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Ukraine-Russia war latest: Suspected assassin of Putin’s nuclear general arrested as North Korea suffer losses

Uzbek citizen held by Russia in connection with chemical weapons chief Igor Kirillov’s killing

Arpan Rai,Tom Watling
Wednesday 18 December 2024 09:41 GMT
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Defense expert warns of major Russian retaliation after general’s death in Moscow

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Russia has detained an Uzbek citizen who investigators believe placed the bomb inside an electric scooter which killed General Igor Kirillov on the instructions of Ukraine’s security service, the Investigative Committee said today.

The senior Russian general was killed yesterday in Moscow and Ukraine claimed responsibility of the attack, calling Kirillov a “legitimate target”.

In response, Russia threatened the Ukrainian leadership with imminent revenge for what it described as a “cowardly and despicable strike”.

On the battlefront, North Korea suffered big casualties while fighting alongside Russian forces against Ukraine in the Kursk border region, a senior US military official said, a much higher toll than one given by Kyiv earlier this week.

“Several hundred casualties is our latest estimate that the DPRK has suffered,” the official said on condition of anonymity. This “would include everything from… light wounds up to being KIA (killed in action)”, the official said, with soldiers of “all ranks” among the casualties.

The North Korean forces don’t appear to be battle-hardened, the official said, suggesting this would in part explain the high rate of casualties.

Poland will do everything to make Ukraine’s Nato membership possible, says PM

Poland will do everything in its power to make Ukraine's Nato membership a real possibility, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said after meeting with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in Lviv.

He added that Western countries must do everything to ensure that Ukraine emerges from the war with Russia without losses, with respect for its territory and borders, and with security for the future.

Jabed Ahmed17 December 2024 16:45

Ukraine’s scooter bomb assassination could change the war… but not for the reasons you might think

Ukraine’s scooter bomb killing could alter the course of the war

The audacious killing of Putin’s chemical weapons chief by Ukraine’s special forces – in the heart of Moscow – is a blow to the president’s personal prestige, designed to alter the roadmap to peace talks, says Mark Almond

Tom Watling17 December 2024 16:30

Russia is not willing to freeze the war, says Moscow’s UN representative

Russia is not willing to freeze the war in Ukraine despite promises from US president-elect Donald Trump to end the fighting, Moscow’s ambassador to the United Nations has claimed.

“No schemes involving a freeze of the conflict will suit Russia,” said Vasily Nebenzya during a UN security council meeting on Monday.

Tom Watling17 December 2024 16:02

Behind enemy lines: Ukraine’s deadly assassins have terrorised Russia with nuclear general their latest victim

Behind enemy lines: Ukraine’s deadly assassins have terrorised Russia

Ukraine’s security service spy chief says they have killed ‘very many’ Russian conspirators

Tom Watling17 December 2024 15:28

The frontline in Ukraine in maps

Tom Watling17 December 2024 15:00

Watch: Sir Keir Starmer urges Western allies to 'double-down' in support of Ukraine

Sir Keir Starmer urges Western allies to 'double-down' in support of Ukraine
Alex Croft17 December 2024 14:38

Russia passes law against ‘foreign agents'

Russia has approved legislation which tightens restrictions on income received by people in Moscow designated as “foreign agents”.

Under Russian law, any person or organisation receiving support from outside Russia must register as a “foreign agent”, allowing Moscow to discredit foreign actors.

The new bill, which requires “foreign agents” to transfer all income from the sale or rental of property and vehicles to special rouble accounts, has passed its third and final reading in the Russian Duma.

They will also be required to transfer any earnings from intellectual activity, including works of science, literature and art, performances and broadcasting, to those accounts, Reuters news agency reported.

Individuals will only regain access to the funds once they are removed from the Justice Ministry’s foreign agents register.

A total of 895 individuals are listed as foreign agents.

Alex Croft17 December 2024 14:23

Legislation to allow multiple citizenship passes first reading in Kyiv

The Ukrainian parliament has supported legislation allowing multiple citizenship, lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak said according to The Kyiv Independent.

Current legislation only allows Ukrainians to hold single citizenship. President Volodymyr Zelensky submitted the new bill in August, stressing its importance as part of his internal resilience plan in November.

The bill has passed its first reading with 247 lawmakers in favour. It still must pass a second reading and be signed by the president before it becomes law.

It is seen as part of Ukraine’s effort to strengthen ties with Ukrainians living abroad, with Mr Zelensky saying it will allow ethnic Ukrainians born abroad to obtain citizenship.

Alex Croft17 December 2024 14:08

Report: Nuclear bunker sales increase, despite expert warnings they aren’t going to provide protection

When Bernard Jones Jr. and his wife, Doris, built their dream home, they didn’t hold back. A grotto swimming pool with a waterfall for hot summer days. A home theater for cozy winter nights. A fruit orchard to harvest in fall. And a vast underground bunker in case disaster strikes.

“The world’s not becoming a safer place,” he said. “We wanted to be prepared.”

Under a nondescript metal hatch near the private basketball court, there’s a hidden staircase that leads down into rooms with beds for about 25 people, bathrooms and two kitchens, all backed by a self-sufficient energy source.

With water, electricity, clean air and food, they felt ready for any disaster, even a nuclear blast, at their bucolic home in California’s Inland Empire.

Read the full piece:

Nuclear bunker sales increase, despite expert warnings they aren’t going to provide protection

Global security leaders are warning nuclear threats are growing as weapons spending surged to $91.4 billion last year

Alex Croft17 December 2024 13:53

Watch: Russian police spokesman shares more details on General Igor Kirillov's death

Russian police spokesman shares more details on General Igor Kirillov's death
Alex Croft17 December 2024 13:38

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