War in Ukraine: Moscow denounces American sanctions, North Korean soldiers held prisoner by kyiv… an update on the situation

Every day, Midi Libre takes stock of the situation in Ukraine. This Saturday, January 11, 2025, discover the latest news about this conflict.

Moscow denounces new Washington sanctions

Russia on Saturday denounced new US sanctions against its energy sector, while promising to continue implementing its major gas and oil projects.

In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry described the punitive measures announced by Washington on Friday as “an attempt to inflict at least some damage on the Russian economy, even at the risk of destabilizing global markets, as the end of Joe Biden's inglorious term approaches.” He added that Moscow would retaliate for these “hostile” actions.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the sanctions, which targeted the companies Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegaz as well as 183 ships used for the transit of Russian oil to India and China. “The less money Russia makes from oil […], the sooner peace will be restored”, Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Two North Korean soldiers captured and taken prisoner by kyiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that his troops had taken prisoner, in the Russian region of Kursk, two North Korean soldiers who were transferred to Kiev where they are being interrogated.

“These are two soldiers who, although wounded, survived and were taken to kyiv where they are talking with SBU investigators”, the Ukrainian security service, Zelensky said on Telegram, accompanying his message with photos of the two alleged servicemen in custody.

“It was not an easy task: usually, Russians and other North Korean soldiers finish off their wounded and do everything to erase evidence of the participation of another state, North Korea, in the war against Ukraine,”, he continued, adding that the press could question them later.

The leader accompanied his message with photos of the two alleged servicemen in custody. One of them has visible bandages around his hands, the other around his chin. According to Zelensky, these prisoners are receiving “all necessary medical assistance”. He claimed to have ordered the SBU to provide the press with access to the detainees: “The world needs to know what is happening”, he said.

In late December 2024, Volodymyr Zelensky said that very seriously wounded North Korean soldiers had died in Ukraine after being taken prisoner. According to kyiv, 12,000 North Korean soldiers, including about 500 officers, are in the Kursk region, where the Ukrainian army has occupied several hundred square kilometers since August. Neither Russia nor North Korea have confirmed the presence of this contingent.