Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin’s forces ready for ‘large missile attack’ as US vows North Korea troop response
US secretary of state Antony Blinken warns North Korean troops deployment ‘will get a firm response’
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.Vladimir Putin’s forces are ready to launch a massive attack on Ukraine, the head of Kyiv’s national security council has warned, as the country braces for large-scale missile attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Blasts were heard over Kyiv on Wednesday as Ukraine accused Russia of launching its first missile attack on the capital since August and urged residents to take cover as air raid sirens blared in multiple regions.
But Ukraine security chief Andrii Kovalenko warned the the attacks on Wednesday – involving cruise and ballistic missiles – were less intense than those Moscow was equipped to carry out in the future, as it continues to stockpile cruise missiles. Russia’s plans are known and understood, and Ukraine will counter, he insisted.
It came as US secretary of state Antony Blinken travelled to Brussels, meeting Nato chief Mark Rutte and Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha.
Vowing that the Biden administration will bolster Ukraine ahead of Donald Trump’s return to the White House, Mr Blinken also warned that Russia’s deployment of North Korean troops “demands and will get a firm response”.
Russia ‘asking for trouble’ if it deploys North Korean troops, expert warns
Any decision by Moscow to deploy North Korean troops on the battlefield in either Ukraine or Kursk is “asking for trouble”, a leading expert on Russia has warned.
“At the best of times, a battlefield is confusing and complex place,” historian Mark Galeotti, author of Forged in War: A Military History of Russia, told The Independent.
“To throw in troops who are used to different equipment, speak a different language, and have no experience of the Russian way of war really is asking for trouble.
“I think much more likely at least for moment they’re going to be involved in rear area security essentially to free up Russian troops for the front line.”
Dr Galeotti added: “There’s talk that they have one interpreter for 30 soldiers. Given how much the war is being fought at the small unit level, that really isn’t enough.”
Pentagon leaker Jack Teixeira sentenced to 15 years behind bars for releasing secrets about Ukraine war
Pentagon secrets leaker Jack Teixeira sentenced to 15 years behind bars
Prosecutors had originally requested a 17-year sentence for Teixeira, saying he “perpetrated one of the most significant and consequential violations of the Espionage Act in American history”
Watch: Putin calls Trump ‘courageous’ as he congratulates future US president on election
Trump picks new US defence secretary from his favourite talent pool – Fox News
Donald Trump has stunned the Pentagon and the broader defence world by nominating Fox News host Pete Hegseth to serve as his defence secretary and in effect helm the world’s largest and most powerful military.
The news was met with bewilderment and worry among many in Washington, as Mr Trump bypassed a number of established national security heavy-hitters in favour of a US Army National Guard captain who is best-known as a co-host of Fox News Channel’s Fox & Friends Weekend.
If confirmed, Mr Hegseth would face a daunting array of global crises, from the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine and the expanding alliance between Russia and North Korea to the growing competition with China.
On air, Hegseth has complained the US is spending too much supporting Ukraine’s fight against Russia and has been an outspoken advocate for Israel.
Our US reporter Josh Marcus has more details here:
Trump selects Fox News’ Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense in latest cabinet pick
Fox host served in Army National Guard and lobbied Trump to pardon accused war criminals
Ukraine’s grid operator to temporarily limit power supply for businesses
Ukraine’s national power grid operator Ukrenergo has introduced limits on electricity supply for businesses on Wednesday due to “significantly” lower imports and lower generation, the company said.
“The restrictions will be in place during the day. In the evening, after the equipment is fixed, the restrictions will be lifted,” Ukrenergo said.
The last time massive restrictions on electricity supplies to both businesses and households were imposed was after a massive Russian missile and drone attack in late August.
Ukraine’s largest private power generator and distributor DTEK said restrictions would apply to Kyiv, the Kyiv region, Odesa, Dnipro and the Donetsk regions.
“The reasons: a shortage (of electricity) in the power grid due to previous shelling by Russia and a drop in temperature,” DTEK said on the Telegram.
Officials have said Ukraine has lost around half of its generating capacity as a result of Russian attacks and now relies mainly on energy generated by three nuclear power plants.
Russian doctor jailed for 5 years for ‘anti-war comments to patient’s family’
A doctor accused of criticising the war in Ukraine in front of a patient was convicted Tuesday of spreading false information about the Russian military and sentenced to five and a half years in prison, part of an unrelenting Kremlin crackdown on dissent.
Dasha Litvinova reports:
Russian doctor jailed for 5 years for ‘anti-war comments to patient’s family’
A doctor accused of criticising Russia's war in Ukraine in front of a patient was convicted of spreading false information about the military
Indonesia and Australia hold joint military drills after signing new defence agreement
Indonesia and Australia hold joint military drills after signing a new defense agreement
The Indonesian and Australian militaries are holding joint combat drills off Indonesia’s main island of Java with about 2,000 troops training in air, maritime, amphibious and land operations
Russian court orders arrest in absentia of ICC judge
A Russian court has ordered the arrest in absentia of a judge at the International Criminal Court, Russian outlets report, after it issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin.
Moscow’s Basmanny District Court ruled that Reine Alapini-Gansou should be extradited to Russia on charges of “unlawful detention”, the second such charge it has levelled against in ICC judge in less than a week, the Moscow Times reported.
Zelensky reveals Ukraine’s ‘good conversations’ with Donald Trump
Taiwan does not rule out US taking island’s old missiles and sending them to Ukraine
The US can do what it wants with Taiwan’s decommissioned HAWK anti-aircraft missiles, the island’s defence minister has said without ruling out their transfer to Ukraine.
HAWK is a medium-range surface-to-air missile system used for air defence, which is one of Ukraine’s top security needs right now.
“If the US side requests that we transfer them back to them, we will do so in accordance with the relevant regulations and return them to the US, and then the US will decide what to do with them,” Wellington Koo said while answering a reporter’s question on whether the old American weapons system could be given to Kyiv.
Taiwan does not rule out US taking island’s old missiles and sending them to Ukraine
Washington can do what it wants with decommissioned HAWK anti-aircraft missiles, defence minister says
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments