Zelenskyy Claims Russia to Deploy North Korean Troops in Ukraine Conflict
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Hashim Sheikh
- . October 25, 2024
- . Update: October 25, 2024 8:58 pm
On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russia is preparing to deploy North Korean troops to fight in Ukraine as soon as this weekend. He shared on Telegram that this is an “obvious escalation” by Russia though he did not provide specifics on where these troops might be stationed.
According to Ukrainian intelligence the first North Korean soldiers could enter combat zones between Sunday and Monday. Western officials are concerned that the involvement of North Korean troops could worsen the nearly three-year-long conflict, potentially impacting regions beyond Europe, including the Indo-Pacific.
Recently, Russia has intensified attacks along Ukraine’s eastern front, pushing Ukrainian forces to defend their ground. However, Russia has also faced challenges keeping Ukrainian troops out of its border areas, particularly near Kursk, following recent incursions.
The U.S. media reported earlier that around 3,000 North Korean soldiers have already arrived in Russia for training. Zelenskyy previously warned that around 10,000 North Korean soldiers were preparing to join Russia in Ukraine, adding that this third-party involvement could expand the war on a global scale.
North Korea has been providing ammunition to Russia as part of a defense pact, but the addition of soldiers is likely to complicate the conflict further. While Western nations generally back Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been seeking more support, especially from BRICS nations.
