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Russian air defences destroyed 14 Ukrainian air drones overnight, including 10 drones over the Crimean Peninsula, the defence ministry has claimed, as Vladimir Putin welcomed two dozen world leaders to Kazan for the Brics summit.
Russia said it also destroyed four unmanned boats in the Black Sea heading towards the Peninsula.
The development comes amid a row over the deployment of North Korean troops in Ukraine to help Russia’s war efforts.
South Korea on Tuesday said Seoul was weighing the possibility of directly supplying weapons to Ukraine.
South Korea’s spy agency recently revealed that North Korea had deployed 3,000 soldiers to Russia’s far east for training, with plans to send a total of 12,000 troops to support Russia’s war in Ukraine. Originally, they had said it was only 1,500.
Both North Korea and Russia have denied the allegations, calling them “fake news”.
Meanwhile, British prime minister Keir Starmer has accused Vladimir Putin of “harming millions of vulnerable people” as new British intelligence suggests ships carrying food aid have been caught up in Russian attacks on Ukraine’s ports.
North Korea has sent 3,000 troops to Russia for Ukraine war, South Korean lawmakers say
North Korea has sent 3,000 troops to Russia to support its war against Ukraine, South Korean lawmakers said on Wednesday after being briefed by the national intelligence agency, twice the amount of a previous estimate.
Pyongyang had promised to provide a total of around 10,000 troops, and their deployment was expected to be completed by December, the lawmakers told journalists.
Both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied reports about North Korean soldiers heading to the battlefield which have also been made by Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on allies on Tuesday to respond to evidence of North Korean involvement in Russia’s war.
A top US diplomat said on Monday that Washington was consulting with its allies on the implications of North Korean involvement and added that such a development would be a “dangerous and highly concerning development” if true.
Seoul’s National Intelligence Service said on Friday the North had sent around 1,500 soldiers to Russia by ship.
Tom Watling23 October 2024 11:03
Russia attacked at least four merchant vessels this month, says defence intelligence
At least four merchant vessels were struck by Russian munitions between 5 and 14 October, British defence intelligence has said.
These include:
05 October 2024 – Yuzhny port – MV PARESA (St Kitts and Nevis flagged) was almost certainly the target of the strike that damaged it. Following the attack, the Russian MoD released a video of what they say shows the vessel unloading containerised cargo which they likely perceive to be weapons.
07 October 2024 – Odesa port – MV OPTIMA (Palau flagged). There is a realistic possibility that the vessel was collateral damage as a result of a strike on port infrastructure and was not the direct target of the attack. MV OPTIMA was also likely further damaged in a strike on port infrastructure on 15 October 2024.
08 October 2024 – Chronomorsk port MV SHUI SPIRIT (Panama flagged).Ukraine’s Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Vitalii Koval stated the MV SHUI SPIRIT was carrying sunflower oil as part of a UN shipment. However, the vessel was a containerised cargo carrier and noting the earlier strike on MV OPTIMA, there is a realistic possibility that this vessel was also the target of the strike as opposed to collateral damage.
14 October 2024 – Odesa port – NS MOON (Belize flagged) was likely damaged in strikes on port infrastructure. The vessel was likely collateral damage in strikes on port infrastructure.
Tom Watling23 October 2024 10:42
In pictures: Testing drones on the frontline in eastern Ukraine
Tom Watling23 October 2024 10:22
Starmer: Putin shows no respect for human life, including those who live in supposedly allied nations
Sir Keir Starmer has said that Russian president Vladimir Putin “shows no respect for human life” after a British intelligence update suggested his forces had bombed cargo ships destined for the Gaza Strip and Egypt.
Prime minister Keir Starmer said: “Russia’s indiscriminate strikes on ports in the Black Sea underscore that Putin is willing to gamble on global food security in his attempts to force Ukraine into submission.
“In doing so, he is harming millions of vulnerable people across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, to try and gain the upper hand in his barbaric war.
“Now they are intensifying attacks on areas of Ukraine that support the global south with much-needed food.
“Russia has no respect for the norms and laws that govern our international system. Not only was their illegal invasion a blatant attack on the principles of the UN Charter, but the way they have executed their war in Ukraine shows no respect for human life, or the consequences of their invasion across the world.”
Tom Watling23 October 2024 09:51
Picture shows UN secretary general arriving in Russia
The first picture of United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterres arriving in Kazan, Russia, has been published.
The UN chief has come under fire from Ukraine for attending the BRICS summit in Russia, where he is rumoured to be meeting Vladimir Putin.
Tom Watling23 October 2024 09:31
Putin to discuss nuclear power plants and gas hub with Erdogan
Russian president Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan will discuss the construction of new power plants and a gas hub in Turkey during their meeting in Kazan.
Russia’s RIA news agency cited a diplomatic source saying that the talks held on the sidelines of the Brics summit in Russia may also include some concrete further instructions on the plans.
“It is quite possible that the leaders will give their instructions to the relevant departments to develop these projects,” RIA cited the source as saying.
Tom Watling23 October 2024 09:28
UN secretary general Guterres arrives in Russia for BRICS summit, Tass reports
UN secretary general Antonio Guterres arrived in the Russian city of Kazan on Wednesday to attend the meeting of the heads of states of BRICS group, the Tass news agency cited local authorities as saying.
Ukraine‘s foreign ministry criticised Guterres this week for his acceptance of an invitation from Russian president Vladimir Putin to the BRICS summit, while staying away from a “peace summit” on the war in Ukraine.
Guterres’ office has said he would discuss the Ukrainian conflict with Putin, as well as the crisis in the Middle East.
Tom Watling23 October 2024 09:00
Incoming EU foreign policy chief Kallas warns against Russia and China
The European Union’s next foreign policy chief has told lawmakers that strengthening security must be a priority, warning that Europe must be prepared as Russia and “partly China” exploit the continent’s open societies.
“European security is deeply personal to me as a native of a country that has long told others that Russia’s imperialistic dream never died,” Kaja Kallas, a former Estonian prime minister, said in written replies to members of the European Parliament published late on Tuesday.
“My short-term priority must be to address the pressing global concerns: Russia’s war against Ukraine and strengthening the EU’s security and defence,” she wrote.
Kallas, nominated by European leaders in June to serve as the bloc’s new high representative for foreign affairs, is set to succeed incumbent Josep Borrell.
The European Parliament will hold hearings in November for members of the next European Commission.
Ms Kallas added: “Actors such as Russia, Iran, North Korea, and partly China, aim at weaponising interdependencies and exploiting the openness of our societies against us. For this, we must be prepared.”
Tom Watling23 October 2024 08:45
In pics: Vladimir Putin meets world leaders during Brics summit in Kazan
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar23 October 2024 08:30
Ukraine downs 57 Russian drones over 12 regions, air force says
Ukraine‘s air defence shot down 57 Russian drones over 12 regions across the country, the air force said on Wednesday.
The air force said the Russian forces launched 81 drones and attacked the southern region of Odesa with a missile.
Tom Watling23 October 2024 08:25