North Korea has already sent 3,000 troops to Russia to participate in the war against Ukraine – South Korea. Zelensky prepares new plan for Ukrainians – media. Russia’s next target could be offensive on Zaporizhia — The Economist.
North Korea has already sent 3,000 troops to Russia to participate in the war in Ukraine – South Korea
South Korean intelligence announced that North Korea has sent 3,000 troops to Russia to support the occupiers in the war against Ukraine and is also trying to isolate the families of selected soldiers in a specific location to prevent the dissemination of information.
“North Korea has sent 3,000 troops to Russia to support its war against Ukraine,” South Korean lawmakers said Wednesday after a briefing by the national intelligence agency. Seoul reported that Pyongyang has committed to providing a total of around 10,000 troops, whose deployment is expected to be completed by December.
These latest figures follow an announcement from Seoul’s National Intelligence Service that around 1,500 special forces arrived in Russia by boat: “Signs of troop readiness on North Korean territory were detected in September and October. Moscow and Pyongyang deny the arms transfer, but have promised to strengthen military ties by signing a mutual defense agreement at the June summit.
The Kremlin has dismissed South Korea’s claim of sending North Korean troops as “fake news.” Pyongyang has not publicly reacted to the statements from Seoul and Kyiv, but local authorities have taken steps to prevent news of the troop dispatch from spreading, according to a South Korean official.
He added: “There are also signs that North Korean authorities are relocating and isolating the families of selected soldiers in a specific location in order to effectively control them and combat rumors.” He also said that Russia had recruited “a large number” of translators for North Korean soldiers, while training them in the use of military equipment, such as drones: “Russian instructors believe that the military “North Koreans have excellent physical qualities and good morale, but lack understanding of modern methods of warfare, such as drone attacks.”
In Seoul, it is believed that Pyongyang could count on rapid intervention from Russia in the event of a crisis on the Korean peninsula, as well as economic aid. South Korea’s presidential administration on Tuesday called for the immediate withdrawal of North Korean troops from Russian territory, warning that it could consider providing lethal weapons to Ukraine if military ties between them become too close.
Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin officially confirmed for the first time that North Korean military personnel had arrived in Russia, Reuters reports. “There is evidence that North Korean troops are in Russia,” he told reporters in Rome. At the same time, Austin noted that it was not yet clear what these soldiers were doing in Russia. “What exactly are they doing there?” It remains to be determined. These are things that we need to clarify,” added the Pentagon chief.
Zelensky prepares another plan for Ukrainians – media
President Volodymyr Zelensky asked authorities to prepare proposals for a so-called internal action plan that would help the country survive in wartime. This was reported by BBC Ukraine, citing unnamed sources within the government.
This would be a document dealing with internal decisions in various areas: the defense industry, defense, economy, social policy, and others. However, this initiative would not be an alternative to the Ukrainian president’s victory plan. According to the president, unlike his victory plan, which concerns Western partners, this new plan would include steps that Ukraine would have to carry out itself.
“The president has already given instructions for the development of this plan,” said a source close to Zelensky’s team. It should be prepared and presented to Ukrainians by the end of the year. “The goal is to do everything possible to preserve unity and achieve results in various areas of the country’s development,” explained an interlocutor of the media.
Russia’s next target could be an offensive on Zaporizhia — The Economist
The next target of the Russian aggressor’s army could be an offensive on the city of Zaporizhia, a large industrial center located relatively close to the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, temporarily occupied by Russia in Enerhodar.
This was reported by The Economist newspaper, citing a senior Ukrainian official. It also speculates that Russia may have already retaken as much as half of the territory occupied by Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region by August 2024. According to journalists, Russia is currently trying to encircle Pokrovsk, a key logistics center in the Donetsk region, and continues to try to advance towards the south, after taking control of the heights around Vouhledar.
As The Economist notes, the Ukrainian government’s concerns are not limited to the unstable front lines. Western support, already not very active, seems even more uncertain than before. This week, G7 countries hammered out details of a $50 billion loan, which is expected to be paid with interest from frozen Russian assets. A final agreement should be reached in the coming days.
But if Republican candidate Donald Trump wins the US presidential elections, due in two weeks, most direct military aid to Kyiv from Washington could be suspended. The victory of Democrat Kamala Harris also guarantees nothing for Ukraine. The German government, Ukraine’s second biggest sponsor, has already made it clear that aid will be reduced. France did the same.
How the war shapes Ukrainian literature. Ukraine in flames #73
Ukrainian literature, like many other aspects of our country, was deeply affected by the war. Previously we talked about the prose of veterans and volunteers, but since February 24, 2022, the Russian-Ukrainian War has become a central part of all Ukrainian literature. Literature related to the war in Ukraine has been developing for 10 years already, but Russian aggression has reached a new level. For almost three years, we have lived in the midst of mobilization, rocket fire and constant destruction. Watch Ukraine in Flames #73 to find out what’s changed since the full-scale invasion, what new genres writers are exploring, and which authors deserve the most attention.
Guests:
- Iryna Bilotserkovska, co-founder and director of the publishing house “Bilka”
- Anastasia Korotka, literary critic, editor, organizer of cultural events
- Tamara Horikha Zernya, écrivaine, laureate du prix Shevchenko
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