Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak discussed with his Japanese counterpart Masataka Okano Russia's military cooperation with North Korea. The parties agreed on regular information exchange and coordination of positions in the field of defense technologies.
Ukraine is carrying out the largest construction of defensive fortifications since the beginning of the full-scale war, allocating over 46 billion hryvnias. These fortifications, which include anti-tank ditches and barbed wire, are designed to deter a possible Russian summer offensive in the east.
Relations between DPRK leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump remain at a "not bad" level, which may indicate Pyongyang's readiness for negotiations with the new US administration. However, North Korea promises to react to attempts to stop its nuclear program.
Pavlo Shamshyn, spokesman for the Kharkiv Joint Forces Operation Group, reported that Russian occupiers are bogged down near Pokrovsk, although the situation there remains difficult. He also commented on Reuters' information about the possible deployment of North Korean troops to Russia.
Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak stated that Russia seeks to destroy Ukraine, disguising the war as "protection of its interests. " He noted that Russia receives assistance from North Korea and Iran, and also circumvents sanctions with the help of other countries of the Global South.
Russia has depleted its vast stockpiles of Soviet-era weapons, leading to a reduction in supplies from military depots to the front lines to 2022 levels. The country is increasingly dependent on supplies from China, North Korea, and Iran to support its defense industry and army.
Russia launched direct passenger flights from Moscow to Pyongyang, which will operate once a month. This step deepens cooperation between the countries, which includes military aid and ammunition supplies.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, stated that there will be no classic World War III, as the world lives in a state of constant undeclared war. He noted that wars are waged in proxy forms, locally, fragmented, in cyberspace, and in the information field.
South Korean lawmakers stated that the DPRK could send additional troops to Russia in July-August to participate in the war against Ukraine. In exchange for weapons, Moscow is likely transferring military technologies for satellites and navigation to Pyongyang.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported over 80,000 Russian military personnel killed or wounded during the Kursk offensive operation. He also noted Russia's use of fiber-optic drones and the appearance of North Korean military units in this direction.
According to Martin Wolf, the outcome of the war in Ukraine will affect the future of European liberal democracy. He emphasized that Ukraine is fighting for the right to choose its own destiny, against Russia's autocracy and its desire to dominate Europe.
North Korea and Russia are deepening economic ties, as evidenced by the appearance of North Korean goods on the Russian market. Experts believe this could have a transformative impact on the DPRK's economy.
North Korea has temporarily banned foreign tourists from visiting the new Wonsan Kalma resort on the Sea of Japan. The decision was made a few days after the visit of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak and US President's Special Representative Keith Kellogg visited Babyn Yar, where they honored the memory of the victims of the shootings. They drew parallels between the crimes of Nazism and the war crimes of modern Russia, recalling the missile strike on Babyn Yar in 2022.
Japan recognized China's military cooperation with Russia as a serious security threat that could change the Indo-Pacific region. Beijing criticized the report, calling it an "incorrect perception of China."
Political scientist Oleksandr Kochetkov believes that Budanov shows signs of a potential statesman, speaking on topics usually discussed by the president or the head of the Presidential Office.
North Korea accused the United States of threatening regional peace by deploying strategic bombers over the Korean Peninsula for trilateral exercises. The exercises involved US, Japanese, and South Korean aircraft, demonstrating their ability to respond to security challenges.
North Korea has supplied Russia with over 12 million 152-mm shells since the start of the full-scale invasion, South Korean intelligence claims. Kim Jong Un has promised Russia further support in the war in Ukraine.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un assured Russia's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov of unconditional support for all of Moscow's actions regarding the "conflict" in Ukraine. Lavrov is on a three-day visit to the DPRK, which has provided troops and weapons for Russia's war against Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with DPRK leader Kim Jong Un during a visit to North Korea. Earlier, Lavrov held talks with his North Korean counterpart Choe Son Hui.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived on an official visit to North Korea. He declared an "invincible brotherhood" between the countries, and North Korea assured support for Russia's policy regarding the protection of its territorial integrity.
Ukrainian defenders destroyed a North Korean-made Type 75 multiple rocket launcher system in the Kupyansk direction. This was carried out by pilots of the First Presidential Brigade "Bureviy".
The US Senate Armed Services Committee approved the National Defense Authorization Act, which provides for $500 million in aid to Ukraine and extends the Security Assistance Initiative until 2028.
The head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, Kyrylo Budanov, stated that North Korea supplies Russia with up to 40% of ammunition for the war in Ukraine. Pyongyang also sends ballistic missiles and artillery systems, receiving money and technology from Russia.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has created a department for unfriendly countries to counter those who help Russia in the war. It will deal with diplomatic, sanction, and political measures against regimes such as Belarus and North Korea.
More than 500 foreigners from 28 countries have died at the front in Russia's war against Ukraine. Among them, the majority are citizens of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, many of whom ended up at the front from Russian penal colonies.
South Korea, the US, and Japan conducted joint air exercises over international waters near Jeju Island, involving a B-52H bomber. This is part of efforts to strengthen the response to nuclear and missile threats from North Korea.
The Center of National Resistance reports on Russia's preparation for a new wave of hidden mobilization in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Putin signed a law allowing the conclusion of contracts with the Russian army for "residents without citizenship," and fines for not informing military commissariats about one's place of residence have been increased.
President Zelenskyy signed decrees on synchronizing Ukrainian sanctions with the 15th, 16th, and 17th packages of anti-Russian restrictions from the European Union. The new sanctions also target companies from China that supply components for Russian weapons production, including "Shaheds."
Russia is involving North Korean military personnel in the war in Ukraine, which creates prerequisites for obtaining cheaper volunteers. Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak emphasizes the risk of war between NATO and Russia due to the use of DPRK troops.
