SOFREP Daily: Norway Doubles Ukraine Support in Security Push, Kim Jong Un Kim Jong Un Expands Naval Power with Nuclear Sub Project

Good morning! It’s Sunday, March 9, 2025. Start your day with the latest briefing on defense and global affairs.

Russia Pushes Back Ukraine in Kursk Advance

Russia has made strategic gains in Ukraine’s Kursk region, pushing back Kyiv’s forces from territory they have held since a surprise incursion last August.

Reports indicate that Moscow has broken through Ukrainian defenses south of Sudzha, narrowing Kyiv’s supply corridors and forcing a critical decision on whether to withdraw or risk further losses.

Ukraine has struggled to stabilize the situation as Russian forces squeeze its troops from both the west and east.

Military analysts warn that logistics in the region have become unsustainable, with key supply routes now under Russian control.

2/ Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Toretsk and Pokrovsk, and Russian forces recently advanced in Kursk Oblast and near Toretsk and Pokrovsk.

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 8, 2025: https://t.co/2aWWVy8TiU pic.twitter.com/IwWBDHw98V

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) March 9, 2025

While Kyiv initially held parts of the Kursk region as potential leverage in future peace talks, its grip appears to be slipping, raising concerns over the next phase of the conflict.

Norway Doubles Ukraine Support in Security Push

Norway announced a major increase in its aid to Ukraine, more than doubling its 2025 contribution to $7.7 billion in response to Russia’s ongoing military buildup.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store emphasized that the aid will help Ukraine resist Russian aggression and reinforce European peace efforts.

The decision comes amid heightened security concerns in Europe and discussions among EU leaders about the Russia-Ukraine war.

Norway, aligning itself closely with European allies, sees the conflict as its most serious security challenge since World War II.

The total Norwegian aid package to Ukraine now stands at $8 billion for 2024 and is set to reach $18 billion by 2030.

Norway is now significantly increasing its support to Ukraine. The parties in the Storting have agreed to increase allocations to Ukraine for 2025 by an additional NOK 50 billion. https://t.co/KmtXjPVAyU pic.twitter.com/cRpnXJJhgg

— SMK (@Statsmin_kontor) March 6, 2025

As a major oil producer, Norway has benefited economically from the shift away from Russian energy supplies, while also positioning itself as a key supporter of Ukraine.

The increased aid package was approved by Norway’s political parties and reflects its commitment to European stability.

Clashes Shake South Sudan as UN Sounds Alarm

South Sudan faces a severe setback in its peace efforts as recent clashes between forces aligned with President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar threaten to unravel the country’s fragile power-sharing agreement.

The violence, centered in Upper Nile State, escalated further when a UN helicopter was attacked, killing one crew member and injuring two others, along with the death of an army general.

The UN Commission on Human Rights warns of an “alarming regression” that could undo years of progress since the 2018 peace deal that ended South Sudan’s civil war.

Recent surge in violence and escalating political tensions in South Sudan are putting a fragile peace process in jeopardy, a UN human rights commission warns
🔗 https://t.co/BwOJCIHOJa pic.twitter.com/uEG9gsbUkx

— TRT World (@trtworld) March 9, 2025

While Kiir has called for calm, accusations against Machar’s forces of inciting unrest alongside the White Army, an armed youth militia, have deepened tensions.

UN officials stress the urgent need for leaders to prioritize peace, protect human rights, and prevent a return to war in the world’s youngest nation.

Israel Bombs South Lebanon as Ceasefire Falters

Israel launched airstrikes on Hezbollah military sites in southern Lebanon, citing the presence of weapons and rocket launchers that it claims violated a ceasefire agreement.

Lebanese media reported multiple Israeli strikes across the region.

Despite a truce deal reached on November 27, which ended more than a year of hostilities, Israel has continued periodic strikes, and its planned withdrawal from Lebanon remains incomplete.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah has yet to fully retreat north of the Litani River, as required by the agreement.

The situation underscores ongoing tensions and the fragility of the ceasefire between the two sides.

Syria Erupts as Clashes Kill Over 1,000

Syria has witnessed one of its deadliest episodes of violence in over a decade, with more than 1,000 people killed in clashes between security forces and loyalists of ousted President Bashar Assad, followed by brutal sectarian revenge killings.

The conflict erupted when government forces attempted to detain a suspect near Jableh, leading to fierce battles with Assad loyalists. The violence escalated as Sunni militants targeted Alawite civilians, Assad’s former support base, in apparent retribution.

Reports describe executions, home burnings, and mass graves, particularly in coastal towns like Baniyas and Tuwaym.

Thousands of people, fearing further massacres, have fled to the mountains or sought refuge at a Russian air base.

The new Syrian government has declared it is regaining control, but tensions remain high. International reactions have begun, with France condemning sectarian violence and calling for independent investigations.

France Hands Over Military Bases to Senegal

France has begun withdrawing its military presence from Senegal, marking another step in its broader pullback from West Africa.

The process started with the handover of military facilities in Dakar, with other sites to follow according to an agreed timeline.

The withdrawal follows similar exits from Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, and Ivory Coast, as France restructures its military footprint in the region.

Senegal’s newly elected government, under President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has prioritized national sovereignty, pledging to remove all French and foreign troops by the end of 2025.

The move aligns with a broader trend of former French colonies pushing for military independence and closer ties with other global powers, including Russia.

La #France 🇫🇷 a remis au #Sénégal 🇸🇳 plusieurs installations utilisées par l’armée française dans le pays, a annoncé ce vendredi l’ambassade de France.

Précisions de notre correspondant à #Dakar, @NdaoEli, dans #AutourDuMondeF24 ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/h3QLdy5vZp

— FRANCE 24 Français (@France24_fr) March 7, 2025

Meanwhile, the French military base in Djibouti will remain operational as a strategic hub for missions in Africa.

A joint commission has been established to oversee the transition, including the fate of local workers employed by French forces, many of whom will lose their jobs by July 1. France has held a careers forum to assist affected workers in finding new opportunities.

Kim Jong Un Expands Naval Power with Nuclear Sub Project

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected the construction of a nuclear-powered submarine, signaling a major push to strengthen the country’s naval capabilities.

State media reported that boosting the Navy was a key component of Pyongyang’s defense strategy, with Kim emphasizing that North Korea’s sea defense would operate “without limitation.”

This marks the first official acknowledgment of North Korea’s development of a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine.

However, experts remain skeptical about the operational status of North Korea’s aging submarine fleet.

The inspection comes amid heightened tensions with South Korea, which has accused Pyongyang of supplying troops to Russia in violation of sanctions.

KIM JONG-UN INSPECTS SHIPYARDS, PREVIEWS NEW NUCLEAR MISSILE SUB pic.twitter.com/S3hgWfYsKQ

— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) March 8, 2025

Last week, North Korea conducted strategic cruise missile tests, responding to upcoming US-South Korea military drills that Pyongyang claims are preparations for an invasion.

With the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70)arriving in Busan for a scheduled port visit, the Korean Peninsula remains a flashpoint, as the two Koreas technically remain at war since the Korean War ended without a peace treaty.

Sources: News Agencies