Key developments on Dec. 23:
- Over 3,000 North Korean troops killed, wounded in Kursk Oblast, Zelensky says
- Satellite tv for pc imagery suggests North Korea to produce extra arms to Russia, WSJ stories
- 'Mysterious' fireplace engulfs Russian Shahed warehouse, Ukrainian intelligence claims
- First Ukrainian Legion unit skilled in Poland deployed to Ukraine, ambassador says
- 'What’s being paid to him, and what does he pay with?' — Zelensky blasts Fico after Moscow go to
- NATO chief defends Scholz, calls Zelensky's criticism 'unfair'
- 47% of Ukrainians again NATO accession even whereas territories keep occupied, survey reveals
The variety of killed and injured North Korean troopers combating alongside Russian forces in Russia's Kursk Oblast has surpassed 3,000, President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned in an announcement shared on Telegram on Dec. 23.
Russia has reportedly deployed about 12,000 North Korean troops to assist oust Ukrainian troops combating in Kursk Oblast since early August.
Zelensky warned of the worldwide dangers posed by deepening navy cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang, together with the switch of recent warfare expertise and superior navy expertise.
“There are dangers of North Korea sending additional soldiers and navy tools to the Russian military, and we could have tangible responses to this,” Zelensky mentioned.
He added that elevated collaboration between Russia and North Korea threatens to destabilize the Korean Peninsula and close by areas.
Zelensky's estimation, that he mentioned comes from Ukraine's intelligence, is a major enhance from different latest stories concerning the North Korean casualties.
South Korean MP Lee Sung-kwon instructed reporters on Dec. 19 that no less than 100 North Korean troops have been killed and 1,000 injured, with casualties linked to their lack of expertise with terrain and trendy drone warfare.
Stories of North Korean troops combating in Kursk Oblast emerged earlier in November, however Russia reportedly began utilizing them in floor assaults in December.
The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima
Satellite tv for pc imagery suggests North Korea to produce extra arms to Russia, WSJ stories
North Korea seems to be making ready to produce extra arms to Russia on high of some 20,000 containers it had already despatched, the Wall Avenue Journal (WSJ) reported on Dec. 23 primarily based on its evaluation of satellite tv for pc photos.
It follows an announcement by the South Korean navy, which said earlier the same day that North Korea prepares to ship extra troops and weapons to assist Russia’s conflict in opposition to Ukraine.
Seoul officers told WSJ that roughly 200 munitions factories in North Korea are working at full capability to provide weapons, with Russia offering gasoline and tools to help Pyongyang's arms manufacturing efforts.
Satellite tv for pc photos analyzed by WSJ present that a few of these factories are being expanded. In return for its arms and ammunition despatched to Russia, North Korea may need acquired as a lot as $5.5 billion, an analyst instructed WSJ.
By deepening navy cooperation with Moscow, Pyongyang hopes to achieve sensible battlefield expertise and the power to modernize its weapons techniques, mentioned.
North Korea has emerged as Russia's main ally within the full-scale conflict in opposition to Ukraine, offering not solely ballistic missiles and artillery ammunition but additionally soldiers. The 2 nations signed a defense treaty in June, requiring both state to render navy help to the opposite within the occasion of an assault.
After reporting the primary clashes with North Korean troops within the fall, Ukraine in December introduced that Russia had begun utilizing North Korean items in floor assaults in Russia’s Kursk Oblast.
South Korean officers have reported that at least 100 North Korean soldiers have been killed whereas combating for Russia in opposition to Ukraine. In response to lawmaker Lee Sung-kwon, North Korean troops are struggling excessive casualty charges partly as a consequence of their inexperience with drone warfare.
President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned that Russia is trying to cover details about North Korean casualties.
The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy
'Mysterious' fireplace engulfs Russian Shahed warehouse, Ukrainian intelligence claims
A "devastating" fireplace broke out at a Shahed drone warehouse on the Alabuga Particular Financial Zone in Russia's Tatarstan, destroying drone elements value $16 million, Ukraine's navy intelligence (HUR) mentioned on Dec. 23.
The Alabuga Particular Financial Zone hosts the Yelabuga drone manufacturing facility that produces Shahed-type drones for the Russian navy, positioned greater than 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) from the Russia–Ukraine border.
According to HUR, the affected warehouse saved 65 drone assault fuselages, in addition to engines, navigation techniques, and thermal imaging cameras for the manufacturing of 400 Shahed-type drones.
"Every little thing burned down," the company mentioned with out explicitly claiming duty for the "mysterious, devastating fireplace." Ukrainian intelligence businesses have been beforehand linked to quite a lot of assassinations and sabotage operations deep within the Russian rear throughout the full-scale conflict.
The Kyiv Unbiased couldn’t confirm the claims.
"HUR reminds that there can be truthful retribution for each conflict crime dedicated in opposition to the Ukrainian individuals," the intelligence company mentioned in an announcement.
Native authorities didn’t report any fireplace or related incident within the Alabuga zone in a single day on Dec. 23. Drones struck Kazan, Tatarstan's regional heart, on the morning of Dec. 21, damaging a number of buildings however reportedly inflicting no casualties.
The Yelabuga drone manufacturing facility was launched in July 2023, aiming to provide not solely Russian equivalents of Iranian-made Shahed drones but additionally the Albatross reconnaissance drones. Russia commonly employs Shaheds and its domestic-made variants like Geran for strikes in opposition to Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
Ukrainian long-range drones beforehand struck the Yelabuga facility in early April.
The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov
First Ukrainian Legion unit skilled in Poland deployed to Ukraine, ambassador says
The primary unit of the Ukrainian Legion, a volunteer brigade being shaped and skilled in Poland, has departed for Ukraine, Ukraine's Ambassador to Poland Vasyl Bodnar mentioned in an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on Dec. 23.
Bodnar didn't make clear what number of troops have been despatched.
The initiative goals to bolster Ukraine’s Armed Forces by recruiting Ukrainian males residing in Poland and different EU nations.
The coaching of the primary legionnaires will proceed at Ukrainian navy grounds, in keeping with Bodnar. The subsequent group of volunteers is scheduled to signal contracts with Ukraine's Armed Forces on Jan. 10 and start coaching in Poland.
The ambassador described the challenge as a "success story" regardless of challenges and criticism from Russian propaganda.
“Our residents who be part of it’s going to have the satisfaction of fine coaching,” he mentioned, emphasizing the unit’s voluntary nature.
Since its unveiling in July, the Ukrainian Legion has attracted over 1,000 candidates. The primary recruitment heart opened in October on the Ukrainian consulate in Lublin, Poland.
The unit is skilled by the Polish Armed Forces as a part of a joint effort between Kyiv and Warsaw to handle Ukraine's manpower shortages.
Ukraine not too long ago reformed its home mobilization policies and is in talks with international companions to facilitate the return of hundreds of draft-eligible residents who fled overseas.
The formation of the Ukrainian Legion displays Kyiv's broader efforts to replenish its navy ranks because the war is in its third 12 months.
The Kyiv IndependentDinara Khalilova
'What's being paid to him, and what does he pay with?' — Zelensky blasts Fico after Moscow go to
President Volodymyr Zelensky on Dec. 23 accused Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico of undermining Europe's efforts to turn into impartial of Russian fuel and serving to Moscow to fund its conflict in opposition to Ukraine.
Fico met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Dec. 22 to debate fuel provides after Kyiv mentioned it might not extend the deal on transiting Russian fuel to Europe previous Dec. 31.
Following the go to, Zelensky lambasted Slovakia's prime minister in a long post on social media. He known as Fico's pro-Russian vitality coverage a "massive safety difficulty" for Slovakia and Europe, asking: "Why is that this chief so depending on Moscow? What’s being paid to him, and what does he pay with?"
"It’s value noting that after their assembly in Moscow, Fico and Putin didn’t difficulty joint statements or reply to media questions," Zelensky mentioned on X.
"They merely can not say publicly something about what they mentioned within the assembly. They’re afraid of the general public's response."
Below Fico's management, Slovakia took a pointy international coverage flip, halting military supplies to Ukraine from the Slovak Armed Forces' shares and adopting extra Russian-friendly rhetoric.
The Kyiv IndependentAbbey Fenbert
The prime minister has repeatedly made controversial statements on Ukraine and the conflict that echo the Kremlin's speaking factors, gave an interview with Russian propagandist Olga Skabeyeva, and known as for the normalization of relations with Russia.
The Ukrainian president mentioned that although Moscow offers important vitality reductions to Fico, such reductions are paid "by sovereignty or murky schemes." Zelensky referred to a latest European assembly in Brussels at which Fico allegedly didn’t need to take part in a joint effort to discover a substitute for Russian fuel.
In response to Ukraine's head of state, Fico as a substitute needed to "help Russia in pushing American fuel and vitality assets of different companions away from Europe, implying that he needs to assist Putin earn cash to fund the conflict and weaken Europe."
"We’re shedding individuals because of the conflict that Putin began, and we imagine that such help to Putin is immoral," Zelensky concluded.
Fico is but to touch upon Zelensky's assertion.
Zelensky additionally mentioned that Fico refused compensation for the misplaced revenue throughout the transition interval and is " particularly within the Russian fuel" value $500 million per 12 months, in addition to earnings from oil pipe that runs by Ukraine and "offers one other $500 million per 12 months."
Fico beforehand told the media that Zelensky supplied him 500 million euros ($520 million) from frozen Russian property if Bratislava helps Ukraine's NATO membership, a suggestion the Slovak prime minister mentioned he rejected.
The Kyiv IndependentTim ZadorozhnyyNATO chief defends Scholz, calls Zelensky's criticism 'unfair'
NATO Secretary Basic Mark Rutte instructed President Volodymyr Zelensky that his generally "harsh criticism" of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is unfair, Rutte instructed the German information company DPA in feedback printed on Dec. 23.
Within the interview, Rutte mentioned that Scholz's contributions to Ukraine are commendable. The chancellor ensured that Germany ranks second after the U.S. in navy assist for Ukraine, one thing Kyiv also needs to be glad about, Rutte famous.
The NATO chief however voiced assist for supplying Germany's Taurus long-range missiles to Ukraine with none restrictions on their use, a bone of competition between Kyiv and Berlin.
Requires Germany to produce Ukraine with Taurus missiles have been renewed as soon as the U.S. authorized Ukraine to make use of its ATACMS long-range missiles in opposition to targets in Russia in November.
Scholz, who’s adamant about not offering Taurus to Ukraine, additionally not too long ago made headlines by calling Russian President Vladimir Putin for the primary time after over two years, resulting in criticism from Kyiv.
"In Europe, it could occur that after one name, there could also be a second, third, fourth, fifth… As a result of generally leaders need to (wrestle for) management. After that, there could also be a wave of precise recognition of Putin," Zelensky mentioned on the time.
"I imagine that this doesn’t strengthen Ukraine."
Germany, Ukraine's major European backer, is presently dealing with inner turmoil after Scholz misplaced a confidence vote within the Bundestag on Dec. 16. This paved the best way for early parliamentary elections scheduled for Feb. 23.
Scholz’s opponent, center-right CDU/CSU chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz, has expressed openness to the supply of Taurus missiles.
Trump pushing greater protection spending
Within the interview, Rutte additionally mentioned he expects U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to strain its allies and NATO nations to extend their protection spending.
NATO allies reportedly plan to agree on an increase in their defense spending goal from 2% to three% of their gross home product (GDP) earlier than their leaders convene for a summit in June 2025.
Taking workplace in January 2025, Trump had hinted at plans to scale back help for Ukraine and incentivize European nations to pay extra for his or her safety.
The Monetary Instances not too long ago reported that whereas the incoming U.S. president instructed European companions he wouldn’t abandon Ukraine, he additionally known as for elevating the protection spending benchmark to 5% of GDP.
Some European NATO nations have but to succeed in 2%, whereas Poland, the most important spender, is predicted to take a position 4.7% of its GDP in protection in 2025.
The Kyiv IndependentSonya Bandouil
47% of Ukrainians again NATO accession even whereas territories keep occupied, survey reveals
Practically half of Ukrainians, 47%, assist Ukraine becoming a member of NATO even when a few of its territories stay underneath Russian occupation on the time of accession, in keeping with a survey by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Basis and the Razumkov Middle, printed on Dec. 22.
In case of such an accession, the alliance’s umbrella of safety could also be prolonged to occupied territories solely after liberation.
This represents a 14-percentage-point enhance from an analogous ballot in June 2023.
The ballot comes as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s hesitance to maintain long-term support for Ukraine provides urgency to defining Ukraine's post-war safety structure.
The ballot was conducted face-to-face amongst 1,518 respondents in Ukraine-controlled areas.
It additionally discovered that 36% opposed NATO accession underneath such situations, down 16 share factors since June 2023.
The strongest opposition to the thought of such restricted accession to NATO got here from respondents over 50, these from jap, central, and southern oblasts, and people residing beneath the poverty line or with out ties to occupied territories.
The findings come as Ukraine faces restricted battlefield success and rising discussions on safety preparations.
Whereas 55% of respondents view NATO membership as Ukraine's greatest safety possibility, 60% imagine it’s the solely option to stop future Russian aggression.
Different choices, comparable to neutrality with international guarantees, garnered solely 12% assist, whereas non-alignment was favored by simply 3%.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Dec. 1 that NATO’s Article 5 won’t instantly apply to lively battle zones, signaling a shift in Kyiv’s stance.
Zelensky additionally not too long ago acknowledged that liberating some occupied territories, comparable to Crimea, may require diplomatic solutions, not navy ones.
This pragmatic strategy aligns with NATO pathways resembling West Germany's phased accession throughout the Chilly Conflict, an idea supported by 70.3% of Ukrainians in a Dec. 10 survey by the New Europe Middle.
The Kyiv IndependentBoldizsar Gyori