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☆ Kim Jong Un tested a new rocket that could hit Seoul — and may aid Russia against Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Kim Jong Un oversaw tests for a rocket capable of hitting Seoul in South Korea, Bloomberg reported. Russia and North Korea have previously denied reports of an arms deal between the two nations. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok on April 25, 2019. Russia and North Korea have previously denied an arms deal exists between the two countries. Business Insider reported in October that North Korea was on track to become "one of Russia's most significant foreign arms suppliers."

Persons: Kim Jong Un, —, Yang, Vladimir Putin, Alexander Zemlianichenko, Simon Miles, Miles, Kelly Grieco, it's Organizations: Bloomberg, Service, Ukraine, Korean People's Army, Korean Central News Agency, Asan Institute, Policy Studies, NK News, North Korean, Duke University's Sanford School of Public, Kremlin, Soviet Union, AP News, Business, pushback, US, Stimson Center Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Russia, Ukraine, North Korea, Korea, Russian, Vladivostok, Soviet

☆ Putin is rehashing his nuclear threats — but this time, he may be threatening nuclear catastrophe in an effort to sway American voters
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewRussian President Vladimir Putin issued a new nuclear threat this week, threatening the West over its support for Ukraine in his most explicit intimidation tactic yet. Russia's President Vladimir Putin gives an interview with US talk show host Tucker Carlson at the Kremlin in Moscow on February 6, 2024. "American politicians are already responding to this war in a way that helps Russia," Schmidt said. But Putin may ultimately have the more resonant message when it comes to American voters, Schmidt said. "It's far more complicated to explain why Ukraine is important to US voters than it is for Putin to threaten nuclear war," he told BI.

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Emmanuel Macron, Simon Miles, Miles, Tucker Carlson, GAVRIIL, Matthew Schmidt, Schmidt, Biden, wanes, Zelenskyy Organizations: Service, Ukraine, Business, NATO, Reuters, Duke University's Sanford School of Public, Soviet Union, West, Kremlin, University of New Haven, US Army's School, Advanced Military Studies, Kiel Institute, GOP, Western Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Germany, Poland, Russian, Soviet, Moscow, Israel

☆ Putin is flexing his power with the deaths of his opponents — but he may also be highlighting the weakness of his regime
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

"That's an extraordinary power, and Putin did it effectively, making sure it wound up in the news." AdvertisementThe display of power by the Russian state, while jarring, is not out of the norm for Putin's regime, which has been accused of assassinations abroad for decades. Both Navalny's and the pilot's deaths fit Putin's playbook to a T, exemplifying the lengths to which the Russian regime will go to maintain the illusion of total power, Schmidt said. AdvertisementFor years, Navalny represented the most formidable threat to Putin's regime, criticizing corruption in the Russian state and organizing powerful anti-Kremlin protests. AdvertisementNavalny's death shows Putin is easily threatenedThe two experts said Navalny's death, rather than simply displaying Putin's power, actually highlighted his weakness.

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin, Alexey Navalny, Putin's, Putin, Matthew Schmidt, Schmidt, Navalny, Simon Miles, Miles, Robert English Organizations: Service, Business, The University of New Haven, US Army's School, Advanced Military Studies, Russia's Federal Prison Service, Kremlin, Duke University's Sanford School of Public, Soviet Union, University of Southern Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Spain, Russia, Avdiivka, Russia's, Soviet, Moscow, University of Southern California, Soviet Union, Eastern Europe

☆ Russia is twisting the knife after Navalny's sudden death
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

He appears to be flexing his unrivaled power with performative cruelty and firmly twisting the knife after Navalny's death. AdvertisementNavalnaya had unsuccessfully been trying to retrieve her son's body since Saturday. She was previously sent to the wrong morgue after multiple demands for the authorities to hand over her son's body, according to Yarmysh. Navalny's death — and the way the authorities have handled his body — are displays of his authoritarian power. No one should be fooled," Biden told reporters shortly after Navalny's death was announced.

Persons: —, Alexey Navalny, Navalny, Vladimir Putin's, Joe Biden, Putin, Lyudmila Navalnaya, Alexey, Kira Yarmysh, Navalnaya, Yarmysh, Ivan Zhdanov, Alec Luhn, Simon Miles, Miles, Biden, Sergei Lavrov Organizations: Service, Business, YouTube, Guardian, Luhn, Soviet Union, Duke University's Sanford School of Public, Sky News, Kremlin Locations: Salekhard, Soviet, Moscow, St, Petersburg

☆ Ukraine hit a company of Russian troops with HIMARS while they waited around for a visiting general
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Russian battalion congregated at a training area near the village of Trudovske in occupied eastern Ukraine when the two missiles struck, The BBC reported Wednesday. Sources familiar with the incident told the outlet that the soldiers were gathered to await the arrival of a senior commander. Ukraine has yet to comment on the strike, but the BBC reported a US-made HIMARS launch system was used to fire the two missiles. In August, Ukraine said it launched a HIMARS attack on five Russian units gathered on a beach that resulted in 200 casualties and destroyed equipment. Some accounts at the time suggested the troops had been gathered to await a general's pep talk before a dangerous mission.

Persons: —, Alexander Osipov, Osipov, Yaroslav Trofimov, Oleg Moiseyev, Vladimir Putin, Sergei Shoigu, Simon Miles, flack Organizations: Service, Russian, BBC, Business, Telegram, Wall Street, 29th Army of, Defense, Duke University's Sanford School of Public, Soviet Union Locations: Russia, Trudovske, Ukraine, Transbaikalia, Soviet, Russian

☆ Russia historians say the Tucker Carlson interview solidified one thing about Putin — he's off the rails
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewRussian President Vladimir Putin delivered a strange performance fueled by Russian propaganda and imperialist posturing in his interview with right-wing media host Tucker Carlson last week. The two-hour interview revealed little new information about the war in Ukraine — beyond that it is likely to continue — but did manage to highlight Putin's increasing delusion, according to two Russia historians. AdvertisementThe Russian president parroted in great, slogging detail many of the erroneous talking points he's used over the years to bolster his belief that Ukraine ought to be under Russian control. "Instead, he showed that it wasn't Russian insecurity, but Putin's personal imperialism, that motivated the war," English said.

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin, Tucker Carlson, Robert English, Putin, parroted, he's, Rurik, Simon Miles, Carlson, combusted, Putin didn't, Miles, Masha Gessen, Hitler, Gessen, Donald Trump Organizations: Service, Business, University of Southern, Duke University's Sanford School of Public, Soviet Union, GOP, NATO Locations: Ukraine, Russia, University of Southern California, Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, Russian, Polish, Lithuanian Commonwealth, Soviet, West, Kyiv, United States, Israel

☆ Short on ammo, Ukrainian artillerymen can't fire on a hunch anymore. They have to know the Russians are there.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementUkraine's increasing ammunition struggles have hamstrung its war effort, forcing the country to sacrifice long-term strategy for short-term certainty. Russia has maintained an advantage in artillery ammunition since the war began nearly two years ago. That advantage has only increased in recent months as Ukraine struggles to gain an edge against Russia's growing momentum. Much of the focus on ammunition for both Russia and Ukraine comes from old Soviet war doctrine, which is artillery-centric, Miles said.

Persons: —, Mark Cancian, Cancian, Simon Miles, they're, Miles Organizations: Service, for Strategic, International, Business, Duke University's Sanford School of Public, Soviet Union Locations: Russia, Ukraine, North, Washington, DC, Soviet

☆ Ukraine says spymaster's wife is recovering after being poisoned by heavy metals, and an expert believes Russia is a prime suspect
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A top Ukrainian military official's wife was diagnosed with heavy metal poisoning, officials said. An expert said Russia is a prime suspect given the country's penchant for poison. AdvertisementThe wife of Ukraine's top military intelligence official is recovering in a hospital after being poisoned by heavy metals, Ukrainian officials said Tuesday. While the motive and perpetrator behind Budanova's poisoning remains unclear, an expert on Russia and Ukraine said Russia is the obvious suspect. Russia's penchant for poison points to "a precedent and pattern for this type of behavior," Miles told Business Insider.

Persons: Marianna Budanova, —, Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine's Elle, Budanova, Simon Miles, Alexei Navalny, Sergeĭ Skripal, Vladimir Kara, Murza, Miles, Budanov, Kyiv —, Budovna Organizations: Service, Associated Press, Local, AP, Washington Post, Duke University's Sanford School of Public, Soviet Union, Business, Kyiv, Ukrainska Pravda Locations: Russia, Local Ukrainian, Ukraine, Soviet, Russian, Ukrainian

☆ Bad news keeps coming for Kyiv as problems far from the battlefield risk making things worse for Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Polls show US support for Ukraine military aid has been declining across political parties. A government shutdown also looms as Biden asks Congress for billions in aid to Israel and Ukraine. By early October, polls showed that support for arming Ukraine had declined amongst Americans of both political parties, a troubling sign for Kyiv. AdvertisementAdvertisementHowever, in the past, he voted with a minority of House Republicans against additional aid. The Republicans for Ukraine advocacy group has given him an "F" grade on support for Ukraine.

Persons: —, Nora Bensahel, Bensahel, Joe Biden, Mike Johnson, I'd, Johnson, Kevin McCarthy's, he's, Simon Miles, Trump, Miles Organizations: Biden, Service, Kyiv, Ukraine, Hamas, Johns Hopkins School, International Studies, House, Republican, Republicans, House Republicans, Lawmakers, Duke University's Sanford School of Public, Soviet Union Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Russia, Ukrainian, Gaza, The Israel, Washington , DC, Soviet

☆ The Russian military is executing soldiers who won't follow orders and threatening to execute entire units if they retreat, the White House said
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | Sebastian Cahill | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

In a briefing, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Russia is executing some soldiers. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Russian military has been executing soldiers who refuse to follow orders, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said in a White House press briefing Thursday. "It's reprehensible to think that you would execute your own soldiers because they didn't want to follow orders," Kirby said in the briefing. There have been multiple reports documenting the apparent poor conditions, low morale, and high casualty numbers for Russian soldiers. In a video plea from March, Russian soldiers complained that they were being sent into battle with "blocking" units that were meant to keep them from running away.

Persons: John Kirby, Kirby, —, Simon Miles, Stalin, Miles, haven't, Verstka Organizations: White, National Security, Service, House, Duke University's Sanford School of Public, Soviet Union, Red Army Locations: Russia, Soviet, Ukraine

☆ Ukraine's relentless targeting of the Black Sea Fleet has disrupted Russia's efforts to block a key export
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ukraine has increased its attacks on Russia's Black Sea fleet in recent weeks. AdvertisementAdvertisementA recent spate of destructive Ukrainian attacks on Russia's Black Sea Fleet may have as much to do with Ukraine's economic prospects as its military tactics. AdvertisementAdvertisementUkraine's economic interest in the Black Sea is an added layer to the warfare already ongoing in the region. Ukraine has long had reason to target Russia's Black Sea Fleet, which plays a key role in launching long-distance missile strikes. Ukraine recently launched missile strikes on the Black Sea Fleet's headquarters in the city of Sevastopol.

Persons: —, Simon Miles, Miles, they've Organizations: Service, United Nations, Black, Duke University's Sanford School of Public, Soviet Union, UN, The New York Times, NATO, The Times, Ukrainian Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Crimean, Black, Soviet, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Crimea, Sevastopol

☆ Putin's spokesman claims Putin hasn't decided whether to run again in 2024, but a Russia expert says any indecision is just a schtick
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A spokesperson for Putin said the Russian president hasn't decided if he will run again in 2024. But Putin's feigned indecision is his standard schtick, a Russia expert told Insider. Putin's spokesman said there are no candidates who would pose a real threat to Putin's power. A spokesperson for Putin told Russian state media this week that the president has not decided whether he will run again in next year's election. In reality, there's little question that Putin will run in — and win — his fifth presidential election since 2000 come spring.

Persons: Putin, hasn't, Putin's, Vladimir Putin, coy, Dmitry Peskov, Simon Miles, Miles, Boris Yeltsin's, Peskov, Alexei Navalny —, Boris Nemtsov, Yevgeny Prigozhin, — Organizations: Service, RBC, Reuters, Duke University's Sanford School of Public, Soviet Union, Russian, Kremlin Locations: Russian, Russia, Wall, Silicon, —, Soviet, Ukraine

☆ Did Putin kill Prigozhin? It's one of 3 possible explanations Russia watchers came up with for the deadly plane crash
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin is presumed dead after his plane crashed on Wednesday. It was not immediately clear if Prigozhin was on the downed plane, though his name was on the flight manifest. Yevgeny Prigozhin and Russian President Vladimir Putin in happier times — a 2010 tour of a school lunch factory outside Saint Petersburg. Following the Wednesday plane crash, US President Joe Biden suggested Putin could be behind the crash in comments to reporters. AdvertisementAdvertisementIn the early hours following the plane crash, some on social media considered the possibility that Prigozhin had somehow faked his death, perhaps sending a double in his place.

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Putin, Prigozhin, Dmitry Utkin, Vladimir Putin, Simon Miles, Robert English, Bill Burns, Alexey Druzhinin, Burns, Miles, Alexander Lukashenko, ”, lelXsOcPSV, Julia Ioffe, Joe Biden, —, flaunting, Sergei Surovikin, Matthew Schmidt, Schmidt Organizations: Security, Service, Russian Federal Air Transport Agency, Wagner, Duke University's Sanford School of Public, Soviet Union, University of Southern, CIA, Sputnik, Getty, Reuters, Press, Prigozhin, New York Times, University of New, Pentagon, Kremlin Locations: Russian, Wall, Silicon, Moscow, Russia, Soviet, Ukraine, University of Southern California, Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, Saint Petersburg, Aspen, Belarus, St . Petersburg, Africa, Belarusian, Concord, University of New Haven

☆ A deadly plane crash appears to have killed Wagner's top boss, but even without Prigozhin, the group likely isn't a 'chicken with its head cut off,' expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Chris Panella | Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Wagner Group mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin is believed to have died in a plane crash on August 23. Without Prigozhin, Wagner's key operations, finances, and future are unclear, experts told Insider. It's likely not "a chicken with its head cut off," Miles said because Wagner's local operations "are still in play." His mercenaries were given the choice to join the ranks of the Russian military, leave for civilian life, or join Prigozhin in Belarus. A mural depicting mercenaries of Russia's Wagner Group that reads: "Wagner Group - Russian knights."

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, it's, Simon Miles, Miles, Prigozhin, Dmitry Utkin, Sergei Shoigu, Defense Valery Gerasimov, Alexander Lukashenko, Catrina Doxsee, Doxsee, There's, Kateryna Stepanenko, Prigozhin —, —, Russia's, Darko Vojinovic, Prigozhin's, ISW Organizations: Wagner Group, Service, Russian, Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy, Soviet Union, TASS, Staff, Russian Armed Forces, Defense, Kremlin, Prigozhin, Press, REUTERS, PMC, Transnational, Center for Strategic, Ministry of Defense, Russian Ministry of Defense Locations: Russia, Wall, Silicon, Soviet, Russian, Tver, Moscow, Ukraine, Bakhmut, Rostov, Belarus, Belarusian, Africa, Concord, Latin America, Crimea, Syria, Libya, Mali

☆ How Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin spent the mysterious 2 months between his failed coup and his plane crash — from strange meetings with Putin to sitting in a tent in his underwear
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | Sebastian Cahill | Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin was "exiled" to Belarus after staging a short-lived mutiny in Russia. Here's what we know about what he was up to before Russian officials say he was killed in a plane crash. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, who said he talked Putin out of assassinating Prigozhin, said that the Wagner boss had arrived in the country. July 4-6: Back in Russia after raid on St. Petersburg homeThe Russian media outlet Fontanka reported Prigozhin arrived in St. Petersburg on July 4. August 24: Prigozhin was on a private jet that crashed in RussiaAlmost two months to the day since his armed rebellion, Prigozhin was killed in a plane crash, according to Russian officials.

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Vladimir Putin's, Prigozhin, Simon Miles, Putin, Alexander Lukashenko, Lukashenko, Jake Epstein, Freddy Mapouka Organizations: Service, Russian, Duke University's Sanford School of Public, Soviet Union, Fox News, Putin, Kremlin, Pentagon, New York Times, Central African, Associated Press Locations: Belarus, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Soviet, Ukraine, Moscow, Russian, St, Petersburg, St . Petersburg, Belarusian, Africa, Central African Republic

☆ Deep strike drone attack on key Russian bomber highlights Ukraine's 'psychological' reach within Russia's own borders, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A drone attack destroyed a Russian bomber at an airbase in the country over the weekend. A Ukrainian news outlet said agents working with Ukrainian intelligence were responsible. The supersonic bomber was likely destroyed in an attack over the weekend, the UK Ministry of Defense said in a Tuesday intelligence update. #BREAKING A flagship Russian long-range bomber has been destroyed in a Ukrainian drone strike. Ukrainian news outlet New Voice of Ukraine reported that agents operating with Ukrainian intelligence were responsible for the attack, claiming two additional aircraft were also destroyed in the strike.

Persons: UH9lym21Bu, Michael Bociurkiw, there's, Simon Miles, Vladimir Putin, Miles, Ben Hodges, Hodges Organizations: Ukraine, Service, UK Ministry of Defense, Tupolev, BBC, Duke University's Sanford School of Public, Soviet Union, Russian, New, US Army, Russia Locations: Russian, Ukrainian, Wall, Silicon, Russia, Ukraine, Soltsky, Novgorod, Tupolev, Soltsy, St Petersburg, The, Soviet, Kyiv, Mariupol

☆ Those desperate to break the deadlock in Ukraine are hoping China will turn on Russia. They shouldn't hold their breath.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

One expert said it was "naïve American diplomacy" to think something fundamental between China and Russia had changed. But the idea that China would turn on Russia anytime soon may be little more than wishful thinking. "It is clever Chinese diplomacy to keep meeting and talking, and it is naïve American diplomacy to think that this means something fundamental has changed," English said. He added threats from the West are also unlikely to turn China against Russia, as Xi knows that Europe is more dependent on trade with China than the other way around. "The West needs to stop looking at Chinese behavior through Western eyes, and start understanding it from a Chinese perspective."

Persons: Xi, Putin, Robert English, Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Antony Blinken, Simon Miles, Miles, Wang Wenbin Organizations: Saudi, Service, Privacy, China, NATO, University of Southern, Duke University's Sanford School of Public, Soviet Union, Foreign, Associated Press Locations: China, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, University of Southern California, Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, Moscow, West, Saudi Arabia, American, Europe, Soviet, Saudi

☆ China's attendance at Saudi peace talks is 'bad news' for Putin — but Xi Jinping is still 'well served' by his friendship with Russia, expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Chinese diplomats attended Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia, signaling a possible rift with Russia. While China's attendance is notable, the country is still benefiting from its relationship with Russia. Chinese leader Xi Jinping wants to be seen as an international stakeholder, an expert said. Participants in the talks, however, saw China's presence as a major win for Ukraine, the Financial Times reported. "So Xi wants to be seen as a responsible stakeholder — even as he rattles his saber towards Taiwan," Miles said.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Russia's, —, Putin, Simon Miles, Vladimir Putin, China's, Wang Yi, Sergei Lavrov, Miles, Xi, Ukraine's, Sergey Radchenko Organizations: Service, Privacy, China, Ukraine, Financial Times, Duke University's Sanford School of Public, Soviet Union, Russian, CNN, Kremlin, Johns Hopkins University, The New York Times Locations: Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Wall, Silicon, China, Moscow, Saudi, Soviet, Siberia, Taiwan, South China, Beijing

☆ A large group of Russian troops violated 'military operations 101' and paid the price in a deadly Ukrainian HIMARS strike, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Ukraine said it launched a deadly HIMARS attack on five Russian units gathered on a beach. Russia seriously misjudged its soldiers' proximity to Ukrainian HIMARS, two experts told Insider. Ukraine on Tuesday said it launched a HIMARS attack on five Russian units gathered on a beach resulting in 200 casualties and destroyed equipment. A Ukrainian official in June confirmed reports from a Russian military blogger that Russian soldiers were hit by Ukrainian HIMARS while standing still for two hours for a commander's speech, rendering them sitting ducks. "At a basic tactical level, we can see the Russian military is learning from its mistakes," Miles said.

Persons: Simon Miles, Miles, Mark Cancian, Cancian Organizations: Service, The Institute, Resistance Center, Ukrainian Army, Facebook, Duke University's Sanford School of Public, Soviet Union, US Marine Corps, Center for Strategic, Studies, Artillery Rocket Systems, Ukrainian National Resistance Center, Russian, Resistance Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Ukrainian, Wall, Silicon, Russian, Kherson, Soviet, Moscow

☆ Russia is raising its conscription age and calling up 70-year-olds in an effort to avoid another large-scale mobilization that could spark backlash, expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

An expert on Russia said the government is likely trying to avoid another large-scale mobilization. Last week, Putin signed into law legislation that raises the maximum age for male conscription from 27 to 30 years old. One year of military service was previously required by Russian men ages 18 to 27 with conscriptions held twice a year. "But it's not "over there" when 200,000 people get roped into military service to go and fight this stupid and futile war," he added. The new conscription law is just one of several steps Russia has recently taken to address personnel shortages.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, conscriptions, Simon Miles, they've, that's, Miles Organizations: Service, Duke University's Sanford School of Public, Soviet Union, dodgers, New York Times, Institute for Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Russian, Soviet, Crimea

☆ Kim Jong Un has plastered his walls with bizarre, giant portraits of Putin, images from North Korean state media reveal
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( Nathan Rennolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Photos released by North Korean state media show Kim Jong Un's huge portraits of Vladimir Putin. The images show the leader giving Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu a personal tour. The portraits were visible as the North Korean leader gave a personal tour to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. In the bizarre images, Kim and Shoigu can be seen walking down a corridor while huge portraits of Putin and Kim loom over them from either side. Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu attends a reception for the Russian military delegation hosted by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on July 27, 2023.

Persons: Kim Jong, Vladimir Putin, Sergei Shoigu, Shoigu, Kim Jong Un, Kim, Putin, Simon Miles, Miles, Biden Organizations: North, Russian, Service, North Korean, Russian Defense, Central Committee of, Workers ' Party, Daily, Russia's, Reuters, Mail, Korean Central News Agency, Associated Press, Duke University's Sanford School of Public, Soviet Union, AP Locations: North Korean, Wall, Silicon, Pyongyang, Vladivostok, Russia, North Korea, Soviet, North Koreans, Ukraine, Moscow, Russian

☆ Putin can't fire his inept defense minister after the Wagner uprising, so he sent Sergei Shoigu to 'break bread and glad hand' in North Korea instead, expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu met with Kim Jong Un in North Korea this week. North Korea commemorates the national holiday as "Victory Day," even though the conflict ended in a stalemate. Still, the Russian visit to North Korea was an important one. North Korea is one of the few countries to publicly back Russia in the war in Ukraine. The country has denied engaging in arms transactions with Russia, but the White House said North Korea shipped weapons, including rockets and missiles, to Russia in November.

Persons: Sergei Shoigu, Kim Jong Un, Putin, Shoigu, Russia's, Vladimir Putin's, Simon Miles, Miles, Yevgeny Prigozhin, castigating Shoigu, Valery Gerasimov, Wagner, Prigozhin, Jong, —, He's, White Organizations: Russian, Russia, Service, North, Duke University's Sanford School of Public, Soviet Union, Wagner Group, Jong Un, North Korean, Reuters Locations: North Korea, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, Russian, Soviet, Russia, Belarus

☆ The Ukraine war is great for China — it gets 'fire sale prices' on oil and gas and leaves its rivals, the US and Russia, 'tied down and bleeding each other,' experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

China says it's neutral in the Russia-Ukraine war and even tried to broker a peace deal earlier this year. However, experts told Insider that China has good reason to stay friendly with Russia as war wages. China is pocketing discounted oil and gas and enjoying geopolitical perks as a result of the war. But amid the chaos and costs, there's at least one country reaping the benefits of the brutal conflict, two Russia experts told Insider. But two experts who study Russia told Insider that China has good reason to stay friendly with its Eastern neighbor as war wages.

Persons: Robert English, China —, Simon Miles, Miles, Russia's Organizations: Service, —, University of Southern, US, Politico, Duke University's Sanford School of Public, Soviet Union Locations: China, Russia, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, — Russia, University of Southern California, Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, Soviet, Beijing, Moscow, Russian, Africa, Latin America

☆ Putin's clashing warlords are on the verge of full-blown violence that could weaken his grip on power
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The ongoing feud between Putin's warlords came to the brink of violence on Friday. Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin went on a tirade against the Defense Ministry, prompting calls for his arrest. "The evil carried by the country's military leadership must be stopped," Prigozhin said, adding that his 25,0000 mercenaries were ready to stand against Russia's Defense Ministry. Insider's Ryan Pickrell previously reported that Putin plays Prigozhin and the Defense Ministry against each other, escalating tensions between those factions and attempting to deflect blame off himself. Prior to his tirades Friday, Prigozhin was bashing Russia's Defense Ministry for months, especially targeting Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and Chief of the Russian General Staff General Valery Gerasimov.

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, —, Vladimir Putin, Putin's, Prigozhin, Putin, It's, Insider's Ryan Pickrell, Simon Miles, Tatiana Stanovaya, Sergey Shoigu, Russian General Staff General Valery Gerasimov Organizations: Defense Ministry, Service, Titan, Russia's Ministry of Defense, Wagner Group, Russia's Defense, Russia's Defense Ministry, KGB, Kremlin, Wagner, Meduza, Duke University's Sanford School of Public, Soviet Union, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, Russia's, Ministry, Russian, Russian General Staff Locations: Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, Soviet, Russian

☆ Russians are reminding troops the enemy is Ukraine amid fears of a Wagner coup attempt against the defense ministry
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin has prompted fears of an impending coup in Russia. Russian civilians and officials are imploring troops to keep their focus on Ukraine amid the panic. "Everyone who holds a weapon at the line of contact, remember: your enemy is across from you," a message shared repeatedly states. Founder of Wagner private mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin. Press service of "Concord"/Handout via REUTERSThe Russian defense ministry, meanwhile, also attempted to refocus attention on the fight in Ukraine in a Friday Telegram post.

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, —, Russia's, Putin, Prigozhin, Sergei Shoigu, Staff Valery Gerasimov, Samuel Bendett, Simon Miles, Miles, Sergey Surovikin, Bendett Organizations: Service, Ukraine —, Russian, Staff, Federal Security Service, Center for Naval Analyses, Press, Armed Forces, Russian Federation, [ Armed Forces, Duke University's Sanford School of Public, Soviet Union Locations: Russia, Russian, Ukraine, Moscow, Ukrainian, Bakhmut, gunpoint, Concord, Soviet

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