April 9, 2025 24:15 E109

Chinese nationals fighting for Russia, captured in Ukraine

Cedric: Welcome to the Geopolitical
Report Daily for April 9, 2025.

Complete reports with casualty
information, interactive web maps, and

our IntelHub dashboard are available with
a Geopolitical Report Pro subscription.

Tuesday, we collected 59 events,
including Chinese nationals being

captured fighting alongside Russia,
in Ukraine, so let's get started.

"Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelensky announced that Ukrainian

troops have captured two Chinese
citizens who were fighting alongside

Russian forces in the Donetsk region.

Zelensky stated that Kyiv will demand an
explanation from Beijing and a reaction

from its allies and shared images of one
of the alleged prisoners on social media."

"Indonesia

On Tuesday, the West Papua National
Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization

(TPNPB-OPM) declared its readiness to
engage in war against the Indonesian

military if the government does not
recognize the sovereignty of Papua.

The TPNPB-OPM declaration was made in
response to the shooting of foreigners

in Kuala Kencana, Timika, Papua Province,
which TPNPB-OPM claims was carried

out by Indonesian military personnel."

"Iran

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi
has stated that Tehran prefers indirect

talks with the US on its nuclear
program due to concerns about Washington

imposing pressure or using threats.

Araghchi says Iran is willing to make
""confidence-building"" concessions in

exchange for sanctions relief but has
no plans to switch to direct talks.

He also rejects the idea of following
a Libyan model, where a country

dismantled its nuclear program
without receiving concessions."

"Russia

Russia's lower house of parliament
has ratified a treaty with

Iran to deepen their political,
military, and economic ties.

The treaty aims to counter
common security threats but stops

short of a mutual defense pact.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei
Rudenko clarified that the treaty

does not establish a military alliance
with Iran but instead commits the

two countries to not assisting an
aggressor if either side is attacked.

The deal, signed by Presidents
Putin and Pezeshkian in

January, requires parliamentary
approval to come into force."

"Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
has publicly acknowledged for the

first time that Ukrainian troops are
active in Russia's Belgorod region,

with the main objective of protecting
Ukraine's border regions and easing

pressure on the eastern Donetsk region."

"Sudan

Gen.

Abdelrahim Dagalo, deputy commander of
Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has

urged traditional leaders in South Darfur
to openly support the RSF, warning that

neutrality will no longer be tolerated.

Dagalo stated that local leaders must take
a clear position in favor of the RSF and

that those who do not will be suspected.

The RSF is seeking to consolidate
local alliances in areas it controls."

"Bangladesh

Tuesday morning, the Arakan Army,
a Myanmar-based armed rebel group,

abducted two fishing trawlers and
11 fishermen from the sea near Saint

Martin's Island, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh.

The incident occurred when the
group, armed with weapons, entered

Bangladesh's territorial waters and
took the trawlers hostage at gunpoint."

"India

Around 1 AM on Tuesday, unidentified
assailants threw a grenade at the

residence of former Punjab minister
and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

leader Manoranjan Kalia in Jalandhar.

The attack damaged a glass partition
at the entrance as well as a car

and motorcycle parked nearby.

While Kalia and his family
were at home at the time of the

attack, there were no casualties."

"India

Security forces in Manipur's Imphal
East district have arrested two

militants: one from the United
Peoples' Party of Kangleipak (UPPK)

and another from the PREPAK group.

A large cache of arms and ammunition,
including rifles, hand grenades, and

mortar bombs, was also recovered during
search operations in Churachandpur,

Kangpokpi, and Imphal East.

An investigation is currently underway."

"India

The Punjab Police announced on Tuesday the
arrest of two suspects in connection with

a grenade attack on the house of senior
BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia in Jalandhar.

The police believe the attack was
carried out by Pakistan-based gangsters,

citing the involvement of ISI and a
nexus of gangsters and terrorists.

Tuesday's attack is the 18th such grenade
attack in Punjab in the past seven

months, with the police claiming to
have solved ""almost all incidents."""

"Israel

A Palestinian woman allegedly attempted to
carry out a stabbing and hurled stones at

soldiers and Israeli vehicles at the Gitai
Avisar junction near the Ariel settlement.

The IDF reported that the soldiers
opened fire after she drew a knife,

but the condition of the woman and the
outcome of the incident is unclear.

There were no other reported injuries."

"Kenya

On Monday, police reservists
engaged in a gun battle with

bandits at Mea in Igembe North.

During the clash, three police
reservists were killed, and

several others were injured."

"Mexico

On Monday, gunmen attacked a drug
rehabilitation center in Culiacan, killing

nine people and wounding four others.

The attackers forced their way into
the building, asked patients if they

belonged to a criminal group, and
opened fire when no one responded.

The attack was linked to an
internal war between rival

factions in the CÃ¡rtel de Sinaloa."

"Nigeria

A student, Augustine Madubiya, has
been abducted by armed bandits at

an off-campus hostel of the Federal
University, Birnin Kebbi, in Kebbi State.

The attackers stormed
the hostel at 3:00 a.m.

on Tuesday, assaulted students, and
shot a neighbor, Malam Siddi Hussaini,

who was tending to his cattle.

Collaneous Steven, another
student, managed to escape."

"Nigeria

Last Saturday, April 5, the Chairman
of the Lagos State Council of the

National Union of Road Transport
Workers (NURTW), Mustapha Adekunle,

escaped an assassination attempt after
six armed men stormed his residence

in Gbadamosi Close, Surulere, Lagos.

Fortunately, Adekunle was not
present during the attack."

"Somalia

On Sunday, Burundian soldiers serving
under the African Union Support and

Stabilization Mission in Somalia
(AUSSOM) were injured in an Al-Shabaab

ambush in the Middle Shabelle region.

The AUSSOM strongly condemned the
attack and praised the Burundian

forces for their swift action,
which prevented maximum casualties.

The incident occurred while the
peacekeepers were clearing a landing

area for a helicopter, but they
defended themselves and killed one

militant in the ensuing gun battle."

"Syria

A joint operation by the Women's
Internal Security Forces (Women's

ISF) and the Women's Protection Units
(YPJ) at Roj Camp in Derik, Jazira

Canton, resulted in the detention of
16 ISIS members and collaborators.

The operation, which ended on Monday,
was conducted over three days, involving

nighttime raids and the seizure
of advanced communication devices.

The goal of the operation was to prevent
ISIS cells from recruiting new members,

particularly children, and to protect the
local community from radical ideology."

"Syria

ISIS cells attacked the Al-Jamaiya
Checkpoint in eastern Deir

Ezzor countryside with two
RPG shells and light weapons.

Fortunately, no casualties were reported."

"Syria

ISIS-affiliated gunmen attacked a
military vehicle in Al-Namliyah town,

Deir Ezzor countryside, causing material
damage but no reported casualties."

"Syria

On Monday, a member of the Ahrar
Al-Sharqiya Faction threw a hand grenade

inside a funeral tent in Ras Al-Ain City,
Al-Hasakah province, injuring five people,

including three gunmen and two children.

The incident occurred after the death
of an ISIS commander who had recently

joined the Ahrar Al-Sharqiya faction."

"Syria

On Tuesday, masked gunmen on a
motorcycle threw a grenade inside

the house of a senior ISIS commander
in Ras Al-Ain, killing him.

The assailants escaped the
area after the attack."

"Ukraine

The SSU has detained a 49-year-old
Ukrainian citizen who worked as

a Russian informant, tasked with
recording the coordinates of

military and energy facilities in
Kharkiv for potential air strikes.

The informant was recruited through
Telegram channels and used business

trips as a cover to gather information.

Additionally, a 30-year-old woman was
detained in the Poltava region for

preparing terrorist attacks on the
orders of Russian special services."

"West Bank

A wedding hall in the central West
Bank village of Bidya was set on fire

overnight, with no reported injuries.

Palestinians claim Israeli settlers
were responsible for the attack,

which also saw graffiti with anti-Arab
slogans sprayed on walls in the village.

Israeli police have opened an
investigation, but authorities

have not confirmed the incident."

"Israel

Two cousins, Ahmed Zidat (25) and
Mahmoud Zidat (44), were sentenced

to life imprisonment plus 60
years for a 2024 car-ramming and

stabbing attack in Ra'anana, Israel.

The attack killed 79-year-old Edna
Bluestein and injured 17 others.

The perpetrators, who identified
with the Hamas terror group, pleaded

guilty to terror charges, including
aggravated murder, attempted

murder, and causing injury."

"Gaza Strip

Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip
overnight and into Tuesday killed

at least 26 people, including five
children as young as 2 years old.

The strikes targeted several areas,
including Deir al-Balah, Beit

Lahiya, and northwest of Gaza City.

The tolls cannot be verified, and Gaza's
health authorities do not differentiate

between fighters and civilians."

"India

On Tuesday, the National Investigation
Agency (NIA) conducted raids at

multiple locations linked to Babbar
Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist

Satinderjit Singh alias Goldy
Brar and US-based gangster Randeep

Malik in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

The NIA recovered several electronic
and incriminating materials

during the searches, which are
now being examined for clues.

Investigations revealed that Brar and
Malik were key conspirators behind

grenade attacks at the Warehouse
Club and Human Club in Gurgaonâs

Sector-29 in December 2024."

"Iran

On Monday, the Islamic Revolution Guard
Corps (IRGC) announced that its forces

eliminated a Daesh/ISIS cell during an
operation in the Kurdistan province.

Troops seized several
explosive belts, weapons, and

grenades during the operation.

The foreign national terrorists had
planned to carry out suicide attacks

on residents in the province."

"Lebanon

Israeli fighter jets have struck
a Hezbollah weapons depot in

Lebanon's northeastern Beqaa Valley,
according to the Israeli military.

The site was being used to store weapons
for Hezbollah's aerial defense unit,

posing a threat to Israel and violating
agreements between Israel and Lebanon."

"Myanmar

According to local residents, the Myanmar
National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA),

also known as the Kokang Army, has removed
machinery and medical equipment from

Lashio General Hospital as they prepare
to withdraw from Lashio, the largest

city in northern Shan State, by April 21.

This withdrawal follows pressure
from China for the group to hand

control of the city back to Myanmar's
military junta after the MNDAA captured

Lashio in August of last year."

"Myanmar

On Monday, Chin Brotherhood rebels
seized Chin stateâs second-largest town

of Falam, located near the border of
Mizoram state in India, after defeating

the remaining Battalion 268 forces.

More than 10,000 residents fled the
town into India during the fighting."

"Myanmar

On Monday, resistance forces
captured Indaw Township in the

northern Sagaing Region after
nearly eight months of attacks.

The capture was led by the National
Unity Government (NUG) and the All Burma

Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF),
with allied groups taking control of the

junta's final position, Japan Cave Hill.

The resistance forces seized a
large Howitzer, numerous weapons,

and ammunition and took around
40 junta troops as prisoners.

This victory marks a significant
gain for the resistance forces,

who have also captured several
other towns in the region."

"Myanmar

On Tuesday, junta forces conducted aerial
bombardments on a resistance-held village

of Tone Town in Lemyethna Township,
Ayeyarwady Region, near Rakhine State.

Regime drones also targeted
the village on Sunday.

Despite declaring a ceasefire following
a deadly earthquake that struck the

country late last month, Myanmar's
military has continued to launch drone

attacks, according to local sources."

"Myanmar

Residents of western Myanmar's Rakhine
State are urging the Arakan Army (AA) to

intensify its mine clearance operations
this week as landmine-related injuries

and fatalities continue to rise across
towns and villages in the region.

According to a resident of Gwa Township,
retreating junta troops planted landmines

in military camps, forests, and mountain
paths as they lost control of territory,

leaving civilians who forage for food and
firewood at risk of deadly explosions."

"Russia

The Ukrainian Air Force targeted
a Russian military complex in

Ozerki, Kursk region, on April 7.

The operation resulted in the destruction
of hangars, military structures, and

technical equipment, as well as the
elimination of over 30 Russian troops.

This strike is expected to diminish
Russia's ability to carry out military

operations against Ukrainian forces
in the Sumy region and Kursk sector."

"South Korea

South Korea's military has fired
warning shots after North Korean

soldiers crossed the border.

Approximately 10 North Korean soldiers
returned to their territory following

the warning broadcasts and shots.

South Korea is closely monitoring North
Korean activities, indicating a heightened

state of alertness along the border."

"South Sudan

Authorities in Guit County of Unity
State claim that Sudan Peopleâs

Liberation Army-in-Opposition
(SPLA-IO) forces detained a motorboat

and its four crew members in the
Wichmoun area of Guit County.

The boat was transporting
construction materials and

machinery for a port project."

"South Sudan

On Tuesday, the South Sudanese
opposition party, the Sudan People's

Liberation Movement/Army-in-Opposition
(SPLM/A-IO), refused the South Sudan

People's Defence Forces (SSPDF)
orders for its troops to assemble in

government-controlled areas near Juba.

A spokesperson for the SPLM/A-IO, led
by First Vice President Riek Machar,

who is currently under house arrest,
stated that SPLM/A-IO is an independent

movement that takes orders from its
own leadership rather than the SSPDF."

"Sudan

A paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF)
drone attack on Dongola Airport in Sudan's

Northern State destroyed several fuel
tankers, triggering a massive explosion

and forcing airport personnel to evacuate.

The attack is the latest in a string
of RSF drone offensives targeting

strategic infrastructure across Northern
State, with officials condemning

the strike as a deliberate attempt
to destroy civilian infrastructure.

The incident occurred just days after
RSF forces launched an assault on

the Merowe Dam, causing widespread
blackouts across the country."

"Sudan

On Saturday, April 5, paramilitary
Rapid Support Forces (RSF) drone strikes

targeted the hydroelectric Merowe
Dam, a key source of electricity,

causing widespread blackouts
across Northern State, Omdurman,

and large parts of the country."

"Sudan

On Sunday, paramilitary Rapid Support
Forces (RSF) drone strikes on the

Sudanese Armed Forcesâ 73rd Brigade in
the city of Ed Debba killed and injured

an unspecified number of soldiers."

"Syria

A woman was killed, and several
civilians were injured in artillery

shelling by the Syrian Democratic Forces
(SDF) in Rasm Al-Harmal Village, near

Deir Hafer City in eastern Aleppo.

The shelling occurred following
renewed clashes between the SDF

and National Army factions in
the northern part of the city."

"Taiwan

Taiwan tracked 16 Chinese
military aircraft, five naval

vessels, and one official ship
around its country between 6 a.m.

on Monday and 6 a.m.

on Tuesday.

15 aircraft crossed the Taiwan
Strait median line in the countryâs

northern, southwestern, and eastern
Air Defense Identification Zone."

"Ukraine

Russian forces have attacked
Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region,

injuring a 64-year-old man with
an explosive dropped from a drone.

The injured man was transported to a
medical facility in serious condition.

This incident is part of ongoing attacks
on the civilian population in the area."

"Ukraine

Russian forces have been targeting
residential buildings in Kupiansk

with artillery fire despite
no casualties being reported.

The regional governor, Oleh Syniehubov,
described the situation as critical, with

the Russians showing blatant disregard
for the customs and rules of war."

"Ukraine

Russian forces have shelled 31 settlements
in Ukraine's Kherson region, injuring

eight people, including a child.

The targeted areas included residential
neighborhoods, critical infrastructure,

and agricultural facilities.

The attack damaged 3 apartment
buildings, 11 private homes, and

various other structures, including
gas pipelines and a private vehicle."

"Ukraine

Ukrainian forces claimed to have
killed or wounded 1,290 Russian

soldiers over the past day.

Over 215 pieces of military equipment
were destroyed in the fighting."

"Ukraine

Ukrainian forces shot down nine
Russian drones and neutralized 31

decoy drones without causing damage.

The attack, which included 46 Shahed
strike UAVs and an Iskander-M ballistic

missile, was launched from the
Kursk and Primorsko-Akhtarsk areas.

The Ukrainian Defense Forces successfully
countered the attack using mobile fire

units and electronic warfare teams,
with damage reported in the Kharkiv,

Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk regions."

"Yemen

Suspected US airstrikes have hit
the area around Hodeida, a Red Sea

port city in Yemen, killing at least
two people and wounding 13 others.

The strikes targeted a home in
a residential neighborhood and

telecommunication equipment
in Amran governorate."

"Yemen

US airstrikes in Yemen have
reportedly targeted Houthi rebel

positions, with strikes carried
out in the capital of Sanaa and

the neighboring region of Mar'ib.

A Saudi-based news site claims that
the US airstrikes killed Houthi

intelligence chief Abdul Nasser Al-Kamali,
but this has not been confirmed.

The US Central Command has
not commented on the reports."

"Germany

Germany's intelligence agencies are
investigating a suspected Russian

online attack on the German Association
for East European Studies (DGO).

The attack, attributed to hacker
group APT 29 (Cozy Bear), compromised

the association's email traffic.

This is not an isolated incident, as
several German institutions deemed

""undesirable"" by Russia have faced
similar cyberattacks, as well as

stalking and physical break-ins."

"Canada

A single-engine Cessna 172
aircraft crashed on April 5,

approximately 8 kilometers east
of Chilliwack Lake, resulting in

the deaths of two people on board.

The Chilliwack RCMP and Chilliwack
Search and Rescue responded to the

scene, and the BC Coroners Service
and the Transportation Safety Board

are conducting investigations."

"Dominican Republic

At least 18 people died, and over 120
were injured after a roof collapsed at

the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo,
the capital of the Dominican Republic.

Crews are searching for potential
survivors in the rubble, with

officials hopeful that many
people may still be alive.

The incident occurred during a
concert, with merengue singer

The cause of the roof
collapse is not yet clear."

"Iran

On Monday evening, a tragic incident
occurred at a coal mine in the village

of Mehman Duyeh near the city of
Damghan, Semnan province, resulting

in the deaths of seven miners due
to gas poisoning caused by a buildup

of carbon monoxide within the mine."

"Israel

At least 22 people have been hospitalized
after a public bus overturned in Rishon

Lezion, with one woman in moderate
condition and the others lightly hurt.

The circumstances of the crash are
unclear, but a video appears to show

the bus landing on its side after
driving through a traffic circle.

Additionally, a van caught fire
on Route 1, causing traffic chaos,

but no injuries were reported."

"Syria

A child was injured by shrapnel
from an exploded war shell in Jaba

Town, Al-Qonaitara countryside.

The child was taken to a
hospital for medical treatment."

"Syria

Two children were injured in
separate explosions of landmines

in western Idlib countryside and
Ma'arat Al-Na'aman, southern Idlib.

They were both taken to a
hospital for medical treatment."

"United Kingdom

A light aircraft crashed at Darley
Moor racetrack in Derbyshire,

resulting in the deaths of two men.

The incident occurred at approximately
11:30 am on Tuesday, with emergency

services and investigators from
the Air Accidents Investigation

Branch (AAIB) present at the scene.

The public is advised to avoid the area
while the investigation is ongoing."

"United States

A Keystone Pipeline rupture or leak has
occurred near Fort Ransom, North Dakota,

causing an oil spill into a nearby field.

The incident was reported at 7:44 a.m.

on Tuesday, April 8, and an
employee was able to shut down

the pipeline within two minutes.

The spill appears to be confined to the
field, with a nearby stream not affected.

The extent of the spill is
still unknown and will likely be

determined in the coming days."

"United States

Two people escaped injury after their
single-engine Cessna 180 plane flipped

over during a landing attempt at the
Ottawa Executive Airport in Zeeland.

The incident occurred on Tuesday
morning, with first responders finding

the plane upside down on the runway.

The Federal Aviation Administration will
investigate the cause of the accident."

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