Vladimir Putin drives the Russian limousine that he gave to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Pyongyang, June 19, 2024
Sunday’s Coverage: Russia Tries To Regain Its Territory In Kursk Region
Map: Institute for the Study of War
UPDATE 1252 GMT:
One person has been killed and eight wounded, two critically, by Russian missile attacks on the Odesa region in southern Ukraine.
Having stepped up strikes on civilian cargo ships, Russia again targeted port infrastructure. Two vessels, the Belizean-flagged NS Moon and the Palauan-flagged OPTIMA cargo ship, and a grain warehouse were damaged.
UPDATE 1234 GMT:
The European Union has sanctioned seven individuals and seven entities over Iran’s missile and drone shipments for Russian attacks on Ukraine.
Iran has provided thousands of attack drones to Moscow. Earlier this year, officials confirmed supply of Fath-360 short-range ballistic missiles.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen posted:
The Iranian regime’s support to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is unacceptable and must stop.
I therefore welcome the adoption of our sanctions against individuals and entities in response to Iran’s drone and missile transfers to Russia.
More is needed.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) October 14, 2024
The sanctioned entities are three Iranian airlines – Saha Airlines, Mahan Air, and Iran Air – two procurement companies, and two producers of propellant.
The individuals include Deputy Defense Minister Seyed Hamzeh Ghalandari; senior Revolutionary Guards officials; and managing directors of Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries and Aerospace Industries Organization.
UPDATE 0702 GMT:
Four civilians were killed and three injured by Russian attacks on the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine on Sunday.
Two fatalities were in Chasiv Yar, one in Zvanivka, and one in Vyshneve. Three more people were injured across the region.
Another civilian was killed and four injured in Russia attacks on eight settlements in the Kherson region in southern Ukraine.
A cell tower was struck, and three multi-story buildings, six private houses, gas pipelines, a warehouse, garages, motorcycles, and private cars were damaged.
Russia did not launch Iran-type “kamikaze” drones for the first time since late August.
In September, Russia attacked with more than 1,300 Shahed UAVs.
UPDATE 0655 GMT:
Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock says Vladimir Putin is unwilling to speak with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz about an end to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“He refuses to accept peace and every day sends another signal in favor of war and destruction. These days, he is no longer even prepared to speak to the German chancellor on the phone,” Baerbock said.
The last phone call between the two leaders was in December 2022.
A German Government spokesperson said in September that Scholz would talk to Putin “when the time comes” but “for now, we have to wait”.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov insisted, “There were no proposals [for a call]. We have said repeatedly that Putin remains open to contact.”
Friedrich Merz, the head of Germany’s opposition Christian Democratic Union, has said the Scholz Government may have to lift the ban on supplying Taurus long-range missiles to Ukraine.
Merz said Putin should be given an opportunity to halt attacks on Ukrainian civilian areas.
However, “if the bombardments don’t stop, then the first step is this: lift the range restriction. And the second step is that we deliver the Taurus”, Merz said.
UPDATE 0629 GMT:
An overnight attack destroyed a Tu-134 military transport at an airfield in the Orenburg region in southwest Russia, claims Ukraine’s military intelligence agency HUR.
The agency said the transport was set afire and destroyed in the strike on the Orenburg-2 airfield, around 1,250 km (777 miles) from the frontline in Ukraine and 90 km (56 miles) north of the Russia-Kazakhstan border.
ORIGINAL ENTRY: Reinforcing reports from South Korea and Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says North Korean personnel are supporting Russia’s 31 1/2-month invasion.
In his nightly video address to the nation, Zelenskiy made the claim amid an appeal to partners to bolster Ukrainian resistance.
It’s entirely realistic to strengthen Ukraine’s position in the way necessary for a just peace. The time to act is now — before Russia and its allies adapt to our capabilities.
We see the growing alliance between Russia and regimes like that of North Korea. This is no longer just about the transfer of weapons. It is, in fact, about the transfer of people from North Korea to the occupying forces.
Zelenskiy emphasized, “We are talking about more long-range capabilities for Ukraine and more sustained supplies for our forces rather than a simple list of military hardware.”
We will continue presenting our strategy to compel Russia to peace to our European partners. The teams of our country and the teams of leaders, who have already been introduced to the Victory Plan, are continuing to work on the details. Joint actions are needed—and they must be… pic.twitter.com/x8wMiO3o7b
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 13, 2024
South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-Hyun said last week of North Korean military forces in Ukraine, “As Russia and North Korea have signed a mutual treaty akin to a military alliance, the possibility of such a deployment is highly likely.”
Ukrainian officials reported that six North Korean personnel were killed and three injured on October 4 while visiting a Russian military facility near occupied Donetsk city in eastern Ukraine. The Defense Minister said that this was likely true.
Ukraine War, Day 956: Did Kyiv’s Missile Strike Kill North Koreans on Russian Base?
In June, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un signed a bilateral treaty of strategic partnership. Under the terms, Russia and North Korea will provide mutual assistance in the event of aggression against one of the countries. Reports at the time said North Korea planned to dispatch a large-scale engineering force to the Donetsk region.
Since last year, North Korea has sent artillery shells and ballistic missiles to help Russia maintain its strikes on both military and civilian sites. Last Tuesday, Ukraine’s military says it set afire another Russian weapons depot storing North Korean munitions.