October 24th 2024.
According to Ukraine's military intelligence service, a group of North Korean soldiers has been spotted in Russia's Kursk region, an area that has been a site of ongoing military operations. These troops, who had previously received training in Russia's far east, have now made their way to the western region where Ukraine maintains a strong presence since their incursion in August.
In a recent post on their official Telegram account, the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine revealed that the troops were seen in Kursk last Wednesday. This update comes after CNN shared videos on social media that were geolocated to the Sergeevka training ground near Russia's border with China. It is estimated that there are currently around 12,000 North Korean soldiers deployed to Russia, receiving training at five different military grounds in the east.
Interestingly, this number is higher than what was initially reported by US officials. During a press conference, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stated that at least 3,000 North Korean soldiers had arrived in eastern Russia this month. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had also expressed concerns about Russia and North Korea's growing relationship, stating that Ukraine had intelligence about Russia training two military units from North Korea, possibly consisting of two brigades of 6,000 soldiers each.
Ukraine's intelligence services have now revealed that several weeks have been allocated for the coordination of the North Korean troops, which includes 500 officers and three generals. This news comes as no surprise, as it was recently reported that North Korean troops were being equipped in Russia in preparation for their likely deployment to Ukraine.
President Vladimir Putin of Russia did not deny these allegations when questioned by journalists at the BRICS summit, stating that Russia is currently in contact with North Korea. He also mentioned that he has full confidence in the North Korean leadership and their commitment to their agreements. However, he added that their actions and decisions are entirely their own.
The Ukrainian intelligence service has identified Putin's Deputy Defence Minister, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, as the person overseeing the training of the North Korean troops. In previous reports, it was revealed that these soldiers had received ammunition, bedding, winter clothing, footwear, and hygiene products from the Russian authorities.
In conclusion, the presence of North Korean soldiers in Russia's Kursk region has raised concerns among Ukrainian officials about the growing relationship between Russia and North Korea. With the ongoing military operations in the area, it is uncertain what role these troops will play and how their presence will impact the situation. But as of now, the Ukrainian intelligence service continues to monitor and gather information about these developments.
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