November 2nd 2024.
KYIV, Ukraine - At a time of heightened tensions and escalating conflict, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine has called upon his allies to take decisive action. He has urged them to stop simply "watching" and instead take tangible steps to prevent the deployment of North Korean troops in Russia from reaching the battlefield. Zelenskyy also expressed concern that his country's army is currently facing one of the most powerful offensives by Moscow since the all-out war began over two years ago.
In his statement, Zelenskyy suggested the possibility of a preemptive strike on the camps where the North Korean troops are being trained, but he emphasized that Ukraine cannot take such action without the permission and support of its allies. He specifically mentioned the need for Western-made long-range weapons to target areas deep inside Russia. However, instead of taking action, Zelenskyy lamented that countries like America, Britain, and Germany are simply "watching," while the North Korean military continues to gather near Ukraine's borders.
The Biden administration recently announced that approximately 8,000 North Korean soldiers have been deployed to Russia's Kursk region, and they are preparing to assist the Kremlin in its fight against Ukrainian troops. In response, Ukraine's military intelligence agency, known as GUR, reported that over 7,000 North Korean troops equipped with Russian gear and weapons have been transported to areas near Ukraine. GUR also revealed that these troops are currently being trained at five different locations in Russia's Far East. However, the agency did not disclose the source of this information.
The deployment of North Korean troops in Russia has been seen as a significant escalation by Western leaders. It not only poses a threat to the ongoing war in Ukraine but also has potential implications for the Indo-Pacific region. There are concerns that this could lead to technology transfers from Russia to North Korea, further advancing their nuclear weapons and missile program. In light of these developments, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui met with her Russian counterpart in Moscow on Friday.
Ukrainian leaders have consistently requested permission to use Western weapons to strike important targets such as arms depots, airfields, and military bases located far from the border. They believe that such strikes would pressure Russia to seek peace negotiations. However, U.S. defense officials have argued that the number of Western missiles is limited, and Ukraine is already using its own long-range drones to hit targets deep inside Russia. Moreover, Moscow has made it clear that it would view any such strikes as a major escalation. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently warned that Russia would consider itself "at war" with the U.S. and NATO states if they approve such actions.
Zelenskyy's call for action came just before Ukraine's top commander, General Oleksandr Syrskiy, declared that his troops are currently facing one of the most powerful offensives by Russia since the war began. In a post on Telegram, Syrskiy revealed that the fighting has been intense and that Ukrainian units are taking heavy losses, which require constant replenishment of resources. Although he did not specify the location of the fighting, it is believed to be along the eastern front in Ukraine where Russia has been pushing to gain more territory. However, Russian forces have been unable to displace Ukrainian troops from the Kursk border region since their incursion three months ago.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has also resulted in significant civilian casualties. Overnight, Russian missiles struck Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, killing a policeman and injuring dozens of others. In another attack, a 40-year-old woman was killed and three others were injured in Ukraine's southern Kherson province. The conflict has also resulted in attacks on civilian areas in Kyiv, with air raid sirens blaring for over five hours early Saturday morning. Falling debris from Russian drones has damaged power networks and residential buildings, and an elderly woman was injured near Kyiv. According to the Ukrainian air force, over 70 Iranian-made Shahed drones were used in the attack, most of which were either shot down or diverted by GPS jamming. In response, the Russian defense ministry reported that they had shot down 24 Ukrainian drones in four regions and occupied Crimea. However, there were no reports of casualties or damage.
In a separate incident, four civilians were injured in a Ukrainian strike in Russia's southern Kursk region, according to the region's governor. This comes as Moscow continues its efforts to dislodge Ukrainian forces from the province, months after their initial assault. The ongoing conflict has caused great concern and has been widely reported by media outlets such as The Associated Press. For more updates on the situation in Ukraine, visit https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine.
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