Latest news on Russia and the war in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a surprise see to Lithuania, where he stated he would fulfill senior authorities before heading to the surrounding Baltic nations of Estonia and Latvia.

“Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are our reliable friends and principled partners. Today, I arrived in Vilnius before going to Tallinn and Riga,” Zelenskyy said on X.

“Security, EU and NATO integration, cooperation on electronic warfare and drones, and further coordination of European support are all on the agenda,” he stated ahead of the see to NATO member Lithuania.

Zelenskyy revealed his thankfulness for what he referred to as Lithuania’s “uncompromising support for Ukraine since 2014 and especially now, during Russia’s full-scale aggression.”

— Holly Ellyatt

The U.S and its Western allies released a declaration Tuesday condemning supposed arms transfers in between North Korea and Russia.

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) export and Russia’s procurement of DPRK ballistic missiles, as well as Russia’s use of these missiles against Ukraine,” stated the joint declaration, released by the foreign ministers of the U.S., U.K., EU, Australia, Germany, Canada and partner countries.

“The transfer of these weapons increases the suffering of the Ukrainian people, supports Russia’s war of aggression, and undermines the global non-proliferation regime,” they kept in mind, including that Russia’s usage of North Korean ballistic rockets in Ukraine likewise supplies “valuable technical and military insights” to Pyongyang.

“We are deeply concerned about the security implications that this cooperation has in Europe, on the Korean Peninsula, across the Indo-Pacific region, and around the world,” the declaration included.

The U.S. implicated Russia of utilizing North Korean ballistic rockets versus Ukraine onDec 30 andJan 2, with Ukraine’s global partners condemning their usage.

When asked on Tuesday to talk about the White House’s claims, Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov stated “we are leaving it with no comment.”

” I simply wish to advise [you] that Ukraine is targeting our areas, like Belgorod, with rockets that are produced by foreign states, like Germany, France,” he included.

— Holly Ellyatt

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated there were “signs of a slowdown” in Russia’s defense market however required sanctions to be tightened up on the nation.

“There are clear signs of a slowdown in Russia’s defence industry,” Zelenskyy stated in his nighttime video address Tuesday.

“But for the sanctions to be 100% effective, the schemes for circumventing the sanctions must also be 100% blocked. New global steps are also needed against those who continue to help Russia,” he stated.

Zelenskyy offered no proof for his claim of a downturn and Russia has stated it intends to reinforce its military-industrial complex and to increase weapons production. On New Year’s Day, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated the nation had actually currently seen “a multiple increase in the amount of armaments produced,” news firm Tass reported.

Zelenskyy stated he had actually met military and federal government authorities and had actually examined the supply of shells and drones, concluding that “the bottom line is that every aspect of logistics needs to be expedited.”

“We also discussed the launch of new production lines for weapons and ammunition in Ukraine – at our enterprises and together with partners,” he included.

“Despite all the challenges in the world, our careful, clear approach to every requirement and every opportunity can provide the Defense Forces with everything necessary.”

— Holly Ellyatt

Pictures program Ukrainian soldiers and damage near the frontline as fight continues in the snow.

Jailed Putin critic and Russian opposition political leader Alexei Navalny shared information of his jail time in a post on Telegram on Tuesday.

Navalny stated he was put in a penalty cell for bad habits right away after finishing quarantine following his arrival in a brand-new chastening nest. Daily strolls occur at 6: 30 a.m. in an area determining around eleven by 3 actions, he included.

“It has never been colder than -32°C,” Navalny composed. “There are few things as invigorating as a walk in Yamal at 6:30 in the morning. And what a wonderful fresh breeze blows into the yard, despite the concrete fence, wow!” he included a paradoxical tone.

A representative for Navalny stated in December that the political leader had actually been relocated to a chastening nest referred to as IK-3, or “the Polar Wolf” nest, in the Arctic area in northern Russia.

— Sophie Kiderlin

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu informed military authorities Tuesday that Moscow’s militaries hold the effort in Ukraine, which the country will accomplish the objectives of what it calls its “special military operation.”

“We maintain the strategic initiative along the entire line of combat contact,” Shoigu stated throughout a teleconference with the management of the Russian army, reported by news firm Tass.

The Russian army will continue to “consistently achieve the goals of the special military operation,” he stated.

In 2024, Shoigu stated his concerns are to keep the fight preparedness of the nuclear triad at the greatest level, increasing the production of a series of drones “from ultra-small to heavy attack,” in addition to presenting modern-day weapons and increasing the abilities of satellite constellations– networks of strategically-placed satellites.

“We will continue to equip the army and navy with the most modern weapons, including those based on artificial intelligence technologies and new physical principles,” Shoigu stated, according to Google- equated remarks reported by Russian state news firm Tass.

Russia’s belief that it can dominate in Ukraine and win the war — although it doubts what would make up a success for Moscow — has actually been enhanced by U.S. and European conflicts over continued military financing for Kyiv and hopes that this year’s U.S. election might declare a decrease in assistance for Ukraine.

Shoigu declared that Ukraine had actually lost 215,000 of workers in 2023, in addition to 28,000 systems of military devices. Accurate figures for losses are difficult, provided the disorderly nature of gathering such information throughout wartime.

Neither Russia nor Ukraine divulges its losses, however both sides are approximated by U.S. intelligence to have actually lost around 100,000 workers each, Reuters reports. Hundreds of thousands more are thought to have actually been injured.

–Holly Ellyatt

The Kremlin stated the Russian armed force will do whatever to decrease and get rid of the danger of shelling of Russian cities by the Ukraine’s militaries, following duplicated shelling of the border city of Belgorod.

“Our military will continue to do everything to first minimize this danger, and then completely get rid of it,” the Kremlin’s Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov informed press reporters, news firm Tass reported.

Peskov implicated Ukraine of intentionally targeting civilian facilities, which it rejects.

“The Kiev regime does not disdain shelling civilian objects, does not disdain the use of cluster munitions, shooting at the city center … where there are no military installations,” he stated, according to remarks released by news firm Tass.

Ukraine has actually not openly talked about current strikes on Belgorod, the most current attack beginningMonday Three individuals were hurt in the attack, Belgorod’s guv stated. OnDec 30, 25 individuals, consisting of 5 kids, were eliminated in rocket strikes on Belgorod’s town hall. Several hundred homeowners have actually given that been left from the city.

When asked to talk about the White House’s declares recently that Russia had actually utilized North Korean short-range ballistic rockets in Ukraine, Peskov stated “we are leaving it with no comment.”

” I simply wish to advise [you] that Ukraine is targeting our areas, like Belgorod, with rockets that are produced by foreign states, like Germany, France,” NBC news reported him as stating.

— Holly Ellyatt