11,000 North Korean troops reportedly present in Russia’s Kursk region | War in Ukraine

Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday that 11,000 North Korean soldiers were deployed in the Russian region of Kursk to support the Kremlin army, which is trying to expel Ukrainian forces from this territory bordering Ukraine. He also deplored the lack of a proportional reaction from his Western allies to this escalation of the conflict.

There are already 11,000 in the Kursk region. We see an increase in the number of North Koreans but no increase in the reaction of our partners Western countries, lamented the Ukrainian president in his daily address.

The Ukrainian army, lacking men and ammunition, in particular due to delays in Western aid, has been retreating for months on the ground. According to kyiv and its allies, it must now also face North Korean soldiers.

As a sign of an ever more visible alliance, Russian President Vladimir Putin received the head of North Korean diplomacy, Choe Son-hui, at the Kremlin on Monday, who conveyed to him very sincere greetings from leader Kim Jong-un.

Moscow and Pyongyang, however, have neither confirmed nor denied the presence of these troops in Russia.

For his part, the head of the Ukrainian presidential administration Andriy Iermak, on Telegram, also affirmed that North Koreans were present in the Kursk region and that, according to him, they will die.

Zelensky furious at his allies’ inaction

Volodymyr Zelensky had already castigated the West last week for its response zero to the presence of North Korean soldiers in Russia.

Ukraine sees all the sites where Russia gathers these North Korean soldiers on its territory and could hit them if she had the weapons and authorization to use them, he said on Saturday.

[Mais au lieu d’agir]America is watching, Britain is watching, Germany is watching. Everyone is waiting for the North Korean army to start hitting Ukrainians.

Germany is Ukraine’s second-largest provider of defense financial aid after the United States, but kyiv is annoyed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s repeated refusal to support its membership in theI’LL TAKE and to deliver long-range Taurus missiles, for fear of an escalation of the conflict.

On Monday, its Minister of Foreign Affairs, Annalena Baerbock, did not respond to this request from kyiv to authorize deep strikes in Russia with long-range weapons.

If the German minister reiterated her country’s support for Ukraine, which has been suffering from the Russian invasion for almost three years, she did not publicly give concrete responses to kyiv’s grievances. This eighth trip by Ms. Baerbock to Ukraine since the start of the large-scale Russian attack comes at a critical time.

During a press conference with her Ukrainian counterpart, Andriï Sybiga, Annalena Baerbock for her part only mentioned help military received by Moscow from North Korea, without further declarations.

I know how scary some debates in Germany seem in your countrieswhile some of my compatriots doubt German support to Ukraine, Ms. Baerbock admitted. That’s why I repeat it very clearly […] we stand firmly by your side as long as you need usshe emphasized.

The important American presidential election for Ukraine

Ukraine is also anxiously awaiting Tuesday’s American presidential election, fearing that military aid will dry up in the event of a victory for Republican candidate Donald Trump against his Democratic rival Kamala Harris.

The Ukrainians are afraid that Donald Trump will force them to negotiate with Russia under conditions very favorable to Moscow.

There can be no negotiations based on coercion. Negotiations that would go over your head and that of Europeassured Annalena Baerbock on Monday, without mentioning Mr. Trump directly. Above all, as sad and bitter as it is, Putin gives no sign of wanting to negotiateshe added.

Open in full screen mode

Moscow continues to gain ground

At the same time, the Russian army has accelerated its territorial gains in eastern Ukraine where it has had the initiative for a year.

Russia conquered a total of 610 km² of Ukrainian territory in October, the biggest monthly gain since March 2022, according to an AFP analysis on Monday, based on data from the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Over the last month, Russia has advanced by an average of 22 km² every day, according to this source, its highest rate since July 2022.