Situation at a glance: Report: Mercenaries from Yemen are helping Russia in the Ukraine war

In the war against Ukraine, Russia is not only relying on North Korean soldiers, but, according to a report in the Financial Times, also on support from Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The militia is recruiting recruits in its country for deployment in the Russian military and has already referred hundreds of Yemeni mercenaries to Russia through “shady human trafficking,” the newspaper reported. Meanwhile, the situation in Ukraine is the focus of two meetings today: the foreign ministers of the G7 countries are meeting near Rome, and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) is meeting with his colleagues from France, Great Britain, Poland and Italy in Berlin.

Meanwhile, the war in the battered country continues unabated. The Russian army again covered Ukraine with swarms of drones during the night. The kamikaze drones entered Ukrainian airspace from several directions. Entire groups of such aircraft were reported from several parts of the country. Initially nothing was known about the targets of the drone attacks.

Ukraine also sent flying robots to Russia again. According to Russian information, debris from downed drones set fire to an industrial facility around 200 kilometers southwest of Moscow. Three aircraft were destroyed by air defense on the outskirts of Kaluga, wrote the governor of the region of the same name, Vladislav Shapscha, on Telegram. The debris fell onto the premises of the industrial company and caused a fire. Nobody was injured.

As a rule, the information provided by both warring parties can hardly be verified independently.

Ukraine has been fending off a large-scale Russian invasion for more than two and a half years. Russia bombards Ukrainian territory almost every night with its long-range weapons and tries to paralyze the energy supply. Many civilian targets are also hit. Ukraine lacks anti-aircraft defenses. For its part, it has increased the range of its combat drones and is targeting Russian refineries and fuel supply facilities.

Report: Moscow reinforces army with fighters from Yemen

Due to high losses, Moscow recently reinforced its troops with around 10,000 North Korean soldiers. According to the Financial Times, the mercenary aid has now been expanded: Citing those affected, the newspaper reported that some men in Yemen had been lured with the prospect of paid work in Russia and Russian citizenship. When they arrived in Russia, they were then forcibly conscripted into the Russian armed forces and immediately sent to the front in Ukraine.

The recruitment in Yemen is carried out by a company that was founded by a prominent Houthi politician. A recruitment contract available to the newspaper indicates that Yemenis have been being recruited for the Russian military since July. The Iran-aligned Houthis have been attacking merchant ships passing along Yemen’s coast since the outbreak of the Gaza war. According to their own statements, they want to force an end to the Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip.

Russia is also promoting service at the front in its own country – and taking advantage of the predicament of young people, who are often in debt. The Kremlin wants to use a new law to waive loan debts of up to ten million rubles (around 91,000 euros) for volunteers for use in war. Anyone who now contracts for military service, regardless of whether they are recruits, conscripts or contract soldiers, should have their debts forgiven. President Vladimir Putin signed the corresponding law on Saturday, as Russian media reported the next day. However, there are also reports of forced recruitment of young men from Ukraine.

Ukraine receives support

According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyj, Ukraine was assured of further massive support from its partners. In addition to new weapons and ammunition aid from the USA worth 275 million dollars (around 263 million euros), the Nordic countries Denmark, Sweden and Norway put together a financial package that is intended to benefit the Ukrainian defense industry.

“Denmark has provided around a billion crowns (around 134 million euros),” said Zelensky. Sweden wants to join the Danish financing model, while Norway has already prepared a first tranche. Zelensky did not mention the exact amounts from these countries. Germany and Canada had also made new weapons and equipment available in recent days.

Ministerial meetings in Italy and Germany

Defense Minister Pistorius wants to discuss measures to strengthen security and defense in Europe with his colleagues from France, Great Britain, Poland and Italy in Berlin today. The recent deployment of a new Russian medium-range missile against Ukraine is likely to play an important role.

The foreign ministers of the G7 countries are meeting today in Fiuggi near Rome for their last meeting of the year. At their two-day meeting, the chief diplomats of the seven democratic industrial nations will discuss, among other things, the situation in the trouble spots in Ukraine and the Middle East.