Western diplomatic sources • “The most problematic of Russia’s allies”
Ties between Russia and North Korea have strengthened since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Now Western diplomatic sources state that 10,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to the war in Ukraine.
– The most problematic of all of Russia’s allies is precisely North Korea. The amount of military equipment they deliver really affects the intensity of the fighting, says Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Ukrainian military intelligence service GUR.
In a speech on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi announced that he had received reports from the Ukrainian security service SBU and the military intelligence service GUR about Russia’s plans for the war in the fall and spring.
– SBU and GUR’s report on the Russians’ plans for autumn and winter was presented in great detail. In practice, this means involving North Korea in the war, Zelenskyy said, adding:
– Whoever helps Russia, we will respond as hard as necessary to defend Ukraine, Zelenskyy said.
GUR: North Korea is the most problematic
For Kyiv Independent states a Western diplomatic source that North Korea has now sent 10,000 soldiers to fight in the war in Ukraine. According to the source, it is unclear what type of soldiers have been sent and what their role will be.
– The most problematic of all of Russia’s allies is precisely North Korea. The amount of military equipment they deliver really affects the intensity of the fighting, says Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Ukrainian military intelligence service GUR.
However, North Korean soldiers have reportedly been on the battlefield before. At the beginning of October, six North Korean officers were said to have been killed in a Ukrainian attack on the occupied part of the Donetsk region. Three more North Korean soldiers are said to have died in the attack.
Intelligence sources states for Kyiv Post that the North Korean soldiers were in the Donetsk region to meet Russian soldiers for training purposes.
Abandoned their positions and deserted
Intelligence sources in Ukraine also state for it Ukrainian service company Suspilnethat North Korean soldiers must have deserted and abandoned their positions. A total of 18 deserters are said to have taken place, and the incident is said to have occurred 7 kilometers from the Ukrainian border in the regions of Bryansk and Kursk.
Exactly why they have deserted is unclear and they are now wanted by the Russian military.
– At the same time, the Russian invaders are trying to hide this information from their commanders, says an intelligence source.