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
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Your support makes all the difference.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.
Behind enemy lines: Ukraine’s deadly assassins have terrorised Russia
Behind enemy lines: Ukraine’s deadly assassins have terrorised Russia
Ukraine’s security service spy chief says they have killed ‘very many’ Russian conspirators
The one battle President Zelensky looks set to win
The one battle President Zelensky looks set to win
For all of Russia’s recent setbacks, it is increasingly unlikely Ukraine will be able to push back invading forces to the border positions when hostilities first broke out – but it may yet force Vladimir Putin into a negotiated peace that would ensure greater security for Europe
Russia captures two Ukrainian settlements, state news reports
Russian forces have claim to have taken control of two villages in eastern Ukraine.
Citing the defence ministry, Russian state news agency RIA reported on Wednesday that forces were now in control of Trudove and Stari Terny.
Reuters could not independently confirm the battlefield reports.
Ukraine's only coking coal mine continues to operate despite Russian troop offensive, sources say
Ukraine‘s only coking coal mine - key for its steel industry - is operating at 50 per cent capacity as of Wednesday morning despite the proximity of advancing Russian forces, two Ukrainian industry sources said.
Ukrainian military analyst DeepState said Russian troops were less than 5 km (3.1 miles) from the Pokrovsk mine. The mine owner, Ukrainian steelmaker Metinvest BV, said last week it had halted some operations at the mine.
“With two facilities of three (shafts) remaining, work continues,” one of the sources said.
The mine lies 10 km (6.2 miles) west of Pokrovsk, a strategic supply hub and DeepState said Russian troops were around 3 km (1.9 miles) from Pokrovsk’s outskirts.
It’s unclear at what point Metinvest might be forced to halt all operations and evacuate staff.
Ukraine‘s steelmakers’ union said in October the potential closure of the Pokrovsk mine could cause steel production to slump to 2-3 million metric tons next year from the 7.5 million expected in 2024.
Producers hope to find alternative sources of coking coal from elsewhere in Ukraine should the Pokrovsk mine be seized by Russian troops, but imports would inevitably be needed - hiking costs.
Ukrainian steel producers union said last week the country had increased its steel production so far in 2024 by 23.1 per cent to 7 million tons.
Slovak PM Fico to meet EU's Von der Leyen on Ukraine gas transit
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico will meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday to discuss continuation of gas transit through Ukraine, Fico said on Wednesday.
Fico told a parliamentary committee that while the Ukrainian government rejected extending a transit contract with Russia’s Gazprom, alternative solutions were possible to keep the transit next year.
Russian general killed in Moscow scooter blast by Ukrainian agents
Russian general killed in Moscow scooter blast by Ukrainian agents
Ukrainian security services sources say Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov was a completely legitimate target as the head of Russia’s nuclear, biological and chemical defence forces
Russia will respond to new EU sanctions, foreign ministry says
Russia will respond to a new set of European Union sanctions which Moscow considers a danger to global energy security, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday.
The European Union imposed a 15th package of sanctions against Russia on Monday, including tougher measures against Chinese entities and more vessels from Moscow’s so-called shadow fleet on Monday.
Ukraine's air force says it shot down 51 Russian drones launched overnight
The Ukrainian air force said on Wednesday that Russia launched 81 drones to attack Ukraineovernight of which 30 “imitator drones” did not reach their targets and 51 were shot down.
Russia to raise Ukraine’s killing of top general in Moscow at UN meeting
Russia will raise the asssassination in Moscow of top Russian general Igor Kirillov by Ukraine at the UN security council on Friday, its foreign ministry said.
Angered by the killing, Russia will find everyone involved in the killing and punish them, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.
Lieutenant general Kirillov, who was the chief of Russia’s Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection Troops, was killed in Moscow yesterday.
Russia claims Kirillov killing suspect offered $100,000 for attack
Russia’s Investigative Committee, which probes serious crimes, said in a statement today that the unnamed suspect had told them during questioning that he had come to Moscow where he had received an improvised explosive device for the hit.
The statement said he had described how he had placed the device on an electric scooter which he had parked outside the entrance of the apartment block where Igor Kirillov lived.
The statement said the suspect, who was born in 1995, had been offered $100,000 for his role in the murder and residency in a European country.
Investigators cited him as saying that he had set up a surveillance camera in a hire car nearby and that the organisers of the assassination, who he said had been based in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, had used the camera to track Kirillov and remotely detonated the device when he had left the building.
Investigators said they were identifying other people involved in the hit and the daily Kommersant newspaper reported that one other suspect had been detained.
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