INSIDE RUSSIA
Putin Thanks North Korea for Helping to Defeat Ukrainian Militants in Kursk Region
Russian leader thanks DPRK units for helping smash Ukrainian militants in Kursk region, Kremlin states.
Russian people will never forget heroism of North Korean fighters who participated in defeat of Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk, Putin said.
“We pay tribute to the courage and selflessness of the Korean warriors who stood side by side with the Russian Armed Forces to defend our homeland as if it were their own,” Russia’s president said.
Korean soldiers fulfilled their duty with honor and valor, earning themselves everlasting glory, Putin emphasized.
“Our Korean friends acted out of a sense of solidarity, justice, and true comradeship. We highly appreciate this and are sincerely grateful to the Chairman of State Affairs, Comrade Kim Jong-un, the entire leadership, and the people of North Korea.”
The people of Russia will never forget feat of Korean special forces soldiers who participated in defeat of Ukrainian militants in the Kursk region, Putin added.
Lavrov Holds Phone Talks With Rubio, Ukraine Discussed Most – Russian Foreign Ministry
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a phone conversation with US State Secretary Marco Rubio on April 27, during which they paid special attention to the matter of the Ukraine crisis, the Russian Foreign Minsitry said on Monday.
“On April 27, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov and US Secretary of State Rubio had a telephone conversation. They continued a productive exchange of views on key aspects of the Russian-US political dialogue, which has been significantly intensified as of late. The main focus was on the Ukrainian crisis,” the ministry said in a statement.
The two top diplomats continued building upon the discussions between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and “stressed the importance of consolidating the emerging preconditions for the start of negotiations aimed at agreeing on a credible path to long-term sustainable peace,” the statement read.
“Some other international issues were also touched upon. It was agreed to continue contacts at all levels,” the ministry added.
Signal of Readiness for Direct Talks Should Come From Ukraine, Russia Sees No Action- Kremlin
MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The signal of readiness for direct negotiations must come from Kiev, Moscow has not seen any action yet, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.
“From Kiev … So far we have not seen any action,” Peskov told reporters.
US efforts to bring the Ukraine process to a peaceful course continue, Russia has repeatedly spoken about its readiness for the peace process, Kremlin spokesman added.
“The United States’ efforts to move the process into a peaceful direction are continuing. The Russian side’s readiness has been repeatedly confirmed, confirmed by the president, without any preconditions, to begin the negotiation process with Ukraine in order to move into a peaceful direction. The efforts are continuing,” Peskov told reporters.
Russia can also provide military assistance to North Korea in accordance with the bilateral agreement if necessary, Dmitry Peskov said.
On Saturday, Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov announced that the Kursk Region was fully liberated, as the last of the settlements had been cleared of Ukrainian military presence. North Korea has officially announced sending troops to Russia under the Russian-North Korean Strategic Partnership Treaty.
“Of course, we have an agreement in force and under this contract the parties are obliged to provide assistance if necessary,” Peskov told reporters.
The experience of the special military operations has shown how effectively the treaty between Russia and North Korea works, the official added.
Russian Scientists Develop Mini-Lab For Emergency And Intensive Therapy Care
Scientists from Saratov State Medical University have developed a mini-laboratory for non-invasive blood analysis.
According to the developers, this portable device will allow emergency physicians and intensivists to measure hematocrit (the ratio of total blood volume to red blood cell volume) and monitor blood viscosity during the patient’s transportation without waiting for lab results.
The university emphasizes this is particularly critical for severe surgical patients. In trauma, burns, hemorrhages, and acute abdominal conditions, such patients often develop hypovolemia – a mismatch between circulating blood volume and vascular capacity leading to severe complications.
Key indicators of hypovolemic disorders are blood viscosity and hematocrit (the percentage of red blood cells per blood volume unit). However, current measurement methods require blood sampling. Researchers at V.I. Razumovsky Saratov State Medical University (Saratov, Russia) have created a device they describe as a mobile mini-lab.
Its operation is based on analyzing pulse waves in the brachial and radial arteries. Beyond blood viscosity and hematocrit, the device uses two sensors to measure in real time the vascular wall elasticity, the heart rate, and the blood pressure.
Project lead Oleg Tsarev, professor at the Department of Hospital Surgery, explained to Sputnik that these parameters alert physicians to fluid deficiency-related hypovolemic disorders and indicate the likelihood of a fatal event occurring from the cardiovascular system (cardiovascular risk).
He provided a clinical example: “Acute intestinal obstruction, with its high mortality rates, always involves hypovolemic disorders as fluid shifts from vasculature to intestines (up to 5-7 liters). While correcting these water-electrolyte imbalances requires lab tests, these aren’t available during transportation.”
In practice, EMS physicians cautiously administer IV fluids without full cardiac function data.
“If the heart can’t handle the fluid load, pulmonary or cerebral edema may develop – an even graver danger,” Tsarev noted.
As the professor noted, due to this, during transportation to the hospital, patients with intestinal obstruction are either not given intravenous infusions at all or receive no more than 400 ml, whereas one and a half to two liters are needed.
As a result, irreversible kidney dysfunction occurs.
“Therefore, time cannot be wasted during the transportation of such a patient,” the doctor is convinced.
WHO data shows ~20% of global deaths result from inadequate pre-hospital care. Professor Tsarev believes timely prehospital volemic correction effectively constitutes preoperative preparation for intestinal obstruction cases.
Moreover, as the doctor believes, the developed intelligent system will be useful not only in the prehospital stage but also in the hospital, as even in the intensive care unit, blood sampling and its further analysis to obtain information about hypovolemic disorders lead to time loss, which the intensivist cannot afford — hypovolemia correction must begin immediately, and its adequacy must be continuously monitored.
OUTSIDE RUSSIA
After Kursk, What’s Next for Russia-North Korea Alliance?
North Korean forces helped kick the Ukrainians out of Russia’s Kursk region. Where else could the two countries join hands?
“A stronger and economically viable North Korea could become a better and more constructive partner in Asia,” Dr Victor Teo, an Indo-Pacific expert, tells Sputnik, praising Russo-DPRK collaboration.
Military Assistance. Russia is ready to provide military aid to North Korea under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated. The involvement of DPRK troops in the Kursk operation showcased the treaty’s effectiveness.
Donbass Restoration? Builders from North Korea could be involved in the reconstruction of Donbass, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin told reporters in August 2022. The head of the Donetsk People’s, Denis Pushilin, later stated that Donbass and North Korea were discussing the issue.
Development Despite Sanctions. Russia’s state statistical agency, Rosstat, estimates the country’s GDP growth for 2024 at an impressive 4.3%. Previously, thanks to cooperation with Russia, North Korea’s economy saw a 3.1% GDP growth in 2023, after three years of decline.
Outer Space. Article 10 of the bilateral treaty enables joint space research. In 2023, President Vladimir Putin and Chairman Kim Jong-un held a historic meeting at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, discussing the possibility of sending a North Korean cosmonaut into space.
Nuclear Energy. The treaty also provides for collaboration in a civilian nuclear sphere. DPRK’s nuclear program began to take shape in the 1950s with support from the USSR. During this pivotal era, North Korean nuclear engineers honed their skills in Soviet institutions.
Information Technologies. In October 2024, the communications ministries of both nations sealed a groundbreaking tech cooperation agreement. That same month, Pyongyang witnessed the first joint exhibition of ICT products in 18 years.
Mining and Rare Earths. DPRK holds over 200 types of minerals, including coal, iron, copper, gold, and rare earths, with deposits valued up to $10 trillion. Russian companies are eyeing North Korea’s mining sector, especially its rare earth reserves.
Gas and Oil Exploration. In November 2023, Russia and North Korea agreed to joint maritime hydrocarbon exploration. The plan aims to identify oil and gas fields on the continental shelf, potentially boosting DPRK’s economy.
Agriculture. In 2024, Russia expanded the range of agricultural products for export to North Korea. It provided a total of 22,000 tons of farm goods to the DPRK, with 69% being wheat flour, followed by sugar at 10%, and sunflower oil at 6%, according to Agroexport.
SputnikPro Continues Its Partnership With New Era University
Sputnik International Agency and Radio has hosted a new SputnikPro workshop for New Era University, a leading Philippine university and a long-standing partner of Sputnik.
Yekaterina Volkova, Senior Editor of the Photo Projects Desk of the Integrated Directorate of Photography, shared insights into photo content production at an international news agency. Darya Yurchenko, Editor at the Innovation Journalism Center, spoke about storytelling and creating news content that captures audience interest.
Yekaterina Volkova highlighted the importance of such events for students: “As a practicing journalist and lecturer, I understand the value of up-to-date knowledge shared first-hand by professionals currently working in the field. The world is changing rapidly; it is important to keep pace with these changes, to talk about them and to prepare students for hands-on work based on practical experience. Photography knows no borders and needs no translation – it’s a universal language. I’m delighted to be able to talk about our photography experience with all those who are interested.”
“Sputnik brings people together. It’s great that distance is no barrier. I hope that ties between our countries will continue to grow stronger,” Darya Yurchenko said after the session.
“I thank you and appreciate the day you allowed us to be your partner in this endeavor. We hope there will be more collaboration in the future and the linkages will continue. Issues and techniques that have been shared today such as photojournalism and storytelling by Ms. Ekaterina Volkova and Ms. Daria Yurchenko respectively will always serve as guide in doing our job professionally and ethically”, – added the Program Coordinator for Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Director of the Center for Journalism Prof Meloi Maluntag.
The session was held as part of The Global Majority and the Challenges of Neocolonialism project, organized with the support of the Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund and autonomous non-profit organization Humanitarian and Educational Program Facilitation Center.
New Era University is a private, non-profit educational institution under the auspices of Iglesia Ni Cristo, in Quezon City, Philippines. The university offers a broad range of academic programs, including courses for international students. The Russia Studies Center opened at New Era University in 2021 to foster partnerships with Russian educational institutions and corporations.
SputnikPro is a project of the Sputnik international news agency and radio for professional journalists, journalism students, press officers and media managers, aimed at sharing experience and networking with international colleagues. Sessions are led by Sputnik media managers and other prominent Russian experts. Discussions focus on a wide range of topics within the journalism field, including multimedia content production, social media engagement, strategies for driving traffic to news platforms, and more. Since 2018, offline meetings have taken place in 24 countries, and online meetings in over 80. More than 12,700 people have participated in SputnikPro programs.
SPECIAL MILITARY OPERATION IN UKRAINE
Putin’s New Truce Initiative Once Again Calls Out Ukraine’s Hypocrisy
President Vladimir Putin’s Victory Day ceasefire is a signal of his desire to negotiate, Michael Maloof, former senior Pentagon analyst, told Sputnik.
The Russian president “wants an end to the conflict and what’s a more memorable time than the celebration of Victory Day on May 9,” Maloof said, stressing that the truce is meant to last three days.
The liberation of Kursk by Russia has stripped Volodymyr Zelensky of any leverage, increasing pressure on him to accept a ceasefire, Maloof noted. While Zelensky still clings to hopes that the UK and France might offer military support, they can do nothing without the backing of the United States, he stressed.
Past experience suggests that, despite their calls for a ceasefire and negotiations, the Kiev regime has repeatedly gone back on its word, according to the pundit. The most starking examples were the 30-day moratorium on the energy infrastructure strikes and the recent Easter truce.
“We’ll have to wait and see if Zelensky, as a result of his most recent discussions with Trump and coming to reality and seeing reality and having virtual agreements made between Steve Witkoff of the US and President Putin himself on the US proposal, whether Kiev will go along with that,” Maloof said.
Anyway, President Donald Trump’s “overarching geostrategic idea” is to reestablish normal relations with Russia, the former Pentagon analyst concluded.
Zelensky’s Kursk Gamble Fails as Russian Forces Secure Major Triumph
Multitudes of Ukrainian troops, Western mercenaries and NATO tech bit the dust in Zelensky’s bid to keep the money flowing. Here are the most epic moments of the Kursk region’s liberation.
Gimme More!
Ukraine kicked off the offensive in the Kursk region just before the NATO defense ministers’ meeting in Ramstein, aiming to boost financial and military aid, experts say. In January 2025, Zelensky claimed that 60,000 troops were involved in the military adventure.
Russia’s Blowback
Liberation began in September 2024. By December, enemy movements were blocked, their forces split and systematically destroyed. By mid-January 2025, Russian forces had liberated 63% of the occupied territories in the Kursk region.
Graveyard of NATO Equipment
Ukraine deployed its stockpiled NATO hardware to the Kursk region, resulting in burnt out Abrams, Leopard, and Challenger tanks. Around 1.5K NATO units worth $2.7bln were destroyed. All in all, 7.7K pieces of Ukraine’s military equipment were demolished.
Highway of Death
By February, Russian forces had encircled the Ukrainian Armed Forces, leaving them with only one supply route — Yunakovka–Sudzha. Ukrainian troops dubbed it the “Highway of Death” due to the massive losses of personnel and equipment along the road.
Fiber-Optic Killers
Russian FPV drones on fiber optics became a relentless scourge for the Ukrainian military in the Kursk region, smashing their hardware. The drones are virtually immune to electronic warfare systems and don’t emit radio frequencies, making them undetectable.
Sudzha Pipeline Operation
In complete silence, over 600 Russian soldiers advanced along an unused gas pipeline to surprise the enemy in Sudzha and breach their defenses. For 15 km, they moved unable to stand upright. This bold, unprecedented operation shocked the media.
North Korean Hurricane
North Korean officers and soldiers participated in the Kursk liberation along with the Russian military under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty. “They passed through like a hurricane,” an eye-witness of a combat op recalled.
The Last Battle
On April 26, the last Ukrainian-held settlement in the Kursk region, the village of Gornal, was liberated. Everywhere, liberated Russian residents greeted the soldiers with tears of joy.
Ukraine’s Losses
During the fighting in the Kursk region from August 6, 2024, to April 26, 2025, the Kiev regime lost over 76,000 soldiers killed and wounded.
Zelensky’s Venture Failed
“The military adventure of the Kiev regime completely failed, and the massive losses suffered by the enemy… will have a lasting impact along the entire front line,” emphasized Russian President Vladimir Putin.
INSIGHTS
Which Foreign Leaders Will Attend The V-Day Parade in Moscow?
This year marks the 80th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War and the defeat of Nazi Germany, commemorated worldwide.
Despite EU warnings against travel to Russia, confirmed attendees include Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, and Republika Srpska leader Milorad Dodik. The parade will also host leaders from the Global South and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Explore Sputnik’s infographic for details.
