• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Ukraine Invasion
Defense Policy / Programs
Foreign Policy
News Reports

Ukraine Invasion

• Ukraine, U.S. Say North Korean Soldiers Killed, Wounded In Russia's Kursk RFE/RL 16 Dec 2024 -- Ukrainian intelligence said at least 30 North Korean soldiers fighting for Russia have been killed or wounded in the western Russian region of Kursk, the first time Kyiv has given such a detailed report on North Korean losses since Pyongyang sent troops to help Moscow.
• North Korean forces join Russia's fight against Ukraine VOA 16 Dec 2024 -- North Korean troops are fighting and dying alongside Russian forces as part of Moscow's war against Ukraine, according to the latest assessment from the Pentagon.
• Russian Defence Ministry reports on repelling AFU attempt to invade Russian territory in Kursk region (16 December 2024) Russia MoD 16 Dec 2024 -- The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the operation to neutralise an enemy group, which broke into the territory of Kursk region.
• Environmentalists Warn Of Disaster As Russian Officials Race To Grounded Tankers In Kerch Strait RFE/RL 16 Dec 2024 -- Environmentalists are warning of a potential disaster posed by two Russian oil tankers that ran aground in the ecologically sensitive waters off Ukraine's Moscow-annexed Crimean coastline as local media reported thousands of tons of low-grade fuel has spilled into a major Black Sea shipping lane.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Expanded meeting of the Defence Ministry Board President of Russia 16 Dec 2024 -- The President took part in an expanded meeting of the Defence Ministry Board at the National Defence Control Centre of the Russian Federation.
• Supreme Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces of Russian Federation Vladimir hold extended session of Russian Defence Ministry Board Russia MoD 16 Dec 2024 -- Today, the National Defence Control Centre of the Russian Federation hosted an extended meeting of the Russian Ministry of Defence Board, at which the results of the work of the Russian Armed Forces in 2024 were summarised and the tasks for the next period were defined.
• Data on interceptions of aircraft completed near the Baltic States' borders on December 9-15, 2024 Lithuania MND 16 Dec 2024

Foreign Policy

• Foreign Ministry Statement on the development of the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 16 Dec 2024
• Statement by Konstantin Vorontsov, Head of the Delegation of the Russian Federation, Deputy Director of the Department for Non-Proliferation and Arms Control of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, at the Meeting of States Parties to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, Geneva, 16 December 2024 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 16 Dec 2024
• Joint Statement from Foreign Ministers Condemning DPRK-Russia Cooperation European External Action Service (EEAS) 16 Dec 2024 -- The text of the following statement was released by the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the High Representative of the European Union.
• US hits North Korea with new sanctions Radio Free Asia 16 Dec 2024 -- The United States on Monday announced new sanctions tied to both North Korea's missile-building program and its deployment of troops to Ukraine, coming amid reports of casualties of North Korean troops along Russia's border with Ukraine.
• Treasury Sanctions Key Facilitators Behind North Korea's Illicit Financial Activities and Military Support to Russia US Treasury 16 Dec 2024 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today sanctioned nine individuals and seven entities that have provided financial and military support to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). Also, today, the U.S. Department of State sanctioned three targets related to the DPRK's ballistic missile program. These actions reflect the DPRK's escalating provocation and hostile military posturing that exacerbate global tensions and destabilize regional peace and security.
• Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine: EU adopts 15th package of restrictive measures EC/CEU 16 Dec 2024 -- The Council adopted today a 15th package of economic and individual restrictive measures with the objective of further limiting Russia's ability to wage its illegal, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine.
• EU Ministers Approve New Sanctions Targeting Russian 'Shadow Fleet' RFE/RL 16 Dec 2024 -- European Union foreign ministers have adopted a 15th package of sanctions against Russia targeting tankers transporting Russian oil as the bloc looks to curb the circumvention of previous measures aimed at hindering Moscow's ability to wage war against Ukraine.
• Comment by Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna on the decision by 12 European states on further measures to counter Russia's shadow fleet Estonia MFA 16 Dec 2024
• European Union ramps up sanctions against Russia Estonia MFA 16 Dec 2024 -- On Monday 16 December, the European Union adopted a new package of sanctions to make restrictive measures against Russia stricter and stronger, adding 84 individuals and entities to the list. 51 ships, mainly shadow fleet tankers, were added to the list of sanctions on ships.
• Fifteenth package of sanctions against Russia adopted Government Offices of Sweden 16 Dec 2024 -- The EU has adopted a fifteenth sanctions package in response to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.
• Group of Coastal states around Baltic Sea and North Sea to take targeted measures against Russian shadow fleet Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland 16 Dec 2024 -- In connection with the JEF Leaders' Summit in Tallinn on 16 December, a group of coastal states around the Baltic Sea and the North Sea announced that they will begin regularly inspecting the insurance certificates of oil tankers used by Russia.
• Russian hybrid threats: EU agrees first listings in response to destabilising activities against the EU, its member states and partners EC/CEU 16 Dec 2024 -- For the first time ever, the Council today decided to impose restrictive measures against 16 individuals and three entities responsible for Russia's destabilising actions abroad. These measures are in response to Russia's malicious actions and its lack of respect for a rules-based international order and international law.
• Foreign Minister Tsahkna in Brussels: We must force Russia to change course Estonia MFA 16 Dec 2024 -- Today 16 December, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna attended the meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Brussels, where the agenda covered Russia's aggression against Ukraine, and the situation in Georgia, Middle East and Belarus.

News Reports