"As Ukrainian forces fight in the western Russian region of Kursk, they are encountering a new enemy – elite North Korean servicemen.
On Sunday, Ukrainian infantry and armoued vehicles resumed an offensive in three directions in Kursk, trying to fence their toehold in the district centre of Sudzha that they had seized in August.
By Tuesday, they occupied at least three villages northeast of Sudzha – and inflicted losses on the North Koreans that fight in separate units under Russian command.
“We thinned their ranks – they have losses, although Kim didn’t just send ordinary servicemen,” a Ukrainian soldier told Al Jazeera, referring to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.Russians keep advancing despite a reported lack of tanks and armored vehicles.
“They keep pushing. The only problem they have is their equipment, they can’t throw it around the way they did three or four months ago,” he said.
But the biggest problem his unit – as well as all of Ukraine’s armed forces – faces is a dire shortage of manpower.
Last week, Ukrainian troops retreated from the eastern town of Kurakhove, which Russian troops claimed control of on Monday.
Russians keep advancing despite a reported lack of tanks and armored vehicles.
“They keep pushing. The only problem they have is their equipment, they can’t throw it around the way they did three or four months ago,” he said.
But the biggest problem his unit – as well as all of Ukraine’s armed forces – faces is a dire shortage of manpower.
Last week, Ukrainian troops retreated from the eastern town of Kurakhove, which Russian troops claimed control of on Monday." AJ
"Roughly 30,000 Los Angeles residents — including celebrities — have been ordered to evacuate their homes as a wildfire engulfs the ritzy Pacific Palisades while another destructive blaze erupted hours later in nearby Altadena on Tuesday night.California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency after touching down in the Pacific Palisades area and meeting with first responders fighting the blaze that has so far torched more than 2,900 acres, according to CalFire.
“By no stretch of the imagination are we out of the woods,” Newsom warned as winds up to 100 mph are expected to increase overnight across the tony enclave — including regions that are “abnormally dry,” according to the US Drought Monitor.
Some residents even fled on foot after ditching their cars in the street — inadvertently creating obstacles for firefighters trying to battle the blaze.
“We looked across and the fire had jumped from one side of the road to the other side of the road,” Kelsey Trainor said.
While the Bravest brainstormed to find a way through the streets that had quickly turned into parking lots, a bulldozer was brought in to help push cars aside while “Police Academy” star Steve Guttenberg came in out of the blue to help drive abandoned vehicles off the road." NYP
"Air defenses destroyed 32 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory overnight, the Defense Ministry in Moscow said on Wednesday.
Saratov Region appeared to be the prime target, with 11 UAVs shot down, the ministry statement said.
Four drones were destroyed in the Kursk and Rostov Regions, three in the Belgorod and Bryansk Regions, two in Krasnodar Region, one in Volgograd Region and four more over the Sea of Azov." RT
"The Russians attacked Ukraine with 64 Shahed attack UAVs and various types of decoy
drones on the night of 7-8 January. Air defence forces shot down 41 Russian drones." Pravada
"Venezuela has broken off diplomatic relations with Paraguay after its president, Santiago Pena, publicly backed the opposition in Caracas and recognized exiled opposition figure Edmundo Gonzalez as the winner of last year’s presidential elections.
According to Venezuelan electoral authorities, President Nicolas Maduro defeated Gonzalez in the presidential ballot last July. However, the opposition – along with most Western countries – claimed the vote was rigged and has put pressure on Maduro to step down." RT
"Venezuela’s leader Nicolás Maduro announced on state television on 7 January the arrest of seven foreigners whom he accused of being "mercenaries", allegedly trying to prevent him from taking the presidential oath.
Maduro claimed that among those detained are two Americans, two Colombian "hitmen", and three "mercenaries from the war in Ukraine" who, according to him, were involved in planning "terrorist acts" ahead of his inauguration scheduled for 10 January." Pravada
"176 combat clashes occurred between Ukraine's Defense Forces and the Russian troops on the frontline, with the most intense fighting taking place in the Pokrovsk and Kursk sectors of the front.
In the Kharkiv sector, the enemy attempted to advance four times near Vovchansk and Tykhe but failed.In the Kupiansk sector, there were three Russian attacks during the day. The Ukrainian forces repelled enemy assaults near Topoli, Holubivka, and Petropavlivka.
In the Lyman sector, the Russian troops launched 14 attacks, attempting to advance near Novoserhiivka, Nadiya, Pershotravneve, Cherneshchyna, Makiivka, Zarichne, Terny, and Ivanivka.
In the Siversk sector, the Ukrainian troops repelled seven enemy attacks near Bilohorivka.
In the Kramatorsk sector, the Russian forces attacked the positions of Ukraine’s Defense Forces seven times in the areas of Vasiukivka, Bondarne, Chasiv Yar, Stupochky, and Bila Hora.
In the Toretsk sector, nine attacks were launched on Toretsk, some with air support.
In the Pokrovsk sector, the Ukrainian defenders stopped 41 Russian assaults in the areas of Tarasivka, Vodiane Druhe, Yelyzavetivka, Promin, Lysivka, Sukhyi Yar, Zelene, Novyi Trud, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Novovasylivka, and Nadiivka.
In the Kurakhove sector, Ukraine’s Defense Forces repelled 25 enemy attacks near Sribne, Slovianka, Petropavlivka, Andriivka, Kurakhove, and Dachne.
In the Vremivka sector, the enemy launched 21 assaults on th Ukrainian positions near Yantarne, Kostiantynopolske, Uspenivka, Kostiantynopil, Novosilka, and Pryvilne. Additionally, the Russian forces actively used attack and bomber aviation against settlements and Ukrainian positions.
In the Prydniprovske sector, the Ukrainian forces successfully repelled two enemy assaults.
In the Orikhiv and Huliaipole sectors, the Russian army did not conduct active operations.
In the Volyn and Polissia sectors, no signs of enemy offensive group formations were spotted.
"The operation in Russia’s Kursk region continues, with 32 clashes recorded as well as 146 artillery strikes on settlements and positions of our troops, including six from MLRS," added the General Staff." Ukrin
