Latest news with #HUR
Russia Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Ukraine confused by Trump's Patriot claim
Ukraine is unsure what US President Donald Trump meant when he announced that Kiev would receive '17 Patriots' from NATO countries, the deputy head of Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR), Major General Vadim Skibitsky, has said. When Trump made the statement during his meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Monday, he said a European member of the bloc would supply the American-made air defense systems, but did not specify if he was talking about whole batteries or separate launchers. The next day, the US president claimed that the Patriots 'are already being shipped. They are coming in from Germany and then replaced by Germany.' Skibitsky told The Guardian on Tuesday that Kiev reacted 'positively' to Trump's statement and that it was grateful for US military aid. However, he stressed that it was not clear to them how many Patriot systems Ukraine would be receiving. 'We do not know exactly,' the HUR deputy chief said. According to Skibitsky, '17 is a huge number if we are talking about batteries. If it is launchers, that is possible.' 'The US administration and the Pentagon will give us further details,' he added. A Patriot battery usually consists of six to eight launchers, a phased-array radar, a control station and a power generation station, with all of the hardware being mounted on trucks or trailers. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told the Financial Times at the weekend that Ukraine has only six Patriot batteries left, which is 'too few.' Russia has recently ramped up its missile and drone strikes on Ukraine, which it insists only hit military-related targets. According to Moscow, the bombardment is also retaliation for Kiev's attacks on Russian territory, often targeting civilians, residential buildings, and critical infrastructure. Russian officials have stressed that no amount of Western military aid to Ukraine can change the course of the conflict but only serves to prolong the bloodshed and increase the chances of a direct clash between Moscow and NATO.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Report: Kim Jong Un's military is now a much greater threat
Kim Jong Un 's military has 'hugely improved' its nuclear and conventional warfighting abilities after six months of fighting against Ukraine . North Korea has used the conflict as a testing ground to refine its combat strategies, according to an intelligence assessment shared with The Times . Experts believe the country's army now poses a much greater threat to South Korea and the US troops stationed there, having honed the accuracy of its ballistic missiles, developed drone warfare capabilities and accelerated modern arms production. North Korea's comprehensive military alliance with the Kremlin was secured by Kim Jong-un offering 'unconditional support' to Russia during a visit by Sergey Lavrov , the foreign minister, over the weekend. Lavrov was seen hugging Kim as he thanked him for sending troops to the Ukraine war. According to the assessment prepared by the HUR, Ukraine's military intelligence arm, 'co-operation with Russia has offered North Korea broad opportunities to modernise its armed forces.' The statement added that North Korea's involvement in the war has allowed it to gain 'real experience in modern warfare, develop nuclear missile capabilities, establish production of advanced weapon systems, strengthen its naval forces, and enhance intelligence-gathering capabilities.' It said the country's cooperation with Russia 'significantly increases the threat to the US and its regional allies - South Korea and Japan.' The report states it is 'highly likely' that North Korea's readiness to use military force in its foreign policy will increase in the future. It said this is down to the 'lack of a strong response' from from the US and its allies to the country sending troops to fight Ukraine. North Korea first confirmed it has soldiers fighting alongside the Russians in Ukraine in April. At least 9,500 North Korean troops have reportedly been used in 'human wave' attacks on Ukrainian paratroopers in Russia's Kursk region. Pyongyang will send 1,000 sappers and 5,000 military construction workers to help secure the Kursk after Ukrainian troops were driven back, Sergei Shoigu, secretary of Russia's Security Council, announced last month. About 4,000 North Korean troops have already been killed or wounded in the conflict, the intelligence report says. The HUR expects 30,000 more North Korean troops to be deployed in the coming months. It comes after Russia's foreign minister was seen hugging Kim Jong Un on Saturday as he expressed his gratitude to the dictator for sending troops to the Ukraine war. Speaking in Wonsan, a glitzy new beach resort in North Korea, Sergey Lavrov also encouraged his fellow Russians to visit the rogue state on holiday. Relations between North Korea and Russia have flourished in recent years with Kim supplying troops and ammunition to Ukraine's frontlines in return for economic and military help. This has raised concerns in the West that Russia might also send sensitive technologies to North Korea that could increase the danger of its nuclear program. As well as a meeting with Kim, foreign minister Lavrov also held talks today with his North Korean counterpart Choe Son Hui. During their meeting, Choe reiterated that North Korea 'unconditionally' supports Russia's fight against Ukraine. Lavrov, meanwhile, repeated Russia's gratitude for the contribution that North Korean troops made in efforts to repel a Ukrainian incursion into Russia's Kursk region. Wonsan city, the meeting venue, is where North Korea recently opened a mammoth beach resort that it says can accommodate nearly 20,000 people. In his comments at the start of his meeting with Choe, Lavrov said that 'I am sure that Russian tourists will be increasingly eager to come here.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Kim Jong Un's military has ‘hugely improved' and is now a much greater threat to South Korea and US troops based there after six months of fighting against Ukraine
Kim Jong Un 's military has 'hugely improved' its nuclear and conventional warfighting abilities after six months of fighting against Ukraine. North Korea has used the conflict as a testing ground to refine its combat strategies, according to an intelligence assessment shared with The Times. Experts believe the country's army now poses a much greater threat to South Korea and the US troops stationed there, having honed the accuracy of its ballistic missiles, developed drone warfare capabilities and accelerated modern arms production. North Korea's comprehensive military alliance with the Kremlin was secured by Kim Jong-un offering 'unconditional support' to Russia during a visit by Sergey Lavrov, the foreign minister, over the weekend. Lavrov was seen hugging Kim as he thanked him for sending troops to the Ukraine war. According to the assessment prepared by the HUR, Ukraine's military intelligence arm, 'co-operation with Russia has offered North Korea broad opportunities to modernise its armed forces.' The statement added that North Korea's involvement in the war has allowed it to gain 'real experience in modern warfare, develop nuclear missile capabilities, establish production of advanced weapon systems, strengthen its naval forces, and enhance intelligence-gathering capabilities.' It said the country's cooperation with Russia 'significantly increases the threat to the US and its regional allies - South Korea and Japan.' The report states it is 'highly likely' that North Korea's readiness to use military force in its foreign policy will increase in the future. It said this is down to the 'lack of a strong response' from from the US and its allies to the country sending troops to fight Ukraine. North Korea first confirmed it has soldiers fighting alongside the Russians in Ukraine in April. At least 9,500 North Korean troops have reportedly been used in 'human wave' attacks on Ukrainian paratroopers in Russia's Kursk region Pyongyang will send 1,000 sappers and 5,000 military construction workers to help secure the Kursk after Ukrainian troops were driven back, Sergei Shoigu, secretary of Russia's Security Council, announced last month. About 4,000 North Korean troops have already been killed or wounded in the conflict, the intelligence report says. The HUR expects 30,000 more North Korean troops to be deployed in the coming months. The report states it is 'highly likely' that North Korea's readiness to use military force in its foreign policy will increase in the future and said this is down to the 'lack of a strong response' to the country sending troops to fight Ukraine. Pictured: Ukrainian firefighters work to extinguish a fire following mass Russian strikes in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv According to the assessment prepared by the HUR, Ukraine's military intelligence arm, 'co-operation with Russia has offered North Korea broad opportunities to modernise its armed forces.' Pictured: The aftermath of an attack in Lviv It comes after Russia's foreign minister was seen hugging Kim Jong Un on Saturday as he expressed his gratitude to the dictator for sending troops to the Ukraine war. Speaking in Wonsan, a glitzy new beach resort in North Korea, Sergey Lavrov also encouraged his fellow Russians to visit the rogue state on holiday. Relations between North Korea and Russia have flourished in recent years with Kim supplying troops and ammunition to Ukraine's frontlines in return for economic and military help. This has raised concerns in the West that Russia might also send sensitive technologies to North Korea that could increase the danger of its nuclear program. As well as a meeting with Kim, foreign minister Lavrov also held talks today with his North Korean counterpart Choe Son Hui. During their meeting, Choe reiterated that North Korea 'unconditionally' supports Russia's fight against Ukraine. Lavrov, meanwhile, repeated Russia's gratitude for the contribution that North Korean troops made in efforts to repel a Ukrainian incursion into Russia's Kursk region. Wonsan city, the meeting venue, is where North Korea recently opened a mammoth beach resort that it says can accommodate nearly 20,000 people. In his comments at the start of his meeting with Choe, Lavrov said that 'I am sure that Russian tourists will be increasingly eager to come here. 'We will do everything we can to facilitate this, creating conditions for this, including air travel,' according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. The Wonsan-Kalma tourist zone is at the center of Kim's push to boost tourism as a way to improve his country's troubled economy. However, prospects for the tourist complex aren't clear, as North Korea appears unlikely to fully reopen its borders and embrace Western tourists anytime soon.
Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Times
Kim's missile men hone craft of killing on scorched earth of Ukraine
N orth Korea has 'hugely' improved its nuclear and conventional warfighting abilities after six months battling Ukraine, according to an intelligence assessment shared with The Times. Experts believe Pyongyang's army poses a greater threat to South Korea and the US troops stationed there than ever before, having honed the accuracy of its ballistic missiles, developed drone warfare capabilities and accelerated modern arms production with help from President Putin's top scientists. North Korea's comprehensive military alliance with the Kremlin, cemented over the weekend by Kim Jong-un offering 'unconditional support' to Russia during a visit by Sergey Lavrov, the foreign minister, also raises the spectre of Russian troops being deployed to the Korean peninsula should hostilities there be renewed. 'Co-operation with Russia has offered North Korea broad opportunities to modernise its armed forces — especially by allowing units of the Korean People's Army to gain real experience in modern warfare, develop nuclear missile capabilities, establish production of advanced weapon systems, strengthen its naval forces, and enhance intelligence-gathering capabilities,' according to the assessment prepared by the HUR, Ukraine's military intelligence arm.
Daily Mirror
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Putin sends troops to border in attempt to 'threaten' another European nation
After a NATO chief issued a chilling WW3 warning prediction, a diplomatic row has broken out with Russia said to be 'threatening' Azerbaijan, a nation rich in oil and gas Russia stands accused of 'threatening' another European nation three years since their invasion or Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin might now have set his sights on Azerbaijan, it has been claimed, after building up its troop levels at a military base in a close ally. The increase at the Gyumri centre in Armenia was initially denied by both the Armenians and the Russians, but the Ukrainian military intelligence has now shared on what they say are the official orders to redeploy the military personnel. Azerbaijan is a country rich in oil and gas, which it supplies to Western countries. It has been an independent state since 1991, when the old Soviet Union collapsed. It comes after a NATO chief issued a chilling WW3 warning predicting both Russia and China will launch a twin attack. Relations between the country, situated in the South Caucasus at the boundary between Eastern Europe and West Asia, and its former rulers have deteriorated recently after several dozen ethnic Azerbaijanis were arrested in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg in connection with a series of murders that took place 15 years ago. While in detention, the men were also beaten, and two brothers - the main suspects in the case - subsequently died. Authorities in Baku accused Russian security forces of deliberately killing the men, canceled all cultural events related to Russia, raided the Sputnik news agency, detaining its employees and several Russian IT specialists. Russian nationals in Azerbaijan now face regular document checks. Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) has accused Moscow of attempting to exert greater influence in the South Caucasus and 'destabilise the global security situation' by the move. Armenia and Russia dismissed the accusations but now HUR has released a document that they say prove it, saying it was an "order from the commander of the troops of the Southern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces on the replenishment of the Russian military base in Armenia. "The telegram lists a list of measures for the urgent 'replenishment' of the units of the Russian unit by selecting personnel from among the servicemen of the 8th, 18th, 49th and 58th combined arms armies of the Southern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces. "Alongside stoking interethnic conflict, Moscow is building up its military presence in the Caucasus. It is likely that the deterioration of relations between Azerbaijan and Russia was prepared in advance." The 102nd military base in Guymri is the largest Russian military facility in the South Caucasus. It hosts up to 5,000 personnel. The base includes MiG-29 fighter jets and S-300 air defence systems. It comes as NATO secretary general Mark Rutte said a simultaneous invasion by Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin could put the world at serious risk of nuclear annihilation. China would plot to annex the island nation of Taiwan while Russia launches an invasion of a NATO member. Mr Rutte gave the warning as he stressed the need for member states to increase their military budgets and re-arm. He told The New York Times: "Let's not be naïve about this: If Xi Jinping would attack Taiwan, he would first make sure that he makes a call to his very junior partner in all of this, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, residing in Moscow, and telling him, 'Hey, I'm going to do this, and I need you to to keep them busy in Europe by attacking NATO territory.' That is most likely the way this will progress." He explained Beijing and Moscow could only be deterred by a strong NATO. He added: "One is that NATO, collectively, being so strong that the Russians will never do this. "And second, working together with the Indo-Pacific - something President [Donald] Trump is very much promoting. Because we have this close interconnectedness, working together on defence industry, innovation between NATO and the Indo-Pacific."
