Ukraine-Russia latest: US warns North Korea becoming better prepared for war as 13 killed in Zaporizhzhia
North Korean troops ‘significantly benefiting from receiving Russian military aid’, says US
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.North Korea is benefiting from its troops fighting alongside Russia against Ukraine and gaining the experience that is making it “more capable of waging war against its neighbours”, the US has warned.
“The DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) is significantly benefiting from receiving Russian military equipment, technology and experience, rendering it more capable of waging war against its neighbours,” deputy US ambassador to the UN, Dorothy Shea, said yesterday, referring to the East Asian country by its official name.
She was addressing the UN Security Council members over what Pyongyang said was a test of a new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile on Monday.
More than 12,000 North Korean troops are in Russia and last month began fighting against Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk, Ms Shea told the UNSC.
More than a dozen people have been killed after a Russian glide bomb hit a street in the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, local officials have reported.
“Thirteen killed in enemy attack on Zaporizhia,” local governor Ivan Fedorov wrote. “Russia is a terrorist country.”
Dozens of Ukraine’s defence partner nations will meet at Ramstein Air Base in Germany for the 25th UDCG meeting today.
Ukraine Kursk offensive: What Kyiv stands to gain and lose in surprise counterattack on Russian soil
Russia claims it has captured another town in eastern Ukraine but Kyiv doesn't confirm the loss
Ukraine-Russia war map: Where are Putin’s forces making gains on the frontline as 2025 begins?
How 2025 could bring Putin closer to victory over Europe
What does Ukraine stand to gain with latest Kursk counterattack?
What Kyiv stands to gain and lose in surprise counter-attack on Russian soil
Russian military commentators are ‘worried’ about the multipronged Ukrainian attack in the border region
Russian drones cross into allied Belarusian airspace
More than a dozen Russian drones launched at Ukraine overnight crossed into Belarusian airspace, a report has found.
Dozens of Russian drones appear to have misfired and crossed into Belarus, an ally of Moscow, over the past three years.
Ukraine-Russia war map: Where are Putin’s forces making gains?
Ukraine-Russia war map 2025: Where are Putin’s forces making gains on the frontline?
Russian forces are advancing in the east, slowly but surely, and they are shrinking Ukraine’s partial hold of the border region of Kursk
Finland says oil tanker linked to subsea cable damage has serious deficiencies
Finland’s public transport agency said on Wednesday that an oil tanker suspected of damaging undersea cables in the Baltic Sea has been found to have serious deficiencies and will not be allowed to operate until repairs have been made.
Baltic Sea nations are on high alert following a string of power cable, telecom link and gas pipeline outages since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. The Nato military alliance has said it will boost its presence in the region.
Finnish police seized the Eagle S tanker carrying Russian oil on 26 December and said they suspected that the vessel had damaged the Finnish-Estonian Estlink 2 power line and four telecoms cables by dragging its anchor across the seabed.
While the police investigation is ongoing, Finnish authorities also checked the vessel’s condition in a port state inspection that was concluded on Wednesday.
“Correcting the deficiencies will require repair assistance from outside the vessel and will take time,” director of Maritime Affairs Sanna Sonninen at Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom said in a statement.
Ukraine is right to stop the flow of Russian gas – whatever the cost
Ukraine is right to turn off the flow of Russian gas – whatever the cost
Editorial: Almost three years after Putin’s invasion, it almost beggars belief that cheap energy from Russia was still being piped across war-ravaged Ukraine into Europe. Stopping it has triggered another global price spiral, and may yet have dire political consequences – but EU leaders cannot afford to maintain this habit
Mapped: Ukraine-Russia frontline
Below, you can see the latest updated maps of the front line in Ukraine and the Russian region of Kursk.
We have also highlighted the most significant flashpoints across the roughly 640-mile front line, including Kurakhove, which the Russians claimed to have captured at the start of this week.
What does Ukraine stand to gain with latest Kursk counterattack?
What Kyiv stands to gain and lose in surprise counter-attack on Russian soil
Russian military commentators are ‘worried’ about the multipronged Ukrainian attack in the border region
Russian governor visits site of Ukrainian drone strike
The governor of the Russian Saratov region has visited a damaged oil facility after a Ukrainian drone strike in the area caused a huge fire.
Ukraine military confirms responsibility over Engels strike
The Ukrainian military has confirmed responsibility for a drone strike against a Russian oil base in the city of Engels.
They said they hit the Russian oil base, known as Kristall, to “reduce [Russia’s] ability to strike peaceful Ukrainian cities and civilian objects”, as well as to “create serious logistical problems for Russian occupiers’ strategic aviation”.
They claimed the oil base, located near a major Russian military airbase, was fueling bomber planes that were later being used to fire missiles at Ukraine.
It is not usual practice for the Ukrainians to officially state responsibility for attacks deep inside of Russia.
You can read their full statement below.
Ukraine military says it shot down 41 Russian drones launched overnight
The Ukrainian military said on Wednesday that Russia launched a total of 64 drones at the country overnight.
Of those drones, Ukraine‘s air force shot down 41, while 22 “imitator drones” did not reach their targets, the air force added.
Drone debris fell on a private residence in the Kyiv region, damaging its facade and windows without causing any casualties, according to the local authorities.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments