Daniel Ofman is a reporter with The World, based in Riga, Latvia.
North Korean troops are suffering heavy casualties in Russia
North Korea’s decision to deploy troops to the Kursk region of Russia was seen as an escalation of the conflict. It was said that the North Korean leader hoped his forces would return home battle-tested and ready to fight for the homeland. US officials say Russia has deployed some 8,000 North Koreans in the region, the border area where Ukrainian forces seized Russian territory in a surprise attack over the summer. But as The World’s Daniel Ofman tells us, far fewer troops may return home than Pyongyang expected.
Russian opposition leaders and thousands of supporters rally in Berlin against Putin
Some of the most prominent Russian dissidents and their supporters gathered over the weekend in Berlin. The opposition has a wide range of demands, but this was an opportunity for activists to gather with a common message — to end Russian President Vladimir Putin’s reign.
US to send military contractors to Ukraine
The Biden administration will begin sending US military contractors to Ukraine. This policy reversal was first reported late last week, and signals a shift in US willingness to support Ukraine’s military effort. Contractors will play a limited but significant role on the ground in Ukraine.
Russia and Ukraine react cautiously to Trump reelection
In Europe, many countries will be paying close attention to the Trump administration’s approach to the war between Russia and Ukraine. While campaigning, Trump said that he would “end” the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of becoming president. So far, government officials in both Russia and Ukraine are being cautious in their statements about Trump and his policy toward the war.
‘Like living in a parallel universe’: Some fear the contested election in Georgia could lead to a political crisis
The Republic of Georgia, located in the center of the Caucasus, and with Russia on its northern border, is a polarized nation. Over the weekend, Georgians went to the polls to vote in parliamentary elections. The result: a contested election that could plunge the country into a political crisis.
Armenians who fled Nagorno-Karabakh still yearn for home
A year ago, Azerbaijan’s military took control of Nagorno-Karabakh. Some 100,000 Armenians fled the enclave, a region within Azerbaijan made up largely of Armenian residents. Many families who fled Nagorno-Karabakh are still struggling to adjust to life in their new home.