Russia Ukraine battle newest: Zelensky admits troops can not retake Donetsk as Kyiv unveils Trident laser weapon | EUROtoday

An oil refinery within the Rostov area of southern Russia has caught hearth after being attacked by Ukrainian drones, confirmed native governor Yuri Slyusar.

Emergency crews have been dispatched to the hearth on the Novoshakhtinsk refinery and particulars on casualties have been being clarified, he mentioned.

It got here as Russian air defence methods repelled 10 Ukrainian missiles targetting the area, he mentioned on Telegram.

Andriy Kovalenko, the pinnacle of Ukraine’s official Centre Against Disinformation, wrote on Telegram that the missile assault targeted on the Kamensky chemical plant “which produces rocket fuel specialising in solid fuel components for rocket engines”.

The plant, he mentioned, additionally produced explosive supplies and elements for ammunition.

Mr Kovalenko posted a quick video displaying a hearth and smoke outdoors a fenced compound.

Mr Slyusar mentioned fragments from one missile triggered a hearth in a home within the village of Malenkaya Kamenka and smashed home windows in others, including that there have been no casualties and emergency providers have been on the scene. He made no point out of any industrial goal.

North Korea demonstrated this yr that it may produce ballistic missiles and provide them to Russia to be used in opposition to Ukraine in a matter of months, the pinnacle of a analysis organisation that traces weapons used within the battle mentioned yesterday.

Jonah Leff advised the UN Security Council that researchers on the bottom examined remnants of 4 missiles from North Korea recovered in Ukraine in July and August, together with one which had marks indicating it was produced in 2024.

“This is the first public evidence of missiles having been produced in North Korea and then used in Ukraine within a matter of months, not years,” he mentioned.

Mr Leff additionally had briefed the Security Council in late June, telling members that the organisation he heads, Conflict Armament Research, had “irrefutably” established that ballistic missile remnants present in Ukraine early this yr have been from a missile manufactured in North Korea.

Russia’s UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia objected to the second look of Mr Leff on the council assembly, chaired by ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield of the United States, which holds the council’s rotating presidency this month.

He claimed Mr Leff represents Nato and the European Union, and questioned whether or not his organisation may present neutral assessments. And he accused Ms Thomas-Greenfield of violating Security Council practices and remodeling its conferences “into a politicized act of buffoonery.”

The US ambassador retorted that Russia had vetoed a decision that ended the monitoring of sanctions in opposition to North Korea by UN specialists, which she mentioned makes organisations like Conflict Armament Research and its unbiased, well-regarded specialists all of the extra crucial.

At least 100 North Korean troops deployed to Russia have been killed and one other 1,000 have been injured in fight in opposition to Ukrainian forces within the Kursk area, a South Korean lawmaker mentioned this morning, citing the nation’s spy company.

The heavy losses are attributed to the shortage of expertise of North Korean troops in drone warfare and unfamiliarity with the open terrain the place they’re collaborating within the battle, member of parliament Lee Seong-kweun advised reporters.

Mr Lee was talking after a closed-door briefing by the National Intelligence Service (NIS) to parliament.

The discrepancy within the estimate of the troops killed from that made by a US navy official, who earlier cited “several hundred” casualties, is due to the comparatively conservative evaluation by the NIS, Mr Lee mentioned.

“There was a report that there have been at least 100 deaths and the injured are approaching 1,000,” he mentioned.

On a visit to Kyiv, John Healey mentioned that the UK will “step up” on worldwide management on Ukraine subsequent yr.

“Russians are putting Ukraine under pressure on the front line, but Putin himself is showing signs of weakness, calling in North Korean troops to reinforce his own army, walking out on Assad and failing to defend his own positions in Syria,” he added.

His go to comes after the Prime Minister mentioned it could be a “big mistake” if allies didn’t preserve their assist.

Speaking throughout a go to to Norway earlier this week, Sir Keir warned it was time for Kyiv’s allies to “double down” on the monetary commitments, sanctions and the coaching they have been offering to Ukraine.

“It’s important that we put Ukraine in the strongest possible position if there are to be negotiations, and even if there aren’t to be negotiations,” he mentioned.

“But it would be a big mistake, in my view, to take our eye off the ball and not ensure that Ukraine is in the strongest possible position, which is why we’ve been doubling down on this at many of the international meetings we’ve had with our allies to discuss this.”

The UK has pledged a brand new £225 million package deal of assist for Ukraine after the Defence Secretary mentioned the scenario within the nation is “critical”.

On a visit to Kyiv, John Healey mentioned that the UK will “step up” on worldwide management on Ukraine in 2025, after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urged allies to keep up their assist.

The package deal introduced on Thursday entails £186 million for navy gear by means of the International Fund for Ukraine, together with £92 million for Ukraine’s navy and £68 million for air defence gear.

The Defence Secretary mentioned: “Nearly three years after (Russian President Vladimir) Putin launched his illegal full-scale invasion, the depths of his miscalculation are clearer than ever, as the brave people of Ukraine continue to defy all expectations with their unbreakable spirit.

“But they cannot go it alone – which is why the UK will step up our international leadership on Ukraine throughout 2025.

“We will enhance our offer of training to Ukraine and provide battle-winning capabilities, such as the drones and munitions included in our new £225 million package today.”