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Russian State Duma Pushes Bill To Block 'Foreign Agents' From Revenues
Russian lawmakers have approved a bill that restricts how so-called foreign agents can access their income inside the country as the government continues to clamp down on political opponents amid the war in Ukraine.
The State Duma, Russia's lower chamber of parliament, approved in its second and third readings a bill targeting "foreign agents," a controversial designation that stigmatizes those who receive it with a Soviet-era connotation and restricts their ability to exercise free speech.
The bill limits a so-called foreign agent's access to various forms of income sourced domestically, including proceeds from property sales, royalties for creative work, or investment returns by requiring all proceeds be placed in special blocked bank accounts.
Such funds would become available only in the event of the individual's foreign agent status being officially lifted -- a development critics say is all but impossible.
Human rights groups and international observers have denounced the legislation as another move in Russia's authoritarian squeeze.
Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of the State Duma, justified the move, however, describing it as a way to defend national interests.
"Those who betray our country will not enrich themselves at the expense of its citizens. Funds earned in Russia must not be used against it," Volodin stated on Telegram.
The law passed unanimously in the State Duma and now goes to the Federation Council, parliament's upper house, before going to President Vladimir Putin for a signature -- both of which are seen as a formality.
The designation of foreign agent carries Soviet-era overtones of espionage and betrayal and has become the hallmark of the Kremlin's efforts to muzzle dissent.
First introduced in 2012, the term has been applied to NGOs, independent journalists, opposition politicians, activists, and cultural figures accused of receiving foreign funding or engaging in activities perceived as politically hostile.
The number of so-called foreign agents has increased to about 500 and includes prominent cultural and creative figures, most of whom had to flee Russia and are currently staying abroad.
The new law significantly enhances controls from which the already highly restricted designees have to suffer, including among other demands such requirements as compulsory disclaimers on everything they say or write publicly and even file activity and detailed financial reports regularly.
Later, other amendments banned advertisement collaborations with alleged foreign agents and significantly stiffened penalties, sending some to trials for noncompliance with the law.
The new legislation represents a new phase in the campaign by the Kremlin to choke off the voices of its opponents.
Royalties and earnings from intellectual property became an essential lifeline for musicians, authors, and artists whom the government placed on the list. Critics say the new measures will economically paralyze people whose work or public statements challenge government narratives.
The move could also exacerbate the cultural brain drain in Russia since the beginning of its ongoing invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
With reporting by TASS and Interfax
Bolstered By North Korean Troops, Russia Presses Attacks in Kursk Region
KYIV -- Moscow's forces, bolstered by North Korean troops, have intensified their offensive against Ukrainian troops in Russia’s Kursk region, as Kyiv's outnumbered soldiers attempted to resist the onslaught there and elsewhere on December 17.
"For the third day, the enemy has been conducting intensive offensive operations on the territory of the Kursk region, actively using units of the North Korean Army," said General Oleksandr Syrskiy, Ukraine's top military commander, in an address broadcast online.
Pyongyang’s decision to send troops to Russia appears to have come at a high cost so far.
Ukrainian and U.S. officials on December 16 said North Korean troops have been fighting alongside Russian forces in Kursk and that some have been killed or injured.
On December 17, a senior U.S. military official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told news agencies that North Korean forces have suffered "several hundred" casualties in the Kursk fighting -- from lower-level troops to those "very near to the top."
"These are not battle-hardened troops. They haven't been in combat before," the official added.
RFE/RL has not been able to independently verify the claims. Russia has not commented on the reports.
Syrskiy said the situation all along the front line "remains difficult" after Russian troops had seized "the strategic initiative" in recent weeks.
He said Russian forces were continuing their drive to capture the strategic Donetsk city of Pokrovsk, which appears to be mostly deserted by civilians.
Local military commanders in the region said defense forces were "holding back the onslaught," although the overall situation in the Donetsk city -- with a prewar population of about 65,000 -- appeared perilous, according to many Ukrainian officials.
Over recent months, Russia has pressed its manpower advantage to push back against Ukraine's shock incursion into its Kursk region in August and to gain territory in eastern Ukraine, prompting Ukrainian officials to increase pleas to Western partners for additional military aid.
Elsewhere, Ukraine's SBU security service said it had uncovered a "large-scale network" of agents working for Russian military intelligence that had attempted to collect information on Ukraine's supply of Western-supplied F-16 warplanes, which are based at secret sites throughout the country.
"As a result of the special operation, 12 Russian agents and their informants were exposed. Some of them are deserters who voluntarily left the units of the armed forces of Ukraine, and when they were hiding from justice, they were recruited by the Russian special service," the security office said.
On the political front, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Lviv, vowing his support for Ukraine's NATO membership hopes, while Zelenskiy urged Western allies to "urgently strengthen Ukraine" with additional aid.
On December 16, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump told a news conference that Zelenskiy and Russia's Vladimir Putin must be prepared to "make a deal" to end the "horrible" war in Ukraine.
"He should be prepared to make a deal, that’s all," Trump said of Zelenskiy during a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida.
Putin must also "make a deal," Trump then added.
"Got to be a deal. Too many people being killed," he said.
Trump, who takes office on January 20, said he would speak with Zelenskiy and Putin on ways to end the war, but he did not answer directly when asked if Ukraine would be forced to cede territory to Russia.
President Joe Biden's administration has attempted to speed deliveries of aid to Kyiv ahead of the return to the White House of Trump, who has criticized the amount of assistance Biden has provided to Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Meanwhile, in Tallinn, Estonia, leaders of the 10-nation Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) on December 17 vowed continued support for Ukraine.
"We reiterate that Ukraine’s victory is vital to all our security and the preservation of rules-based international order," a joint statement read.
"We call on all third countries, including [North Korea], Belarus, Iran, and China, which are directly or indirectly enabling Russia’s aggression, to cease offering the support Moscow requires to prolong the war and the suffering of the Ukrainian people."
The statement is signed by Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
Russian Attack Drones Hunt Down Individual Civilians In Ukraine
Residents in Ukraine's Kherson region say they are being stalked by Russian drones, which drop lethal grenades and mines on their community. Up to 40 drones a day have been spotted hunting civilians, cars, and cyclists in a terror tactic that has been called "human safari."
EU Launches Probe Into TikTok Over Suspected Romanian Election Interference
The European Union has launched an investigation into the Chinese-owned social media platform TikTok over accusations that it was used by Russia to influence the result of Romania's first round of presidential elections won by a far-right Moscow-friendly candidate.
Largely unknown independent Calin Georgescu scored a shock victory in the first round of balloting in a November 24 election with some 23 percent of the vote. He had been due to face pro-European center-right Elena Lasconi in a December 8 runoff.
However, following Romania's National Security Council's declassification of documents allegedly pointing to a "state actor" that wasn't named but appeared to be Russia, the EU and NATO member's Constitutional Court annulled the first round of the vote and ordered a complete rerun that would take place in the next few months.
Incumbent Klaus Iohannis's term has been extended accordingly, although his second five-year term expired in mid-December.
"Following serious indications that foreign actors interfered in the Romanian presidential elections by using TikTok, we are now thoroughly investigating whether TikTok has violated the Digital Services Act by failing to tackle such risks," European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement on December 17.
"This decision to open an investigation takes into account information received from declassified intelligence reports by the Romanian authorities, as well as third-party reports," she added.
The statement said the commission will continue to gather evidence, "for example by sending additional requests for information, conducting monitoring actions, interviews, inspections, and requesting access to algorithms."
Von der Leyen's announcement comes after the EU, issued a retention order to TikTok on December 5, ordering the platform to freeze and preserve data related to "actual or foreseeable systemic risks" concerning national elections in the 27-member bloc from November 24 to March next year.
TikTok will now have to provide data and documents retained under the December 5 order, von der Leyen said.
The EU move comes after a group of senior U.S. senators issued a statement condemning alleged Russian influence in the Romanian elections.
“Vladimir Putin’s assault on Romania’s elections is yet another example of the hybrid war he is waging on our European allies and partners,” U.S. Senators Pete Ricketts (Republican-Nevada), Ben Cardin (Democrat-Maryland), Jim Risch (Republican-Idaho), and Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat-New Hampshire) said in a statement.
“As a strong NATO ally, we support Romania as it fights for the integrity of its elections. We condemn Putin’s manipulation of Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-controlled TikTok to undermine Romania’s democratic process," the senators said.
"The United States stands in support of Romania as it urgently moves to hold certifiably free and fair presidential elections," the statement said.
Russian Lawyer Fined For Talking To RFE/RL
A Moscow court on December 17 fined lawyer Yeva Levenberg of the OVD-Info rights group for speaking to RFE/RL's Russian Service, known locally as Radio Svoboda. The court ordered Levenberg to pay 10,000 rubles ($96) after finding her guilty of cooperating with an "undesirable" organization. The charge stemmed from Levenberg's comments to RFE/RL regarding politically motivated charges of extremism faced by Russian activists. RFE/RL's Russian Service was labeled " undesirable " in February. Individuals found guilty of collaborating with "undesirable" organizations may face up to 15,000 rubles of fines and up to four years in prison if convicted of repeated cooperation with organizations labeled "undesirable" by Russian authorities. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Russian Service, click here.
Oil Covers Dozens Of Kilometers Of Russia's Coastal Area After Tankers Sink
Dozens of kilometers of Black Sea coastline in Russia's Krasnodar region have been covered in heavy fuel oil, local authorities and residents reported on December 17, after two oil tankers were heavily damaged during a storm in the Kerch Strait.
Regional Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said cleanup crews were being dispatched to the area as high winds helped spread large amounts of spilled oil along the coastline, raising concerns of an impending environmental disaster in the Black Sea.
Social media photos and video showed wildlife covered in dark liquid, the result of the December 15 incident involving two Volgoneft tankers that were carrying thousands of tons of mazut -- low-quality heavy fuel oil.
The vessels reportedly ran aground in the ecologically sensitive waters off Ukraine's Moscow-annexed Crimean coastline. One of the tankers reportedly capsized and split into two during a severe storm. Waves as high as 3-4 meters, considered dangerous for such vessels, are believed to have caused the accident.
Reports of environmental degradation are mounting as more and more oil spreads across the sea and onto shores that are summer havens for families.
Local residents painted a dire picture of the shoreline, noting oil-covered birds that cannot fly and stray dogs covered in fuel oil roaming the shore.
They also noted the strong scent of oil in the air with many residents complaining of nausea and skin and eye irritations.
Almost 300 people, including volunteers and heavy equipment, are working to minimize the consequences of the accident, officials said.
Two municipalities have organized operational headquarters for cleaning. Environmentalists, however, warn that the spill's size may already be too big to handle.
The chairman of the region's maritime trade unions, Leonid Glushak, told the Kedr website that the overwhelming majority of the fuel oil has already seeped into the sea, exacerbating the eco-catastrophe.
According to Glushak, Volgoneft tankers, intended for river voyages, are inadequate for open sea water such as the Kerch Strait.
Moscow has been using a so-called shadow fleet of tankers -- a group of old, uninsured oil vessels -- to bypass Western sanctions imposed over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The poor condition of these ships has raised concerns about environmental disasters.
Authorities have started criminal investigations into the accident, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned could be repeated in other areas of Europe.
"Our sea is facing yet another environmental disaster caused by Russia. But there are even larger and more dangerous Russian tankers operating in your seas. Stopping this fleet is not just about cutting off Russia’s war funding -- it’s about protecting nature," he said in a post on X on December 17.
Russia illegally annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.
Russian General Charged With Chemical Weapons Use In Ukraine Killed In Blast Claimed By Kyiv
A high-ranking officer in charge of Russia's Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defense Forces (RKhBZ) has been killed in an explosion in Moscow that sources told RFE/RL was carried out by Ukrainian intelligence operatives.
Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov and his assistant were killed by a bomb concealed in a scooter outside the entrance of a Moscow building early on December 17, Russia's Investigative Committee said in a statement.
Kirillov, 54, is the highest-level Russian military officer to be killed in an apparent assassination since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
While no individual or group officially claimed responsibility for the killing, a source at Ukraine's SBU security service told RFE/RL that the blast was the result of a special operation by the SBU.
The Kremlin blamed the attack on Kyiv and criticied Ukraine's Western allies for what it called a lack of reaction to the killing.
"The terrorist attack in Moscow was a continuation and development of the spiral of approval by the West of the war crimes of the militants of the Kyiv regime," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on Telegram.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told a briefing that the United States was not involved in the killing or aware of it in advance.
But he added that Kirillov "was a general who was involved in a number of atrocities. He was involved in the use of chemical weapons against the Ukrainian military."
The SBU has said Russian forces used chemical weapons almost 5,000 times during the war in Ukraine under Kirillov’s leadership.
The claim could not be independently verified, but Kyiv has reportedly been behind a campaign of targeted assassinations of Russian officials and military officers involved in the invasion of Ukraine.
The incident occurred a day after the SBU reported that Ukrainian prosecutors filed a charge against Kirillov, accusing him of being responsible for the use of chemical weapons against Ukrainian troops during the war started by Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
Kirillov is one of a number of Russian officers and pro-war figures to be killed in Russia and in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine. His death came a week after a senior official from a Russian company that develops cruise missiles used by Moscow in the war was reportedly shot dead just outside the capital.
Kirillov figured in footage that was central to an RFE/RL Russian Service investigation which revealed details about a restricted facility outside Moscow that figures in the U.S. assertion that Russia maintains an offensive biological weapons program in violation of the UN Biological Weapons Convention.
The investigation focused on Russian state media footage that showed then-Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu inspecting the facility, which was known for its role in the Soviet Union's biological weapons program and has undergone a major expansion. Kirillov led Shoigu on his tour of the inspection of the facility, the 48th Central Scientific Research Institute.
Ukraine Invasion: News & Analysis
RFE/RL's Ukraine Live Briefing gives you the latest developments on Russia's invasion, Western military aid, the plight of civilians, and territorial control maps. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.
The investigative committee said the explosion occurred outside an apartment building on Ryazansky Prospekt, an avenue in the Russian capital which starts some 7 kilometers southeast of the Kremlin.
Pictures posted on the Russian Telegram channel Astra showed what appeared to be two bodies lying in the snow outside the damaged door of an apartment building.
After analyzing images of a car parked near the apartment building, Astra reported that the vehicle was Kirillov's.
The RKhBZ are special forces who operate under conditions of radioactive, chemical, and biological contamination.
According to his official biography, Kirillov participated in the creation and adoption of the TOS-2 "Tosochka" heavy flamethrower system by the Russian Army, as well as in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kirillov and the RKhBZ were placed on Britain, Canada, and New Zealand's sanctions list in October for using riot control agents and numerous reports of the use of the toxic choking agent chloropicrin on the battlefield.
Kirillov and his forces were "responsible for helping deploy these barbaric weapons," Britain said at the time.
The Kremlin has called the accusations "baseless."
Kirillov, who according to Russian state news agency TASS was a graduate of Kostroma Higher Military Command School of Chemical Defense, had been appointed to head the RKhBZ in April 2017.
He previously served in the Directorate of the Chief of the Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defense Troops.
Ukrainian PM Says Deal To Transit Russian Gas Won't Be Extended In 2025
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said a deal allowing transit of Russian gas through his country wouldn't be extended into 2025, but he said he's ready to discuss other methods of providing supplies to Western Europe. "If the European Commission officially approaches Ukraine about transit of any gas other than Russian, we'll naturally discuss it and are ready to reach an appropriate agreement," Shmyhal said on Telegram. "Ukraine's agreement with Russia on gas transit comes to an end on January 1, 2025, and won't be extended." When Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the EU was largely dependent on Russia for gas but has since sought alternative supplies. Shmyhal previously said no extension was planned, but some countries, including Slovakia, had expressed hopes for additional time. Ukraine has said discussions have taken place on the possibility of shipping gas from Azerbaijan to Europe through Ukraine. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, click here.
- By RFE/RL
Assad Breaks Silence, Says He Left Syria As Russian Base Came Under Attack
Ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said he only left the country in the late hours of December 8 after a Russian air base allegedly came under attack by rebel forces and officials in Moscow ordered "an immediate evacuation."
In what appear to be Assad's first public comments since the fall of his regime in war-torn Syria, a post on the Syrian presidency Telegram social media page on December 16 said the departure from the Hmeimim air base "was neither planned, nor did it occur during the final hours of the battles."
Russia had intervened in the 14-year civil war between government forces and rebels to help keep Assad in power.
But the strongman leader fled Syria as the U.S.-designated terrorist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies -- some of whom are linked with Turkey -- overran government forces in a blitz offensive.
Assad's whereabouts were unknown for a brief period before officials in Moscow said on December 9 that he had been granted political asylum in Russia by President Vladimir Putin after more than five decades of iron-fisted rule by his family.
In the post, Assad said he "never considered stepping down or seeking refuge, nor was such a proposal made by any individual or party."
Reuters reported last week that Assad's departure from the country took even relatives and senior officials by surprise.
The HTS has since moved quickly to establish an interim government, and its leader, Riad al-Asaad, has said he is confident the factions that helped topple Assad will unite as one force. HTS and the transitional government have insisted the rights of all Syrians will be protected.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on December 16 that Russia and another of Syria's staunch allies, Iran, shouldn't have influence over the country's future.
"Many foreign ministers emphasized that it should be a condition for the new leadership to eliminate Russian influence [in Syria]," Kallas told reporters at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, adding the bloc would raise the issue of Russia's military bases in the country.
The future of Russia's bases -- the Hmeimim airbase in Latakia and the Tartus naval facility -- have been thrown into question with the fall of Assad.
Shaky Ground: Inside The Russian Military Bases In Syria
Reuters quoted Syrian military and security sources in contact with the Russians as saying that Moscow was pulling back its forces from the front lines and withdrawing some heavy equipment from the country.
The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry (HUR) said on December 15 that Russian military personnel still in Syria are experiencing a lack of food and drinking water as an evacuation of troops and equipment continues.
It added that Russian personnel are experiencing these problems at the bases in Tartus and Hmeimim and on ships anchored offshore in the Mediterranean Sea.
- By RFE/RL
Hungary, Slovakia Block EU Sanctions Against Georgian Leaders
Hungary and Slovakia – both with populist, pro-Russian leaders -- on December 16 blocked a proposed package of European Union sanctions against leading Georgian officials for that government's violent crackdown on pro-West protesters over recent weeks.
EU foreign ministers, who are planning for a December 19 Brussels summit, moved forward, however, on a plan to suspend visa liberalization for diplomatic passport holders of the South Caucasus nation.
The expected moves on December 16 by Hungary and Slovakia prevent the implementation a series of measures against Georgian officials that would have included visa bans and asset freezes.
The move would have required unanimous support by the 27-member bloc.
However, the suspension of visa-liberalization procedures for Georgian diplomatic passport holders requires only a majority vote, meaning 55 percent of member states comprising 65 percent of total EU population.
The European Commission has begun planning for the suspension, and the proposal could be sent to member states this week.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Slovakian premier Robert Fico have been a thorn in the side of fellow EU leaders seeking to punish Georgia for its violent crackdowns on dissent and its increasingly pro-Russia policies.
Both have opposed sanctions on the Kremlin for its war against Russia and have expressed support for the Georgian Dream-led government in Tbilisi.
The EU has never sanctioned Georgian politicians, but earlier this year it froze more than 100 million euro ($105.1 million) of EU funds going to Georgia and halted EU accession talks with Tbilisi.
Earlier in the day, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc had set a list of Georgian leaders to sanction following a violent crackdown on protesters angered by the ruling Georgian Dream party's decision to delay the Caucasus country's negotiations to join the EU.
"We have proposed the list for sanctions for these people who are...using really force and violence against the opposition," Kallas said before a meeting of EU foreign ministers.
"But everybody needs to agree to the list, and we are not there yet."
"All the developments that we are seeing right now in Georgia are not going in the right direction where the candidate countries should be," Kallas told reporters.
Western leaders have been alarmed at what they say are increasingly violent measures against protesters and a growing pro-Russia tilt within the Georgian Dream-led government.
The United States earlier this month imposed more visa restrictions on Georgian officials for "undermining democracy" and on December 16 indicated that further measures are imminent.
"We have been greatly concerned about the state of Georgian democracy, the actions that Georgia Dream has taken to undermine [Georgian] democracy," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.
"We have other sanctions that we are preparing to unfold in the coming weeks," he added.
Protesters have also called for fresh elections following allegations of electoral fraud during the October parliamentary poll whose results the opposition has refused to recognize, claiming Georgian Dream rigged the vote to cling to power.
In power since 2012, Georgian Dream, the party founded by Russia-friendly billionaire and ex-Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, has been accused by critics of becoming increasingly more authoritarian.
Pro-European President Salome Zurabishvili, who has sided with the protesters, has said the elections were manipulated with the help of Russia.
With reporting by AFP
Serbian Government Using Top Tech To Spy On Journalists, Amnesty Says
Serbian authorities have been using sophisticated digital surveillance technology to access mobile phones used by journalists and activists, Amnesty International said on December 16.
In a new report titled A Digital Prison, Amnesty detailed how Serbian officials have been using a locally developed spyware system called NoviSpy and technology developed by the Israeli firm Cellebrite to "unlawfully" target reporters and members of civil society.
"Amnesty International uncovered forensic evidence showing how Serbian authorities used Cellebrite products to enable NoviSpy spyware infections of activists' phones," the report said.
The report includes testimonies from a journalist and an activist who alleged that the authorities, including the police the Security Intelligence Agency, installed spyware on their devices while in custody and during an interview.
"Our investigation reveals how Serbian authorities have deployed surveillance technology and digital repression tactics as instruments of wider state control and repression directed against civil society," said Dinushika Dissanayake, Amnesty International's deputy regional director for Europe.
"It also highlights how Cellebrite mobile forensic products -- used widely by police and intelligence services worldwide -- can pose an enormous risk to those advocating for human rights, the environment, and freedom of speech when used outside of strict legal control and oversight."
Amnesty said NoviSpy can steal sensitive personal data and turn on a phone's microphone and camera remotely. Celleberite tools unlock a target's phone to allow infection by spyware and enable the extraction of data.
In response to Amnesty, Cellebrite said its products "are licensed strictly for lawful use, require a warrant or consent to help law enforcement agencies with legally sanctioned investigations after a crime has taken place."
"Over the past years, state repression and a hostile environment for free speech advocates in Serbia [have] escalated with each wave of anti-government protests. The authorities have engaged in sustained smear campaigns against NGOs, media, and journalists and have also subjected those involved in peaceful protest to arrests and judicial harassment," the report said.
EU Ministers Approve New Sanctions Targeting Russian 'Shadow Fleet'
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.
"This package of sanctions is part of our response to weaken Russia’s war machine and those who are enabling this war, also including Chinese companies," Kaja Kallas, the EU's top diplomat, said in a statement on December 16.
"It shows the unity of EU member states in our continued support to Ukraine. Our immediate priority is to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position. We will stand by the Ukrainian people on all fronts: humanitarian, economic, political, diplomatic and military. There can be no doubt that Ukraine will win," she added.
The European Council said it agreed on a significant package of measures against 54 individuals and 30 entities "responsible for actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine."
It sanctioned the military unit responsible for the striking of the Okhmadyt children's hospital in Kyiv, senior managers in leading companies in Russia's energy sector, individuals responsible for the deportation of Ukrainian children, and two "senior" North Korean officials.
Moscow's so-called shadow fleet of tankers is a group of old, uninsured oil vessels used to bypass Western sanctions and maintain a source of revenue. The poor condition of these ships has raised concerns about environmental disasters.
Separately, 12 Western nations announced measures on December 16 designed "to disrupt and deter Russia’s shadow fleet vessels."
“Russia uses its shadow fleet to circumvent sanctions and mitigate their impact on Russia. The 12 countries agreed to disrupt and deter Russia’s shadow fleet to prevent illegal operations and increase Russia’s costs of its war against Ukraine,” a statement said.
Five of the nations – Britain, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Finland, and Estonia -- have ordered their maritime authorities to request relevant proof of insurance from suspected “shadow” vessels as they pass through bodies of water under their jurisdiction, the statement added.
The statement was issued by the government of Estonia, where leaders of the 10-nation Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) were scheduled to meet on December 17.
A draft of a statement of conclusions being prepared for an EU summit later this week and seen by RFE/RL said that efforts "to further limit Russia's ability to wage war must continue."
The draft, which is still subject to revision, adds that the European Council "strongly condemns" Iran and North Korea for helping to sustain Russia's "war of aggression against Ukraine."
The bloc said growing military cooperation between Moscow and Tehran and the deployment of North Koreans to the battlefront have "serious consequences for international peace and security" and called on both countries to stop helping Russia.
The EU will continue aiding Ukraine financially to stave off the Russian invasion, with plans to disburse a total of 18.1 billion euros ($19 billion) to Kyiv in 2025 starting in January.
On developments in Syria, the bloc welcomed the fall of the "criminal regime" of Bashar al-Assad and called for an "inclusive and Syrian-led political process" to install a government that protects the rights of minorities.
It added that the bloc's foreign policy chief would be asked to "prepare options for measures to support Syria."
On the Gaza War, it called for "an immediate cease-fire" and the unconditional release of hostages held by Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the EU and the United States.
It also reiterated its stance on a two-state solution to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and establish "just and lasting peace."
The EU summit will take place in Brussels on December 19.
Environmentalists Warn Of Disaster As Russian Officials Race To Grounded Tankers In Kerch Strait
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.
The incidents, which occurred on December 15, left one sailor dead and forced the evacuation of 26 crew members from the vessels Volgoneft-239 and Volgoneft-212.
Officials have said crew error during stormy conditions was to blame and that there was no evidence of any links to Russia's war on Ukraine.
Both tankers were laden with large cargoes of fuel oil. The Volgoneft-212 is said to have been carrying more than 4,000 tons of the heavy pollutant, leaving the potential for one of the largest environmental disasters ever in the Kerch Strait, which is a key shipping lane.
Russian state news agencies on December 16 quoted sources as saying some 3,700 tons of mazut, a low-quality heavy fuel oil, had spilled into the water.
Social media video verified by RFE/RL showed one of the tankers splitting in half. It was not immediately clear what, if anything, had leaked from the vessels.
"Any oil or petrochemical spill in these waters has the potential to be serious. It is likely to be driven by prevailing wind and currents...and in the current weather conditions is likely to be extremely difficult to contain. If it is driven ashore, then it will cause fouling of the shoreline, which will be extremely difficult to clean up," Dr. Paul Johnston, head of Greenpeace Research Laboratories in the United Kingdom, said in a statement.
"In consideration of likely significant impacts, the efforts, after saving the crew, should be to prevent or minimize further spillage as feasible. If the ships sink, then there is potential for releases of oil and petrochemicals over longer periods."
The vessels were were about 7 kilometers from the shore in the Kerch Strait between mainland Russia and Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014, when they issued distress signals.
In 2007, the strait, which links the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea, saw the Volgoneft-139 tanker split in half during a storm while anchored nearby, spilling more than 1,000 tons of oil.
Greenpeace called on the Russian authorities "to take all efforts to mitigate or reduce environmental impact of the oil spill, and withdraw the navy ships, and stop militarization of the region, returning Crimea under rightful control of Ukraine."
Isaac Levi, a London-based expert on Russian energy sanctions at the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) said that, although the scale of the situation caused by the two tankers' sinking remains unknown, "the environmental impact is very likely to be astronomical."
The cost of cleanup could be upwards of $112 million if the two tankers spilled all their oil products, and $64 million if only the one that broke apart did so, Levi said in a phone interview with RFE/RL.
"It’s a very old tanker, and it does show some degree of negligence to set sail in those conditions, putting the environment at risk, as well as the crew members," he said of the vessel that broke apart. "It looks like a classic case of negligence or too high risk taken on to sail in stormy conditions."
Russia uses "shadow tankers" -- vessels that are not Western-owned or Western-insured, to skirt sanctions that prohibit it from selling oil and oil products at rates that exceed a set price cap, which varies for crude and different kinds of oil products.
"Shadow tankers that transport Russian oil often undertake dangerous practices that enable Russia to increase its oil export earnings used to fund its war in Ukraine at the expense of maritime ecosystems," Levi said, "as well as putting crews of the vessels at risk and taxpayers in countries that could end up footing the bill for a cleanup if the tanker has insufficient insurance coverage."
"It’s warning that these tankers are old, have poor insurance…and frequently engage in dangerous practices such as ship-to-ship transfers and turning off the AIS transponders" that show their location, putting the maritime ecosystem at risk, he added.
According to the Telegram channel Krymsky Veter, the vessel that broke up, Vologneft-212, had not had its Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponder on since December 3. The system provides positioning, identification and other information about the ship to other ships and to coastal authorities.
Evidence indicates the other tanker, Vologoneft-239, had not turned its AIS transponder on since December 11.
Andriy Klymenko, project director at the Kyiv-based Institute of Strategic Black Sea Studies, wrote on Facebook that the vessels are "not seagoing vessels" but are river vessels that are permitted to travel in coastal waters.
According to Klymenko, neither of the tankers was authorized to sail in seas where waves are higher than 2.5 meters, while he said the waves in the Kerch Strait were reaching 3.5 meters on December 15.
Russia's government said in a post on Telegram that Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has ordered a working group be set up to coordinate cleanup, while Natural Resources and Environment Minister Aleksandr Kozlov arrived at the site on December 16 along with other officials to assess the situation.
With contributions from Steve Gutterman and RFE/RL's Crimea.Realities
Ukraine, U.S. Say North Korean Soldiers Killed, Wounded In Russia's Kursk
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.
The remarks were partially backed up by the Pentagon, with a spokesman on December 16 saying Washington has indications that North Korean troops have fought alongside Russian forces in Kursk and that some have been killed or injured, without speculating on numbers.
"We do assess that North Korean soldiers have engaged in combat in Kursk...we do have indications that they have suffered casualties, both killed and wounded," Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder told reporters in Washington.
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The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian military (HUR) said in a statement on December 16 that North Korean units had suffered "significant losses" near the villages of Martynovka, Plekhovo, and Vorozhba.
On December 15, Skhemy (Schemes), an investigative unit of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, received photos from Ukrainian military sources purportedly showing the bodies of dead soldiers in Kursk, including what was said to be North Korean fighters.
RFE/RL has not been able to independently verify the claim. Russia has not commented on the report.
Separately, the United States and nine other Western allies on December 16 issued a statement condemning “in the strongest possible terms” the increasing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea.
Direct North Korean “support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine marks a dangerous expansion of the conflict, with serious consequences for European and Indo-Pacific security,” it said.
The statement was signed by the U.S. secretary of state along with the foreign ministers of Australia, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand, as well as the high representative of the European Union.
Washington on December 16 also hit Russia and North Korea with new sanctions that the Treasury Department said targeted Pyongyang's financial activities and military support for the Kremlin, echoing similar moves made by the EU earlier in the day.
The sanctions target North Korean banks, generals, and others, along with Russian oil shipping companies.
“Since October, [North Korea] has supplied Russia with more than 11,000 troops -- which are now training for deployment against Ukraine -- and sent significant quantities of missiles and ammunition to the Russian military to replenish its dwindling stockpiles,” the Treasury said.
Ukrainian troops began their incursion into the Kursk region in August and still control some areas. Russia began deploying thousands of North Korean troops in the region in October.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on December 14 that Moscow had started involving more North Korean troops in an effort to push back Ukrainian forces in Kursk.
With estimates by some analysts saying Russian casualties exceed 600,000 and President Vladimir Putin looking to avoid a politically unpopular second mass mobilization, reports suggest more than 11,000 North Korean soldiers are in southwestern Russia.
Meanwhile, an informed source at Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) told RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service that Kyiv used drones last week to target and destroy a Russian ammunition depot in the village of Markyne in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine.
Russia launched 49 Shahed-type drones against Ukraine in the early hours of December 16, Kyiv said. It added that 27 were shot down but it lost track of 19. Three remained in Ukrainian air space.
The Ukrainian military said none of the drones made impact and there were no reports of damages or casualties.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said on December 16 that both Zelenskiy and Putin must be prepared to “make a deal” to end the “horrible” war in Ukraine.
“He should be prepared to make a deal, that’s all,” Trump said of Zelenskiy during a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida.
Putin must also "make a deal," Trump then added.
“Got to be a deal. Too many people being killed,” he said.
Trump, who takes office on January 20, said he would speak with Zelenskiy and Putin on ways to end the war, but he did not answer directly when asked if Ukraine would be forced to cede territory to Russia.
With reporting by AFP and AP
Kyrgyz Prime Minister Resigns Amid Tax Authority Scandal
Kyrgyz Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov submitted his resignation on December 16 amid an unfolding scandal surrounding the detention of senior officials from the State Tax Service.
The resignation ended Japarov's three-year tenure, which, despite notable reforms, has been overshadowed by controversy and increasing scrutiny.
The administration of President Sadyr Japarov, no relation to the prime minister, officially confirmed the move, saying it came as he is due to "transition to another position." It did not elaborate.
Akylbek Japarov, who is active on social media, hasn't said anything about the circumstances surrounding his resignation, which was termed a "rotation" by the deputy chairman of the cabinet in charge of social policy, Edil Baisalov.
Until the appointment of a new prime minister, First Deputy Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliev will serve as interim head of the cabinet.
Japarov's resignation came amid an unprecedented corruption scandal within the State Tax Service, angry public protests, and lawmakers' calls for Japarov's responsibility and resignation.
While authorities have not confirmed his resignation is related to the scandal, the timing raises many questions. Several times, Japarov publicly said he knew about the political pressure but was confident in his position, saying he would serve as long as the president trusted him.
Akylbek Japarov's three years -- substantial in a country where few prime ministers serve even two years -- were marked by vital reforms. Before Japarov, Apas Jumagulov was the only politician in Kyrgyzstan who served longer, holding the post for over four years in the 1990s.
Japarov's tenure as head of the government saw extensive tax reforms in Kyrgyzstan aimed at taming the shadow economy.
If official reports are accurate, the measures brought a significant part of the previously unregulated economic activities into the country's formal system, increasing state revenues.
The changes, however, have also been met with criticism, while some business leaders have expressed dissatisfaction with some of the new regulations.
His time in office also has been tainted by complaints from businesses and accusations of corruption within state institutions, which have yet to be proven.
Iran Shuts Down Government Offices, Schools Amid Freezing Temperatures, Gas Shortages
Iran closed government offices and shifted school classes online on December 16 due to freezing temperatures and a severe gas shortage. Northern provinces have experienced temperatures plunging to -20°C (-4°F) in recent days, accompanied by widespread gas supply disruptions. President Masud Pezeshkian called on citizens last week to lower their thermostats by 2 degrees Celsius to conserve energy. Other government officials have made similar pleas online. Despite sitting on the world’s second-largest proven gas reserves, Iran’s aging infrastructure has struggled to meet increasing demand during winter. To read the full story by RFE/RL's Radio Farda, click here.
4 Men Arrested In North Macedonia Suspected Of Plotting Terrorist Acts
Four men suspected of planning terrorist attacks have been arrested in western North Macedonia, Interior Minister Pance Toskovski said on December 15.
Toshkovski said the arrests were made during raids on several locations in the towns of Struga and Gostivar.
The four men are suspected of planning to organize events that could jeopardize the security of North Macedonia and other countries, Toskovski told reporters.
He added that they were suspected of being “part of terrorist organizations [and] have been under surveillance for a long time.” Those arrested are linked to religious extremist groups, he said, but did not specify what groups they were part of or what actions they planned.
“We have reasonable suspicion that they are connected to groups supporting certain extremist and religious organizations,” he said.
According to Toskovski, the goal of the four-member terrorist cell was to "indoctrinate and co-opt other individuals in the Balkans who could act accordingly toward the realization of their plans."
He added that the National Security Agency (ANB) of North Macedonia and the services of friendly foreign countries also participated in the antiterrorist operation.
The action was carried out in cooperation with partner international organizations, the minister said.
All four men are citizens of North Macedonia and were expected to face an investigating magistrate on December 15. The suspects face up to eight years in prison if convicted of planned terrorism charges.
With reporting by AP
Russian Troops Remaining In Syria Reportedly Lack Food, Water
Russian military personnel still in Syria are experiencing a lack of food and drinking water as an evacuation of troops and equipment continues, according to the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry (GUR).
The Russian personnel are experiencing the problems at military bases in Tartus and Hmeimim and on ships anchored offshore in the Mediterranean Sea, the press service of the GUR said in a statement on Telegram on December 15.
The GUR also said that the remaining Russian service members were waiting for military transport planes involved in the evacuation that were supposed to deliver food.
The statement said Russia continues to withdraw its contingent from remote areas of Syria.
"At the same time, on some routes, the Russians are accompanied by armed groups opposing the Assad regime," the GUR said.
The statement added there are rumors circulating among Russian soldiers that Moscow has agreed to maintain its presence at the two bases, where the number of military personnel is up to 3,000.
RFE/RL was unable to verify the information from open sources. Russian authorities have not commented on this information.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Telegram that it had evacuated part of its diplomatic staff from Syria on December 15. It said the withdrawal was carried out by a special flight of the Russian Air Force from the Hmeimim air base.
Russian transport planes have departed the Hmeimim air base in recent days as part of the evacuation following the fall of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. The longtime ruler was overthrown last week following a lightning offensive led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Assad fled to Russia, which was his regime's main backer.
Satellite images taken on December 13 by the space technology company Maxar appeared to show Russia preparing for the withdrawal of military equipment from the Hmeimim air base. The images showed what appear to be at least two Antonov An-124 cargo planes on the tarmac with their nose cones open.
Russia also has sent several landing ships and civilian vessels to Syria, according to open-source information.
In Damascus, HTS has appointed an interim government, and its leader, Riad al-Asaad, told AFP on December 15 that he is confident the factions that helped topple Assad will unite as one force. HTS and the transitional government have insisted the rights of all Syrians will be protected.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with spoke with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy about the situation in Syria, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said on December 15.
Blinken and Lammy discussed the situation "and the principles endorsed by the United States and countries in the region that should be upheld during the transition process and formation of a new government," Miller said in a statement.
Blinken on December 14 attended an emergency meeting in Jordan of foreign ministers from the Arab League, Turkey, and top officials from the European Union and United Nations.
He said afterward the United States had made "direct contact" with the HTS and other parties. He declined to discuss details of the contacts but said it was important for the United States to convey messages to the group about its conduct and how it intends to govern in a transition period.
Blinken said a joint statement had been agreed at the meeting in Jordan that sets out the principles that other countries want to see in Syria's political transition, including inclusivity and respect for minorities and women and ensuring that terrorist groups do not take hold in the country.
With reporting by AFP
Damaged Russian Tanker Spills Oil Into Kerch Strait During Storm
A Russian oil tanker split in two and began spilling oil into the Kerch Strait during a heavy storm, Russian authorities said on December 15.
The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry said one of 13 crew members of the Volgoneft 212 died, but the remainder were rescued. All but one of those brought to safety were taken to a hospital for treatment of hypothermia.
The Volgoneft 212 was carrying around 4,000 tons of fuel oil when it was damaged in what the ministry said was an accident. The 136-meter tanker split and its bow sank, a video published by state media appeared to show. Two parts of the distressed vessel in rough seas are visible in the video, which was released by the Russian Southern Transport Prosecutor's Office.
"There was a spill of petroleum products," said Russia's water transport agency, Rosmorrechflot.
A second tanker, Volgoneft 239 with 14 sailors on board, was also damaged and ran aground 80 meters from the shore near the port of Taman, the Emergency Situations Ministry said.
Rescuers are in contact with the crew and are preparing an evacuation, but so far approaching the ship is difficult. According to Baza, the rescue operation has been postponed until the morning.
The statements from Russian authorities did not provide details on the extent of the oil spill or how the tankers were damaged.
The Investigative Committee of Russia reported that two criminal cases have been opened for violating safety rules on the movement and operation of a marine vehicle.
Crew error in adverse weather conditions is being considered as among the causes, a source with the search and rescue services told Interfax. According to preliminary data, the crews of one or both tankers could not cope with the elements and made mistakes in controlling the vessel.
"As a result, one vessel received critical damage to the bow, and the other was also seriously damaged," the source said.
The vessels were were about 7 kilometers from shore in the Kerch Strait between mainland Russia and Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014, when they issued distress signals. The strait links the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies that President Vladimir Putin ordered the government to set up a working group to deal with the rescue operation and the spill.
Svetlana Radionova, head of Russia's natural resources watchdog Rosprirodnadzor, said specialists were assessing the damage at the site of the incident.
With reporting by Reuters and AP
Ukraine Targets Russian Fuel Supply Lines To Zaporizhzhya
Ukraine on December 14 carried out a complex operation targeting fuel supply routes from the Russian-annexed Crimea to occupied areas of Zaporizhzhya, an informed source has told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service.
The operation involved a sabotage mission to detonate railway tracks near Oleksyivka in the Bilmak district, derailing a train carrying fuel tanks.
As the fire spread to the tanks, U.S.-supplied HIMARS rockets struck the locomotive and key railcars to prevent salvage efforts. The attack destroyed the locomotive and 40 tankers, crippling a critical rail line supplying Russian forces, the source said.
The operation was carried out by Ukraine’s Security Service in collaboration with military intelligence, special operations forces, and drone units.
Moscow has not commented on the attack.
Meanwhile, Russia launched over 100 suicide drones against Ukraine and struck the Kharkiv region with a missile attack overnight, Ukrainian authorities said on December 15.
Air defenses downed 56 Shahed-type drones while 49 were "locationally lost," according to the Ukrainian military.
Apartment buildings, houses, and an unspecified piece of infrastructure were damaged due to falling debris in several regions. Two people were injured in Mykolayiv, according to local authorities.
Separately, Kharkiv regional Governor Oleh Synyehubov said a Russian missile struck the Kyivsky district, injuring a 48-year-old woman.
Local media in Russia's Chechen Republic reported that suspected Ukrainian drones had targeted a military camp and a base in the capital, Grozny, on December 15.
With reporting by DPA
Iran Detains Singer Who Performed Without Head Scarf
Iranian police released singer Parastoo Ahmadi in the early hours of December 15 following a brief detention after she performed without the mandatory head scarf, her lawyer has confirmed.
Ahmadi caused a stir on social media earlier this week after recording a performance with her hair uncovered and wearing a dress. The performance, recorded with a crew of male musicians, was uploaded to YouTube.
The police on December 14 claimed she was released after a "briefing session" but a source close to the family told RFE/RL's Radio Farda that she remained in custody. Her lawyer Milad Panahipur also denied the police claim, writing on X that the authorities were "lying" about her release.
The following day, Panahipur confirmed Ahmadi, who had been detained in her home province of Mazandaran, was released at 3 in the morning.
Two of her bandmates, Soheil Faqih-Nasri and Ehsan Beyraqdar, were also detained briefly.
Ahmadi’s Instagram account is no longer accessible, but her YouTube account remains active.
The video of her performance, dubbed "an imaginary concert" because female performers cannot sing solo in front of an audience, has received around 1.6 million views on YouTube since it was uploaded on December 11.
On December 12, the authorities said legal proceedings had been launched against Ahmadi and her bandmates for the "illegal concert."
Ahmadi, who gained prominence during the 2022 nationwide protests after singing a song in support of demonstrators, has been widely praised for her performance.
On social media, many have hailed her for fighting "gender apartheid" and showing "bravery, resilience, and love."
A rising number of women have been flouting the mandatory hijab in public since the 2022 protests, which gave rise to the Women, Life, Freedom movement.
The authorities have tried to crack down and recently passed a law enhancing the enforcement of the hijab by introducing hefty fines, restricting access to basic services, and lengthy prison sentences.
The new hijab and chastity law, which has been widely criticized by even conservative figures, is scheduled to go into effect this month, but at least two lawmakers have said its implementation has been postponed by the Supreme National Security Council.
Ukraine, Russia Trade Blame Over Deadly Bombings
Authorities in Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of orchestrating deadly bombings over the past week.
Dnipro regional police on December 14 arrested a suspect in connection with an explosion that occurred in the city center earlier that day.
The blast killed a man and injured four others, including two police officers, who remain hospitalized in critical condition.
According to authorities, the suspect, a 37-year-old local resident, allegedly acted under orders from the Russian intelligence service.
The suspect was arrested within hours following a joint operation by the police and Ukraine's Security Service (SBU). The SBU has classified the incident as a terrorist attack.
Meanwhile, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) on December 15 announced the arrest of a suspect in a car bombing in Russian-occupied Donetsk that reportedly killed a former prison warden and injured his wife on December 9. Russian state media say the suspect is a local resident.
The FSB alleges the suspect planted a homemade explosive device under the vehicle and detonated it remotely, acting on orders from Ukraine's Defense Intelligence Directorate.
Russian authorities have not disclosed the identity of the man killed in the explosion, describing him only as an officer.
Social media reports, however, have identified him as Sergei Yevsyukov, a former head of a prison where dozens of Ukrainian soldiers captured by Russian forces were killed in 2022.
No one has claimed responsibility for either explosion.
Russia Deploys More North Korean Troops In Kursk Region, Zelenskiy Says
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on December 14 that Moscow has started involving more North Korean troops in its efforts to drive Ukrainian forces out of Russia's Kursk region.
"Today there are already preliminary data that the Russians have begun using soldiers from North Korea in the assaults -- a noticeable number," Zelenskiy said.
"The Russians include them in consolidated units and use them in operations in the Kursk region. For now, it is only there."
Zelenskiy’s comments came after the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian military (HUR) issued a statement saying that North Korean troops probably will begin assaulting Ukrainian military positions in the Kursk region in the near future.
The HUR said it was "likely" that Russia will soon involve North Korean soldiers in direct assault operations, noting that in recent days the troops "received additional food supplies."
The North Korean units on December 13 were put on alert and ordered to wait for further instructions, the HUR said.
Some of the troops have been covertly transferred to the front line by civilian trucks that outwardly resemble water-delivery vehicles, the statement said.
It was not possible to verify the information, and the Russian Defense Ministry has not commented on it.
Ukrainian troops began their incursion into the Kursk region in August and still control some areas. Russia began deploying thousands of North Korean troops in the region in October.
The General Staff of the Ukrainian military said on December 14 that 45 clashes had taken place since the beginning of the day in the Kursk region, and 26 of them were still ongoing.
"In addition, the enemy carried out seven air strikes, dropping 10 guided bombs and carrying out 212 artillery attacks on Russian settlements and the positions of our defenders," the General Staff said in its daily summary.
The summary added that the most tense situations on the battlefield were taking place in areas near Pokrovsk, Kurakhivsk, and Vremivsk.
The Russian military "improved the tactical position" in the Pokrovsk direction, the press service of the Khortytsia Military District reported.
Russian forces also tried to improve their tactical position in the Blahodatne area, but were not successful, suffered losses, and withdrew.
Ukrainian forces mounted their own attacks on facilities that supply petroleum products to the Russian Army, the General Staff said.
An attack on a Russian oil depot in Orel overnight on December 13 started a "powerful fire," according to a statement from the General Staff, which described the depot as one of the largest oil terminals in the suburbs of Orel.
Reports of explosions in Orel appeared earlier on Russian Telegram channels. The city was reportedly hit by drone strikes, and some of the channels reported an attack on a local oil depot.
Photos published by the General Staff and on Russian Telegram news channels showed plumes of smoke engulfing the oil terminal.
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Local authorities and Russian state media did not comment on the reports.
Russia's Orel region borders the Kursk and Bryansk regions.
In the border region of Belgorod, Ukrainian drone strikes killed a 9-year-old boy and set fire to a major oil terminal there, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram.
The boy died when a drone struck his family's home outside Belgorod, Gladkov said, adding that his mother and 7-month-old sister were hospitalized.
He posted photos of what he said was the aftermath of the attack, showing a house with gaping holes in its roof and front wall flanked by mounds of rubble.
Orel Governor Andrei Klychkov confirmed on Telegram that a Ukrainian drone strike set fire to a fuel depot. He said later that the blaze had been contained and that there were no casualties.
With reporting by Reuters
Russia Withdraws More Military Equipment From Syria
A Russian cargo plane took off early on December 14 from the Hmeimim air base in western Syria and was reportedly destined for Libya as Moscow continued its departure from its key regional ally.
Citing a Syrian official who monitors the base, Reuters reported that several more Russian transport planes were expected to depart from the base in the coming days as part of an evacuation following the fall of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.
Satellite images taken on December 13 by the space technology company Maxar appeared to show Russia preparing for the withdrawal of military equipment from the Hmeimim air base.
The images showed what appear to be at least two Antonov An-124 cargo planes on the tarmac with their nose cones open.
The source cited by Reuters did not specify the make or model of the aircraft that departed on December 14.
Reuters further reported that on the morning of December 14 an Il-76 cargo plane was seen at the base, while helicopters were flying within the perimeter of facility that was essential to Russia’s strategy of providing air support for Assad’s forces and allies in the Syrian civil war.
Russia's intervention in the war in 2015 had helped keep Assad in power, but the strongman leader fled Syria last week as the U.S.-designated terrorist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies -- some of whom are linked with Turkey -- overran government forces in a blitz offensive.
Russia helped Assad leave the country as the rebel forces approached Damascus and granted him asylum.
RFE/RL determined earlier this week based on satellite images that a Russian Il-76 had landed in Libya at the Al-Jufra air base on December 10. There is no information regarding where the plane came from or where it subsequently went. It is unknown if the Il-76 was the same plane reported by Reuters as being at the Hmeimim air base.
Previous analysis of satellite imagery by RFE/RL revealed that Russia's largest cargo aircraft, the An-124, had been spotted at the base, along with Il-76s, an An-32, and an An-72.
Russian military personnel are stationed at the Al-Jufra air base in Libya.
A number of Western media outlets have reported that Russia has been withdrawing military forces and assets from Syria in the face of Assad's fall, which experts say was a "slap in the face" to Russia.
Moscow leveraged its image as a key supporter of Assad capable of keeping him in power to expand its influence throughout the Middle East and beyond as a counterweight to the West.
Now, Assad's fall and the Russian departure threatens Moscow's influence not only in Syria but across the region.
Earlier reports suggested that Russia was negotiating with the new authorities in charge in Damascus to maintain its bases in Syria.
Aside from Hmeimim, Russia operates a naval base in Tartus, its only warm-water naval base outside the former Soviet Union.
The foreign ministers of the Arab League and Turkey met in Jordan on December 14 to discuss how to assist Syria's transition after the fall of Assad's government.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken told a news conference after the meeting that the United States had made "direct contact" with the HTS and other parties.
He declined to discuss details of the contacts but said it was important for the United States to convey messages to the group about its conduct and how it intends to govern in a transition period.
Blinken said a joint communique had been agreed at the meeting that sets out the principles that other countries want to see in Syria's political transition, including inclusivity and respect for minorities.
With reporting by AFP, Reuters, and AP
Iranian-American Journalist Reza Valizadeh Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison In Iran
An Iranian court has sentenced Reza Valizadeh, a dual U.S.-Iranian citizen and former journalist for RFE/RL's Radio Farda, to 10 years in prison on charges of "collaborating with a hostile government."
According to court documents sent to the journalist’s lawyer on December 10 and subsequently reviewed by RFE/RL, Valizadeh was sentenced by Judge Iman Afshari of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, Branch 26.
In addition to the prison term, Valizadeh was banned for two years following the completion of his sentence from living in Tehran and adjacent provinces, from leaving the country, and from joining political or social organizations.
Valizadeh resigned from Radio Farda in November 2022 after a decade of work. He returned to Iran in early 2024 to visit his family but was arrested on September 22.
His two court sessions, held on November 20 and December 7, reportedly lacked a prosecution representative, with the judge assuming that role.
Sources close to the journalist claim he fell into a "security trap" despite receiving unofficial assurances from Iranian security officials that he would not face legal troubles upon returning to Iran.
The U.S. State Department earlier condemned Valizadeh’s detention, calling it "unjust" and inconsistent with international legal standards. Press freedom organizations, including Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists, urged Iranian authorities to release Valizadeh immediately.
RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus also called for Valizadeh to be released, saying the charges against him, his conviction, and sentence were unjust.
"Time and again, the Iranian regime has attempted to spread its malign influence around the world, trampling on human rights at every opportunity," Capus said in a staetment. "Clearly, this regime feels threatened by the forces of freedom, including independent journalism."
Valizadeh remains in Tehran’s Evin prison under severe restrictions, with limited access to legal representation and family.
Iran is routinely accused of arresting dual nationals and Western citizens on false charges to use them to pressure Western countries. In September 2023, Iran released five Americans jailed in Iran in a prisoner swap.
Valizadeh is the first U.S. citizen known to have been arrested since that deal.
Iran is also among the most repressive countries in terms of freedom of the press. Reporters Without Borders ranked Iran 176th out of 180 countries in its 2024 World Press Freedom Index. The Paris-based media watchdog says Iran is now also one of the world’s biggest jailers of journalists.
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