Russia Ukraine warfare newest: North Korean troop casualties exceed 3,000, Zelensky says as he blasts Slovak PM Fico | EUROtoday

Ukraine has efficiently mounted its first robot-only assault towards Russia, its the navy says, as unmanned autos pushed again Moscow’s forces over the weekend.

In a show of contemporary warfare, Kyiv used dozens of remote-controlled autos mounted with machine weapons, in addition to unmanned kamikaze drones, in a raid close to the Ukrainian-held city of Lyptsi, the Ukrainian navy stated.

Volodymyr Dehtiarov, a consultant for Ukraine’s Khartiia Brigade, stated: “We are talking about dozens of units of robotic and unmanned equipment simultaneously on a small section of the front.”

The assault came about between Russian-held Hlyboke and Ukrainian-held Lyptsi, within the Kharkiv area close to Ukraine’s north-western border.

Kyiv has struggled with a scarcity of manpower because the combat towards invadin Russian troops continues into 2025. Ukranian officers have stated the nation’s navy consists of round 800,000 whereas Russia has dedicated 1.7 million troops to its warfare thus far.

Modern assaults similar to Ukraine’s robotic solely assault could show to be essential within the coming yr because the officers look to deal with the imbalance of troops.

Slovakia’s prime minister Robert Fico has drawn criticism from the European neighborhood and Slovakian residents after he met face-to-face with Vladimir Putin the day earlier than Christmas Eve (23 December).

Mr Fico turned solely the third European chief to go to the Russian president in Moscow since its invasion of Ukraine was ordered in February 2022.

The pair mentioned “the international situation” and the supply of Russian pure fuel, in accordance with the Kremlin.

Mr Fico says his go to was a response to Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky’s announcement that he would not enable Russian pure fuel to circulation to different European nations by pipes in Ukrainian soil.

Ukraine’s overseas ministry slammed the “weakness, dependence and short-sightedness” of Mr Fico’s vitality coverage in a press release, calling it a “threat to the whole of Europe.”

Meanwhile, protests have taken place in Bratislavia, Slovakia’s capital, as residents present their assist for Ukraine and disappointment at Mr Fico’s assembly.

The Australian authorities is being urged to urgently evacuate a 38-year-old citizen who sustained extreme accidents after stepping on a landmine whereas preventing on Ukraine’s jap entrance. Friends of the injured man, who’s at present receiving remedy in a Ukrainian hospital, informed The Guardian that with out instant specialist care, he dangers dropping his limbs.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed that consular help is being offered however declined to remark additional, citing privateness issues.

The Australian fighter recounted his harrowing ordeal in a press release shared by a supporter. “I nearly bled out,” he stated, describing the 20-hour evacuation and the dearth of instant first support.

Glenn Kolomeitz, a former Australian military officer, has referred to as on the federal government to rearrange an pressing evacuation to make sure the person receives correct medical remedy. “He needs surgery very rapidly,” Mr Kolomeitz careworn.

Spying runs within the household for Oleh Kolesnikov.

The Ukrainian citizen stated his father was a Soviet intelligence agent in Cuba through the Cold War, posing as a translator, and his cousin works with the Russian safety service.

That made him a chief candidate for wartime espionage.

Kolesnikov informed Reuters he agreed to produce the Russians with details about navy websites and troop actions in his residence metropolis of Zaporizhzhia, and report again on the place their missiles had landed.

He had supported the idea of the “Russian World”, a doctrine backed by president Vladimir Putin that emphasises Moscow’s historic and cultural ties to neighbouring nations, and one which some hardliners in Moscow have used to justify intervention overseas in defence of Russian audio system.

“I didn’t do this for money,” he stated.

But he had regrets: That the inaccuracy of some missile strikes led to civilians being killed, and that the warfare – which he had assumed could be a swift, scientific affair – has dragged on for nearly three years, devastating his homeland.

“I thought they (the Russians) would advance rapidly,” stated the 52-year-old, a former state land supervisor who grew up in a Soviet Ukraine. “It turned out like it always does. They plan one thing and another thing happens entirely.”

His spouse left him when he was arrested for treason, taking their 11-year-old youngster together with her.

Nearly 47 per cent of Ukrainians really feel that the nation ought to be part of Nato even when among the territories are beneath Russian occupation, revealed a survey by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation and the Razumkov Center, revealed on 22 December, reported Kyiv Independent.

In case of an accession, the safety granted to Ukraine could also be prolonged to occupied territories as soon as liberated from Russian annexation.

The latest polls reveal a rise of 14 per centage level from an identical survey performed in June 2023.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky stated that greater than 3,000 North Korean troopers have been killed and wounded in Russia’s Kursk area and warned that Pyongyang may ship extra personnel and gear for Moscow’s military.

“There are risks of North Korea sending additional troops and military equipment to the Russian army,” Mr Zelenskiy stated yesterday after receiving a report from his prime navy commander Oleksandr Syrskyi.

“We will have tangible responses to this,” he added.

The estimate of North Korean losses is greater than that offered by Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), which stated that at the least 1,100 North Korean troops had been killed or wounded.

The evaluation was in step with a briefing final week by South Korea’s spy company, which reported some 100 deaths with one other 1,000 wounded within the area.

Mr Zelensky stated he cited preliminary knowledge. However, the figures of fight casualties couldn’t be independently verified.

Italy’s cupboard on Monday handed a legislation decree that permits it to proceed supplying till the tip of 2025 “means, materials and equipment” to Ukraine to assist its warfare effort towards Russia, a authorities assertion stated.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Italy has authorized 10 packages of navy support for Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s authorities, together with two Franco-Italian air defence techniques often called SAMP/T.

Giorgia Meloni has been a supporter of Kyiv since taking workplace in late 2022 and has vowed to again Ukraine till the warfare ends, amid uncertainty over the long run perspective of the United States as soon as president-elect Donald Trump takes workplace in January.

On Tuesday, Nato chief Mark Rutte urged members of the navy alliance to step up navy support for Ukraine to strengthen its place ought to Kyiv enter into peace negotiations with Russia.

Under Italy’s presidency this yr, the Group of Seven (G7) main democracies have repeatedly pledged assist for Ukraine, condemned Russia’s warfare of aggression and pledged a $50bn mortgage for Kyiv backed by frozen Russian property.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday criticised Slovak prime minister Robert Fico for his reluctance to finish Slovakia’s dependence on Russian fuel, describing it as a “big security issue” for Europe and noting that Mr Fico had rejected compensation.

Mr Zelensky made the feedback after the Slovak prime minister met with Russian president Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Sunday. Mr Fico had accused Mr Zelensky of opposing any fuel transit by Ukraine to Slovakia, which relies on fuel provides piped in through its neighbour.

Ukraine has repeatedly stated it won’t lengthen an current transit deal for fuel flows from Russia to Europe, which expires on 1 January. Payments for the fuel have helped Russia to wage its nearly three-year warfare in Ukraine, Kyiv says.

The Ukrainian chief stated Mr Fico had been supplied potential compensation for Slovakia for losses ensuing from the expiry, in addition to transit alternate options for non-Russian fuel.

“Fico did not want compensation for the Slovaks,” Mr Zelensky stated in his night deal with.

Slovakia, which has a long-term contract with Russia’s Gazprom, has stated shopping for in fuel from elsewhere would value it $229m extra in transit bills.

Mr Zelensky gave no additional particulars on the compensation provide however earlier on Monday stated that Mr Fico was solely in Russian fuel and that £398m per yr was at stake.

Mr Fico stated final week that Mr Zelensky had supplied €500m (£414m), which he stated had been tied to Nato membership and was from Russian property that the Slovak chief stated Ukraine didn’t possess.

“President (Zelensky) came back to the subject of gas and asked me if I would then vote for Nato membership if he gave me 500m euros of Russian assets, and of course, I said ‘never’,” stated Mr Fico, who has opposed Ukraine’s bid for a spot within the transatlantic safety alliance.