Ukraine is ready. Zelensky made a proposal to Kim Jong-un
Category
Ukraine
Publication date

Ukraine is ready. Zelensky made a proposal to Kim Jong-un

Volodymyr Zelenskyi
What Zelensky offers to the DPRK

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky has released the first video of the interrogation of North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region of Russia. Moreover, he is calling on North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un to exchange prisoners.

Points of attention

  • Ukrainian troops captured two North Korean soldiers on Russian territory.
  • Zelensky emphasized active work to exchange prisoners and the Russian army's dependence on North Korea's assistance.
  • A captured North Korean soldier revealed the real losses of his troops in Kursk.

What Zelensky offers to the DPRK

According to the head of state, in addition to the first two captured soldiers from North Korea, there will undoubtedly be others.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that it is only a matter of time, and the Defense Forces of Ukraine are actively working on its implementation every day.

In addition, the president added that no one in the world should have any doubts that the Russian army depends on military assistance from the DPRK.

Putin started three years ago with NATO ultimatums and attempts to rewrite history, and now he cannot do without such military assistance from Pyongyang. Ukraine is ready to hand over his people to Kim Jong-un if he can organize their exchange for our soldiers who are being held captive in Russia.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Volodymyr Zelenskyy

President of Ukraine

Moreover, the head of state made it clear that there may be some other ways for North Korean soldiers who do not want to return.

For example, those Koreans who want to fight for peace by spreading the truth in Korean about this war will have that opportunity.

A captured North Korean soldier reported massive losses to the Russian army

On January 12, South Korean intelligence confirmed that Ukrainian soldiers managed to capture two North Korean occupiers.

Moreover, it is known that one of the prisoners admitted that "significant" losses were recorded among North Korean soldiers fighting on the side of Russia.

"We will continue to exchange information regarding North Korean prisoners in close cooperation with Ukrainian intelligence agencies," the South Korean National Security Council said.

According to the Ukrainian side, the injuries sustained by the North Korean military are not critical.

Interestingly, the regime of dictator Kim Jong-un has not yet commented on the recent events in any way.

Category
Politics
Publication date

Trump is developing a large-scale sanctions strategy against Russia

Trump
Source:  Bloomberg

Advisors to US President-elect Donald Trump are developing a broad sanctions strategy that should help resolve Russia's war against Ukraine.

Points of attention

  • Advisors to President-elect Donald Trump are developing a sanctions strategy to resolve Russia's war against Ukraine by increasing pressure on Moscow and supporting sanctioned oil producers.
  • Two main approaches to sanctions against Russia are being discussed, one focusing on resolving the war in Ukraine and the other on putting more pressure on Moscow.
  • US Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on over 30 Russian oil refining companies and one company from Serbia to reduce Russia's revenues from energy sales and finance in Ukraine.
  • Confirmation hearings for US Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio highlighted the importance of sanctions in influencing a peaceful settlement in Ukraine.
  • The US is taking radical measures against Russian companies, including Rosneft's structure and former Baker Hughes assets in Russia, to combat Russia's illegal war against Ukraine.

Trump has two approaches to sanctions against Russia

According to Bloomberg sources, the Trump team is considering two main approaches to sanctions against Russia. The discussions involve some members of the incoming administration, former Trump administration officials and conservative think tanks.

The first approach is based on a scenario in which the resolution of the war in Ukraine is "already close" and involves certain measures in favor of sanctioned oil producers in Russia, which could help conclude a "peace agreement."

The second option is based on even greater strengthening of sanctions pressure and increasing leverage over Moscow.

The agency's interlocutors say that the Trump team's plans are in the early stages and will ultimately depend on the decisions of the US president-elect himself.

Meanwhile, during his confirmation hearings for the position of US Secretary of State, Trump's nominee Marco Rubio called sanctions a key lever of influence that could lead to a peaceful settlement in Ukraine.

Which Russian companies have been hit by new US sanctions?

According to representatives of the US government and the Treasury Department, sanctions have been imposed against more than 30 Russian oil refining companies, as well as another company from Serbia.

It is noted that the US Treasury Department has resorted to radical measures to fulfill the G7's demands to reduce Russia's revenues from energy sales, including blocking two major oil producers.

The following were subject to new sanctions:

  • "RN-Drilling" (a structure of Rosneft);

  • "OFS Technologies" (combining former Baker Hughes assets in Russia),

  • "RN-GRP",

  • "RN-Service",

  • "RN-Vankor",

  • "Achimgaz",

  • "Gazprom Shelfproekt",

  • "Atlas of the National Bank of Ukraine",

  • "FrakJet-Volga",

  • "Investgeoservice",

  • "Naftogaz-Drilling",

  • "Petro Velt Technologies",

  • "TNG-Group";

  • "UDS Nafta".

The United States is taking radical measures against Russia's main source of revenue to finance its brutal and illegal war against Ukraine, said US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

Category
Ukraine
Publication date

The Russian army has problems with artillery — Estonian intelligence

Kiviselg
Source:  ERR

Russia has begun using North Korean artillery systems on the front, indicating Russia's increasingly critical situation with artillery systems and its dependence on imported weapons, said Colonel Ants Kiviselg, head of the Estonian Defense Forces' intelligence center.

Points of attention

  • Russian army facing artillery issues and increasingly relying on imported weapons, as revealed by Estonian intelligence.
  • Ongoing conflict in the Donetsk region between Russian and Ukrainian forces, with strategic strikes on key Russian infrastructure.
  • Both Russia and Ukraine employing airstrikes and missile attacks to weaken each other's military and economic targets.
  • Russia's use of North Korean artillery systems on the front reveals the critical situation with Russian artillery systems.
  • Current tactics indicate that both sides are focused on undermining the economic potential of the enemy to influence the course of the war.

The Russian army has problems with artillery

Kiviselg noted that the most notable tactical observation was the appearance of North Korean artillery systems on the front as part of Russian units.

This indicates Russia's increasingly critical situation with artillery systems and its dependence on imported weapons.

Kiviselg believes that in the 151st week of the war, trends that have already developed earlier persist, with Russian troops continuing to maintain the tactical initiative.

Although Russia has been able to tactically strengthen its military potential, it has not been able to achieve a complete advantage that would allow it to exert diplomatic pressure. Therefore, at present, the Russian Federation is not interested in ending hostilities and continues offensive operations.

Ants Kiviselg

Ants Kiviselg

Head of the Estonian Defence Forces Intelligence Center

The main fighting is taking place in the Donetsk region in the Pokrovsky direction, where Russian troops are trying to advance in the western and eastern directions from the city.

Although the pace of advance has slowed, offensive pressure remains high, with an average of 164 attacks per day across the entire front.

Russia is likely trying to take advantage of the last few weeks of freezing winter weather, which allows it to use armored vehicles on frozen terrain. However, this winter has been milder than expected, so Russian troops are forced to use roads to move their equipment. This makes it easier for the Ukrainian Armed Forces to repel attacks.

Within a week, Russian troops were able to make slight advances in the directions of Velyka Novosilka, Toretsk, Godynnyk Yar, and Kupyansk.

In Kursk, Ukrainian units retreated to the positions they held before the new offensive on January 5. During the week, Ukrainian forces conducted several attacks in Kursk Oblast. Some settlements or districts are changing hands.

The reorganization of North Korean units operating in the Kursk region has not yielded significant results, the head of the intelligence center added.

Kiviselg added that Ukraine's rapidly effective defense, which is both fast-adapting and technically capable, withstands massive enemy pressure and gradually undermines its offensive capabilities.

Current situation on the front

At the same time, Ukraine continues to strike key Russian infrastructure. Over the past week, Ukraine has increased the number of strikes on Russian fuel and chemical industry enterprises.

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on the morning of January 14, Ukraine carried out one of the most massive air strikes on objects in Russia, hitting targets at a distance of 200–1,100 km deep into the country — in the Bryansk, Saratov, Tula regions and in the Republic of Tatarstan.

The attack hit the Aleksinsky Chemical Plant in the Tula region, which produces ammunition, gunpowder, and materials for the Russian military-industrial complex. An ammunition depot at the Engels airfield in the Saratov region, which mainly stored high-explosive bombs, guided bombs, and cruise missiles, was also hit. The Ukrainian Armed Forces also struck the Saratov oil refinery. A large fire was reported at the facility after the strike.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine carried out a second attack on the oil storage facility in Engels. The previous attack took place on January 8. The oil depot burned for five days and was extinguished only a day before the new attack.

On the night of January 15, Russian forces, in turn, attacked Ukraine, involving six Tu-95MS bombers and eight Tu-22M3 bombers that took off from the Olenegorsk airfield in the Murmansk region.

The main targets of the Russian military were Ukrainian energy infrastructure and military facilities. The attack used cruise missiles, strike drones and ballistic missiles. A total of 43 missiles and 74 drones were launched. Ukraine shot down 30 missiles and 47 drones, and 27 drones deviated from course.

Both sides seek, first of all, to undermine the economic potential of the enemy, and thereby influence the course of the war, Kiviselg noted.

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