Ukraine war briefing: North Korean troops join Russian assaults in ‘significant’ numbers, Kyiv says
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported on Saturday that Russia has started deploying a considerable number of North Korean troops to assist in attacks against Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region. In his daily address, he stated, “We have early indications that Russian forces are incorporating North Korean soldiers into their assaults, and a large amount of them are involved.” According to Zelenskyy, these North Korean troops are currently operating within integrated Russian units specifically at the Kursk front. He also mentioned that there is intelligence suggesting that their involvement might spread to other areas along the frontline. Although North Korean soldiers have yet to engage directly in combat on Ukrainian territory, they have already experienced "noticeable" casualties.
The president of Ukraine stated that the increased deployment of troops represents a new level of escalation and urged for a worldwide reaction. This comes amid growing speculation that Donald Trump’s potential return to the White House next month could promote peace negotiations. Zelenskyy made a renewed request to Ukraine's western allies to bolster their backing for Kyiv, mentioning that he plans to address this with European partners in the upcoming week. Meanwhile, Russia has not confirmed nor denied the involvement of North Koreans on its side.
On Sunday, Ukraine's military announced that its air defense systems managed to take down 56 of the 108 drones that Russia launched during nighttime attacks. Additionally, 49 drones were reported as "locationally lost," which usually happens due to electronic interference. The air force noted that debris from the attacks caused damage to an unspecified infrastructure and also affected residential buildings.
According to Russia's defense ministry on Sunday, its air defense units shot down 15 Ukrainian drones overnight. Out of these, 13 were intercepted over the Black Sea, while one drone was taken down in each of the Russian border areas of Kursk and Belgorod, as reported on their Telegram channel.
Ukraine's military leadership has noted a marked rise in Russian attacks along the Kursk front, which includes air assaults, glide bomb strikes, and over 200 artillery bombardments. Andrii Kovalenko, an official from Ukraine's national security and defense council, mentioned that North Korean forces have suffered some losses, though he didn't specify any figures. "The Russians are relying on sheer numbers and are attempting to conduct offensive operations with support from the Koreans, whose role is to evade our forces and seize certain territories," Kovalenko shared on Telegram. In August, Ukraine initiated an incursion into Russia's western Kursk region and has been working to maintain control over the area.
Ukrainian drones targeted an oil facility overnight in Russia's Oryol region, a key supply source for Russian military forces, according to Ukraine's military on Saturday. Russian officials reported that firefighters were working to control a fire in the western Oryol region, which was a result of the drone attack. Earlier, Andrei Klychko, the regional governor, mentioned on the Telegram app that the drones had hit a fuel infrastructure site, igniting a fire but thankfully causing no injuries. He also stated that 11 drones were intercepted and shot down in the area. The Oryol region is adjacent to Russia's Kursk region. These Ukrainian strikes came just a day after Russia launched a massive attack, firing 93 cruise and ballistic missiles along with nearly 200 drones at Ukraine, further damaging the country's energy systems.
A former informant for the FBI, who is accused of making false allegations that Joe Biden and his son Hunter took bribes from Ukraine, has reached a plea agreement regarding federal charges, as noted in court documents. In this deal, Alexander Smirnov will confess to creating a story that played a key role in a Republican-led impeachment investigation in Congress. He allegedly misinformed the FBI in June 2020, claiming that executives linked to the Ukrainian energy firm Burisma had paid both Hunter Biden and Joe Biden $5 million each in either 2015 or 2016.
On Saturday, the Ukrainian air force reported that they successfully intercepted 58 out of 132 Russian drones that were launched during a nighttime assault. They also mentioned that 72 drones were rendered ineffective thanks to electronic warfare tactics. Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of significant damage. Meanwhile, the Russian military claimed they had shot down 60 drones during the same period.
In the Belgorod region of Russia, near the Ukrainian border, a drone strike resulted in the death of a nine-year-old boy and left his mother and infant sister injured, according to Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov. He shared images of the family’s house, showing significant damage, including a gaping hole in the front and parts of the roof missing. The mother and her seven-month-old daughter were taken to the hospital for treatment of their injuries, Gladkov reported.
