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Ukraine-Russia war latest: Bomb kills Russian general in Moscow as North Korea suffers ‘significant losses’

Kyiv says at least 30 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded in Kursk

Tom Watling ,Arpan Rai
Tuesday 17 December 2024 06:07 GMT
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Zelensky says Ukraine could temporarily cede territory in exchange for Nato membership

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A bomb hidden in an electric scooter has killed a senior Russian general in charge of nuclear protection forces in Moscow today, officials said.

Lieutenant general Igor Kirillov, the chief of Russia’s Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection Troops, was killed outside an apartment building on Ryazansky Prospekt.

This comes as North Korean troops fighting inside Russia’s Kursk region have suffered “significant” troop losses, the US said, supporting reports from Ukrainian intelligence.

A White House official said North Korean troops were being moved forward to the frontline, having previously operated deeper inside Russian territory.

“We do believe that they have suffered some significant losses, killed and wounded, but it’s difficult for me to put an actual number on it. I would say, certainly in the realm of dozens, several dozens,” national security communications adviser John Kirby said.

His comments support claims by Ukraine’s military spy agency that at least 30 North Korean soldiers were killed or wounded over the weekend, the first report of North Korean losses in the Ukraine war.

Ukraine reports North Korean losses in combat in Kursk region

At least 30 soldiers of North Korean units fighting for Russia have been killed or wounded around several villages on the front in Russia’s Kursk region over the weekend, Ukraine’s HUR military spy agency said.

This marks the first official confirmation of North Korean losses in the Ukraine war. The casualties occurred around the villages of Plekhovo, Vorozhba and Martynovka in the Kursk region but the Ukrainian officials have not shared evidence yet.

“Due to the losses, the assault groups are being replenished with fresh personnel, in particular from the 94th separate brigade of the DPRK army, to continue active combat operations in Kursk region,” the Ukrainian agency wrote.

Kyiv first said North Korean forces turned up in Kursk region in October and later reported unspecified clashes and casualties. It estimates there are 11,000 North Koreans in total, adding to a force of tens of thousands of Russians.

Arpan Rai17 December 2024 03:11

Trump calls Biden’s move ‘stupid’ to let Ukraine hit Russia with US missiles

President-elect Donald Trump suggested that he may reverse president Joe Biden’s recent decision to allow Ukrainian forces to use American long-range weapons to strike deeper into Russian territory.

Asked if he would consider reversing the Biden administration decision, Mr Trump responded: “I might. I think it was a very stupid thing to do.”

He also expressed anger that his incoming administration was not consulted before Mr Biden made the move. With the loosening of the restrictions, Biden gave Ukraine long-sought permission to use the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) provided by the US to strike Russian positions hundreds miles from its border.

Arpan Rai17 December 2024 03:00

Ukraine claims North Korean troops were killed as they fought alongside Russian forces

Ukraine claims North Korean troops were killed as they fought alongside Russian forces

Ukraine’s military intelligence agency is claiming that around 30 North Korean troops were killed or wounded in fighting against the Ukrainian army at the weekend in Russia’s Kursk border region

Tom Watling17 December 2024 03:00

Capitol rioter who tried to join Russian army is sentenced to prison for probation violation

Capitol rioter who tried to join Russian army is sentenced to prison for probation violation

A Dallas man who tried to fly overseas to join the Russian military and fight against Ukraine has been sentenced on to six months in prison for violating the terms of his probation for storming the U.S. Capitol four years ago

Tom Watling17 December 2024 02:00

The Russian glide bombs changing the face of the war in Ukraine

The Russian glide bombs changing the face of the war in Ukraine

Winged explosives weighing up to 1,500 kilograms – and nicknamed the ‘building destroyer’ – have had a devastating impact wherever they have been used, writes Tom Watling. Kyiv is battling them as best it can but needs Western allies to step up and provide more weapons, air defences and ammunition

Tom Watling17 December 2024 01:00

Why we should all be drinking Ukrainian wine (yes, really)

The Ukrainian wine producers who are working through war and the best bottles to try

War has overshadowed the region’s natural resources and beauty – yet with a wine-making history dating back thousands of years, wine runs through the veins of Ukraine. The Independent’s wine columnist Rosamund Hall sources the best selection. Budmo!

Tom Watling17 December 2024 00:00

EU adds Niels Troost to Russia sanctions list

The EU has added Niels Troost, the businessperson controlling Paramount Energy and Commodities DMCC, to its Russia sanctions list on Monday, according to a document published online.

The EU said Paramount “repeatedly traded Russian oil above the oil price cap after its introduction” in the document. Paramount was sanctioned by the UK in November 2023.

Tom Watling16 December 2024 23:00

What will it cost to defend Britain from a growing Russian threat?

What will it cost to defend Britain from a growing Russian threat?

Britain can hardly afford to spend more on defending itself from Vladimir Putin but, says Sean O’Grady, it may have little practical choice

Tom Watling16 December 2024 22:00

EU slaps sanctions on dozens more Russian officials and targets its shadow oil and gas fleet

EU slaps sanctions on dozens more Russian officials and targets its shadow oil and gas fleet

The European Union has imposed fresh sanctions on dozens of officials linked to Russia’s war on Ukraine

Tom Watling16 December 2024 21:00

Where Putin’s forces are making gains on the frontline in east Ukraine

Ukraine-Russia war map: Where Putin’s forces are making gains in eastern Ukraine

Ukrainian military chief Oleksandr Syrskyi says the fight to hold the eastern region of Dontesk has become ‘extremely tough’

Tom Watling16 December 2024 20:00

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