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Ukraine-Russia live: Leaked video shows North Korean soldiers being kitted out for war, Kyiv claims

North Korean soldiers seen lining up to collect bags, clothes and other military equipment from Russian servicemen

Arpan Rai,Alex Croft
Monday 21 October 2024 06:52
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Zelensky signs co-operation agreement with Croatia

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A new video purporting to show dozens of North Korean recruits lining up to collect Russian military fatigues has been published by Ukraine. The video confirms Russia’s deployment of troops sent by Pyongyang into the conflict, Kyiv claims.

In the video, North Korean soldiers are seen standing in line to pick up bags, clothes and other apparel from Russian servicemen.“We received this video from our own sources. We cannot provide additional verification from the sources who provided it to us due to security concerns,” said Ihor Solovey, the head of Ukraine’s Centre for Strategic Communications and Information Security.

This comes as the defence secretary John Healey shot back at Russia and said it is the only country waging war in Ukraine, as he rejected the Russian ambassador to the UK’s claim that Britain was engaged in a proxy conflict.

Earlier, Russia said four of its firefighters were injured in a Ukrainian drone attack on a major explosives factory and airfield deep inside Russia.

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UK waging war against Russia, says ambassador

Moscow’s ambassador to the UK has accused the government of “waging” war against the Russians by supplying Ukraine with weapons.

Speaking to the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, ambassador Andrei Kelin said: “My government firmly believes the UK Government is waging an aggressive war against Russia by the hands of the Ukrainians.

“This is a proxy war led by the United Kingdom’s government by providing lethal weapons with which the UK Government is killing Russian soldiers and civilians.”

He added: “I think you are aggressive and waging a proxy war against Russia.”

Alex Croft20 October 2024 13:16
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In pictures: Russian drones shot down over Kyiv amid overnight attack on Sunday

Russia attacked with 49 drones and two missiles last night
Russia attacked with 49 drones and two missiles last night (REUTERS)
Explosions are seen in the sky over the city during a Russian drone strike
Explosions are seen in the sky over the city during a Russian drone strike (REUTERS)
Alex Croft20 October 2024 12:18
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Ukraine’s commander-in-chief visits units fighting in Kursk

Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian military, said the situation “remains under control” in Kursk, the Russian region taken over by Ukrainian troops in early August.

Syrskyi wrote on Telegram, according to Ukrainska Pravda: "The situation remains under our control despite all the enemy’s attempts to seize the initiative. I’ve carried out work directly at the command posts of the brigades.

“I’ve heard reports from the brigade commanders and their proposals for further actions and provided assistance in resolving problematic issues.

“Taking the situation into account, I made several decisions designed to counteract the enemy’s actions and maximise their losses."

Russia has an advantage in manpower and equipment in the region, he explained, but they are not achieving their objectives due to the skill and professionalism of Ukraine’s troops.

Syrskyi, centre, applauds Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s speech in which he unveiled a five-point ‘victory plan’ last week
Syrskyi, centre, applauds Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s speech in which he unveiled a five-point ‘victory plan’ last week (Press Service Of The President Of Ukraine via AP))

Alex Croft20 October 2024 11:21
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Ukraine shoots down 31 Russian drones overnight

Ukraine’s air defence units shot down 31 Russian drones overnight on Sunday.

Russian drones were shot down over 13 regions, the Ukrainian Air Force said on Sunday morning according to Ukrainska Pravda.

A total of 49 drones and two missiles were detected and tracked by Ukrainian forces. Another 13 Russian drones were "locationally lost" and that two had flown into neighbouring Belarus, Reuters reported.

The two Iskander-M ballistic missiles were fired from occupied Crimea.

Alex Croft20 October 2024 10:24
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Russia tests nuclear unit as it rolls out ballistic missiles in latest threat to West

Russia is testing the readiness of a missile unit that forms part of its strategic nuclear forces, the defence ministry has said – with Russian officials having repeatedly raised the spectre of nuclear war over the West’s support for Ukraine.

The drill involves a unit equipped with Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles which are capable of reaching US cities and can be equipped with multiple nuclear warheads, a reminder to the world that Russia possesses the world’s largest atomic arsenal. Troops are practising moving the missiles in the field over distances of up to 60 miles (100 kilometres) under camouflage and protecting them against air attack and enemy sabotage groups, the ministry said.

The test is taking place in the Tver region, northwest of Moscow, in the same week that Nato conducted its annual nuclear exercise and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky unveiled his “victory plan” for the war.

Russia tests nuclear unit as it rolls out ballistic missiles in latest threat to West

Separately, Russia’s defence ministry says it has conducted a test of a Kalibr cruise missile

Shahana Yasmin20 October 2024 09:30
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Pentagon chief says he cannot confirm if North Korea has sent troops to Russia

US defence secretary Lloyd Austin said on Saturday he could not confirm reports on North Korea sending troops to Russia to be deployed in the war in Ukraine, but added that it would be concerning if true, reported Reuters.

On Friday, South Korea’s spy agency said that North Korea had sent 1,500 special forces troops to Russia’s Far East for training and acclimatisation at local military bases, for likely deployment for combat in the war in Ukraine.

Shahana Yasmin20 October 2024 09:10
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The world is at a dangerous moment as conflicts spread, UN rights chief says

The U.N. human rights chief warned Thursday that the world is at an especially dangerous moment in history, with disregard and disrespect for international law “reaching a deafening crescendo.”

Volker Türk said conflicts are spreading and intensifying and humanitarian and human rights laws are being “trampled amid broad impunity.”

He was sharply critical of Israeli authorities for allowing Palestinians in Gaza to reach “catastrophic levels of hunger” but also cited human rights violations in Ukraine, Sudan, Haiti and Myanmar — and said he could name many other conflicts.

The U.N. high commissioner for human rights spoke about this critical moment “for human life, for human rights and for the stability and prosperity” of countries to reporters Thursday and in a briefing to the General Assembly’s human rights committee on Wednesday.

Türk said the reason the world is in such a crisis of conflicts and violations of international law is because the international structures that were painstakingly built after World War II and the Holocaust to protect human rights and prevent atrocities are starting to erode.

“Then, we have to be very worried because the erosion leads to more erosion,” and if civilian casualties are at the edge of being accepted in conflicts, “and you sort of get used to the fact that war is the answer to everything, I fear for the world — and I fear for human rights in particular,” he said.

Shahana Yasmin20 October 2024 08:50
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French foreign minister says Russian victory over Ukraine would bring 'chaos’

French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot has said a Russian victory over Ukraine would “precipitate the international order towards chaos” on Saturday.

He was in Kyiv for a visit on 19 October to reaffirm France’s support for Ukraine.“A Russian victory would consecrate the law of the strongest and precipitate the international order towards chaos,” Mr Barrot said, standing alongside his counterpart Andrii Sybiha.

French foreign ministerJean-Noel Barrot (left) with Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha after a meeting in Kyiv
French foreign ministerJean-Noel Barrot (left) with Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha after a meeting in Kyiv (EPA)

On Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s victory plan, Mr Barrot said: “We support the victory plan because we have been alongside Ukraine for nearly 1,000 days.”

Mr Zelensky unveiled a five-point victory plan earlier this week, underscoring the test of allegiance facing Kyiv’s allies, declaring: “This plan doesn’t depend on Russian will, only on the will of our partners.”

Shahana Yasmin20 October 2024 08:30
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Russian airstrikes injure 17 in Ukraine’s Kryvyi Rih city

Russia launched major air strikes on Ukraine overnight, targeting Kyiv and the western region of Lviv. At least 17 have been injured, including a rescue worker in the city of Kryvyi Rih in the eastern part of the country, officials said.

Ukraine’s interior ministry said on Telegram that Russia’s strikes also targeted the city of Kryvyi Rih, some 400 km southeast of Kyiv, injuring 17, including a rescue worker. Eight of the wounded were hospitalised.

A city administration building in Kryvyi Rih was left partially destroyed while multiple residential buildings and cars were damaged. A fire also damaged emergency services equipment.

Kyiv’s military administration said on the Telegram messaging app that around 10 drones were destroyed near the city. They added that there were no reports of destruction or injuries.

Ukraine’s capital saw two air alerts during the night, lasting about three hours in total.

Shahana Yasmin20 October 2024 08:16
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Ukrainian drone strike targets major Russian explosive manufacturer and Moscow

Ukraine drone strikes targeted Moscow and the Ya M Sverdlov State Owned Enterprise in Dzerzhinsk city, Nizhny Novgorod region overnight, regional officials and Russian Telegram channels reported on Sunday.

The explosive manufacturer plant in Dzerzhinsk is one of the largest used by Russian forces in the war in Ukraine, and is subject to sanctions by the United States and the European Union.

Russian air defence units downed 110 Ukrainian drones over Russia, including one over Moscow, said the defence ministry. It added that eight Ukrainian drones were destroyed over Nizhny Novgorod.

Four firefighters received minor shrapnel wounds from a drone attack on an industrial zone in Dzerzhinsk city, the regional governor said.

Shahana Yasmin20 October 2024 07:50

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