A snapshot of recent news from sources around the world on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
Source: Ukraine Ministry of DefensePolitical Developments
Russia announced a plan to offer debt forgiveness for new military recruits that sign up to fight in Ukraine as part of an effort to find more men willing to fight.
Mocow supplied air defense missile systems to Pyongyang in exchange for North Korea sending 10,000 troops to aid Russia’s war effort, according to a South Korean official. Donations may have included the S-400 mobile air defense system, but the exact nature of the equipment hasn’t been confirmed.
Central Asian governments that have relied on Russian military hardware over the years have begun exploring alternatives for buying new weapons, ranging from China to the U.S.
NATO and Ukraine said they would hold emergency talks after Russia’s use of a new experimental ballistic missile.
Several U.S. government agencies urged American defense manufacturers in Europe should bolster their defenses against potential Russian saboteurs.
The French Foreign Ministry has announced the granting of permission for the use of SCALP missiles by Ukraine against targets inside Russia. Previously, France has restricted the use of SCALPs to targets inside occupied Ukrainian territory.
The demand generated by Russia’s war in Ukraine has caused North Korea to increase the production capacity of certain defense equipment factories. Pyongyang is expanding the production lines of missiles delivered to Russia.
Ukrainian intelligence believes that the Russian military has taken delivery of more than 100 KN-23 and KN-24 short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) from North Korea. Russia is importing more weapons from North Korea and other foreign sources to support its war against Ukraine.
Military Assistance to Ukraine
A National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) donated by Canada has arrived in Ukraine. The donation is valued at approximately CAD 406 million ($290.6 million) and was supported by a CAD 500 million ($357.9 million) military aid package announced by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in November 2022.
Sweden announced it will provide funding for Ukraine’s defense industry to produce long-range missiles and drones. Sweden has provided around $4.4 billion in total security assistance to Ukraine since the start of the war, and the Swedish government has pledged at least $2.3 billion in each of 2025 and 2026.
Press reports claim the United Kingdom has delivered dozens of additional Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine. If true, these are the first shipments under British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration.
The United States has shipped a new counter-drone system to Ukraine for testing. IronNet and Asterion Systems developed this counter-unmanned air system (C-UAS). The Hitchhiker is a high-speed, electric-powered interceptor drone.
Battlefield Updates
Russia has launched its largest single drone attack of the war. The attack took place on November 26 and involved nearly 200 drones. Since September, Russia has attacked Ukrainian cities with waves of drones.
Ukraine has lost more than 40% of the territory it captured in Russia’s Kursk region. Ukraine launched a surprise incursion into Russia in August in hopes of diverting Russian troops from other areas of the front. The gambit did not work, and Moscow waited to send troops to take back the land. Since then, Russia reportedly deployed 59,000 troops to Kursk, bolstered by over 10,000 North Korea troops. A North Korean general was reportedly injured during a Ukrainian attack in the Kurk region.
Russia has reportedly been experimenting with a flamethrower drone to counter Ukrainian first-person-view drones. A video was released showing a small drone that released a flammable substance below it. The system may be of questionable use on the battlefield, if implemented.
Russia has launched another missile and drone attack on Ukraine. Moscow hit buildings in Ukraine’s eastern city of Kharkiv and Odesa in the south.
Ukrainian troops have used the Switchblade 600 attack drone for the first time in combat. Ukraine attacked undisclosed targets in the Kursk region.
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image sources
- challenger: Ukraine Ministry of Defense
