Good Morning! Let’s break down the key defense (mostly from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict) updates for Wednesday, December 18.
Russia Arrests Suspect in High-Profile General’s Assassination
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) detained Wednesday a suspect in the assassination of Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, who was killed by a bomb hidden in a scooter outside his Moscow apartment.
The suspect, identified as an Uzbek citizen born in 1995, allegedly acted under orders from Ukrainian intelligence, according to the FSB.
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has taken credit for the attack, calling Kirillov a “legitimate target” due to his role in directing the use of banned chemical weapons—an allegation Russia denies.
Kirillov, the chief of Russia’s nuclear, biological, and chemical protection forces since 2017, was a controversial figure, often accusing Ukraine of using toxic agents in combat.
The FSB claims the suspect planted the bomb, monitored the scene via livestream, and detonated the device remotely when Kirillov exited his building. The attack also killed Kirillov’s assistant.
The suspect reportedly received $100,000 and a promise of EU relocation for his involvement. Russian authorities have labeled the killing an act of terrorism, while the Kremlin has vowed retaliation against Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of using “terrorist methods.”
Ukrainian Security Services Bust Spy Network Hunting F-16 Jets
Ukraine’s SBU security service revealed on Tuesday that it dismantled a network of agents working for Russian military intelligence.
The group was allegedly on the hunt for the locations of Ukraine’s newly acquired Western-supplied F-16 fighter jets. These jets, delivered in August, are a critical asset in countering Russian missile strikes, and their whereabouts remain a tightly guarded secret.
The network consisted of 12 agents and informants who also conducted reconnaissance on air defense positions and investigated companies making electronic warfare equipment.
The SBU stated the group’s leader operated out of Dnipropetrovsk and coordinated with a Russian handler, while agents were active across five regions.
Images of some detained agents were shared by the SBU, with their faces blurred. If convicted, they could face sentences ranging from eight years to life imprisonment.
This revelation comes months after a tragic incident in August when one of Ukraine’s F-16s crashed, killing the pilot.
Ukraine Holds Kursk Line Against Russian and North Korean Troops
Russia has reportedly brought in North Korean troops to help in an intense offensive in the western Kursk region, aiming to dislodge Ukrainian forces, according to Ukraine’s commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky on Tuesday.
Ukrainian forces have held part of the border region since a surprise incursion in August.
Syrsky said North Korean units, deployed by Pyongyang in support of Moscow, have already suffered significant losses.
Intelligence from Ukraine, the US, and South Korea suggests around 10,000 North Korean troops have been sent to bolster Russia’s military.
Ukrainian forces claimed to have killed or wounded at least 30 North Korean fighters in the ongoing battles.
Meanwhile, Moscow has intensified efforts in eastern Ukraine, reportedly capturing a small village near Kurakhove, with heavy fighting also reported in the mining city of Pokrovsk.
Syrsky noted that the 1,170-kilometer (730-mile) front line remains fiercely contested, with Russia claiming it now holds the “strategic initiative.”
Biden Admin Plans $1.2B More for Ukraine by Year’s End
The US has sent over $59 billion in security aid to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion began, with more funds likely on the way before President Joe Biden’s term ends.
According to a Tuesday report by Defense One, a senior defense official shared that an additional $1.22 billion from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative will be sent by year’s end, along with $5.6 billion in weapons, vehicles, and other equipment still available for transfer. Some of this aid could be carried over to the next administration.
Despite US contributions being the highest in dollar terms, 16 other countries have donated a larger percentage of their gross domestic product (GDP) to the cause.
The aim of these efforts is to ensure Ukraine is in the best possible position when peace negotiations with Russia eventually take place.
On the battlefield, Russia is reportedly suffering 1,200 casualties daily but continues to replenish its ranks, though experts believe this may not be sustainable long-term.
Meanwhile, North Korean troops assisting Russia have faced significant challenges due to a lack of combat experience, with Ukrainian strikes hitting both junior and senior ranks.
Myanmar Rebels Retake Historic Stronghold After 30 Years
The Karen National Union (KNU), an ethnic rebel group in Myanmar, said Tuesday that it reclaimed its historic stronghold, Manerplaw, nearly 30 years after losing it to the military.
Located near the Thai border, the base was captured after days of intense fighting, despite the military’s use of drones and airstrikes to retake it.
Manerplaw was once the heart of the KNU’s struggle for Karen minority rights and a hub for dissidents opposing Myanmar’s previous junta.
It fell in 1995 due to internal divisions within the KNU, forcing thousands to flee to Thailand.
Now, the KNU plans to rebuild the site to honor its history and the soldiers buried there.
The group has been clashing with Myanmar’s military since the 2021 coup, which reignited conflicts with ethnic rebels and pro-democracy forces.
The United Nations reports that over three million people have been displaced in the ongoing turmoil, with regular clashes sending thousands across the Thai border seeking refuge.
Israel Stations Troops on Mount Hermon Amid Syrian Collapse
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israeli troops will remain stationed on Mount Hermon, near the Syrian border, until a new security arrangement is established.
The deployment comes after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government collapsed, prompting Israeli forces to move into the demilitarized zone between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
While officials described the move as temporary, Defense Minister Israel Katz has instructed troops to prepare for an extended stay through winter.
Netanyahu visited the site on Tuesday for a briefing, emphasizing the importance of maintaining security in the strategic area.
However, the deployment has sparked criticism from the UN and several countries, which claim it violates international agreements tied to the buffer zone established after the 1973 Arab-Israeli War.
Sources: News Agencies, ISW
