177 Ukrainian prisoners of war executed by Russians
There are currently 177 confirmed cases of Russian military executing Ukrainian prisoners of war. This was reported by the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda.
Thus, in 2024, the number of executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war was almost twice as high as in the two previous years of the full-scale invasion. Out of 177 confirmed cases, 109 occurred in 2024.
According to Dmytro Lubinets, his office learns about most cases from videos from the Ukrainian special services. At the same time, there are cases when information comes directly from Ukrainian military units.
In addition, Russians publish relevant videos on social media.
The Ukrainian side informs the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations about cases of execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war.
Almost $300 million: UK to provide Ukraine with new aid package
The United Kingdom will send Ukraine a new military aid package worth $286 million, Reuters reports. Thus, Ukraine will receive from the UK:
- equipment to strengthen the Ukrainian Navy, including small boats, reconnaissance drones, unmanned boats, ammunition drones and mine drones;
- air defense equipment, including radars and ground equipment;
- spare parts for systems previously supplied to Ukraine;
- more than 1,000 electronic warfare systems against drones.
In addition, the United Kingdom promises to increase training for the Ukrainian military.
The brave people of Ukraine continue to defy all expectations with their indomitable spirit. But they can’t go it alone – that’s why the UK will step up its international leadership on Ukraine throughout 2025, – said Defense Secretary John Healey.
16 children killed by mines and explosive remnants of war since the beginning of the war
Since the start of the full-scale war, 16 children have been killed and 88 others injured by mines and explosive remnants of war.
This was reported following a meeting of the Working Group on Mine and Explosive Remnants of War Risk Education in 2024.
In total, since February 24, 2022, 1,087 people have been injured in accidents involving mines and explosive remnants of war. Of these, 275 were killed and 622 injured. Most of them were men. Twenty-seven women were killed, and 59 others were injured.
The largest number of incidents was in 2023 – 401, while in the first year of the great war there were 204, and this year 149 cases were recorded.
Most people were injured in Kharkiv region – 265.
Denmark provides 281 million euros of aid for Ukraine’s air defense
Denmark has allocated more than €281 million to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense. This was reported by the Ministry of Defense of Denmark.
The aid package also includes a financial contribution to the operation of Ukrainian F-16 fighters.
One of the most urgent needs of Ukraine today is the ability to protect itself from Russian air strikes. That is why we are prioritizing more support for air defense, – said Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen.
$5 million: the oldest stone tablet with the Ten Commandments sold for this amount
The oldest stone tablet ever found with the Ten Commandments was sold for more than $5 million at a Sotheby’s auction. This is stated on the auction website.
The 52-kilogram marble slab dates back to 300-800 AD. The commandments are inscribed on it in Paleo-Hebrew script. The buyer plans to transfer it to an Israeli institution.
The tablet was found during excavations of a railroad along Israel’s southern coast in 1913 and was not initially recognized as historically significant. It was used as a paving stone in a house until 1943, and then sold to a scholar who realized the significance of the historical object.
There is a tangible connection with ancient beliefs that have deeply shaped global religious and cultural traditions. This is a rare testament to history, – the auction house noted.
The text inscribed on the slab corresponds to biblical verses known in the Christian and Jewish traditions, but omits the third commandment against crying out to the Lord in vain.
China to have over 1000 nuclear warheads by 2030 – Pentagon
The Pentagon believes that China is building up its nuclear arsenal and is likely to have more than 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030. This is reported by Politico with reference to the latest Pentagon report.
The report says that over the past year, China has added at least 100 nuclear warheads to its arsenal and now has more than 600 warheads.
The increase in the number of nuclear warheads comes amid a focus on developing new intercontinental ballistic missiles “with more numbers and longer endurance to enhance their nuclear missile force”.
They are also showing some interest in developing a new conventional intercontinental ballistic missile that could hit Hawaii, Alaska, and the continental United States, – the Pentagon official said on condition of anonymity.
All this is happening against the backdrop of an expected increase in China’s defense spending.
Almost 100 DPRK soldiers killed in Kursk region – South Korean intelligence
At least 100 North Korean soldiers were killed in the fighting in the Kursk region of Russia, and another thousand were wounded. This was stated by Lee Sung-kwon, a member of the South Korean parliamentary intelligence committee, after a closed briefing by the National Intelligence Service.
The day before, the Associated Press, citing a military official, wrote that North Korea had already lost “several hundred” soldiers killed and wounded in the fighting against Ukraine. Lee Sung-kwon explained the discrepancy in the number of killed soldiers by a rather conservative analysis by the South Korean National Intelligence Service.
It is believed that the losses of North Korean troops are caused by the lack of experience in warfare with drones and unfamiliarity with the open terrain where they are fighting. According to Lee, there are signs that the DPRK is preparing to deploy additional troops in Russia.
