chips and additional semiconductor equipment to China.

In response, Beijing banned the sale of dual-use goods to the US military,as well as several high-tech and military-grade materials to American companies.

Measures taken weeks before Donald Trump returns to the presidency with a tough agenda for China have led to a sharp rise in prices.

China's embargo on drone components will affect UAV production in Ukraine

Western countries are trying to build and assemble drones outside of China to secure their supply chains. But the PRC remains the center of production of cheap equipment for these devices. According to a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, China controls almost 80% of the commercial drone market.

Many UAV manufacturers in Ukraine rely on Chinese components to produce cheap and effective weapons, which have become crucial in countering Russian aggression.

About 50 manufacturers from China supply components for UAVs used by the enemy to attack Ukraine – Oleksandr RuvinOct 8 2024, 07:30 AM • 101322 views

Russian attacks across Ukraine killed at least three civilians and injured at least 14 over the past day, regional authorities reported on the morning of Dec. 10.

Russian strikes against Donetsk Oblast killed two people and injured seven, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported.

One death and two injuries were reported after attacks against the town of Mykolaivka, and the same casualty figures were recorded in the village of Stara Mykolaivka. Two people were injured in the town of Kostiantynivka and one in Novoekonomichne, the governor said.

In Kherson Oblast, one person was killed and seven injured in Russian attacks, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said.

Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts were also attacked, but no casualties were reported.

Ukraine won’t trade young soldiers’ lives for better weapons, Zelensky says“The priority should be providing missiles and lowering Russia’s military potential, not Ukraine’s draft age. The goal should be to preserve as many lives as possible, not to preserve weapons in storage.”The Kyiv IndependentAbbey Fenbert

As part of the HOME project, more than 1,800 families whose homes were destroyed received compensation through housing certificates. Ukraine received a second tranche of €30 million from the Council of Europe Development Bank to pay for more than 800 certificates.

As part of the project “HOME: Compensation for Destroyed Housing” project, more than 1,800 people whose housing was destroyed have exercised their right to compensation using a housing certificate and purchased new housing.

This is reported by The Ministry of community and territory development of Ukraine, writes UNN.

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This was made possible thanks to the financial support of the Development Bank of the Council of Europe in the framework of the Project "HOME: compensation for destroyed housing".

This year, in June, during the Ukraine Recovery Conference, Ukraine and the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) signed a loan agreement worth 100 million euros

Ukraine has received the second tranche of 30 million euros, which is used to pay for more than 800 housing certificates. The Development Bank of the Council of Europe, based on the results of the distribution of the first tranche in the amount of 70 million euros, allocated the following financing in accordance with the terms of the agreement

-said Deputy Prime Minister for restoration Alexey Kuleba.

The Project" HOME: compensation for destroyed housing " provides that owners of housing certificates received under the state program of compensation for damaged and destroyed housing will be able to purchase new homes instead of those destroyed due to Russian aggression.

First of all, the program is valid for participants of military operations, defenders and defenders who are returning and in need of recovery, people with disabilities and large families.

The funds have already been credited to the current account of Ukrposhta. Currently, owners of housing certificates receive notifications in the Diya app or in their personal account on the Diya portal about booking funds. Then they choose housing and apply to a notary to formalize the purchase and sale agreement within 30 days. Cooperation with the Council of Europe Development Bank to support affected individuals continues in 2025

,” said Deputy Minister Natalia Kozlovska.

Currently, the state register of damaged and destroyed property (RPSM) has recorded more than 240 thousand real estate objects. The state continues to work to support people affected by Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine.

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The Cabinet of ministers allowed to buy housing no older than 10 years in Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhia, Sumy and Kherson regions under the yoselya program. This will facilitate the return of people to unoccupied territories and support internally displaced persons.