Russia provided North Korea with missiles and military aid in exchange for deploying 10,900 troops to support its war in Ukraine, some of whom have reportedly engaged in combat, according to South Korean officials.
A Russian drone attack on Sumy, Ukraine, early Friday killed two and injured 12, damaging buildings and vehicles. This follows recent deadly attacks, including a missile strike on Sunday that killed 11 and caused power outages.
President Biden approved Ukraine’s use of U.S. missiles deep in Russia after North Korean troops entered the war and Trump’s election win raised fears of reduced U.S. support. The move aims to bolster Ukraine’s defense and counter Russian escalations in Kursk and beyond.
President Putin warned the Ukraine war is escalating into a global conflict, blaming the US and UK for supplying weapons to Ukraine. He threatened further retaliation and emphasized Russia's readiness to respond to Western provocations.
The United States said it had reopened its embassy in Kyiv late on Wednesday after it had shut for the day due to what it called the threat of a significant air attack, a day after Ukraine used American missiles to hit a target inside Russia.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy acknowledged the Crimea peninsula, seized by Russia in 2014, would have to be restored to Ukrainian sovereignty through diplomacy.
Biden has approved anti-personnel mines for Ukraine to counter Russian advances. Unlike Russian mines, US mines deactivate after a set time. This follows Ukraine’s use of US ATACMS missiles, escalating the conflict.
The U.S. embassy in Kyiv has closed due to a potential air attack, with staff sheltering in place. The closure follows Ukraine’s use of U.S. ATACMS missiles in Russian territory, amid rising tensions and increasing nuclear risks.
North Korean troops, numbering 10,900, have been deployed to Kursk with Russian forces, some already fighting in Ukraine, a South Korean lawmaker said. The country has also supplied Russia with additional weapons, including howitzers and rocket launchers.
On the war's 1,000th day, Ukraine launched U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles into Russia, hitting an arms depot in Bryansk. Russia intercepted most of the missiles, but the strike marked a significant escalation in the conflict.
Zelenskyy warned North Korean troops in Russia could reach 100,000, with 11,000 already near Ukraine.
Russia’s defense ministry reported the interception of 59 Ukrainian drones overnight, with 45 brought down over the Bryansk region and others in Kursk, Belgorod, Tula, and Moscow. Officials say no casualties or damage occurred. Ukraine has not commented on the incident.
At least 34 drones from Ukraine hit Moscow on Sunday. Russian air defences say it destroyed another 50 drones in other parts of the country. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian port city of Odesa was hit by drones from Russia, killing at least three people.
President Vladimir Putin warned that Russia's defense ministry is exploring various responses if the U.S. and NATO allow Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory with Western long-range missiles, escalating tensions in the ongoing conflict.
The US finalized its $20 billion portion of a long-awaited $50 billion loan to Ukraine backed by frozen Russian assets
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced that G7 and EU partners are nearing a $50 billion loan to Ukraine backed by frozen Russian assets, with the U.S. contributing $20 billion.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visited Ukraine, reaffirming U.S. support just ahead of the presidential election. With Russian forces advancing in the east, Austin emphasized ongoing aid, while concerns grow over future support depending on the election outcome.
Russia’s forces have fully captured the strategic hilltop town of Vuhledar in eastern Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed confidence to that the conflict with Russia is ‘closer to an end’ that many believe.
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