16 December 2025
Ukraine
Ukraine’s security services claim that an underwater drone attacked a Russian submarine at the port of Novorossiysk. Ukraine purportedly used Sea Baby naval drones to target a Varshavyanka-class, a subset of the Kilo class submarine, which carried four launchers for Kalibr cruise missiles. The submarine has been used to target Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
South Korea
South Korea launched a new consultative body on North Korea policy with the United States. This comes after infighting between the South Korean foreign affairs and unification ministries. The Unification Ministry said it was unhappy with the decision and opted out of the foreign ministry-led discussions.
Iranian Regional Afghan Symposium
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, launched the fourth annual regional discussion on Afghanistan. The regional symposium, comprising Central Asia, West Asia, and South Asia, discusses how stability and development in Afghanistan are a strategic necessity for the entire region.
Nigeria
Nigeria’s kidnapping crisis continues with a raid on a church service. Armed men raided the Evangelical Church Winning All in the mainly rural farming district of Aaaaz-Kiri in Nigeria’s central Kogi state and kidnapped at least 13 people from the service.
Botswana
The Botswana Ministry of International Relations is investigating how two young men were lured into joining the Russian military to fight in Ukraine as mercenaries. This comes as several African countries are looking into how misleading promises of military training and quick pay are luring their citizens into the Russia-Ukraine War.
Lithuania
The Lithuanian Ministry of Defence announced that it will purchase 100 CV90 MkIV infantry fighting vehicles from Sweden’s BAE Systems Hägglunds. Lithuania signed a Statement of Intent to purchase the CV90 in June, along with five other NATO Allies.
Canada
The Department of National Defence is investigating the leak that discredited the JAS-39 Gripen. Recently, a report on the CF-18 Super Hornet replacement competition was leaked, which demonstrated thathe F-35 far exceeded the requirements over the JAS-39 Gripen.
Thailand
Thailand ceases fuel shipments to Laos as the conflict with Cambodia continues. Thai officials are concerned that fuel exports to Laos were being sent to Cambodia.
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Social media wires
Footage of the Ukrainian drone strike on the Varshavyanka-class submarine
Thai strikes on Cambodian Armed Forces’ weapons and ammunition depots
Featured Photo: “Ukrainian Sea Baby drones”, Wikimedia Commons, 2025
The Wires Brief is a daily breaking news report incorporating wire service news and social media updates. DefRep cannot verify the authenticity of social media reporters nor the accuracy of social media updates. Feature photos are altered with grayscale.