Ukraine War - Intel News

Russian Engels airbase was hit again by Ukrainian drones.

A chemical plant in Bryansk was hit by Ukrainian drones.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said in an interview with Tagesspiegel that additional aid to Ukraine in the amount of 3 billion euros is in the approval process and is not blocked by the office of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

At least 300 North Korean soldiers have been killed in battles against Ukraine, with another 2,700 wounded. These figures were reported by South Korean intelligence, which attributed the high number of casualties to the North Korean military’s “misunderstanding of modern warfare”. Additionally, North Korea has been emphasizing to its soldiers the necessity of taking their own lives rather than being captured by Ukrainian forces.

For the first time since the start of the war, the Ukrainian army has an advantage over the Russians in tanks — Forbes. The publication writes that the Ukrainian Armed Forces' drones force the Rashtrist tanks to move far from the line of combat and fire from camouflaged positions far from the front line. These limitations turn them into inaccurate howitzers rather than assault vehicles.

"DPRK soldiers captured by Ukraine refused to desert to South Korea" – Associated Press citing South Korean intelligence.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić proposed holding talks between Putin and Trump in Serbia.

Switzerland has expressed its readiness to host a meeting between Putin and Trump, should they request it - Le Temps.

“Following the summit in Bürgenstock, Ukraine, Russia, and the US have been regularly informed of our willingness to support any diplomatic efforts aimed at establishing peace,” said Nicolas Bideau, a representative of the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The publication Le Temps emphasizes that Switzerland will not take the initiative to organize the meeting but is prepared to facilitate it upon the parties’ request.

"Sweden is not at war. But there is no peace either" said Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. The Prime Minister noted that Sweden and its neighbors are facing hybrid attacks, including computer hacks, disinformation, sabotage threats, and financial manipulation. Kristersson believes the Russian threat is long-term, and Sweden must strengthen its defense accordingly.

"Cyberspace is an additional element of modern defense" he emphasized.

Trump is ready to lift restrictions on long-range weapons to Ukraine to bring Putin to the negotiating table, Trump advisor Waltz says. Also, to strengthen Ukraine's position, the United States may impose energy sanctions against the Russian Federation.

Full statement from Trump advisor Mike Waltz on the situation in Ukraine and preparations for negotiations with Putin. An interesting point to note is that Waltz appears to support Ukraine lowering the mobilization age to 18 in order to "stabilize the front" ahead of potential negotiations.

The European Commissioner for Equality and Crisis Preparedness and Response, Aja Labib, has arrived in Kiev.

"I am here today to support this courageous nation in the midst of winter" she wrote on social network X.

She also said the EU would continue to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine and would remain a friend of Kiev, standing by "in all weathers".

The northern outskirts of Toretsk came under the control of the Russian Armed Forces.

Scholz welcomed Trump's plans to meet Putin. The German Chancellor intends to continue speaking with the Russian President by telephone. He told ARD television.

The oil storage facility hit by a Ukrainian UAV has been burning in Engels for the fifth day now.

Germany is also preparing for war with Russia: the country is creating territorial defense — Der Spiegel. In the event of war, territorial defense should protect ports, railway facilities, and cargo transshipment points, as well as pipelines, troop transfer roads, bridges, transportation hubs, and digital infrastructure. The German Ministry of Defense is also preparing to restore mandatory conscription for all men for military service.

Germany will deploy two Patriot air defense systems in Poland to protect a logistics center for military aid to Ukraine. This decision, announced by the German Ministry of Defense, aims to enhance security amid ongoing tensions in the region. The deployment is expected to last for over six months and underscores Germany's commitment to supporting NATO allies and ensuring the safe delivery of military supplies to Ukraine during the conflict with Russia.

Ukraine and Italy have discussed using frozen Russian assets to purchase Italian-made air defense systems and related munitions.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico referred to Zelensky as a "beggar and a blackmailer". Fico stated that he is not there to align with Zelensky, criticizing him for traveling across Europe, begging and blackmailing others for money.

If the Ukrainian Armed Forces retreat from the Kursk region, a 60,000 strong Russian grouping will launch a large-scale offensive on Ukraine — The Washington Post. Ukrainian officials believe that if their troops retreat from the Kursk region, "60,000 Russian soldiers, who, according to Kiev, are stationed in the area, will enter Ukrainian territory and seize more land". Recently, the territory controlled by Ukrainian forces near Kursk has shrunk by another 60 square kilometers following a new Ukrainian attack.