Ukraine and China exchange words over Chinese citizens fighting for Russia
Cedric: Welcome to the Geopolitical
Report Daily for April 11, 2025.
Complete reports with casualty
information, interactive web maps, and
our IntelHub dashboard are available with
a Geopolitical Report Pro subscription.
Thursday, we collected 53 events,
including China denying involvement in
the war in Ukraine, so let's get started.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelenskyy revealed that at least
155 Chinese citizens are fighting
in the Russian army against Ukraine.
According to Zelenskyy, the Chinese
government is aware of the recruitment
process, which involves social media
platforms, including TikTok, and includes
medical examinations and training.
Two Chinese citizens, Wang Guangjun
and Chang Renbo, were recently captured
in Donetsk Oblast, and Ukraine has
information about other Chinese
citizens serving in the Russian army."
China has denied involvement in
Russia's war against Ukraine despite
evidence suggesting that at least
163 Chinese nationals are serving
in the Russian Armed Forces.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelensky claimed that 155
Chinese citizens are fighting for
Russia on Ukrainian territory.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry
spokesperson, Lin Jian, stated that
China is not a party to the conflict
and called on Ukraine to refrain from
making ""irresponsible remarks."""
"Azerbaijan
Israel and Turkey have held
talks in Azerbaijan to discuss a
deconfliction mechanism for preventing
unwanted incidents in Syria.
Israel has made it clear that any
change in the deployment of foreign
forces in Syria, particularly the
establishment of Turkish bases in
the Palmyra area, is a red line.
Israel holds the Syrian government
responsible for preventing any activity
that endangers Israel, and Turkey has
confirmed the talks as the beginning
of efforts to establish a channel to
avoid potential clashes between the two
countries' operations in the region."
"Iran
Iran has threatened to expel UN
atomic watchdog inspectors or transfer
enriched material to undisclosed
locations if it faces a military
attack or continued external threats.
This warning comes after US President
Donald Trump threatened military force if
Iran does not agree to a nuclear deal."
"Panama
The United States and Panama have signed
a new defense and security pact to
reinforce control over the Panama Canal.
The agreement reaffirms Panamanian
sovereignty and outlines new military
cooperation, including a cost-sharing
model for services provided to U.S.
warships.
The deal also aims to guarantee U.S.
warships ""first and free"" passage
through the canal, a move seen
as a pushback against China's
growing influence in the region."
"Russia
In response to Romania declaring two
Russian embassy staff as personae non
gratae, Russia has expelled two Romanian
diplomats, including the defense
attaché in Moscow and his deputy.
This move is seen as a retaliation
for Romania's earlier decision to
expel two Russian military officials,
which Russia claims is ""unfounded""
and politically motivated."
"Russia
The US and Russia have
conducted a prisoner exchange,
releasing two individuals.
Ksenia Karelina, a US-Russian ballet
dancer and spa worker, was released
from Russian custody after being
sentenced to 12 years on treason charges.
In exchange, the US released Arthur
Petrov, a Russian-German citizen who
was facing up to 20 years in a US
jail for violating export controls."
"Turkey
The second round of talks between
Russia and the US concluded in
Istanbul after over five hours.
The delegations discussed efforts
to stabilize operations of their
bilateral missions, with the US
reiterating concerns over Russia's
policy prohibiting the employment of
local staff at the US Embassy in Moscow.
Despite these challenges, both sides
made progress, agreeing to hold a
follow-up meeting, exchange notes on
an agreement for mutual guarantees
of banking and financial servicing,
and facilitate the movement of
diplomats and visa processing."
"Iran
A joint military exercise took place
at the Nurduz border between Iran
and Armenia from April 9 to 10.
The exercise aimed to strengthen
border security, maintain combat
readiness, and fight terrorism.
It involved special forces units from
both countries, with operations conducted
within each country's territory.
The drill focused on eliminating
simulated terrorist attacks
targeting border checkpoints."
"Philippines
The Philippine Army's 2nd Infantry
Division announced the seizure of a
large New People's Army (NPA) arms
cache in Labo town, Camarines Norte.
The operation, carried out by soldiers
from the 16th Infantry Battalion with
the help of a former rebel and local
police, resulted in the discovery
of various firearms, grenades, and
ammunition, including one Ultimax light
machine gun, seven M-16 A1 rifles, and
over 5,000 rounds of live ammunition."
"Israel
Two young men, Wahib Abdelqader Abu Arar,
and Imad Suleiman Abu Arar, were shot
dead in separate incidents in the southern
Bedouin village of Ararat an-Naqab.
The violence occurred amid a dispute
between rival local clans, resulting in
at least four more people injured and
several homes and a school set on fire."
"Philippines
Aldie Salusad, a former high-ranking
commander of the communist New
People's Army (NPA), surrendered
in Bukidnon province after evading
arrest warrants for 24 years.
He turned over seven high-powered
firearms, two pistols, and a shotgun.
The surrender was reportedly encouraged
by family members, including his
father who was also a former rebel."
"Syria
A former commander of an Iran-backed
armed group was assassinated in Aleppo
city by unidentified gunmen, and a
young man from Latakia countryside was
found dead with his hands bound after
being kidnapped by unknown individuals."
"Syria
ISIS militants carried out a violent
attack on a Syrian Democratic Forces
checkpoint in Abu Hamam town, Deir
Ezzor, using machine guns and rockets.
Fortunately, no casualties were
reported as a result of the attack."
"United Kingdom
A 38-year-old Romanian man was arrested
by counter-terrorism police at Stansted
Airport on March 19, on suspicion
of assisting a foreign intelligence
service under the National Security Act.
The investigation began after a fire
at a DHL depot in Minworth, near
Birmingham, on July 22, which is
believed to have been caused by a package
that Russian spies may have planted.
The man was released on bail until July."
"Armenia
On April 9, at approximately 23:50,
Armenian armed forces fired on Azerbaijan
Army positions using small arms.
The Azerbaijan Army responded with
adequate retaliatory measures."
"Gaza Strip
The Israeli Air Force struck over
35 targets in Gaza, including terror
operatives, infrastructure, and military
posts, posing a threat to Israel.
The airstrikes were conducted as part
of ongoing ground operations in the
Strip and targeted areas, including
Rafah, Khan Younis, and northern Gaza."
"Iraq
Turkiye has launched an intensive
artillery attack on positions
of the Kurdistan Workers' Party
(PKK) in the Gara Mountain range
of Kurdistan Region's Duhok.
The attack targeted the area around
Khastu village, but details on human
or material losses are not available.
This operation comes despite a ceasefire
declared by PKK leader Abdullah Ãcalan."
"Lebanon
Israeli Apache helicopters
bombed several homes in the
southern town of Yater overnight.
Residents received phone calls warning
them to evacuate before the attack.
The strikes targeted the homes
of the town's mayor, Khalil
Kourani, and his brothers."
"Myanmar
Airstrikes by the Myanmar junta in
the Wuntho Township area have killed
over 30 civilians, including an
entire family, in the past two days.
The attacks occurred despite a
ceasefire declared by the junta
following a devastating earthquake
in central Myanmar on April 2.
The National Unity Government (NUG) has
accused the junta of targeting civilians
and rebel forces, while the junta has
not released information on the attacks."
"Russia
Russian authorities have accused Ukrainian
troops of killing 9 civilians in the
village of Makhnovka in the Kursk region.
According to the Investigative Committee,
Ukrainian servicemen intentionally shelled
residential buildings in the village,
resulting in 6 bodies with gunshot wounds.
However, the claims have
not been verified, and the
situation is still unclear."
"Sudan
An artillery attack by the Rapid Support
Forces (RSF) on El Fasher in North
Darfur, Sudan, has resulted in at least
12 civilian deaths and 17 severe injuries.
The Sudanese army condemned the
attack, which occurred despite
its control over the city.
This incident comes as the army has made
significant progress in its war against
the RSF, regaining control over key
areas, including Khartoum, and limiting
the RSF's presence to specific regions."
"Syria
Successive batches of members from
various factions, including Ahrar
Al-Sharqiyah, Al-Hamzah, Al-Sultan
Murad, and Malk Shah, have left Ras
Al-Ain city in Al-Hasakah countryside and
are heading towards Turkish territory.
The reasons behind these movements are
unclear, but some members are reportedly
heading to their hometowns within Syria."
"Ukraine
Russia launched 145 Shahed-type attack
UAVs and imitator drones from various
directions, including occupied Crimea.
The Ukrainian Defense Forces
successfully repelled the attack,
downing 85 Russian drones and losing 49
imitator drones without consequences.
The attack resulted in injuries
in the Mykolaiv region, with
10 people reported injured.
The consequences of the attack were
recorded in several regions, including
Mykolaiv, Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Kyiv."
"Ukraine
On April 10, around 9:00 a.m.,
the Russian army struck the town
of Izium in the Kharkiv region with
a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle),
previously known as the Geranium-2.
The attack damaged houses and
injured a 49-year-old woman
who suffered acute shock."
"Ukraine
According to the latest update from
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, the
number of people injured in a Russian
drone attack on Kyiv was four.
Two victims were hospitalized,
while the other two were
treated on the spot by medics."
"Ukraine
A missile strike in Dnipro has
resulted in a large-scale fire
and significant destruction.
According to Serhii Lysak,
one person has been killed and
another injured in the attack."
"Ukraine
Russian forces have attacked two
civilians in Kherson using drones.
A 64-year-old man was injured
with explosive shrapnel wounds
to his leg, while a 31-year-old
man sustained a mine-blast injury
and shrapnel wounds to his legs.
Both victims were taken to the
hospital for medical care, with
the latter in stable condition."
"Ukraine
Ukrainian forces claimed to have
killed or wounded 1,420 Russian
soldiers over the past day.
Over 360 pieces of military equipment
were destroyed in the fighting."
"Ukraine
The 4th Border Guard Detachment of the
Ukrainian Defense Forces successfully
destroyed 11 Russian positions in the
Kharkiv sector using a Baba Yaga UAV.
This achievement is part of
the ongoing efforts to counter
Russian forces in Ukraine."
"Ukraine
Russian strikes in the Kherson
region on April 9 resulted in
significant damage and loss of life.
One person was killed, and two others
were injured as a result of the attacks,
which targeted critical infrastructure and
residential areas in various settlements.
The strikes also caused damage
to a multi-story building, 12
private houses, and private cars.
The affected areas include
Antonivka, Beryslav, and several
other villages in the region."
"Ukraine
Russian troops shelled the Donetsk
region, resulting in the deaths of 4
civilians and injuries to 2 others.
The affected areas include
Novoekonomichne, Bahatyr, Kostiantynivka,
and Pokrovsk, according to Vadym
Filashkin, the head of the Donetsk
Regional Military Administration."
"Ukraine
Russian drones attacked Sloviansk,
causing damage to a repair box and
a car in the Buran garage company.
Fortunately, there were
no casualties reported.
This attack occurred on the same
day as Russian shelling in other
Donetsk region locations, resulting
in four deaths and two injuries."
"Ukraine
A kamikaze drone attack by the
Russian army in Nikopol has
injured 12 people, including a
16-year-old boy in serious condition.
The attack caused damage to a dormitory
and five cars, and authorities are
still examining the affected area."
"Yemen
The Iran-backed Houthi rebels claim that
suspected US airstrikes in Yemen overnight
killed at least three people, bringing
the death toll in recent attacks to 13.
The Houthis also released footage showing
debris from a downed US MQ-9 Reaper drone.
The US military's Central Command has
not acknowledged the strikes, which
are part of a campaign authorized
by the White House since March 15."
"Morocco
A cyber attack on Morocco's National
Social Security Fund (CNSS) has
compromised the personal data of
nearly 2 million employees from
thousands of companies in the country.
The attack, attributed to an Algerian
hacker group called ""Jabaroot DZ,""
occurred on April 8 and has sparked
concerns about the reliability of
CNSS's digital security system.
The extent of the damage
is still being assessed."
"United States
The Oregon Department of Environmental
Quality (DEQ) has temporarily shut down
its networks and vehicle inspection
services due to a cyberattack.
As a result, vehicle inspection stations
will be closed until further notice, and
the agency's website, MyDEQOnline.com,
is currently unavailable.
The DEQ's IT organization is
investigating the incident."
"Argentina
Argentina's largest workers' unions have
launched a 24-hour strike in response
to austerity measures implemented by
President Javier Milei's government.
The strike has brought various
services to a halt, including
trains, planes, and ports.
Workers are demanding the government
reinstate sacked employees,
reopen salary talks, and scrap
plans to privatize public firms.
The strike has caused disruptions,
with garbage piling up on the
streets and locals divided
on the impact of the strike."
"Bangladesh
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party
(BNP) organized a massive rally in
the capital, Dhaka, on Thursday to
express solidarity with the people
of Gaza and Rafah in Palestine.
The rally aimed to
condemn the war in Gaza.
Thousands of BNP leaders and activists,
as well as supporters from different
parts of the city, participated in
the rally, carrying national flags,
BNP flags, and Palestinian flags
and chanting anti-Israeli slogans."
"Israel
Police in Haifa arrested 23
protesters who demonstrated against
Israel's ongoing Gaza offensive.
The protesters refused to disperse
and were seen holding banners with
messages such as ""Stop bombing aid
convoys"" and ""Stop the genocide.""
The police forcibly arrested
several protesters after declaring
the demonstration unlawful."
"Israel
Police arrested seven protesters at
an anti-war demonstration in Jerusalem
despite the small size of the crowd.
The protesters, who held banners in
Hebrew, English, and Arabic, demanded
an end to Israel's Gaza offensive and
called on Israelis to refuse IDF service.
The police confiscated signs with
controversial slogans and used
force to detain some participants."
"Turkey
Turkish police detained two prominent
journalists, Timur Soykan and Murat
Agirel, in dawn raids on accusations
of ""threat"" and ""blackmail.""
The detentions are part of a larger
crackdown on dissent following
the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem
Imamoglu and subsequent protests.
Over 1,000 people, including
12 journalists, have been
detained since Imamoglu's arrest,
with some still in custody.
The move has been criticized
by international bodies and the
main opposition CHP, who accuse
the government of using the
judiciary to intimidate critical
journalists and independent media."
"Turkey
Turkey has freed over 120
people detained during recent
mass anti-government protests.
The individuals, mostly university
students, were arrested after
participating in demonstrations
sparked by the jailing of
opposition mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.
The government claims the judiciary is
independent, but the move is seen as a
response to nationwide protests against
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's rule."
"Afghanistan
A blast occurred in Kandahar on
Thursday morning, initially sparking
speculation about a possible attack.
However, Taliban officials
later stated that the explosion
was caused by old, unexploded
munitions stored in a container,
which deteriorated and detonated.
Several security personnel were
injured in the incident, and emergency
response teams were deployed to
prevent further detonations."
"Canada
On April 8, a locomotive carrying six
rail cars derailed in the Canadian Pacific
Kansas City (CPKC) yard in Moose Jaw,
but fortunately, no one was injured.
The incident occurred at slow speed,
and all units remained upright.
CPKC employees successfully re-railed
all the cars with the help of heavy
machinery by the early morning of April
9, and operations resumed normally."
"Pakistan
A hand grenade exploded in a house in
the Sheikhan area of Kohat district,
resulting in the deaths of two children
and critically injuring two others.
The injured children were taken
to the Divisional Headquarters
Hospital, with one being referred
to Peshawar for further treatment."
"Russia
A fire occurred on April 10 at the
Komsomolsk refinery in Russia's
Khabarovsk Krai, the country's largest
fuel supplier for the Far East.
The blaze was reportedly caused by
a gasoline leak and ignition in a
technological unit, covering an area
of approximately 100 square meters."
"Syria
A landmine explosion in Al-Karama Village,
near Al-Hasakah, has resulted in the
death of a child and injury to another."
"Syria
A civilian has been killed in an
explosion caused by a landmine from
war remnants in Al-Hassiniya Village,
located north of Deir Ezzor in a region
controlled by the new government."
"Syria
A member of the engineering team was
injured in an explosion while dismantling
war remnants in Al-Ankawy Village,
Sahl Al-Ghab, Hama countryside."
"Syria
A member of the engineering team was
fatally injured while attempting to
dismantle landmines in Al-Mariâiya
Village, eastern Deir Ezzor,
resulting in a tragic loss of life."
"Turkey
A collapse occurred in the Ãayırhan
Mine in Ankara, injuring 13 workers.
One worker is in serious condition,
while two others have been taken to
Bilkent City Hospital for treatment.
The remaining 11 injured workers were
taken to Beypazarı State Hospital."
"United States
A single-engine Beechcraft plane
experienced an oil pressure issue and
made an emergency landing on Scarlet Oak
Road in Spotsylvania County, Virginia,
crashing into trees and overturning.
Two people were injured, but their
injuries were not life-threatening.
The Federal Aviation Administration and
National Transportation Safety Board
have been notified, and Virginia State
Police are handling the investigation."
Thanks for joining us for the April
11, 2025 Geopolitical Report Daily.
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