Latest news with #KyryloBudanov
Telegraph
7 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Ukraine's intelligence chief says Zelensky crisis could ‘tear apart' country
Ukraine's spy chief has warned that the country could be 'torn apart' by the crisis that has erupted since Volodymyr Zelensky passed his controversial corruption reform. Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukrainian military intelligence, said 'history has taught us that a nation loses if it is torn apart by internal contradictions'. His remarks came hours after the president stripped the country's two key anti-corruption agencies of their independence. 'Internal contradictions should be resolved through open dialogue,' Mr Budanov said as protests broke out across the cities of Kyiv, Lviv and Dnipro. 'I am sure that Ukraine will be saved by a strong army and institutions,' he added. 'We must show wisdom and responsibility.' It was not clear if the renowned 39-year-old leader of the Main Intelligence Unit (GUR) was addressing critics of the move or the presidential administration itself, which has faced a fierce backlash from civil society and Ukraine's international partners.
New York Times
7 days ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Zelensky Faces Criticism Over Effort to Rein In Corruption Agencies
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine was facing growing domestic pressure on Wednesday over a measure to curb the independence of anticorruption agencies, even as he defended it as necessary to root out 'Russian influence' in the agencies. Mr. Zelensky signed into law on Tuesday a bill limiting the independence of two investigative agencies that have been leading efforts to root out corruption. The move has been met with street protests and a rebuke from allies, and it has apparently caused divisions within his government. The director of Ukraine's military intelligence agency, Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, one of the most senior security officials in Ukraine's wartime leadership, posted a rare statement on domestic policy that appeared to criticize the move. The statement, posted on Facebook on Tuesday, did not directly condemn the law, but General Budanov called for Ukraine to maintain strong 'institutions,' particularly during the war. 'I am certain that strong armed forces and institutions will save Ukraine,' he wrote. He also called for unity. In his first public comments on the law, Mr. Zelensky posted a video statement after 1 a.m. on Wednesday calling the measure necessary for removing 'Russian influence' from the anticorruption groups. The domestic intelligence agency had on Monday searched homes of investigators, accusing some of having ties to Russia. 'The anticorruption infrastructure will continue to work, only without Russian influence,' Mr. Zelensky said. 'That must be cleansed.' Critics say no plausible evidence has been made public of anticorruption investigators' having ties to Russia. Several thousand protesters gathered late on Tuesday in Kyiv and other cities, despite risks of missile attacks, to protest the new law, the first significant street action against Mr. Zelensky in the three and half years since Russia's all-out invasion. Dmytro Koziatynsky, a war veteran who organized the protests, called on Ukrainians to come out again on Wednesday evening. Mr. Zelensky's critics say the president has overstepped his authority under the martial law imposed since the Russian invasion by investigating or imposing financial restrictions on media organizations, nongovernmental groups and opposition politicians. The weakening of the anticorruption agencies is the latest in a string of steps he has taken to consolidate his power, they say. The agencies had been investigating senior members of his government, including a deputy prime minister, Oleksiy Chernyshov, who was charged with corruption on June 23 after being accused of taking kickbacks in a real estate deal. The Ukrainian Parliament, in which Mr. Zelensky's party has a majority, had passed the law on the same day that he signed it. The two agencies it affects are the National Anticorruption Bureau of Ukraine and a specialized prosecutorial office that pursued its cases. The law gives Ukraine's prosecutor general, who is appointed by the president, new power over the agencies. The two bodies were created after pro-Western street protests in 2014 and have been strongly backed by countries providing financial aid to Ukraine. Ukraine's main Western military backers and financial supporters in the Group of 7 issued a statement expressing concerns about the law. 'We all have a shared commitment to support transparency, independent institutions, and good governance, and we value our partnerships in Ukraine to combat corruption together,' the statement on X said. In comments that appeared to be at odds with General Budanov's statement, Vasyl Malyuk, the head of the domestic intelligence agency, voiced his support for the new law in comments to Ukrainian journalists on Tuesday. Mr. Malyuk characterized the independent agencies as having been unconstitutional. 'Under the constitution, there can be only one general prosecutor in the country,' he said. Oleksandr Chubko contributed reporting from Kyiv.
Bloomberg
11-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Ukraine Spy Chief Says 40% of Russian Ammunition Is North Korean
North Korea is now supplying as much as 40% of Russia's ammunition for the war in Ukraine as the partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow deepens, according to the head of Ukrainian military intelligence. Kim Jong Un's regime is also sending other weapons to Russia, including ballistic missiles and artillery systems, Kyrylo Budanov said in an interview with Bloomberg News. Russia is providing money and technology to North Korea in return, helping to ease Pyongyang's international isolation, he said.
AllAfrica
23-06-2025
- Business
- AllAfrica
North Korea overtakes Iran as Russia's partner of choice
North Korea is no longer just supplying Russia with manpower and missiles. It is embedding itself deep within Russia's war economy, sending thousands of workers to the heart of its drone industry and reshaping the balance of power in Eurasia. This month, The War Zone (TWZ) reported that 25,000 North Korean workers are being sent to Russia's Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Tatarstan to assist with the manufacturing of Shahed drones, part of a deal reportedly brokered during Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu's visit to Pyongyang. Satellite imagery reveals new dormitory construction at the Alabuga site, indicating Russia's intention to increase drone production from 2,000 to 5,000 units per month. Ukrainian intelligence chief Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov confirmed this development, citing the growing cooperation between Russia and North Korea and warning of the strategic implications for both Ukraine and South Korea. He added that some North Korean workers may be contracted into the Russian defense service. The Alabuga plant, repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian strikes, remains a critical node in Russia's standoff strike capability, particularly amid high attrition from its war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russia is reportedly assisting North Korea in enhancing the accuracy of KN-23 missiles, long-range air-to-air munitions, and submarine-launched systems. The transfer of labor and technology underscores tightening bilateral military ties as both regimes confront isolation and intensifying global scrutiny. Russia may be shifting its partnership of convenience from Iran to North Korea. As Iran falters under Israeli and US airstrikes and unfulfilled Russian arms deals, North Korea pulls ahead, embedding itself in Russia's war machine and Far Eastern strategy. While Russia and Iran have a long history of distrust and conflict, their mutual disdain for the Western-dominated international order, autocratic governments and heavily sanctioned economies in the aftermath of the former's invasion of Ukraine has placed them in the same boat. Iran has sought to make itself indispensable to Russia's war effort by supplying Shahed drones, tactical gear, and artillery in exchange for revenue and to avoid diplomatic isolation. It may have also sought Russian investment in the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). Yet as Russia transitioned to a war economy and began producing Shahed drones locally, Iran's leverage may have declined, undercutting the latter's efforts to extract security guarantees or financial backing from the former. Furthermore, while Iran has consistently requested advanced Russian equipment, such as Su-35 fighter jets, these deliveries have not yet materialized, as Russia may need those fighters more urgently in its conflict with Ukraine. In October 2024, Israel destroyed Iran's prized S-300 surface-to-air missile (SAM) launchers, leaving the latter exposed to current air attacks. While Iran has downplayed the need to purchase the more advanced S-400 from Russia, citing the superior capabilities of its domestic systems, this could be a cover-up for Russia's refusal to provide such systems for the same reason it has withheld Su-35 fighters. However, Israeli strikes on Iran present mixed implications for Russia. For one, while such strikes may have undermined Russia as a credible partner, strikes on Iranian oil and gas infrastructure may have eliminated Iran as a competitor to Russian energy exports. Yet, these gains may be short-lived. Israel admits that its strikes are not sufficient to destroy Iran's nuclear program and that the goal is to pressure Iran back into negotiations. Furthermore, it is unknown how Iran would respond in the aftermath. A nuclear-armed Iran may ultimately undermine Russia's influence. Russia may have less leverage over a nuclear-armed Iran, potentially triggering a Middle East nuclear arms race, with Saudi Arabia stressing that it will develop nuclear weapons if Iran gets the bomb. Despite that possible long-term setback, Israeli strikes may distract the US from Ukraine, drawing attention and resources away from confronting Russia. It also allows Russia to point out US 'double standards,' with the US distancing itself from Israeli combat operations in Gaza while supporting Israeli strikes on Iran that have caused civilian casualties. As Iran buckles under sustained Israeli and now US strikes, North Korea is stepping into the breach, presenting an entirely different set of nuances. North Korea and Russia share deep ties dating back to the Korean War, and the former's nuclear arsenal arguably makes it a safer long-term investment for the latter. North Korea has deepened its role in Russia's war effort, providing matériel and manpower while reaping combat insights, hard currency, and access to advanced systems. North Korea's interest in supporting Russia in Ukraine may be to reduce its overdependence on China, its main political and economic lifeline, to maintain strategic autonomy and regime survival. These aims may clash with China's goal of maintaining stability in the Korean Peninsula. Arguably, North Korean missile tests pose a threat to China just as much as they are to Japan and South Korea, prompting China to threaten to scale down political and economic ties with North Korea. To those ends, North Korea is actively developing nuclear delivery systems with possible Russian assistance, such as intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) that could reach the US mainland and nuclear ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) that ensure a second-strike capability. While a belligerent North Korea serves China and Russia's mutual interest of undermining the Western-dominated international order, it remains uncertain whether this wartime alignment will evolve into a lasting partnership once the guns fall silent in Ukraine. Despite Russia being heavily sanctioned, it still seeks to resume trade with the US, raising doubts about the long-term growth of Russia-North Korea relations. However, beyond the Russia-Ukraine War, Russia may use North Korea as leverage against China's growing presence, economic influence, and territorial ambitions in the Russian Far East, strengthening economic, political, and military ties to form a buffer state. In turn, North Korea maintains its autonomy by balancing ties between Russia and China, with its nuclear arsenal providing a strategic backstop against regime change. With Iran sidelined and China's shadow growing, North Korea is fast becoming Russia's most dangerous and dependable ally, fueling its war machine, fortifying its eastern flank, and tilting Eurasia's strategic balance in Russia's favor.
Miami Herald
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
What North Korea's New Russian Weapons Tech Means for South Korea
It's not just Ukraine that is now facing the low, buzzing hum of Iranian-designed explosive drones. It is the U.S.'s key allies in Asia, Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, has declared. "This must be addressed now—not when thousands of upgraded Shahed drones and ballistic missiles begin to threaten Seoul and Tokyo," the Ukrainian leader said on June 10. Shahed drones, a brainchild of Tehran, have borne down on Ukrainian air defenses since the early months of the full-scale war Russia launched in February 2022. While slow-moving, the uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as Geran drones, are difficult for Ukraine's strained air defenses to detect. They're known for their low and distinctive buzzing sound that signals they're closing in on a target, ferrying along warheads that can shatter or explode. The scale of attacks on Ukraine varies, but Kyiv said Moscow launched 479 UAVs, including Shaheds, at the country in one night earlier this month. Russia has now agreed to help North Korea set up sites on the divided peninsula to manufacture Shahed drones, said Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Kyiv's GUR military intelligence agency. "It will for sure bring changes in the military balance in the region between North Korea and South Korea," the intelligence chief told The War Zone outlet. Experts agree. "This is gravely concerning," William Alberque, a visiting fellow at the Henry L. Stimson and a former director of NATO's Arms Control, Disarmament and WMD Non-Proliferation Center, previously said. Drones aren't the only thing North Korea is getting from Russia. Becoming embroiled in the Ukraine war—and turning into the only country outside the two warring nations to commit troops to the front line—has bought North Korea an economic and military hand-up from Russia, observers say. Western intelligence suggests North Korea is receiving help with its advanced missiles, space and nuclear programs from Russia, on top of Ukraine's assessment of new drone factories. Russia and North Korea announced a mutual defense pact in June 2024, which was inked in November. While South Korea is not yet prepared for this new threat from its northern neighbor, it won't be long before Seoul gets there, analysts say. North Korea has contributed three major things to Russia's war effort against Ukraine: Troops, ammunition and missiles. Pyongyang sent roughly 11,000 of its troops to Russia's western Kursk region late last year to help push Ukrainian forces that controlled a chunk of territory over the border back to Ukrainian soil. U.K. military intelligence assessed this month that the North Korean forces were replenished with some limited reinforcements, but that more than 6,000 of the soldiers had been killed or injured. Assessments of how well the troops performed varied wildly. Some reports suggested the soldiers were little more than "cannon fodder" and ill-prepared for drone-heavy combat, while others described the fighters hailing from a heavily militarized society as disciplined, in good shape and adept with weapons. Either way, Pyongyang is learning in a way Seoul is not. "The South Korean military's relative lack of combat experience has to be mentioned, especially given that North Korean forces are now gaining meaningful experience fighting a well-equipped conventional enemy in Ukraine," said Jacob Parakilas, research leader for defense strategy, policy and capabilities at the European branch of the Rand think tank. The combat experience and the technological expertise North Korea is thought to be accruing "pose a new challenge to South Korea," added Ramon Pacheco Pardo, professor of international relations at King's College London. This will "accelerate North Korea's development of its own military capabilities, and even though South Korea is already working on its own preparedness against them, it lacks the battlefield experience that the North Korea army is gaining," he told Newsweek. Missiles North Korea has supplied short-range ballistic missiles to Russia, keeping up the stockpiles to fire on Ukraine. Ukraine's air force frequently reports the use of North Korea's KN-23, also known as Hwasong-11, short-range ballistic missiles, in overnight strikes. Ukrainian officials had described the earlier iterations of the KN-23 as deeply unreliable and unable to strike its targets consistently. But the Hwasong-11 of mid-2025 is an "absolutely different missile," and much more accurate, Budanov said. The KN-23 is similar to Russia's SS-26 ballistic missile, "so it makes sense that Russia is able to rapidly fix shortcomings in North Korea's designs," Alberque told Newsweek. SS-26 is the NATO moniker for Moscow's Iskander-M mobile short-range ballistic missile system. North Korea's improved designs are "concerning," he added, despite South Korea's strong web of air defenses. Air defenses can be overwhelmed by sheer numbers of incoming threats if there are more targets to intercept than interceptor missiles in launchers. Some of North Korea's factories, mainly those producing weapons and ammunition, are operating at "full capacity," South Korea's then-defense minister, Shin Won-sik, said in February 2024. "If the North Korean missiles that make it through are more accurate and capable, it's a fairly substantial problem for the South," Alberque said. Drones The Ukraine war has been a crucible for drone advancement. "The longer this war continues on our territory, the more warfare technologies evolve, and the greater the threat will be to everyone," Zelensky said earlier this month. "As of today, North Korea likely has [the] advantage, and that advantage will grow exponentially over the next year," Alberque added. Pyongyang has already sent drones over the border and into South Korea's airspace. Seoul established a drone-focused command in September 2023, not long after five drones made it into the South's territory in late 2022. South Korea's military later said one of the drones had made it into a no-fly zone around the presidential office in the capital. "I do not believe that South Korea is ready right now, but they are taking some steps, including creating structures and working with industry, and they do have time to study and prepare; however, not too much time," Alberque said. "South Korea has a lot of work to do." Experts say Seoul should be paying close attention to how drones have been used in Ukraine, as well as in the Middle East. Any information funneled from Ukraine can feed into South Korea's defenses, Alberque added. Pyongyang has adopted an increasingly belligerent tone toward South Korea, sharply departing from the long-held policy of reunification with the south and doubling down on anti-Washington rhetoric. North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, put the country's industry on a war footing, pumping out weapons as Pyongyang committed to building a large, modern military. South Korea has very capable forces in its own right, supported by a defense industry that is rapidly making a name for itself. It's got a very clearly defined purpose, too. "The South Korean armed forces have one primary mission and focus, which is maintaining the ability to win a war with the North," said Parakilas. Analysts say there are some areas where South Korea has the upper hand. "South Korea still has a technological advantage over North Korea plus the support of its ally, the U.S., which Russia cannot match in terms of technological development," said Pacheco Pardo. How the U.S. slots in has a significant impact on how South Korea would fight the North, said Alberque. "Whether or not they have the full support of the American military makes a pretty substantial difference to planning," he added. Another of South Korea's strengths is its navy. Seoul's capabilities outweigh Pyongyang's, Parakilas said, adding North Korea won't be able to pull any real naval experience from the land war in Ukraine. "Of the capabilities that Moscow seems to be helping Pyongyang with, the surface fleet is probably the least worrisome," said Parakilas. In May, North Korea tried to launch a new destroyer at its northeastern Chongjin port—an ill-fated attempt state media reported ended in a "serious accident." The 5,000-ton warship was damaged "due to inexperienced command and operational carelessness," state media reported. It was an unusually candid public assessment for a country seeking to exude military strength. Kim, who was present for the bungled launch, irately denounced the incident as "criminal." At least four North Korean officials were arrested. North Korea said in mid-June the formerly capsized ship had been successfully relaunched. Related Articles US Stages Air Combat Drills With Allies Amid North Korea ThreatUS Ally Reveals Chinese Military Activity Near American BaseDonald Trump Issues Next Trade Deal Update After ChinaUS Ally Seeks China's Help in Dealing With North Korea 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
