Ukraine counter-attacked North Korean positions in the Kursk region in a tiny village called Kruglenkoye, which is west of Malaya Loknya in the salient north of Sudzha.
Ukrainian special forces sought to exploit a moment of vulnerability after a series of disastrous North Korean assaults on Malaya Loknya, where the deployed enemy units had been left heavily depleted. Because North Koreans fought almost until the last man was dead, these units suffered catastrophic losses due to poor coordination and a near-total absence of fire support from Russian forces. Ukrainians Intelligence reports estimate approximately 4,000 North Korean casualties in the region, attributed to Russia’s neglect in providing adequate artillery and logistical support.
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The counterattack near Kruglenkoe began with camouflaged Ukrainian troops advancing into the forested area where North Korean soldiers were regrouping for an offensive. The Ukrainians opened fire, quickly neutralizing many of the enemy combatants. During the operation, they examined the bodies of fallen North Korean soldiers and discovered one survivor. As they attempted to take him prisoner, the soldier pulled a grenade, shouted a defiant cry, and detonated it, killing himself in an act of desperation. A Ukrainian soldier narrowly avoided injury, jumping back just in time.
Following this operation, a 15-man Russian assault group was sent to locate the Ukrainian operators.
However, their efforts proved futile as they were swiftly detected by Ukrainian drone units, who destroyed the enemy group with precision and efficiency.
The Engels and Liski oil depots continue to burn.
The Liski depot was built in a rural area and there are no fire hydrants, so water has to be trucked in.
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🔥 A fire continues at the oil depot in Engels, which was attacked again by Ukrainian drones.
❗️According to Russian voenkors, the strikes on this oil depot, which supplies an airfield for strategic aviation, have already disrupted preparations for new missile strikes on energy infrastructure.
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— MAKS 24 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) January 17, 2025 at 3:43 AM
Another careless smoker or fallen debris.
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A warehouse in Vyborg, Leningrad, has burned down, destroying 1.7 million rubles worth of supplies for "special military operation" participants. The warehouse contained construction materials for bunkers, body armor, tactical headphones, clothing, and other equipment. Arson is said to be the reason
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— NOELREPORTS (@noelreports.com) January 15, 2025 at 3:19 PM
This is from a Russian attack on the city of Kryvyi Rih.
This man lost his wife to a Russian attack in 2022 and now has lost his second wife to a Russian attack.
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The names of two victims of the Russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih became known.
Oksana, 45. Ihor's wife (see quoted post). She was a music teacher in a local school.
Oleksii, 20. He died by the entrance to his residential building together with his grandma. Oleksii was studying to be a teacher.
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— Anton Gerashchenko (@antongerashchenko.bsky.social) January 17, 2025 at 7:34 AM
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She was killed by debris in her own car. Ihor managed to bend down, she was sitting straight, and that killed her.
Ihor and his first wife had three children. They lost their mom in 2022, and in 2025, they lost their new mom.
The eldest son has a birthday today.
— Anton Gerashchenko (@antongerashchenko.bsky.social) January 17, 2025 at 6:57 AM
There is a post today alleging that Russian soldiers have once again beheaded Ukrainian soldiers and displayed the severed heads on poles. It is on Twitter and I don’t see it elsewhere. If you want to see it, go here. The gruesome parts are pixilated but be forewarned.
This is actually a very good idea, IMHO — foreign forces (British, French, etc.) taking over responsibility for defending places like Odesa and Lviv from air assault.
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russia deployed foreign forces to repel the Kursk assault with no repercussions.
Why haven’t Western powers taken similar action? They could at least ease the burden on Ukraine’s military by taking over defensive responsibilities in less active areas.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) January 17, 2025 at 12:15 PM
The vehicle kept on going, though some underwear likely had to be changed.
These Russians said they fundraised for two years to be able to buy this Scooby van.
Better started asking for money again.
Another 1,670 Russians, 12 tanks and 124 other vehicles, which I assume would include motorcycles and Chinese golf carts.
Slap some bandages on those malingerers and send them back for the next meat wave.
Nine percent is a significant drop.
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⚡️ Russia’s seaborne oil exports decline 9.1% in 2024 amid Ukrainian drone attacks, Reuters reports.
Ukraine has targeted Russia's fossil fuel infrastructure as part of its strategy to undermine a key funding source for Russia's war effort.
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— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) January 17, 2025 at 8:00 AM
As John McClain would say, “Just a fly in the ointment, Hans. The monkey in the wrench. The pain in the ass.”
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“Russia's primary electronic trading platform for government and corporate procurement, Roseltorg, confirmed a cyberattack after initially attributing outages to maintenance. The unknown pro-Ukraine hacker group, Yellow Drift, took responsibility for the attack”.
therecord.media/russian-plat...
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— Peter Schrijver (@psguu.bsky.social) January 14, 2025 at 2:09 PM
More thug behavior from the Russian government.
Police in the town of Petushki in Russia’s Vladimir region have arrestedseveral journalists accredited to attend a court hearing in the case against late opposition politician Alexey Navalny’s lawyers, Mediazona reported on Friday.
The journalists were reportedly stopped on the train station platform upon arrival and informed by police that their identities needed to be verified. At the local police station, one detainee was told there was an “alert for theft” linked to him.
According to Mediazona, four people were at the police station as of Monday mid-morning: SotaVision correspondent Mikhail Lebedev, two other journalists whose names have been disclosed, and a supporter who came to attend the hearing in support of Navalny’s lawyers. Another journalist was reportedly detained near the courthouse and was being transported to the police station.
The Petushki District Court is scheduled to announce its verdict at 10:00 a.m. for Alexey Navalny’s former lawyers Vadim Kobzev, Alexey Lipster, and Igor Sergunin, who are charged with participating in an “extremist” organization. Prosecutors have requested sentences of more than five years in prison for each defendant.
Justice delivered to Russian executioners.
The captured Russians were identified as marines from the 40th Arctic Brigade. During interrogations, they allegedly admitted to taking the Ukrainian POWs and executing them under orders.
Ukrainian forces reportedly killed three members of the firing squad during the operation, while three others, including one identified by the call sign "Yaryy," were captured.
Birds of a feather.
Mystery solved.
I’d be depressed if I was in Russia right now too.
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Retail sales of antidepressants in Russia reached 16.1 million packs from January to November 2024, a 16.8 percent increase year-on-year and exceeding the total sales for all of 2023 (15.3 million packages).
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— Meduza in English (@meduza.io) January 17, 2025 at 5:46 AM
Will any of them still be alive or unscathed by then?
I was actually being sarcastic in the above post, but ISW predicts possible extinction for the North Korean expeditionary force..
Still a beautiful city.
