Ukraine war latest: Russian town hit in new wave of strikes - as Kremlin responds to NATO chief's nuclear comments
Rostov, a region in Russia, experiences another day of attacks for the second time in a row. This occurrence coincides with the response of Kremlin officials to the comments made by NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg regarding the readiness of the alliance's nuclear capabilities. Additionally, it is noteworthy that Vladimir Putin is currently in North Korea for a two-day summit. Click Me
A new wave of attacks hit the Russian region for the second consecutive day
Officials have reported that a fire in the Russian town of Azov today was brought under control by several dozen firefighters. The fire was caused by a drone strike, which resulted in several oil storage tanks being set ablaze in the southern region of Rostov, bordering Ukraine. Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry said the fire had spread across 5,000 cubic meters.
Vasily Golubev, the governor of the Rostov region, stated on Telegram that there were no casualties based on preliminary data. However, these reports are still awaiting verification. If confirmed, this would mark the second consecutive day of strikes on the region, following a suspected Ukrainian attack that caused a significant explosion at an electricity substation on Monday night.
Reports indicate that the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) was responsible for an overnight attack on two oil depots in Russia's Rostov region. Russian authorities have reported that fires have spread across 5,000 cubic meters in the town of Azov, and firefighters are currently working to extinguish the blaze. The SBU's drone attack specifically targeted 22 oil storage tanks, as reported by the Kyiv Independent. The source further stated that the SBU will continue to carry out "drone sanctions" against the Russian oil refining complex to diminish the enemy's economic potential and hinder their ability to wage war against Ukraine. Click Me
Putin arrives in Yakutsk ahead of North Korea visit
Today, Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in the distant Siberian city of Yakutsk in preparation for his upcoming visit to North Korea. The purpose of his visit is to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Before his departure to North Korea, Mr. Putin will have a meeting with regional governor Aisen Nikolayev in Yakutsk.
Pyongyang prepares for visit of Vladimir Putin
The streets of Pyongyang are adorned with images and flags of Vladimir Putin as the Russian president is scheduled to arrive in North Korea for the first time in 24 years today. He will be meeting with the country's leader Kim Jong Un. The red carpet has already been rolled out for Mr Putin's visit, with state television broadcaster KCTV airing concerts of Russian military and the streets decorated with Russian flags and images of the president.
Anton Gerashchenko, the former Ukrainian advisor to the internal affairs minister, shared footage on X of Pyongyang's Russian-themed welcome. Mr. Putin and his entourage, which will include Russia's defense and security ministers, are expected to land in North Korea this evening local time.Click Me
Ukrainian woman reportedly sentenced to 12 years in Russian prison for 'spreading disinformation'
Krystyna Liubashenko claims she was deceived and coerced into traveling to Moscow to participate in the protest, where she played an anti-war speech and a Ukrainian anthem, and released balloons with a Russian opposition flag.
Struggling financially after leaving Kyiv and relocating to Switzerland following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Ms. Liubashenko allegedly borrowed money from a neighbor named Vitalii Yurchenko to travel to Moscow and stage an anti-war demonstration.
Initially hesitant, Ms. Liubashenko eventually agreed to fly the white-blue-white flag associated with the Freedom of Russia Legion group, which is considered a terrorist organization by Russia. Click Me
Despite her defense presenting evidence of blackmail during her trial in Russia, Ms. Liubashenko was still sentenced to 12 years in prison.
It is estimated that Russia has detained over 7,000 Ukrainian civilians since the beginning of the invasion.
Kremlin calls NATO chief's nuclear comments an 'escalation of tension'
The recent statements made by NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg have sparked a lively debate among nuclear and diplomatic experts. In an interview with The Telegraph, Mr. Stoltenberg revealed that NATO members were discussing the possibility of deploying additional nuclear weapons and keeping them on standby due to the increasing threats posed by Russia and China. Click Me
While some individuals in Moscow tried to downplay the significance of these remarks, Kremlin spokesperson Dimitry Peskov took a more critical stance. He condemned the comments, stating that they only served to escalate tensions and contradicted the communique issued during the peace summit in Switzerland over the weekend.
It's worth noting that the talks were initiated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with Russia not being invited to participate. The communique, which was signed by more than 80 countries, explicitly stated that any threat or use of nuclear weapons in the context of Ukraine was unacceptable.
Mr. Stoltenberg later clarified that Russia was attempting to create confusion and that his comments were referring to the modernization of NATO's nuclear deterrent, which includes replacing F-16 jets with F-35s. Click Me
In response to the situation, NATO spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah emphasized that their ongoing modernization program aims to replace outdated weapons and aircraft. She further stated that there are no significant changes to NATO's nuclear deterrent beyond that.
Analysis: Russia will delight in the West's disquiet caused by North Korea visit
It's been quite a while since Vladimir Putin's last visit to North Korea. Almost a quarter of a century has passed since his first visit in 2000, shortly after he took office. One can't help but wonder why it took so long for him to return. Was it due to the lack of hospitality or perhaps because he had better options elsewhere? Click Me
Regardless of the reasons, it seems that the current circumstances have brought him back. Tuesday's visit highlights both Russia's isolation from the West and the growing friendship between these two countries, which are often seen as outcasts.
But what does North Korea have to offer Russia? Apparently, more than just camaraderie. According to the US and other sources, North Korea has been supplying the Kremlin with weapons and ammunition to be used in Ukraine. Click Me
South Korea's defense minister even mentioned in a recent interview with Bloomberg that North Korea has sent millions of artillery shells and dozens of ballistic missiles to Russia since September. While Moscow and Pyongyang deny these accusations, UN monitors claim to have seen evidence supporting them. They concluded that a missile fired from Russia in Kherson in January belonged to North Korea's Kwasong-11 series, according to Kyiv.
For North Korea, forging closer ties with Russia is a significant victory. Apart from providing essential resources like food and fuel, analysts believe that Russia has also offered much-needed economic aid and diplomatic support to the impoverished nation. Click Me
In March, Russia used its veto power to block the UN resolution that aimed to extend the mandate of the panel of experts responsible for monitoring sanctions enforcement. This action raised concerns about Russia's involvement in providing technical expertise to North Korea's space and satellite programs. Last September, President Putin hosted Kim Jong Un at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia's Far East, further strengthening the ties between the two countries. The close relationship between Russia and North Korea is a major worry for the West and its Asian allies.
Both leaders have a reputation for emphasizing their readiness to use nuclear weapons. This has caused significant anxiety in Washington and Seoul, as there is a fear that Russia might share its nuclear knowledge and missile technology with North Korea, in addition to other forms of assistance.
The composition of President Putin's entourage during the visit has raised eyebrows. It includes his new defense minister, Andrei Belousov, and Denis Manturov, the deputy prime minister responsible for defense. The Kremlin's official stance is that the visit and any potential security agreement are not directed against any specific country. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia has the "right" to develop positive relationships with its neighbors, which should not concern anyone. Click Me
However, behind the scenes, it is clear that Russia takes pleasure in causing unease with this visit. It is a diplomatic gesture that challenges the West and may even bring tangible geopolitical advantages.
For instance, if South Korea is contemplating providing weapons to Ukraine, this visit might make them reconsider their decision.
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