Zelenskyy Urges Allies to Act Amidst North Korean Troop Deployment in Russia

 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on Western allies to take decisive action as North Korean troops are reportedly being deployed in Russia to support its military operations against Ukraine. Zelenskyy emphasized the urgency of the situation, indicating that these troops could soon reach the battlefield, and suggested the possibility of a pre-emptive strike on training camps for the North Korean soldiers.

In a post on the Telegram messaging app late Friday, Zelenskyy criticized the inaction of allied nations, stating, “But instead… America is watching, Britain is watching, Germany is watching. Everyone is just waiting for the North Korean military to start attacking Ukrainians as well.” He reiterated that Ukraine knows the locations of these North Korean troops but lacks the authorization to use Western-made long-range weaponry to target them.

The Biden administration confirmed on Thursday that approximately 8,000 North Korean soldiers are stationed in Russia’s Kursk region, near the Ukrainian border, preparing to assist the Kremlin in its fight against Ukrainian forces. Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, GUR, reported that more than 7,000 North Korean troops, equipped with Russian weapons and gear, have been relocated to regions close to Ukraine, with training taking place at five sites in Russia’s far east.

This North Korean troop deployment has raised alarms among Western leaders, who view it as a significant escalation of the conflict that could have repercussions in the Indo-Pacific region. It may also lead to technology transfers between Moscow and Pyongyang, potentially advancing North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missile capabilities.

The foreign minister of North Korea, Choe Son Hui, met her Russian counterpart in Moscow on Friday, further indicating the strengthening ties between the two nations.

As the situation develops, Ukrainian leaders have consistently sought permission to utilize Western weaponry to strike deep within Russian territory, including military bases and arms depots. U.S. defense officials, however, have expressed concerns about the limited number of available missiles and emphasized that Ukraine is already utilizing its long-range drones for such purposes.

Zelenskyy’s appeal for action coincided with statements from Ukraine’s top military commander, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, who described the current offensive from Russia as one of the most intense since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. Syrskyi indicated that Ukrainian forces are facing heavy losses, necessitating a continuous replenishment of resources.

Recent fighting has seen significant clashes along the eastern front, where Russia has intensified its campaign. In Kharkiv, a police officer was killed, and dozens were injured due to overnight missile strikes. Similarly, in Kherson province, Russian shelling resulted in civilian casualties, including the death of a 40-year-old woman and injuries to two children.

In Kyiv, air raid sirens sounded for over five hours as Russian drones targeted the capital, igniting a fire in an office building and injuring two individuals. Ukrainian air force officials reported that more than 70 Iranian-made Shahed drones were launched by Russian forces, with most being intercepted or diverted, though debris caused damage in various regions and injured civilians.

Meanwhile, the Russian defense ministry claimed to have downed 24 Ukrainian drones over four regions, including occupied Crimea, with no immediate reports of casualties or damage.