Kim Visits Russian Weapons Plant as Putin Considers North Korea Ties; Ukraine Claims Major Naval Losses for Russia

Kim Jong Un visited a Russian aircraft plant that makes fighter jets, after Putin said Russia is considering military cooperation with North Korea. Putin also accepted Kim's invitation to visit North Korea.
Ukraine claimed it destroyed landing ship Minsk and submarine Rostov-on-Don in its attack on a shipyard in Russian-occupied Crimea, calling it an "irreparable loss."
Belarusian President Lukashenko arrived in Russia for talks with Putin, their 7th meeting this year. Putin said he'd inform Lukashenko about the economy and Ukraine.
Ukraine said it retook the village of Andriivka near Bakhmut, a symbolic and strategic win as both sides fight intensely in the area.
Kremlin said it's too early to comment on the plane crash that killed Wagner mercenary chief Prigozhin in August, as the investigation is still ongoing.

cnn.com

Relevant topic timeline:

8/23/2023

Yevgeny Prigozhin’s reported death may consolidate Putin’s power

A plane crash in Russia, which killed ten people including Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group, has raised speculation about whether it was an accident, shot down by air defenses, or an act of revenge from President Putin, reinforcing the perception of Russia as a mafia-like state.

8/27/2023

Genetic tests confirm Prigozhin died in plane crash, Russia says

Yevgeny Prigozhin, chief of the Wagner mercenary group and key figure in the Ukrainian conflict, has been confirmed dead in a plane crash, with genetic tests proving his identity; speculation of Russian government involvement in his death lingers.

9/17/2023

Putin Eliminates Rival Prigozhin, Reasserts Control Over Wagner Group

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group, a Russian private military company, was killed in a plane crash near Moscow two months after his failed rebellion against the Russian leadership, raising suspicions that Russian President Vladimir Putin orchestrated his death in order to consolidate control over Wagner.

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Posted 9/15/2023, 10:36:00 AM