SOFREP Daily: Trump Promises Russia-Ukraine War Solution, Syrian Mass Grave Uncovered, US Strikes Houthi Hub Targeting Red Sea Ships

Good morning, everyone! Time for your Tuesday, December 17, snapshot of top defense and global affairs news.

Ukraine Hits North Korean Troops in Russian Border Battle

Ukraine reported Monday that its forces killed or wounded at least 30 North Korean soldiers recently deployed by Russia to the Kursk region—a border area where tensions are heating up.

North Korea has reportedly sent thousands of troops to bolster Russia’s forces, marking a new chapter in Moscow’s growing military partnership with Pyongyang.

The clashes took place near Plekhovo, Vorozhba, and Martynovka, where Ukrainian troops launched a surprise offensive earlier this summer.

According to Kyiv’s Defence Intelligence, North Korean units had been taking heavy losses but are being replenished with fresh personnel.

“On December 14 and 15, army units from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) suffered significant losses near the villages of Plekhovo, Vorozhba, and Martynovka in the Kursk region of Russia – at least 30 soldiers were killed and wounded.”

Western officials have previously estimated that around 10,000 North Korean troops have joined the fight on Russia’s side, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warning they could soon appear on other front lines as well.

Commander-in-chief Syrskyi provided an update on the frontline situation, with a particular focus on the Donetsk region, with the main attention on the key directions there. He also reported on developments in the areas of the Kursk operation.

One key point was about the… pic.twitter.com/f2NBjjB1ae

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 16, 2024

This latest update comes as Russia claims it’s regained some territory in Kursk, although Ukraine maintains control of around 800 square kilometers (308 square miles)—a reduction from earlier claims of 1,400 square kilometers (540 square miles).

All eyes are now on what this unusual alliance means for the war’s next phase.

Trump Promises War Solution, Plans Talks with Putin and Ukraine

US President-elect Donald Trump said Monday that he is set to chat with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to try and end the war in Ukraine—a conflict he calls “carnage.”

Trump, who’s been critical of the billions in US aid sent to Kyiv, didn’t offer specifics but repeated his bold claim that he could end the war in a day.

“We’ll be talking to President Putin, and we’ll be talking to the representatives, Zelensky and representatives from Ukraine. We gotta stop it, it’s carnage.”

During a press conference, Trump painted a vivid picture of Ukraine’s devastation, likening its ruined cities to demolished buildings from his days as a New York real estate developer.

“It’s just rubble,” he said, comparing the destruction to Manhattan demolitions—only far worse since people’s lives are “flattened like a pancake” alongside the buildings.

While Trump’s confidence is clear, concerns remain that his strategy might involve pressuring Ukraine to give up land seized by Russia.

With Trump’s return to the White House looming, his plans for Ukraine are sure to keep global leaders—and the public—on edge.

Norway Funds Ukraine’s Black Sea Defense with Naval Support

Norway is stepping up big time to boost Ukraine’s navy, announcing a 2.7 billion kroner ($240 million) support package on Monday to help counter Russian forces in the Black Sea.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre emphasized the importance of protecting Ukrainian infrastructure and keeping grain exports flowing, which are vital for Ukraine’s economy.

This new aid includes military equipment and donations from Norway’s armed forces, building on previous funding for maritime training.

Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram pointed out that mines remain a massive threat in the region, and the package will focus on giving Ukraine tools to detect and clear them along its coastline.

Norway will provide NOK 2.7 billion to strengthen the Ukrainian Navy🇺🇦⚓

The funding will, among other things, be used to protect people in Ukraine from attacks as well as for mine clearance operations and training of 🇺🇦 soldiers.

🔗https://t.co/OA6cjpPi2K#StrongerTogheter pic.twitter.com/bRULAyUr6t

— Forsvarsdepartement (@Forsvarsdep) December 16, 2024

Norway and the United Kingdom—leading the Maritime Capability Coalition for Ukraine—are making this push official as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stopped by Norway for a visit.

With Russian forces still active in the Black Sea, this move is all about giving Ukraine the naval edge it desperately needs.

Syrian Mass Grave Holds 100,000 Victims of Assad’s Rule

A mass grave recently discovered outside Damascus reportedly contains the bodies of at least 100,000 people killed under the regime of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, according to Mouaz Moustafa, head of the Syrian Emergency Task Force.

The site, located in al-Qutayfah, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of the capital, is one of five mass graves Moustafa says he’s identified over the years.

Describing the figure as a “conservative estimate,” Moustafa added that the graves likely include foreigners alongside Syrian victims.

This grim discovery underscores the staggering human toll of Syria’s civil war, which began in 2011 when Assad’s violent crackdown on protests spiraled into all-out conflict.

Both Bashar al-Assad and his father, Hafez, who ruled before him, have long been accused of widespread extrajudicial killings and mass executions, particularly in Syria’s notorious prisons.

Assad continues to deny these allegations, calling his critics “extremists,” but for many Syrians, the evidence buried beneath the ground tells a different story.

US Strikes Houthi Hub Targeting Red Sea Ships

The US military hit back at Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Monday, launching an airstrike on a key command-and-control hub.

According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the facility was being used to coordinate attacks on American warships and merchant vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

The Houthis ramped up strikes in November 2023, claiming their attacks are a show of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza as tensions from the Israel-Hamas war ripple across the region.

The US and its allies have deployed warships to protect major shipping routes, but the Houthis have kept the pressure on, targeting US naval forces and international cargo ships.

CENTCOM Conducts Precision Airstrike Against Iran-Backed Houthi Facility in Yemen

On Dec. 16 Yemen time, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted a precision airstrike against a key command and control facility operated by Iran-backed Houthis within Houthi-controlled… pic.twitter.com/DlZ9SQcAqX

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 16, 2024

CENTCOM emphasized that the strike highlights America’s commitment to protect personnel and international trade, even as Washington continues efforts to weaken the rebels’ ability to launch attacks.

Despite these strikes, the Houthis remain a persistent threat, adding to an already volatile situation in the Middle East.

China, India Revive Border Talks After Five-Year Freeze

According to news reports on Monday, China and India are finally sitting down for some high-level border talks this week—the first in five years—which could be a sign of a long-awaited thaw in their icy relationship.

Tensions have been high since the deadly 2020 clash in Ladakh that left 20 Indian and 4 Chinese soldiers dead.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will meet with Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Wednesday in Beijing to discuss their ongoing border disputes under a framework set up back in 2003.

Senior Indian and Chinese officials are set to meet in Beijing to discuss two countries’ border dispute, resuming formal talks on the subject that have been stalled since 2020 https://t.co/QxtBSvq2IV

— Bloomberg Politics (@bpolitics) December 17, 2024

This comes after an October agreement on patrols in disputed areas and a rare face-to-face meeting between Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi at the BRICS summit earlier this year.

The 3,500-kilometer (2,200-mile) border—known as the Line of Actual Control—has long been a flashpoint between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, with both sides accusing the other of trying to snatch territory.

For now, all eyes are on this week’s talks to see if the two countries can make any progress toward dialing down the tension.

Ukrainian Agents Kill Top Russian General in Moscow Blast

A senior Russian general, Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, was killed Tuesday in a scooter bombing outside his Moscow apartment—a strike that Ukraine’s security service (SBU) is claiming responsibility for.

Kirillov, who led Russia’s nuclear, biological, and chemical protection forces, was accused just a day earlier by Ukraine of overseeing the use of banned chemical weapons in the war.

The attack, reportedly triggered remotely, also killed Kirillov’s assistant, and left the scene in ruins with shattered windows and charred brickwork.

Ukraine’s SBU described Kirillov as a “legitimate target,” citing over 4,800 instances of Russia using chemical agents like chloropicrin, a poison gas dating back to World War I.

Live from the scene of the killing Russian Lt. Gen Igor Kirillov. A bomb hidden in an electric scooter blew up as he and an aide left the building killing both. Ukraine has claimed responsibility. @CNN @cnni pic.twitter.com/2KdZks896y

— Frederik Pleitgen (@fpleitgenCNN) December 17, 2024

Kirillov had been a key player in Russia’s propaganda machine, often accusing Ukraine of using toxic agents and planning radioactive attacks—claims dismissed by Kyiv and its allies.

His death adds to a growing list of targeted strikes against high-profile figures since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, including car bombings and explosions that took out Kremlin-linked commentators and military bloggers.

While Moscow denies using chemical weapons, this latest strike marks another dramatic escalation in the shadow war between Ukraine and Russia.

Sources: News Agencies, US CENTCOM