North Korea gaining military experience in Ukraine, improving its missiles' accuracy, Budanov says
"Only three countries — Ukraine, Russia, and North Korea — are gaining direct experience in full-scale 21st-century warfare," Kyrylo Budanov said.
Russia's allies
Wounded Russian soldiers receiving treatment in North Korea, ambassador says
Treatment for the Russian military in North Korea is provided free of charge in "the best hospitals and sanatoriums."
Thousands of North Koreans taking construction jobs in Russia, media reports
The move represents an apparent violation of U.N. resolutions prohibiting North Korea from sending its citizens to work overseas, which the Security Council passed after Pyongyang's intercontinental ballistic missile tests.
China is Russia's sole supplier of key military-use rare metals amid sanctions, RFE/RL reports
As Russia's options to purchase gallium and germanium from around the world almost disappeared, China became the sole supplier in 2023, the investigation said, citing leaked data from Russian customs databases.
Seoul suspects North Korea plans to send more troops to Russia-Ukraine war
North Korea is reportedly preparing to send more troops to Russia to fuel the war in Ukraine, even after significant losses, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reported.
Putin, Pezeshkian sign strategic Russia-Iran partnership agreement in Moscow
Iran has provided Russia with thousands of Shahed drones used in attacks against Ukrainian cities, as well as short-range ballistic missiles.
Iranian President Pezeshkian plans to visit Moscow in January
Masoud Pezeshkian is expected to sign an agreement on cooperation between Tehran and Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Jan. 17.
North Korean troops in Russia to be led by secrecy-shrouded general close to Kim Jong Un, WSJ reports
Kim Yong Bok, officially the Deputy Chief of the Army General Staff, is expected to oversee the integration of North Korean troops into Russian forces, gain combat experience, and establish a framework for future deployments, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Small number of North Korean troops already in Ukraine, CNN reports
"It seems that a good many of them are already in action," one of the officials told CNN, referring to the North Koreans.
North Korea's current arms sales to Russia estimated at up to $5.5 billion, Friedrich Naumann Foundation suggests
Because North Korea and Russia do not publish official statistics on the country's bilateral trade, there is uncertainty. But even the minimum estimate of shipments is over $1.7 billion, the study reads.
Translator to be assigned to every 30 North Korean soldiers, Ukraine's military intelligence says
Russia plans to assign an interpreter to every 30 North Korean soldiers for better interaction on the battlefield, Ukraine's military intelligence reported on Oct. 25, citing an intercepted conversation between service members of a Russian brigade in Kursk Oblast.
Uzbekistan refuses to join Eurasian Economic Union, which includes Russia
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin arrived in Tashkent in August to hold talks with Uzbek officials about potentially joining the EAEU, which Russian President Vladimir Putin has called the new "center of a multipolar world."
North Korea helping Russia in Ukraine 'for money,' Zelensky says
Speaking at a meeting attended by the Kyiv Independent, Zelensky was asked about Pyongyang's increasing support for Moscow, which in recent days is reported to have developed from just weapons to boots on the ground.
Putin hosts BRICS summit in Russia but Brazilian and Cuban leaders cancel attendance
BRICS, composed of Russia, China, India, Brazil, and other nations, is a group of emerging economies often portrayed as a counterweight to the Western-led world.
Belarusian military starts checking combat capability of Air Force, Air Defense
The combat training tasks will involve all training areas of the Belarusian Armed Forces. During the inspection, military conscripts from the country's reserves will be called up, the Belarusian Defense Ministry said.
'Attack on Belarus is World War III,' Lukashenko claims amid calls for changes to Russian nuclear doctrine
An attack on Belarus would lead to World War III, Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko claimed on Sept. 27, following Russian President Vladimir Putin's call to update Russia's nuclear doctrine, according to the Belarusian state-owned news agency Belta. Putin proposed a series of changes to Russia's nuclear doctrine on Sept. 25
Russia and its 'accomplices' want to disrupt global unity, Zelensky tells UN
"The same small group of seven accomplices, led by Russia, has once again acted destructively, always opposing any global initiatives that strengthen the effectiveness of the U.N. charter," Zelensky said at the U.N. Summit of the Future on Sept. 23.
Iranian president says his country doesn't support Moscow as Tehran allegedly transfers ballistic missiles to Russia
"We are willing to sit down with the Europeans and the Americans to have a dialogue and negotiations. We have never approved of Russian aggression against Ukrainian territory," Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian claimed.
Iran provided no launchers with missile deliveries to Russia, Reuters reports
Iran did not include mobile launchers along with its delivery of ballistic missiles to Russia, Reuters reported on Sept. 21, citing three sources with knowledge of the matter.
Belarus, China pledge to strengthen security ties
According to a joint statement, Beijing and Minsk pledged not only to strengthen security ties but also to improve cooperation in the finance and energy sectors.
Belarus to transfer military equipment to Russia amid Ukraine's operation in Kursk Oblast, media says
The recent delivery of Belarusian military equipment is related to "an urgent request from the Russian side" due to losses and a lack of equipment in the Kursk Oblast and other areas, Belnovosti said, citing an undisclosed source in the Belarusian Defense Ministry.
Nigeria detains tailors who made Russian flags for anti-government protests
The protests in Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, came amid growing Western concern over Russia's security ties to the region, including states such as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, where military leaders have seized power in coups de grace.
Russia still recruiting Cubans due to generous payments, Russian citizenship, Bloomberg reports
Cuban volunteers join the Russian armed forces through informal channels, and the total number involved in Russia's war in Ukraine is "likely in the low hundreds," the source said.
India is aiming to increase exports to Russia after Modi-Putin meeting, Reuters says
"When we are looking at Russia, we are looking at how both countries can gain by better trade relationships," Indian Trade Secretary Sunil Barthwal said during a press conference.
Lukashenko claims Belarus is withdrawing troops from Ukrainian border
During a meeting in Luninets, Brest Oblast, Lukashenko said that the situation had stabilized and that Ukraine had withdrawn its troops. The Belarusian troops will be relocated to their permanent deployment positions, he said.
Chinese military personnel arrive in Belarus for joint exercises
The exercises aim to "exchange experience, coordinate Belarusian and Chinese units, and create a foundation for the further development of Belarusian-Chinese relations in the field of joint training of troops," according to the Belarusian Defense Ministry.
Russian media: St. Petersburg governor meets with Taliban delegation
St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov spoke with a delegation from the Taliban, which had traveled from Afghanistan for the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Russian media reported on June 7.
Russian government proposes to remove Taliban from list of terrorist organizations
According to Russian state-controlled news agency TASS, the step would pave the way for Russia to officially recognize Afghanistan's Taliban government, which seized power in 2021 and has not received de jure recognition from any country in the world.
Putin arrives in Uzbekistan, marking third international visit of his new term
Russian leader Vladimir Putin arrived in Uzbekistan's capital on May 26 to hold discussions with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, focusing on strengthening bilateral relations.
NBC: Intelligence officials say Russia, North Korea planning to disrupt US elections
"We have no doubt that North Korea will be provocative this year. It’s just a matter of how escalatory it is," a U.S. intelligence official told the news outlet.
Russian delegation arrives in North Korea
According to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, these military ties are increasingly a "two-way street," in which North Korea provides Russia with military equipment to use in Ukraine.
Reuters: Iranian president's life 'at risk' after helicopter crash
A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister crashed on May 19 as it flew over a mountainous area in Iran through heavy fog.
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