Russia is assembling a “coalition of criminals,” blasted Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Russia is assembling a “coalition of criminals,” blasted Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Russia is gathering huge numbers of North Koreans to fight in Ukraine, a senior Ukrainian military intelligence official told POLITICO.

“They are called the Buryat Battalion … there are some 3,000 North Koreans there,” the official said, when granted anonymity to candidly discuss the sensitive topic.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday said that Ukraine is now fighting against two states.

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The Kyiv Independent reported, citing an anonymous Western official, that Pyongyang has so far actually sent 10,000 soldiers to Russia to boost its war effort in Ukraine.

    • bassomitron@lemmy.worldEnglish
      24·
      7 months ago

      I view it as NK getting real world combat experience. It helps both countries out. This isn’t good for multiple reasons.

        • I Cast Fist@programming.devEnglish
          3·
          7 months ago

          If they decided to attack, yes, they’d lose badly, though they can easily cause severe damage to Seoul, as the city sits less than 30km away from the demilitarized zone and within range of several artillery pieces spread over the border.

  • Thebeardedsinglemalt@lemmy.worldEnglish
    132·
    7 months ago

    So 2 nation leaders the orange turd has gotten friendly with in the last decade (that the modern world unanimously agrees are the bad guys) join forces in an invasion of a sovereign nation…that the entire modern world supports and is backing…except for the orange turd.

    Am I missing anything here?

  • pandapoo@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    8·
    7 months ago

    3,000 could easily consist entirely of technical trainers, service, support, communications, and logistics personnel, all dealing with North Korean weapons platforms being deployed in theater.

    None of that changes the fact that they are a separate state, engaging in active warfare in Ukraine, alongside Russia. But I’m skeptical that this is a cannon fodder battalion. It’s possible, I just haven’t read any credible reports that have convinced me of that, yet.

    One of the reasons I’m more skeptical, is because that would open the door for more overt and direct actions from countries like Poland. There’s already additional countries helping Ukraine on the ground in similar capacities, weapons trainers, support staff, intelligence, etc, and this seems to somewhat mirror that.

    There’s also not many sources I trust less in these types of pieces then, “anonymous Western official”.

    Of course, all of my assumptions could be wrong, but I’m going to need more confirmed evidence than what I’ve seen so far in regards to these being cannon for a meat grinder, versus trying technical staff, rear echelon support for DPRK weapons platforms, and NK officers looking for knowledge and experience to bring back home to better develop their own military.