Volodymyr Zelensky declared on the eve of the fourth anniversary of the war in Ukraine that World War Three had already begun.
His statement reflected the increasingly global nature of Russia’s war, which has seen troops from countries across the world brought in to either bolster Putin’s aggression or support Ukraine’s resistance.
Since February 2022, around 55,000 Ukrainians have been killed in bitter fighting on the frontlines, according to Ukrainian estimates. Russia has suffered an estimated 1.2 million casualties, including at least 325,000 deaths, according to recent analysis.
Some 20,000 men from overseas are now estimated to have joined Russia’s invasion. Many have been falsely sold the promise of lucrative employment away from the frontlines. Ukraine has offered professional soldiers fixed contracts paying rates higher than what they could earn at home.
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Moscow has used foreign troops to alleviate the strain on its forces and, crucially, delay another round of politically contentious mobilisation – a move likely to spark public anger.
Ahead of the fourth anniversary of the conflict, The Independent looks at some of the countries dragged into Russia’s war in Ukraine.
North Korea
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North Korea assumed a major role in the conflict in support of Russia in late 2024, helping to set back a bold Ukrainian counteroffensive into Russian-held territory.
The first reports of North Koreans training in Russia came in the weeks after emboldened Ukrainian forces launched a summer offensive into Russia’s Kursk region. Pyongyang would commit some 17,000 troops to Russia in total, according to recent British estimates.
A North Korean Soldier fighting for Russia in Ukraine, according to a video shared by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine (Office of the President of Ukraine)
Most of the soldiers came from North Korea’s elite ‘Storm Corps’, which are trained for infiltration and sabotage operations. They remained in Kursk to help Russia recover control of its own region before mostly withdrawing.
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The UK Ministry of Defence assessed in June that Pyongyang had likely sustained more than 6,000 casualties fighting Ukraine – a little over a third of its forces.
Emil Kastehelmi, military analyst and cofounder of the Finland-based open-source intelligence collective Black Bird Group, told The Independent that “after fighting in Kursk, they’ve taken a less active role against Ukrainians”.
He said that while multiple brigades were used in Kursk, no such force has since been transferred to Donetsk, the region of eastern Ukraine sought by Putin.
North Korea has been fighting its own propaganda war at home, glorifying the troops sent to Kursk with a new memorial complex and a housing district set aside for the families of slain soldiers. Analysis say such treatment is aimed at curbing public discontent.
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Kenya
Harrowing footage showing the abuse of African soldiers by Russian troops sparked outrage late last year.
Francis Ndung’u Ndarua, 35, from Kenya, was filmed in viral footage with a land mine strapped to his chest as a Russian speaker hurled racial slurs at him and said he would be used as a “can opener” to assault Ukrainian positions.
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Relatives of Kenyans believed to be fighting for Russia in Ukraine (Reuters)
Anne Ndarua, his mother, told CNN that Francis had gone to Russia to become an electrical engineer. She was surprised to learn he was being forced into military training, and says he was sent to the front after just three weeks.
Families have petitioned for the Kenyan government to act in recent weeks as soldiers began to return home, recounting how they were lured in by lucrative job offers only to be sent to Ukraine.
A Kenyan intelligence report found this month that around 1,000 Kenyans have been recruited to fight in Ukraine so far. Nearly 90 were on the frontlines this month, while one has died and several have come home injured or traumatised, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) said in its report. The government has recently tried to ban the conscription of Kenyan soldiers.
“They sometimes may not fully understand what is the battlefield they are entering,” Mr Kastehelmi said, adding: “Russians probably can pay better and they may have also more effective recruiting networks.”
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Colombia
Both Russia and Ukraine have recruited soldiers from Latin America to fill in their ranks.
Colombian veterans are considered among the most valuable foreign fighters, arriving hardened from a decades-long civil war, and familiar with Western equipment.
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In December, a Russian-backed court in Donetsk sentenced Colombian national Oscar Mauricio Blanco Lopez to 19 years in jail for fighting for Ukraine (Russian Prosecutor General’s office)
Mario Urueña-Sánchez, a security expert at Rosario University in Bogotá, told The Economist that casualty rates remain high as Colombians arrive to meet a very different conflict from the one at home.
“In Colombia, you can patrol for six months and there isn’t as much risk involved,” a Colombian Army veteran now fighting in Ukraine told El Tiempo. “Here, with every entry (into combat) you know you might not come back or you might come back wounded.”
Figures vary, and recruitment is often informal, but it is estimated that between 3,000 and 7,000 Colombians have fought in Ukraine, on both sides, since 2022.
In 2024, Colombian fighters were offered between $3,000 to $4,000 per month to join existing Ukrainian units on six-month contracts, according to CEPA.
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India
More than 200 Indians have been recruited into the Russian armed forces since the invasion, India’s foreign ministry reported in December, amid rising concern about citizens being lured into the military.
At least 26 people were said to have been killed and seven were still missing at the time of the report.
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Caesar, 50-year-old, a Russian who joined the Freedom of Russia Legion to fight on the side of Ukraine, stands in front of a destroyed monastery in Dolyna, eastern Ukraine on December 26, 2022 (AFP/Getty)
Dozens of families gathered in New Delhi in November to call on the authorities to bring their relatives home, as they too heard that they had been duped into travelling to Russia for paid work only to be forced into military roles.
Among India’s casualties are Ajay Godara, 22, and Rakesh Kumar Maurya, 30, who had travelled to Russia separately on student visas, before taking up non-combat roles as cleaners and helpers, according to their families. Their bodies were returned to their families last year.
British defence minister John Healey said this month that Russia’s military is increasingly reliant on foreign fighters as losses mount faster than Moscow can replenish its frontlines.
These troops are “often recruited under false pretences and press-ganged under pressure without necessarily realising that they’re destined for the Russian meat machine on the front line of Ukraine,” he said.
Pupils from St Oswald’s CE Primary School in Durham City took part in a workshop organised by Durham County Council, creating two new signs to encourage slower driving and increased awareness of pedestrians.
The project aims to raise awareness of a reduced speed limit that applies outside the school during drop-off and pick-up times.
Four pupils who took part in theworkshop along with school’s headteacher, Donna Wilson-Smith (Image: DCC)
Councillor Tim McGuinness, cabinet member for rural, farming and transport at Durham County Council, said: “These workshops are a fantastic way to engage with schoolchildren and teach them about road safety.
“By combining their knowledge of road safety with their new illustration skills, pupils have created two fantastic murals that they can be proud of.
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“The signs also help to encourage drivers to slow down and be mindful of pedestrians crossing the road.
“It’s a great example of the innovative work of our road safety team and we look forward to working with more pupils on other exciting projects across the county.”
The artwork for the signs was developed during a session led by illustrator and author Holly Sterling, who worked with pupils to create designs inspired by the area.
Ms Sterling then brought the children’s ideas together to form the final artwork featured on each sign.
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The project forms part of a wider project which aims to help raise awareness about road safety amongst primary schoolchildren and also encourage drivers to observe the reduced speed limit outside schools.
The convicted paedophile is behind bars at HMP Channings Wood in Devon and is said to be nearly completely deaf, in a wheelchair and refusing to leave his cell
22:36, 18 Mar 2026Updated 22:39, 18 Mar 2026
Convicted paedophile Gary Glitter is said to be “on his last legs” with fellow prisoners believing the disgraced star could pass away imminently.
The 81 year old’s condition is reportedly deteriorating behind bars, with claims he is now almost entirely deaf, confined to a wheelchair and unwilling to venture out of his cell. The former pop star, currently serving time at HMP Channings Wood in Devon, was sent back to prison in March 2023 following a breach of his licence terms.
The performer, born Paul Gadd, was originally imprisoned in 2015 for sex with a girl under 13, attempted rape and four counts of indecent assault, but had been released just a month before his recall.
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According to a source speaking to The Sun, the notorious sex offender is “on his last legs, with his body giving up”. The insider revealed: “He is deaf and can barely move – and most people would struggle to recognise him now. He seems to be on his last legs, with his body giving up.”
Last year, Glitter was denied parole after a panel determined he continued to demonstrate “lack of victim empathy”. Despite this ruling, the source suggested both inmates and prison officers believe the paedophile may die whilst incarcerated, reports the Mirror.
The source continued: “And if he doesn’t get parole soon most officers and inmates think he will see out his days in jail.” They went on: “Glitter’s case was also back in court recently and that has weighed on him and is adding to his woes.
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“He is deeply troubled by what is going on.” The individual also allegedly stated the disgraced former pop star is perceived as “arrogant” by fellow prisoners and remains largely unpopular within the jail.
Glitter’s application for release was submitted to the Parole Board by the Secretary of State for Justice, as legally mandated, in 2025. The board dismissed the application owing to his ongoing and “uncontrolled interest in children”.
A summary of the hearing revealed the musician acknowledged he should remain behind bars. It further noted that the former pop star maintains “attitudes that supported the sexual abuse of children”. The parole board had previously turned down his freedom bid in 2024, determining he continued to pose a threat to youngsters.
Lee Bruce, 46, fractured his elbow injured tripping on the pavement outside his Sunderland home while playing with his daughter.
Although he went to A&E at Sunderland Royal Hospital, he said he wasn’t given an X-ray, but it later turned out that his elbow was fractured in three places.
Lee Bruce (Image: SUPPLIED)
He underwent radial head replacement surgery to restore elbow joint stability, performed by Leslie Irwin, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon and hand and wrist specialist who had practised at the NHS hospital since the 1990s.
Mr Irwin, 63, who also saw patients at Spire Washington Hospital, has since been banned by the private healthcare provider following “concerns” raised around his work.
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The surgeon, who worked for the South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Trust between 2001 and 2023, retired in 2022, but a selection of his patients have been contacted directly by Spire over potential issues with his work.
A Sunderland Royal Hospital sign (Image: Stuart Boulton)
Mr Irwin relinquished his registration as a doctor with the General Medical Council (GMC) in May 2025.
Spire Healthcare suspended Mr Irwin in August 2023 and withdrew his practising privileges in September 2024.
The private practice started recalling patients who were operated on by Mr Irwin during his time at Spire Washington Hospital in the summer of 2025.
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Since Lee’s operation in August 2018, the 46-year-old says he has experienced significantly reduced mobility in his wrist and has developed arthritis and nerve damage.
Leslie Irwin (Image: SUPPLIED)
While he thought this was just “bad luck” and a possible risk of having surgery, Lee now believes this is due to the wrong length of bone being inserted and creating a mismatch at the wrist.
Lee says he has been forced to give up his role at work, moving into operating machinery instead, due to the movement problems and pain, and cannot play five-a-side football or golf as he used to; two hobbies that he loved.
He has been told he can undergo further surgery to attempt to correct the issue, but is wary of having another operation after his initial experience.
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“The problems I now have in my wrist mean I have to compensate for so many things I would ordinarily have just taken for granted,” Lee said.
Aside from the fact that I’ve had to change job, I struggle even with things like turning the key in the door.
“Since the operation, things that I’ve done all my life with my right hand, I’ve had to adapt and do with my left.
“The way it has been explained to me is that the oversized radial head has made everything in my arm shift, and the impact has been in my wrist.
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“I have been told I should consider further surgery, but that the nature of the operation means they won’t know the extent of it until they’re actually in there.
Sunderland Royal Hospital (Image: Stuart Boulton)
“I don’t know how much time I’ll need to take off work, and that’s a massive consideration. And knowing what I know now, I am of course very wary of having another operation, after what happened the first time.
“The pain has been really bad. I was on tramadol for the best part of two years, but thankfully managed to get myself off it, although I still have to take over-the-counter painkillers regularly.
“The operation has affected many aspects of my life, but I didn’t think of it as anything other than bad luck until I saw the publicity around Mr Irwin. It has been a shock, but clearly I am not alone.”
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Lawyers at Slater and Gordon are dealing with dozens of cases against Mr Irwin, and have spent several months already investigating allegations against him.
Natasha Charlesworth, specialist clinical negligence lawyer who is representing Lee. said: “What should have been a straightforward operation has left Lee with long‑term pain, arthritis and severely reduced movement.
“The impact on his daily life has been significant; he has even had to change his job, yet he has continued to push on to support his family as best he can”
The South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Sunderland Royal Hospital, has said it is “liaising with Spire in relation to concerns over Mr Leslie Irwin and currently working through the details of which patients the Trust will need to review.”
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A spokesperson for the Trust added: “We have also asked the Royal College of Surgeons to support us in this process.
“As part of this review, we will be in touch with any former patients directly and as a matter of priority.
“Any former patients of Mr Irwin who do have any questions or concerns can contact the Trust directly via freephone 0800 587 6513 or email: stsft.adviceandcomplaints@nhs.net.”
The closure is planned for resurfacing works to take place
A section of road on a Bridgend industrial estate is set to be temporarily closed while carriageway resurfacing works are carried out.
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A public notice says Heol Mostyn will be closed from its junction with Village Farm Road to Sturmi Way, on Village Farm Industrial Estate, Pyle, for a time in March 2026.
To see all the planning applications, traffic diversions, road layout changes, alcohol license applications and more in your area, visit the Public Notice Portal HERE
This will also include a section of Village Farm Road approximately 50m either side of its junction with Heol Mostyn.
The notice says this will be necessary to carry out carriageway resurfacing works and is in the interests of public safety.
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It said: “The order is necessary due to insufficient width of carriageway to maintain vehicular access during carriageway resurfacing works and is in the interest of public safety.
“The order will come into force on March 12, 2026, and will continue in force for a maximum period of 18 months or until such time as the works are completed, whichever is the sooner.
“It is anticipated the planned works will be undertaken between the hours of 7pm and 6am from March 20 to March 25.”
It added there is no alternative route available though access will be provided for police, fire, and ambulance services responding to emergencies. Make sure you never miss Wales’ biggest updates by getting our daily newsletter
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Pedestrian access to all properties within the restriction will also be maintained throughout the closure.
The notice says Bridgend County Borough Council will make the order under Section 14 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.
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The only motion in next week’s extraordinary council meeting states: “The Council resolves that, pursuant to Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972, the City of York Council withdraws the Honorary Freeman of the City status from Sarah Ferguson, which was conferred upon her in 1987.”
The country’s top federal law enforcement officials were providing a closed-door briefing to members of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform about the tranche of documents that have become a political headache that the Trump administration has struggled to shake for more than a year.
The Republican-led committee on Tuesday issued a subpoena for Bondi to appear for a deposition on April 14 to answer questions under oath about Epstein’s case and the investigative files. Lawmakers have accused the Justice Department of withholding too many files and criticized the agency for haphazard redactions that exposed intimate details about victims.
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The Justice Department has called the subpoena “completely unnecessary,” noting that members of Congress have been invited to view unredacted files at the Justice Department and that department leaders have made themselves available to answer questions from lawmakers.
The department has sought to assure lawmakers and the public that there has been no effort to shield President Donald Trump, who says he cut ties with Epstein years ago after an earlier friendship, or any other high-profile figures close to Epstein from potential embarrassment. Justice Department leaders have also rejected suggestions that they have ignored victims and insist that while there is no evidence in the files to prosecute anyone else, they remain committed to investigating should new information come forward.
“I’m not trying to defend Epstein — I’m not,” Blanche said in an interview this week with Katie Miller, who is married to top Trump adviser Stephen Miller. “I do defend the work that this department is doing today, right now, which is going after every single perpetrator anyway, and if there is a narrative that exists that we are ignoring Epstein victims, that is false.”
The documents were disclosed under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the law enacted after months of public and political pressure that requires the government to open its files on the late financier and his confidant and onetime girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell. Criminal investigations into the financier have long animated online sleuths, conspiracy theorists and others who have suspected government cover-ups and clamored for a full accounting.
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After missing a Dec. 19 deadline set by Congress to release all the files, the Justice Department said it tasked hundreds of lawyers with reviewing the records to determine what needed to be redacted, or blacked out. The Justice Department in January said it was releasing more than 3 million pages of documents along with more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images.
Emergency services were called to Morningside Road in the capital after the alarm was raised at around 4.30pm on Wednesday.
A white Dacia Stepway was involved in a collision with a Lothian Bus.
An image shared with Edinburgh Live showed the front of the Dacia and back of the Lothian Bus visibly damaged. Police could also be seen in attendance.
The crash took place opposite the M&S bus stop and it’s understood motorists were caught up in tailbacks in both directions as a result.
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Edinburgh Travel News warned motorists to expect delays with a statement on X.
They said: “RTC restricting citybound Morningside Road at Morningside Park / M&S. 15mins drive time from Greenbank as at 4.40pm.”
Lothian Buses and Police Scotland were asked by Edinburgh Live for comment.
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Davina McCall will return to present the evening of entertainment joined by plenty of famous comedians
Each year since 1988 people across the UK celebrate Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day to raise money for the charity. The annual event takes place in March with celebrities and comedians taking part in challenges and one off specials.
Red Nose Day is one of the UK’s biggest fundraising events raising millions of pounds for vital causes affecting families across the UK and the world.
This year Red Nose Day falls on Friday, March 20, with the BBC holding a huge night of TV that will feature a variety of comedy sketches, live performances, surprise guests, and show-stopping musical acts. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter.
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The very first Red Nose Day was in 1988 and raised a massive £15m.
More than 30m people tuned in to watch the first sketches of Blackadder: The Cavalier Years and the Young Ones on University Challenge.
This year four of the UK’s most-watched digital creators are teaming up for the “ultimate debut performance” live on BBC One on Friday night.
Ayamé, Sarel, Specs Gonzalez and Victor Kundaare are forming The Creator Band.
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Comic Relief: Funny for Money is live on BBC iPlayer and BBC One on Friday from 7pm and for the very first time will be streaming live on the official BBC YouTube channel.
Davina McCall will return to present the evening of entertainment joined by comedians like Katherine Ryan, Nick Mohammed, Joel Dommett, and Catherine Tate (as Nan from The Catherine Tate Show).
The incident happened in Costa del Sol in a room at a resort in Torremolinos, Spain
Husna Anjum Senior Live News Reporter
21:27, 18 Mar 2026
A teenage girl escaped a terrifying sexual assault by jumping from a hotel balcony.
The incident happened in Costa del Sol in a room at a resort in Torremolinos, Spain. Daily Star reports the 14-year-old girl is believed to have been drugged and sexually assaulted by three young men in the room.
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On Saturday morning (March 14) she was held captive before making a brave attempt to escape, climbing from the terrace to an adjacent balcony according to police.
This occurring just hours after her concerned family reported her missing when she failed to return. A hotel employee is said to have heard the girl’s cries for help and promptly alerted emergency services, prompting a swift police response, the Sun reports.
The Spanish Eye reported that one individual has been arrested on suspicion of unlawful detention, issuing serious threats, sexual assault and drug offences, after allegedly threatening the girl with a knife and assaulting her.
Two others, including a minor, were arrested on suspicion of unlawful detention and public health offences, according to local reports. It’s alleged that the victim was coerced into taking drugs prior to the attack.
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The nationalities of those involved have not been disclosed and the investigation into the incident is ongoing. This comes after a “wolf pack” targeted and raped a British teenager at a Magaluf hotel.
A group of seven French men and one Swiss man accepted prison sentences which added up to over 73 years for the horror crime. The men agreed to a plea deal with prosecutors in Spain just days before a trial into the gang rape of an 18-year-old British girl at the BH Mallorca, in the summer of 2023.
These horror men faced being jailed for up to 150 years if they were convicted at trial. This plea included the men admit to the horror crimes they committed at the Spanish hotel.
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David Grundy, 61, worked with his brother for more than a decade, making £900,000 and securing thousands of people around the world skilled jobs they were not qualified for.
In an investigation led by the National Trading Standards eCrime Team, hosted by City of York Council and North Yorkshire Council, the brothers were found to have advertised “high quality” and “flawless” certificates from universities across the globe.
Recommended reading:
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The Court heard how Grundy, of Coton Avenue, Stafford, had used specialist equipment to create the fakes – some of which were sold for more than £1,000 each.
Trading Standards officers confirmed that at least 70 people in the UK were using the brothers’ services – which were customised to help people land places on higher education courses and jobs in engineering, occupational health and safety, teaching, accountancy, biomedical science and law.
Speaking about this, a spokesperson for City of York Council said: “Grundy was able to produce certificates for any purpose, with no concern given to the possible risks to employers or the public.
“In 2021, a Trading Standards investigation began and in December of that year a warrant was executed at Grundy’s home.
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“Specialist equipment used to produce the counterfeit certificates was seized, including embossing stamps, holograms, high-grade paper and a laser engraver.
“A handwritten list containing almost 300 customer names was also recovered, offering a snapshot of the global customer base.”
The Joint Council for Qualification (JCQ) had instructed solicitors to warn Grundy – demanding he stop making the fake certificates.
The Court heard how Grundy had ignored the formal warning.
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A JCQ spokesperson said: “JCQ welcomes today’s sentencing and was pleased to support this prosecution.
“Students work hard to achieve their qualifications, and teachers work hard to support them.
“Fake certificates undermine that effort and today’s outcome reflects how serious and unacceptable this activity is.”
Councillor Jenny Kent, Executive Member for Environment at City of York Council, added: “Mr Grundy’s actions were damaging and dishonest at every level, cheating everyone who studies hard and pays for genuine qualifications, and showing no regard for the public who should be able to trust that qualifications mean what they say.
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“Thanks go to the dedicated National Trading Standards team for their work in achieving a successful prosecution.”
Grundy was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment on Friday (March 13) after pleading guilty to fraudulent trading at York Magistrate’s Court on September 4.
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