While Russian representatives met their American counterparts in Riyadh without Ukrainian officials to negotiate a potential peace deal, NATO forces are growing increasingly concerned about Russia’s military build-up in the Baltics. This comes a week after Zelenskyy claimed that Russia is set to deploy 100,000–150,000 additional troops in Belarus by the summer, potentially preparing for an incursion into Poland and the Baltic states.
Zelenskyy’s concerns align with those of Estonia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (EFIS), which warns that Russia is actively reorganizing its military presence near the Estonian border. According to EFIS, Moscow aims to expand its armed forces to 1.5 million soldiers by 2026, while also shifting away from reliance on Western components in favour of Chinese supplies. The agency emphasizes that this build-up is not just about sustaining the war in Ukraine—it could be a prelude to future aggression against NATO.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian outlet Pravda reports that 1,000 North Korean troops are undergoing training under Russian supervision, learning to operate newly produced military equipment, including drones. North Korea’s role in the war has been growing, with Pyongyang supplying Moscow with artillery shells and missiles in exchange for energy and technological assistance. Ukrainian sources claim the first wave of North Korean soldiers deployed near Kursk struggled with advanced technology and have since disappeared from the battlefield. As a result, Russian forces in the area are now outnumbered, with Ukrainian drone superiority playing a decisive role in pushing them back.
In an interview with South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo, a captured 26-year-old North Korean soldier, identified only as Ri, revealed that before battle, an officer told him that “all the drone operators in Ukraine’s military were South Korean soldiers.” The claim reflects long-standing Russian and North Korean propaganda narratives attempting to frame the war as a broader Western-led conflict.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov escalated rhetoric earlier today, addressing the Duma by stating that Moscow is “concerned about the growth of Neo-Nazi ideas in Ukraine, the Baltic states, several European countries, and Canada.” Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that a potential meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump could take place by the end of the month but admitted it might be delayed.
Russia also launched another missile and drone strike on Odesa overnight, plunging over 250,000 residents into darkness amid widespread electricity and heating outages. Mayor Henadii Trukhanov reported that 14 schools, 13 kindergartens, and over 500 residential buildings in one of the city’s largest districts have been affected. The attack is part of a broader Russian strategy targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure during winter.
An unnamed NATO official estimates that Russia has suffered 837,000 casualties—wounded or killed—since the invasion began. The same source confirmed the presence of 11,000 North Korean troops in Kursk but noted that only a minority are actively engaged in combat. The latest UK intelligence assessment, based on Ukrainian estimates, claims that January 2025 was Russia’s deadliest month yet, with around 48,000 personnel losses. Similar figures are anticipated for February as Russia continues its offensives.
