**Ukraine Loses Territory in Kursk Oblast**
Ukraine has lost over 40% of the territory it gained in Russia’s Kursk Oblast due to Russian counterattacks, Reuters reported. According to a source from Ukraine’s General Staff, the country now controls around 800 square kilometers, down from 1,376 square kilometers.
This loss comes after Ukraine launched a surprise incursion into Kursk Oblast in early August. Russia has since launched extensive counterattacks to take back the region. NATO allies believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin is aiming to recapture territory lost in Kursk Oblast before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.
**Western Allies Should Not Set Red Lines on Ukraine Support**
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Western allies should not set red lines on providing military support for Ukraine against Russian aggression. He stated that France will support Ukraine as intensely and as long as necessary, citing the threat to European security.
Barrot also hinted that France may eventually invite Ukraine to join NATO as part of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s five-point victory plan. This comes after leaders from France and the UK met in Paris to discuss a last-ditch attempt to persuade the U.S. to provide more support for Ukraine.
**Russia Recruits Yemeni Mercenaries to Fight in Ukraine**
Russia has recruited hundreds of mercenaries from Yemen to fight in its war against Ukraine, according to the Financial Times. The recruits were promised lucrative jobs and Russian citizenship but were instead forcibly inducted into the Russian army and sent to the front lines in Ukraine.
This operation is described as a “shadowy trafficking operation” highlighting the deepening ties between Russia and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militants. Reports also indicate that Russia has recruited individuals from other countries, including Nepal, Somalia, India, and Cuba.
**Ukraine Urges International Allies for Air Defense Systems**
President Zelensky has instructed Defense Minister Rustem Umerov to engage with international allies to acquire advanced air defense capabilities. This comes after Ukraine’s reported first successful strike on a military target within Russian territory using U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles.
The country is in urgent need of bolstered air defenses, and President Zelensky has reiterated this request to international partners.