Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Russia may deploy North Korean troops into combat as early as Sunday and has called for increased international pressure on both the Kremlin and Pyongyang.
“Intelligence reports indicate that on October 27-28, Russia is set to utilize the first North Korean military units in combat zones,” the Ukrainian leader stated on social media, urging for “tangible pressure” to be applied to Russia and North Korea.
This statement follows the announcement by Ukrainian prosecutors that they have initiated an investigation into North Korea’s support for Russia in the ongoing war, with the potential classification as a crime of aggression.
North Korean officials could face charges for equipping and supplying ground forces engaged against Ukraine, according to the Prosecutor General’s Office.
Key elements of the alleged crime involve supplying arms to the Russian Federation, organizing training for Russian military personnel, and direct involvement of North Korean forces in hostilities, the office reported.
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, along with South Korea and several Western governments, has confirmed that North Korean troops trained in Russia have been deployed to the Kursk region, a Russian border area where Ukrainian forces launched a significant incursion in August.
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The Kremlin has previously dismissed claims regarding the North’s troop deployment as “fake news.” However, Russian President Vladimir Putin did not outright deny the presence of North Korean troops in Russia when questioned about the matter yesterday.
The Ukrainian intelligence agency estimates that approximately 12,000 North Korean troops, including 500 officers and three generals, are already in Russia, with training occurring at five military bases.
The Dutch Defence Ministry has reported that its intelligence confirms that at least 1,500 North Korean troops are expected to be deployed soon to support Russia’s military operations against Ukraine.
In the meantime, Russia launched two waves of drones at Kyiv overnight, marking the 15th aerial assault on the capital this month, according to city officials.
During the operation, more than a dozen drones were intercepted over the city, lasting about four hours, said city military administrator Serhiy Popko on Telegram.
He noted that authorities did not receive any reports of injuries, although debris from the drones ignited a fire that was subsequently extinguished.
Ultimately, Ukrainian air defenses managed to destroy 36 out of 63 drones launched overnight by Russia across various regions of Ukraine, according to Kyiv’s air force.
The majority of the drones were intercepted over the Kyiv and southern Odesa regions, while another 16 were “locationally lost.”
Russia has denied targeting civilians in its comprehensive invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, despite frequently launching missiles and drones at towns and cities situated behind the front lines.
